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A generator can help restore life to normal during emergencies,
but its safe use requires care and planning.
The following tips - and a careful reading of the generator's instructions
- can help avoid dangerous situations and assist you in ensuring
safe operation of your generator.
General tips
- Don't trust your senses for protection from carbon monoxide;
this deadly gas is invisible and odourless. When buying a generator,
also buy a battery-operated carbon monoxide alarm. It works like
a smoke alarm, sounding an alert if carbon monoxide levels become
dangerous
- Be a good neighbour. If the power is out, your neighbours are
probably sleeping with their windows open. Consider that the sound
of your generator may not be music to everyone's ears, so try
and locate it where it will cause the least disturbance to everyone.
Portable Generations
- Don't plug a generator directly in to your home's wiring. Power from a generator connected
to a home's wiring will "back feed" into power lines, potentially severely injuring or killing a
neighbour or a repair crew working to restore service.
- Appliances can be plugged directly into the generator, but always read the manufacturer's instructions
carefully.
- Use a heavy-duty extension cord rated for outdoor use to keep the generator safely outdoors.
- Always follow the manufacturer's recommendations for earthing the generator.
- As petrol and diesel-powered generators produce deadly carbon monoxide fumes, always run portable
generators outside the house - never inside, or in a garage. Keep generators well away from open
windows - including your neighbours' - so deadly exhaust does not enter the home.
If you want to energise your household wiring:
- Have a licensed electrical contractor install an isolating switch to provide a safe and permanent
connection from the generator to your household wiring. This will prevent your generator from back
feeding powerlines, thus avoiding a safety hazard to you, your family, neighbours and Ergon Energy
workers, and preventing possible damage to your generator when mains power is restored.
What will a small generator run?
- Each generator has a rated wattage, which provides a limit
on the appliances it will safely power.
- Follow the manufacturer's recommendations for proper use
and capacity, and don't try and connect lots of appliances at once.
- Rotate the use of larger items. This allows the use of a
smaller generator which costs less to buy and is easier to move.
- Overloading the generator can result in damage to appliances
it is powering.
Getting ready for the storm season
Before storm season, remove your generator from storage, drain
the fuel from the tank and dispose of it properly. Inspect the fuel
line for cracks and replace if necessary. Refill the tank with fresh
fuel and run the generator. Plug in some appliances, i.e. a light,
hair dryer etc. to make sure the generator is working properly.
If you had any trouble with the generator during this test, take
it to a repairer so that it can be put in good running order and
ready for when you need it.
Getting started
- Never refuel a hot generator or one that is running: hot
engine parts or exhaust can ignite petrol.
- Turn off all connected appliances before starting your generator.
- Turn connected appliances on one at a time, never exceeding
the generator's rated wattage.
Get the most from your generator
- Save fuel and money by using appliances only as needed. If
no appliances are running, shut the generator off.
- If you're just running a few lights, using other sources may
cost less than running the generator.
- Refrigerators may only need to run a few hours a day to preserve
food.
- Don't leave a running generator unattended; turn it off at
night and when you're away from home.
After storm season:
When storm season is over, properly store your generator so it will
be ready to go next season when you need it.
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