Emergency Preparedness

Posted on February 5, 2013 by MJ Logan
Ocean City, N.J., Nov. 2, 2012 -- Linemen from Alabama Power and other crews form around the country have been working tirelessly to restore power to the hurricane-ravaged New Jersey shore. At the height of the storm, 2.5 million people were without power. Outages are down to about 1.7 million today. Photo by Liz Roll/FEMA

Photo by Liz Roll/FEMA

Most people never think about the services that utilities provide-until it is time to pay the bill. Then they write a check or pay online and forget about it. People who live in towns, villages, and cities often rely entirely on public utilities to provide them with natural gas, sanitation, electricity, and water. Those who live in rural environs are more self-reliant and provide their own water, sewage, and have LP gas delivered to storage tanks. Even so, most still depend on the electric utility to provide electrical power.

Being prepared for an emergency means planning in advance how to deal with the loss of service from one or more utilities. The area you live in, and to some degree your appliances, will dictate how you plan and prepare for a long-term emergency scenario that lasts more than a few hours.

Backup Power

Water is often considered the first need, but having the power to get the water is just as important.

Plan your backup power system to run the appliances that keep your home safe and comfortable. Keep maintenance supplies such as oil, oil filters, air filters, and spark plugs on hand to keep it running through an extended outage. Standby and portable generators require frequent maintenance when in use. After 100 or 200 hours (about four to eight days), they need a complete oil change and a new oil filter.  Between changes, the generator may need oil added more frequently. Check the oil daily and don’t forget to install new air filters or spark plugs as required.

Water Supplies

If you live within city limits, chances are good your water comes from a municipal supply that will continue to provide water for a few days at a minimum. Larger towns and cities will have backup power systems to keep the water running. That doesn’t mean those backup systems can’t fail, as demonstrated after Hurricane Sandy. When the pumps don’t run, water supplies are quickly depleted.

If you have your own well and a backup generator, you can pump your own water, but you should still prepare for fuel interruptions or mechanical problems.

In either case, store water in advance of an emergency with 12 to 15 gallons of water per person for at least one week. Five gallon containers are efficient, but larger containers are also available.

Your home’s sanitation system also relies on water whether you have a septic system or are connected to a waste treatment plant. Most toilets require anywhere from 1.5 to 3 gallons per flush. The easiest way to conserve is to fill the tank and flush it normally as required. Plan for two-three flushes per person, every day.

Food Preparation

Keep your food fresh during the storm

Keep your food fresh during the storm

It is hard to estimate how long any outage will last. Having food stored in freezers, refrigerators, and the pantry will help get you through the early stages of a long-term power outage. If you have a source of backup power, you can keep your food cold and frozen and prepare it.

At a minimum, store enough food to last a week. A month is better.

Don’t forget about food preparation. An electric range uses a lot of power that you might need for other things, such as heat or cooling, well pumps, sump pumps, and a few lights. A better choice is a microwave for quick cooking vegetables, rice, and pasta, or heating up canned foods. Slow cookers use very little power and can cook an entire meal in one pot.

A good plan keeps enough food for a month on hand, but even a week’s supply will cover most emergencies.

Having a plan in place and being prepared for a long-term power outage isn’t just smart. It gives you a sense safety and the peace of mind that comes from knowing what to expect when the lights go out.

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Electric Generators Help Keep Basements Dry

Posted on January 23, 2013 by MJ Logan
Flooded Basement

Flooded Basement

Even a short term power outage can lead to a flooded basement. Strong storms often leave residences without power for a few hours or even a few days. Keeping the basement dry is an immediate concern during heavy rains, and sump pumps often run frequently. It doesn’t take long for the sump pit to fill with the water that drains from around the foundation, and if the pump isn’t working, it won’t take long before it overflows and begins to flood the basement.

Take a drive around the neighborhood after a strong thunderstorm combined with a power outage and you’ll see the result out by the curb―carpeting and boxes of belongings, all ruined by water that flooded someone’s basement. In a finished basement, at least some of the drywall will have to be replaced.

Backup systems can help to prevent flooding by keeping the sump pump running.

Emergency Power

Guardian 20kW Home Backup Generator

Guardian 20kW Home Backup Generator

The best line of defense against flooding is to make sure the pump continues to operate. A home generator system can make that very easy, even for extended periods of time. Standby generators are ready to go, 24 hours a days, 365 days a year and they operate automatically, without operator intervention even if you are not home. An automatic transfer switch changes the source of power from the utility lines to the standby generator.

