Generator Safety: The Things You Need To Know

Tips for Generator Safety

Generator safety is easy to overlook.  So easy in fact, that it seemed to us a good idea to post on it – just to get everybody’s attention.

Generators can be convenient when the power goes out in any area, but in the more secluded areas of the globe – a generator can mean the difference between life and death. 

Of course we know that generators offer us safety against the elements, but we don’t want to overlook the hazards caused by the generators themselves.  Thus we will take a look into the fascinating world of generator safety.  Come with us…

Proper Use

The first rule of generator safety: Never, EVER use a generator indoors.  Generators run on gasoline or perhaps propane, both of which emit toxic fumes.  In an enclosed area, these fumes can be deadly.  This warning includes running a generator in your garage, especially with the door shut.  Generators need plenty of ventilation to run safely. 

Overloading

Overloading – in terms of generator safety, refers to running your generator beyond its rated capacity – not how many appliances you plug into an outlet.  Both are bad practices and should be avoided, but where your generator is concerned – you may be putting lives in danger, as opposed to simply blowing a fuse.

Too many devices plugged into an outlet might overload an outlet, but an overloaded generator affects the entire generator – and might damage every piece of electronics attached to it.  Moreover, the generator itself could overheat – and since it runs on gas, you need to be careful to avoid this possibility.

Be safe.  Take no chances – and if there is any question at all about adding a load to your generator, then don’t add it – period!

Location, location, location…

Generator safety suggests that you don't want your generator operating next to your doors and windows.  Generator fumes drifting into baby’s nursery or into your toddler’s room will not result in a pretty picture.  Even if you manage to evade the fumes, the noise will surely get you.  Think about location before you install your generator, and get expert advice to discuss your best options.

Connect Your Generator Properly

Some tasks make excellent do it yourself projects.  You can save loads of money, and the learning experience is invaluable.  However, electricity is nothing to play about with, unless you REALLY know what you are doing.

We cannot think of a bigger violation to generator safety than some hobbyist holding a screwdriver in one hand and a do-it-yourself instruction book in the other.  That’s like removing a gall bladder by the numbers – with no regard for the years of experience that the surgeon brings to the operating table.

Small portable generators will likely be self-contained, and your biggest headache is to guard against overloading.  For a permanent unit though, it is best to have an electrician to install the unit for you.

Whether your generator is portable or permanent, you must keep the tenements of generator safety in mind.  Stay on guard against old plugs, frayed cords or shorting sockets.  If you see sparks of any kind in, on or about the generator, shut down and get professional help.  Remember, fire and gas don’t mix well.  A tiny spark could destroy the beautiful home that cost you a lifetime of work to build.  Let’s be safe – as opposed to sorry.

Store Your Generator Properly

Unless you live remote to urban life, you will likely not use your generator all the time.  During the off-season, you will want to store your generator away safely.  A bit of work is involved, as this means draining the fuel or at least adding a special additive to the fuel that will keep it fresh during the months of non-use.  If you have kids, you will want to make sure that they cannot get into the generator site, or that the generator is locked against their use.

You also want to buy a cover of some type to keep away the insects and to prevent dust from building up around the unit.  Dust will burn when you restart the generator – and well – we already know not to mix fuel with fire.

Conclusion

Having a generator as an emergency backup during a power outage is a great idea, and of course, it is a necessity for some people who don’t have access to city power.  These units are as safe as any other appliance when used with generator safety in mind.  Below, we added a few references to good information on portable and permanent generator safety, and we hope you will take a moment to look at them.

If you still need more information, feel free to google up some more resources of your own.  Just to fix you up properly, here are a couple of generators that we reviewed several weeks ago.  We hope you will find them as useful as we.

Until next time, we urge you to…

Shop Smart & Proper!

 

ADDITIONAL GENERATOR REVIEW AT SINCERE PRODUCT REVIEWS:

http://sincereproductreviews.com/ds4000s-portable-gas-powered-generator/

http://sincereproductreviews.com/generac-series-5837-power-generator-reviewed/

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON GENERATOR SAFETY:

http://www.consumerenergycenter.org/tips/generators.html

http://www.nsc.org/news_resources/Resources/Documents/Portable_Generator_Safety_Tips.pdf

 

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Portable Gas Powered Generator: DuroStar DS4000S 4,000 Watts Reviewed

DuroStar DS4000S 4,000 Watt 7.0 HP OHV 4-Cycle Portable Gas Powered Generator

Purchasing a portable gas powered generator for your home can be a daunting task.  There are plenty of makes, models and sizes so that sorting them out can be overwhelming.  If you are making a first-time purchase of a portable gas powered generator, then your problems have just tripled.

