So what do you do with that portable generator you bought for Y2K? Rather than selling it or burying it in the back of the garage, it may prove to be more useful than most people think.
"Unlike the Y2K threat, the real causes for power outages will not mysteriously go away at midnight," said Steve Krawczyk, President of Coleman Powermate. "Outages can occur at any time of the year due to power grid failure, snowstorms, thunderstorms, hurricanes or heat waves." Last winter, severe ice storms left nearly 3 million Americans without electricity. Hundreds of thousands were left powerless for more than three days. Utility companies in California also had difficulties supplying electricity this summer as high temperatures caused homeowners to the crank up the air conditioners, resulting in rolling blackouts.
- Tip: Generator Safety Tips: Never connect generators to your internal wiring. The reverse flow of electricity or "backflow" can injure an unsuspecting utility worker. For extra safety, install a transfer switch that cuts power to your home from the utility pole and switches it to your generator. Have an adequate supply of fuel for your generator and keep combustible materials like gasoline cans away from heat sources. Always fill the generator with fuel in a well-ventilated area while the generator is turned off. Never run your generator indoors or in a poorly ventilated area such as a garage. Generators, like all other engines, exhaust carbon monoxide gas, which can be deadly. Use the appropriate sized power cords to carry the electric load. Overloaded cords can overheat and cause fires. Never run generator cords under rugs or carpets where heat might build up or damage to a cord could go unnoticed.
Extension Cords: The most common way to use a portable generator is to place it outdoors, then run an extension cord(s) through an open window or door to the chosen appliance. This approach works well for smaller generators because you only can plug in one or two items. Be sure to use appropriate-sized power cords to carry the electric load. Typically, the thicker the cord, the more electricity it can carry. Extension cords have several drawbacks.
First, most extension cord can't be plugged into a furnace, well pump or ceiling-light fixture. If the extension cords are too long, they can potentially damage the generator and appliances. And, if they are placed under rugs or carpets, heat can build and spark a fire.
Transfer Switch: For safety's sake, hire a licensed electrician to install a transfer switch that redistributes power from the generator to the home’s circuit box. This eliminates the need for numerous extension cords running from the generator to specific appliances and eliminates the risk of electrical "back feed" injuring utility workers working on downed power lines. The transfer switch is installed beside the main electrical panel, and then it's connected to the appliances and circuits you'll want running during a blackout. When the power goes out, you simply crank up the generator and run a single extension cord from it to the transfer switch. Once the generator is running, you can pick and choose which appliances and circuits you want to use by flipping the switches on the transfer switch. It's important to keep track of what's being powered because the transfer switch is often wired into more circuits than the generator can handle all at once. Most transfer switches operate with generators up to 7,200 watts. For most homes, this is sufficient to operate several critical household appliances, such as furnace fans, sump pumps, refrigerators and lights. A typical installation will only take about an hour and cost a couple hundred dollars, but it's an investment that will be fully appreciated the next time the power goes out.
This helpful article was provided by DoItYourself.com community member John Hoch (www.colemanpowermate.com). If you are interested in sharing your do-it-yourself knowledge and know-how with the DoItYourself.com's community, click here for more details.
. Questions of a Do It Yourself nature should be submitted our "