One of the most important things you can do is to know how to safely operate a portable generator. If you’re going to own one, you need to take steps to make sure you’re safe. A great deal of risk comes from being unprepared when a power outage occurs and not having the right information on standby. While this safety guide is not a substitute for reading the owner’s manual, it will arm you with enough knowledge to make an informed decision on what you need to do, and what you need to have on hand for that emergency. Our portable generator safety checklist should help you take the key steps you need in order to operate your machine safely.
Check to Make Sure Your Generator is Grounded
Grounding is critical. If you’ve got a portable generator, the first thing on our safety checklist is to make sure its firmly on the ground. You don’t want to put it on sticks, plants, wood, etc. You want that generator on the dirt. Plus you don’t need to pull out the lawn for it, but as close to dirt as you can possibly get, get there.
Extension Cord Safety
You need good extension cords. Keep a spare on hand along with a good supply of electrical tape and everything you’d need to repair a cord if need be. If your cord is compromised, or you’ve had to MacGyver a repair in an emergency, replace that cord as soon as possible.
Fuel Safety
Make sure your gas is full. Then you need to store your fuel away from your generator. It might seem like a hassle, but my rule of thumb is 20 feet at the very least. We also recommend you are storing your fuel safely the rest of the time as well.
Oil
Check the oil. Make sure you have extra oil on hand. Also, check the oil while the unit is not running. Otherwise you’ll get splashed with hot oil. I don’t recommend it. Check your oil with the machine OFF.
Weather Awareness
You don’t want to stick you generator in a puddle, or where water can pool if its raining. A pop up tent or a dog house or some other thing to put over it if your unit isn’t waterproof. Vents and air circulation is a must though. You never want to run your generator indoors, no matter what the weather is like. Some might think its obvious, and some might think this should have come first on our portable generator safety checklist, but I’ll repeat- DON’T RUN YOUR MACHINE INDOORS. Not even in a garage.
I like to have a pop up tent on hand for my generator. A pop up shower or changing tent is my go to. It folds down nice and small, but is big enough, and has enough ventilation so that you’re not going to melt your tent. It’s also one of the cheapest tent on the market. You don’t need the most comfortable tent for a generator, but these things work. They also don’t have a bottom so they won’t mess with your grounding. The one below is one I like to have on hand. I don’t always set it up, but I’d rather have it and not need it, then to need it and not have it.
Pop Up Tent, Shower & Changing Tent- Collapsible Outdoor Shelter
Carbon Monoxide Safety
Carbon monoxide detectors. Make sure your house has them, and that you have one close to the generator. Also, make sure your detectors are not reliant on the grid. It needs to be battery powered, or at least battery backed up. Otherwise it won’t work when you need it the most.
Start Up Smart
Plug in your devices one at a time. When a device is starting, it takes a larger initial surge of power to get it going, then levels off at a much lower electrical load. You don’t want to have all your devices to be doing their start up surges all at once.
Once you’re up and running, make sure you’re getting proper voltage. GFIC outlets and surge protectors can help ensure you’re not getting too much power, but you also need to make sure your generator is producing enough power. Having a Kil-a-Watt is HUGE. This device tells you how much power a device is using. I got my first one to help me reduce cost and reduce my power usage, but in an emergency situation, or just when you’re using your generator for fun, you need to make sure you’re getting the right amount of power. This also helps you see when devices are done with their initial start up surge.
Kil-a-Watt
Security
Chains are good. Do not use cables. Cables are a lot easier than chains to cut. Chains also look more formidable. If you can have your generator out of sight, its a step in the right direction for security. You probably aren’t going to be able to hide the sound, but out of sight just makes it more effort for any malicious actors.
Conclusion
Checklists are excellent tools to ensure you don’t forget any important steps in a process. Electrical generators can be dangerous, so it is vital that they are used correctly. This checklist will help ensure you are aware of all the necessary steps and precautions that should be followed in order to safely operate an electrical generator.
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