Standby generators have service intervals of 100 to 200 hours (check oil level every 24 hours while operating) and operate on municipal natural gas supply or on the home’s LP gas tank. They keep your pump and other essential appliances running even if you are on vacation. Be sure to check the owners manual for the service intervals on your generator.

A second option is a portable generator. Portables connect in two ways: through a manual transfer switch or by plugging essential appliances directly into the generator. During an outage, the homeowner fills the generator with fuel, starts it, and connects the appliances that need power. When appliances are plugged into the generator, it is the operators responsibility to ensure the portable generator is not overloaded and to keep the load balanced.

Portable generators require continual attention. They need fuel at fixed intervals and the oil must be checked and topped off regularly. Before refueling or adding oil, they must be shut off and allowed to cool.

Backup Sump Pumps

An essential part of any sump pump system is an emergency pump that operates off a battery. These pumps provide more than backup during a power outage, they keep your basement dry in the event the main pump fails―not an uncommon occurrence. They are especially important in finished basements where damage from flooding may easily run thousands of dollars.

Battery operated sump pumps are an essential compliment to portable generators. They give the homeowner time to get home from work and start the generator. Most battery backup pumps will operate for up to seven hours or longer provided the battery is in good condition. Older batteries will not last as long.

The battery operated backup pump uses a deep-cycle battery connected to a maintenance charger. The charger keeps the battery at peak charge when it is not being used. The pump itself sits above the main pump and only operates if the water level rises above the point where the main pump starts and empties the pit. It pumps water through the same pipes as the main pump. Installation will take a professional about an hour, and a do-it-yourself handyman experienced in plumbing will need two to three hours.

Security

The security, protection, and peace of mind provided by a home generator and transfer switch can easily pay for itself the first time it is used. Norwall Power Systems can help you choose the right generator to fit your needs and your budget, while keeping your basement dry and other essential appliances running.

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Backfeeding with a Generator is Dangerous

Posted on January 19, 2013 by MJ Logan
Ocean City, N.J., Nov. 2, 2012 -- Linemen from Alabama Power and other crews form around the country have been working tirelessly to restore power to the hurricane-ravaged New Jersey shore. At the height of the storm, 2.5 million people were without power. Outages are down to about 1.7 million today. Photo by Liz Roll/FEMA

Photo by Liz Roll/FEMA

Electricity comes into a home from the utility via a transformer. The transformer lowers the voltage from thousands of volts down to 240 volts before it enters the home. In the home, it passes through the main circuit breaker and is distributed through branch circuit breakers to various appliances, lighting, and convenience outlets.

Convenience outlets in the home supply 120 volts with a maximum amperage of 15 or 20 amps. Some appliance outlets for electric ranges or electric dryers supply 240 volts at 30, 40 or even 50 amperes.

The practice of powering a home with a portable generator during a power outage by connecting it to an appliance or convenience outlet is called backfeeding.

Backfeeding

Backfeeding a house, an apartment, or business is a dangerous practice.

People who backfeed their houses connect the generator to an outlet with a heavy power cord. This allows electrical power to enter the main panel through the outlet’s branch circuit breaker. The panel distributes the power to the rest of the house through the other branch circuit breakers. It also feeds power out through the main breaker to the transformer, which then converts it back to thousand of volts and attempts to energize all neighborhood utility lines.

Energizing the utility lines in this fashion is dangerous and illegal. Workers attempting to restore power to the neighborhood may unexpectedly encounter high voltage on the utility lines and suffer a fatal shock.

If the main breaker is turned off, it alleviates the hazard, but that requires remembering to shut the breaker off, and relies solely on the user to do so. There is no guarantee that someone else will not turn the main breaker back on and suddenly energize the neighborhood wires. There is no safeguard in this arrangement.

Poor Power Management

Backfeeding a service panel energizes the entire panel and power is distributed throughout the house on all circuits. Only the largest portable generators are capable of supplying enough power for an entire home. Turning some breakers off helps to resolve this issue, but does so without balancing the loads.

The generator supplies 240 volts which is split into two, 120-volt lines. Each line is capable of supplying half the generators capacity.

If all the essential circuits are located on the same line, the unbalanced load puts a strain on the generator and the home can only use half the generator’s capacity.

A Better Solution

Generac Pre-Wired Manual Transfer Switch Kit

Generac Pre-Wired Manual Transfer Switch Kit

A manual transfer switch takes power from the generator and distributes it only to the branch circuits that were selected when the switch was installed. Each circuit has its own breaker, and electrical power is automatically confined to the dwelling. It can never accidentally power the neighborhood utility lines and endanger workers.