Ignorance can disastrous when choosing a generator.  You may want to talk to an electrician or other person knowledgeable about these units who can help you understand how certain units might best fit your needs.  Armed with a bit of education, it is then up to YOU to find a quality unit at a great price.

Do NOT buy your portable gas powered generator unit from the same person who gave you the advice – unless you have every reason to trust her – or – unless you have done your homework, so that you understand what is being offered.  You do not want to get this one wrong.  Surely, it is no fun to be in the dark when the power goes out, but it is even less fun if your generator falls down on the job.

With that in mind, we have a suggestion for a portable gas powered generator that we think has merit.  Not only is it highly rated by earlier customers, but does its job too.  Let us take a closer look.

Product Features:

• 4000 Watt Surge/3300 watt continuous
• 4 Gallon gas tank/8 hour run time
• EZ-Pull recoil start
• EPA Approved
• Automatic low oil shut off
• Super quiet muffler

This DuroStar DS4000S portable gas powered generator is great for small projects or for use in your RV or maybe at a campsite.  It does not come with wheels, but it is lightweight enough so that you can move it around easily to carry it anywhere.  In any case, if wheels are at issue, you can buy a “wheel kit” separately and perhaps save your back a bit of grief.

The DuroStar DS4000S portable gas powered generator is set at a very reasonable price (around $350) so if you cannot afford a larger model for your home, this puppy will definitely do in a pinch.  If you live in areas prone to power outages or where electrical power takes a week to get back on, that is a really fine price to protect yourself from the inevitable.

It is powerful enough to provide power for near any purpose – even to keeping your appliances running, so long as you stay below the load rating.  This is a portable generator – not a whole house generator.  During emergencies you will have to make some choices but that is better than having no options at all.

The functional power panel that houses the main controls includes a start switch, a voltmeter, and circuit breaker.  The DuroStar DS4000S portable gas powered generator comes ready for action with two 120-volt, 20-amp, 3-prong outlets (NEMA 5-20R) which can supply power to all of your home appliances needed.  It also comes with one 120-volt, 30-amp outlet (NEMA L5-30) for high-powered tools in case you are the handy type, your power tools are well provided for.

We should note that this model of portable gas powered generator is NOT CARB-compliant.  This is important if you live in certain states (like California) where if you plan to purchase a portable gas powered generator you must purchase a model that is CARB-compliant.  Again, do your homework before you buy.

The DS4000S will run for eight hours at one-half load.  The fuel tank holds four gallons (quite large) of fuel and includes an easily readable gauge.  The DS4000S is constructed of a heavy-duty steel frame with four-point fully isolated motor mounts (betcha can’t say that again).  This makes the unit sturdy and allows for a smooth and quiet operation.  It also has a  low oil shut-off to protect the engine, an ultra quiet muffler to reduce engine noise and an EZ pull recoil start to get it up and running quickly.

So, what do earlier customers think of the DuroStar DS4000S portable gas powered generator?  

Survey Says!

It's a winner!  Customers love this portable gas generator.  They rate it 4.3 stars out of five possible – and that about says it all.  There are surely some dissatisfied customers – as there always will be – but in most cases, every complaint was different.  This hints at the problems seeming to focus on an individual unit, as opposed to any systemic problem across all units of this model.

The DuroStar SD4000S portable gas powered generator has received many good reviews, from earlier customers who have been very pleased with the unit during power outages for running basic items about the home like the fridge, freezer and lights.  Other customers reported running sump pumps in their basement during hurricane conditions.  Here's what a few others had to say:

**I was very nicely surprised with how (comparatively) quiet this generator was working on small, enclosed patio (brick walls) and right outside the window.

**Did what I needed it to.  Ran sump pump, fridge, freezer, garage door opener,and a light in kitchen and basement.  Sump pump was running every 5-6 minutes for a few hours - if it wasn't for our Durostar, our 2/3 finished basement would be underwater now.  In my mind, it just paid for itself in damage avoided.

**It starts easy, is quiet and performs perfect.  And believe me I put equipment thru the test.

**Sure enough the first blow from Sandy knocked out our power for 11 days.  This little generator got us through those days by running two refrigerators, two sump pumps, furnace, sundry lights, and recharged various cell phones.

**One small issue is after 214 hours of use (actual run time), even after changing the oil every 30 hours or so, it has started to blow a little smoke. 

This unit is also perfect for people who love to go camping but cannot always find a spot that has electricity available.  With this portable gas powered generator, that isn’t a problem at all.  Moreover, with a portable gas powered generator you can go where no man has gone before.  You will find yourself camping in some super-nice remote areas where most campers cannot go, and you still will have the convenience of hearth, home, and electricity.

