How to Connect a Portable Generator to Your Home

If the area in which you live suffers from blackouts, it may be prudent to invest in a portable generator. You can use the generator with heavy duty electrical extension cables to power your electrical devices or hook it up the the house to save you from having too much disruption during a power outage. This article will explain how to connect your portable generator to your home.

Step 1 – Choose Generator

The size of your generator will depend on how much power you require from it, and what length of time you want to be able to run it. If you need to run a small generator for an extended length of time, you will probably have to shut it down and refill the fuel at least twice a day. There are a number of different fuels that a generator can run on, each with their own advantages and disadvantages. Discuss your requirements with someone who has experience of generators to try and find the one that will fit your needs. Bear in mind that any maintenance requirements for the generator will have to undertaken to ensure that it functions correctly when needed. Gasoline powered generators, in particular, need to be maintained and run regularly to stop them from getting clogged up.

Step 2 – What Not To Do

You should not connect your generator to a wall socket to feed power into your home. Connecting a generator this way is illegal and incredibly dangerous. If a linesman needs to work on the power lines, the electricity that you are backfeeding into the grid can electrocute and kill him. If a utility company discovers that you have connected your generator directly into the mains power supply, you will be prosecuted. Connecting the generator to your home in this fashion can also cause wiring to overheat, leading to a potential fire risk. Fires caused by an illegally connected generator will not be covered by your home insurance and, even worse, could risk people's lives.

Step 3 – Install Transfer Switch

The legal and responsible way to connect your portable generator to your home is to use a transfer switch. A transfer switch should be installed by someone with a professional electrical qualification and controls the mains feed of electricity. When the electrical grid is down, the transfer switch safely changes the circuit to be run using your portable generator without feeding any power back into the grid. Discuss your needs with a qualified electrician and they will recommend a suitable system for your home.

Step 4 – Operating Generator

When your generator is needed, you can place it in a suitable position away from the house and connect it to the socket. Make sure that the generator will not feed any fumes back into the home or build up a health risk in an enclosed area to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning. Turn the transfer switch on and you will be able to use the generated power in your home until the main supply is repaired. Always be aware of how much fuel is being burned by your generator so that you don't get caught unaware when the fuel runs out.