The load is balanced because half of the load is assigned to one 120-volt line, and the other half is assigned to the second 120-volt line. The balanced load puts less strain on the generator, saves fuel, and allows utilization of the generator’s full capacity.

Illegal Backfeeding

Backfeeding is a dangerous practice that is illegal in many localities. If you backfeed your home’s electrical system and injure or kill a worker, you will be held liable and accountable, and more than likely will be criminally prosecuted for your actions. Further, even if no one is injured, if the utility finds that you are backfeeding their lines, you may be subject to fines or the utility may disconnect your home.

Be safe and avoid problems. Install a manual transfer switch or hire a qualified electrician to do it and be ready for the next power outage.

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Generators: A Necessary Appliance for Every Household

Posted on January 11, 2013 by MJ Logan

In the United States, electrification of households began around 1905. By 1930, 70 percent of all U.S. homes located in cities had electricity. The Rural Electrification Act of 1936 provided for the distribution of power to rural farms and homes, and by 1940, nearly 35 percent of rural America was equipped with electrical power. The electrification of the United States was nearly 100 percent complete by 1950.

Hotel at Night

Hotel at Night

In the late 1800s and early 1900s, hotels and businesses operated generators using steam powered turbines. It was economically feasible because the business would reuse the steam to heat the building. The practice died out as power distribution became widespread.

In the beginning, electricity was an extravagant luxury used mainly for lighting. Later it became a convenience that was nice to have. Today, electricity is no longer a convenience, but a necessity. Homes depend on it to power various appliances that keep us and our property safe and secure.

Electricity is a Necessity

Electricity has come a long way since it was a luxury in the early twentieth century. America depended on passive heating systems to keep homes warm and used blocks of ice harvested in the winter to keep food cool. Water was pumped by hand when it was needed. Basements were damp areas unsuitable for use as living space.

Today, most homes use some form of heat distribution to maintain a constant, comfortable temperature. Refrigerators run off compressors run by electric motors with fans to move the cold air around. Water comes to us from a public supply or from a well where it is pumped by a motor. We keep basements dry and usable with  sump pumps that move water and moisture away from the foundation. Air conditioners dry the air and help prevent mold growth.

Homes have become dependent on electricity. Without it, we don’t have heat in the winter or cool air in the summer. Our food spoils, some homes won’t have water, and basements can flood or the dampness encourages dangerous mold growth. Without water, we don’t have sanitation.

Life has changed and very much for the better. However, we depend on the electric utility for a reliable, continuous supply of electricity to power our homes and lives, and sometimes, the distribution system breaks and the only recourse is to live without, or use a generator to produce your own power.

Home Generators

If the power ever goes out, your Generac standby generator goes on - automatically - protecting you and your home 24/7.

Power. Our lives depend on it.

Two kinds of generators can provide emergency power. A portable generator will do the job if it is large enough, but it requires frequent refueling, large stores of fuel, and manual starting. A standby generator runs on natural or LP gas, starts and runs automatically, and requires little human intervention. It protects your home even when you are not home.

 

Imagine these scenarios:

  • You leave on week-long winter vacation and the next day, a winter storm knocks out power. The pipes freeze and break, then thaw when the power comes back on, and the broken pipes flood your home. A week later, you return to a disaster and thousands of dollars in damage.
  • A major power outage knocks out power during a severe summer storm. Crews work overtime, but it is a week before power is restored. Meanwhile, the basement floods and mold grows rapidly in the heat and humid environment. Without a sump pump and air conditioner, your home quickly becomes uninhabitable.

The Next Must-Have Appliance

Not having electricity is more than an inconvenience. A power outage threatens the lives of those who depend on medical equipment. It can damage our homes and make them unlivable, or make staying home very uncomfortable at best.

In the United States, there were 27 major power outages in 2011. Five of those outages knocked out power to more than 1.5 million people. Some lasted for days or weeks. Hurricanes, earthquakes, tornadoes and everyday storms threaten the power grid and the supply of electricity to the homes that depend on it.

Electric generators for homes negate the effects of a power outage and keep our homes safe, comfortable, and protect our families and property alike. More than a convenience, they have become a necessity.

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Portable Generator Placement for Safety

Posted on January 10, 2013 by MJ Logan

Hurricane Sandy developed into a Superstorm that traversed the Appalachian Mountains and pushed it’s way into Michigan, Wisconsin and Canada. Although no longer a hurricane, it still had fierce winds that gusted to 50 MPH which produced waves on Lake Michigan as high as 33 feet, and snow depths of more than a foot in the mountains and in Michigan.