Thinking about it, a portable gas powered generator seems more a necessity than a luxury.  Get one for yourself and when the lights go out and the neighbor is doing an emergency barbecue to avoid spoiling the meat, you can eat his meat while preserving your own.  Who says you can’t have it all?

Happy Shopping!

Product Link at Amazon:    http://amzn.to/1u9UytN

Sincere Product Reviews

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Generac Series 5837 Power Generator Reviewed

Generac Series 5837 Power Generator

CorePower Series 5837 7,000 Watt Air-Cooled Generator

Natural Gas/Liquid Propane Powered Standby Generator with Transfer Switch

The Generac Series 5837 Power Generator may be just what you are looking for. 

If you live in an area that is prone to power outages, especially during cold winter months when a snowstorm might blow in and knock out power lines, you may want to have substantial back up power to keep your home running until the electric crews can get you up and running again.

This is not a portable generator.  It resembles more closely a heating the cooling system that is sitting outside your home.  In other words – this is a big monster.

The Generac Series 5837 Power Generator model has a 7000-watt capacity, but your options won’t stop there.  Generac also offers models in MUCH larger wattage such as 8000, 10,000, 17,000 and 20,000.  Whatever your needs, you will be able to find a power level to suit you.

However, this 7000 model will definitely give you enough power options for supplemental tasks.  It will take some of the load off your electrical bill when doing laundry, watching television, even running central heating.  The problem arises when trying to run to many appliances at one time.  Watch you load – and this baby will supply all of your power requirements.  Here is the Generac Series 5837 Power Generator in a nutshell.

Product Features:

• 7,000 watt standby generator
• 50 amp transfer switch
• 8 circuit load center including circuit breakers
• Generac OHV engine is designed for reliability and long life
• At least 10 decibels quieter than many competitive units
• Removable sides for easy installation
• Flexible fuel requirements: Operates on propane of gas
• CARB Compliant

One of the best things about an automatic generator is if the power goes out, this unit will sense it and kick itself on so you are not sitting in the dark too long.  There will be no more trudging out in a cold snow downfall or a drenching rainstorm just to start up your generator.  These stand-alone permanent models make excellent back-up systems.

What Customers Say

Most customers are extremely pleased with this unit.  The biggest complaints that we could find is that

(a) The power transfer switch failed to work properly

(b) Generac customer support is not as responsive as it might be.

The Generac Series 5837 Power Generator rates very well though.  Of the thirty customer reviews, only five of these fell below three stars, giving the unit a four star rating over all.

Let us listen in on the customer comments – and they can tell you their stories themselves.

*        This generator is perfect if you don't need to power the entire house.  I got it to run a pair of sump pumps, refrigerator, furnace, and a handful of branch circuits for outlets and lights around the house.

*        The only items this would not power were my Central A/C range and dryer.  Keep in mind if you have sump pumps/electric hot water or heat, and a well pump, you should go with the 10k unit, this one won’t be enough.

*        The next size up (8kw) has larger dimensions but is quieter 62 dPA, the 10/12 kw are 63 dPA.  If you have, the room go for the larger unit.

*        What a great unit, our propane dealer has filled it once. It has paid for itself saving motel fees!

*        This unit burns a little over 1 gal propane and hour on full demand compared to the larger units that can burn 3 times as much.  I would love to have a whole house system but the cost of operation for long periods of time makes the larger units less attractive to me.

Who is the Generac Series 5837 Power Generator Best Suited for?

The Generac Series 5837 Power Generator is great model for those who face the occasional power outage and who need to keep their home power operating smoothly during brownouts, storms and the like.

Surely, you cannot run every appliance at once, but there are more highly powered models for those who want whole house support – assuming of course, that they are willing to pay the price.

If you happen to be in the market for a home generator – and obviously, you have put aside enough money to cover the unit and installation – then you might consider the Generac Series 5837 Power Generator.  It pleases earlier customers – and this is your best insurance that you will not be disappointed either. 

You can order it from Amazon and have it shipped directly to your home.  You may want to have a certified electrician install it for you to make sure that there are no lingering issues, to know that it was installed correctly, and to have somebody to yell at if it is not.

As a last word on customer satisfaction – let us recommend this detailed customer review that will give you great insight into this unit – pros and cons.  Then go forward and make your decision.

Detailed Customer Review:

http://www.amazon.com/review/RIDKGM5M21UBQ/ref=cm_cr_dp_title?ie=UTF8&ASIN=B003XQWYW0&nodeID=2972638011&store=lawn-garden

Have fun!

See This Unit Now at Amazon:  http://amzn.to/1mK42FT

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