Installing and emergency generator is NOT a DIY Project!

Could your home or business survive without electricity?  Power outages can occur at any time disrupting your business or home life.  For this reason the use of emergency generators has become increasingly popular.  Unfortunately many generators are not properly installed causing problems and at times possible dangerous conditions such as fire.

Some of the most common mistakes when installing an emergency generator are:

1.       Misplacement of the generator.  It is important that the generator is installed in an area that is not only safe but where the emergency will not affect its operation.  Never operate a generator in a confined location.  They produce Carbon Monoxide just like idling your car in the garage with the door closed.

2.       Not obtaining proper paperwork.  The proper permits and local ordinances are required prior to installing the generator.

3.       Installed by a non-professional.  Generators MUST be installed by a qualified electrician.  The generator can be made to start as soon as the local power is lost but this requires an Automatic Transfer Switch.  If immediate restoration of power is not necessary the transfer switch and the generator start up can be manual.  In either case you are dealing with a lot of amperage.  An improper installation can cause sparking heat and potential fire. 

4.       Buying a gasoline powered generator when natural gas is available.  If the premises have access, buy a generator that runs on natural gas but be sure to have a licensed plumber install it.  The plumber can insure the proper quantity of gas and adequate pressure to run the generator.  Imagine a power outage where you have a gasoline generator but the station cannot pump gas?

5.       Buying the wrong size generator.  Many generators are too small and cannot conduct all of the electricity to run the household or business and will shut off.  If the generator is too big, it will put out more current than the electrical system can absorb leading to potential hazards.  Some things use extra power when powering up.  This is called “surge wattage” and can affect the size of the generator you will need to install.  Remember the capacity of your generator because you may not be able to use your appliances all at once. 

6.        DO NOT USE A TWO SIDED PLUG.  Some people who do not use qualified personnel to install us a two sided plug to connect the generator to an electric outlet.  While this will put the power on it removes all circuit protection.  If you do not operate the main house breaker it WILL cause an explosion when normal power is restored. 

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