By the time the winds subsided and the storm was over, more than 8.6 million utility customers were without power. Residents responded by hooking up portable generators to keep the lights on, power their sump pumps, and run their furnaces.

In some cases, fear of theft or lack of knowledge caused some people to place their generators too close to, or even inside their homes, despite manufacturer warnings not to do so.

Tragedy

Carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning is blamed for the deaths of at least eight people in the wake of Hurricane Sandy. Dozens more found themselves in hospital emergency rooms, sickened by the exhaust fumes produced by gas-powered space heaters and generators.

-A 55-year-old man was found dead in his New Brunswick, New Jersey home after running a generator in his basement.

-A Trenton, New Jersey woman died from high levels of carbon monoxide poisoning, and seven other members of her family were hospitalized after running a generator and propane space heater on the first floor of their home.

-In Newark, New Jersey, two nineteen-year-old girls were killed by carbon monoxide from a generator placed outside their apartment window.

All of these tragic deaths could have been avoided by the safe placement of their electric generators and other fuel-dependent devices, along with the installation of a battery-powered carbon-monoxide detector.

Carbon Monoxide

Carbon Monoxide is a colorless, odorless gas and a byproduct of burning carbon-based fuels such as gasoline, kerosene, diesel, fuel oil, propane and natural gas. Although it occurs naturally, even small concentrations can cause sickness or death. A level of just 667 parts per million may cause conversion of half the body’s hemoglobin and quickly lead to seizure, coma, and death.

Breathing fresh air without carbon monoxide reduces CO in the blood by 1/2 every five hours.

Carbon monoxide sickens and kills quickly. Symptoms of CO poisoning include headache, fatigue, nausea, dizziness, vomiting and weakness. If you or a family member experience these symptoms, move to a well ventilated area immediately and seek medical assistance.

Portable Generator Placement

Never place a portable generator outside an open window, even if that window is only open a crack. Differences in air temperature between inside and outside can pull the exhaust fumes directly into the home. Keep the generator away from open vents, doors and windows.

Never run portable generators indoors, or in any enclosed space such as a garage, shed, or vehicle, even if the windows and doors are open. Windows and doors do not provide sufficient ventilation.

Place the generator so that the prevailing wind―the direction the wind usually comes from―blows the exhaust away from the house and not into it. Be aware of where your neighbor’s home is, and how your generator placement may affect them.

Run portable generators at least 20 feet from the house.

Install battery-powered carbon-monoxide detectors inside your home and in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions. Replace the battery every six months or as recommended in the owner’s manual.

Generators

Portable generators are safe to use when they are used properly. Always read the owners manual and all documentation that comes with your generator. If you rent a generator, ask the rental company for instructions on where to place the generator and how to fuel it.

Pay special attention to placing your portable generator in a location that will keep your home safe. It’s not worth the risk of dying to run a generator inside your home in order to prevent someone from stealing it.

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FEMA Helps Out with Money for Generators

Posted on January 9, 2013 by MJ Logan

John Constantine makes his way out of his house after winds from Hurricane Sandy toppled a tree fell onto it in Andover, Massachusetts, on October 29, 2012. (AP Photo/Winslow Townson)

John Constantine makes his way out of his house after winds from Hurricane Sandy toppled a tree fell onto it in Andover, Massachusetts, on October 29, 2012. (AP Photo/Winslow Townson)

Superstorm Sandy turned into the largest diameter hurricane on record, spanning more than 1100 miles before making landfall near Atlantic City, New Jersey. It became the second most expensive hurricane with more than 65 billion in damage, and the costs are still rising.

Some areas went without electrical power for more than a month. Many people were prepared with standby and portable generators, but in some cases were still left without power because their generators were damaged by the storm . Others were forced to purchase or rent generators to power medical equipment when faced with life-threatening health issues.

Qualifying for Assistance

In order to qualify for any FEMA assistance, you must reside in a county that is part of a presidentially-declared disaster area. FEMA sends a guide through the mail to all residents in a disaster area that details what assistance is available and what expenses the money covers. You can also view the guide online.

Residents of disaster areas must register for assistance and meet eligibility requirements for the Individual and Households Assistance Program.

Repairing and Replacing Generators

FEMA won’t help you buy a new generator to weather the next storm, but it might help you pay for one that was damaged or destroyed during Hurricane Sandy. Each generator case is treated individually and reimbursement amounts are based on the average cost of a generator that is large enough to power the average sized home in that area.

For assistance to repair or replace a damaged generator, you will have to provide receipts that show it was purchased before the storm and an estimate that shows the repairs costs or that the generator is damaged beyond repair.

Generators for Medical Equipment

Once the governor declares a state of emergency, rental or purchase costs of electric generators to power medical equipment fall under the FEMA assistance program. The area you live in must be declared a disaster area by presidential order, and the rental or purchase must be necessary due to loss of power.

Costs of a rental generator are covered from the time the power is interrupted until power is restored, or until the state of emergency is declared over. Purchase of a generator to power medical equipment must occur after the state of emergency is declared.

To qualify for reimbursement of the purchase or rental of a generator for medical purposes, you must provide two pieces of documentation:

  • Copies of rental or purchase receipts for the generator.
  • Proof that the generator is necessary to power medical appliances or devices in the form of a letter from the doctor on his letterhead that states the medical devices are necessary.

FEMA Assistance

Federal disaster survivor assistance is intended to provide aid after a disaster like Superstorm Sandy. After registering and applying for assistance, you’ll be contacted by an inspector within 14 days to inspect your property and the damage incurred. Within ten days after the inspection, you’ll receive your checks from FEMA.

There are restrictions on how you may use the funds. You must use money issued to replace a generator to replace the generator unit. Keep receipts on how you spent FEMA assistance money for at least three years; FEMA may conduct random audits to ensure money was properly spent.

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Generac Commercial-Grade Pressure Washers

Posted on January 8, 2013 by MJ Logan

Commercial pressure washers are built tough to stand up to daily use for commercial cleaning jobs. These units are perfect for applications that include paint stripping, surface preparation, built up grime, and deep cleaning of concrete and other surfaces. Generac’s commercial-grade pressure washers supply a high-pressure, high-water-volume spray for use in industrial or commercial applications.

Safety Note: All pressure washers are capable of causing serious injuries. Never point the spray at another person or at yourself. Wear safety-goggle type eye protection while operating the pressure washer or working nearby.

Models

Generac 4000 PSI Commercial Pressure Washer Model # 5997

Generac 4000 PSI Commercial Pressure Washer Model # 5997

Three models offer a range of power from 3000 PSI to 4000 PSI. Both the 3000 and 3300 PSI units are designed for use on farms, around homes and for commercial work applications. Delivering 3000 PSI at 2.8 gallons per minute is model #5993 with a 212cc engine and a weight of 113 pounds. Model #5995 offers more water output at 3.2 GPM and a pressure at 3300 PSI. When more pressure is needed for heavy cleaning, Model #5997delivers 4000 PSI at 4.0 GPM and weighs in at 165 pounds. This washer is practical for commercial cleaning jobs, paint stripping, surface preparation and deep cleaning of porous materials. Each model has a welded steel frame with front and back grab bars for easy loading an unloading. No-flat, ten-inch tires combined with a design engineered for balance makes moving the pressure washers easy over any surface.

Features

All Generac commercial pressure washers are made in the USA with overhead-valve, horizontal-shaft Generac engines. Easy manual starting is ensured by an unloader valve that releases the pressure in the system to make it easier to turn the engine over. Low oil sensing and automatic shutdown protect the engine from low-oil failure during periods of extended operation. The triplex pumps with ceramic coated pistons are located at the front of the machine for easy access to the high pressure hose connection and to the garden hose inlet. An automatic thermal protection valve prevents the pump from overheating. When the pressure washer is idling without spraying water, the pump temperature increases. To prevent damage, water circulates through the pump to cool it, and discharges onto the ground. A pressure control valve allows the operator to change the output water pressure. Units are shipped with the valve set for maximum pressure. Just rotate the control valve counterclockwise to reduce pressure, or clockwise to increase it. These pressure washers come with a spray gun designed for the professional. They isolate vibration to reduce operator fatigue, have a stainless steel lance and quick clip nozzles. The pump, high-pressure hose, and spray gun fit together with quick-connect fittings. The stainless steel lance connects to the spray gun with a threaded screw-type connection. A high-pressure hose is made from rubber and reinforced with steel for excellent flexibility and a long life. The 3000 and 3300 PSI models come with a 35-foot-long high hose, while the 4000 PSI model is 50 feet long. All models have a siphon hose for adding cleaners to the water spray.

Nozzles

Generac includes five nozzles with all of their commercial-grade units. The black detergent nozzle is for applying chemicals and soaps. A zero-degree stream is produced by the red nozzle and provides the most cleaning pressure. The yellow 15-degree nozzle and green 25-degree nozzle have successively lower pressures. Use the white 40-degree nozzle for  low pressure applications such as rinsing.

Warranty

Generac’s commercial pressure washers come with a limited 90-day commercial warranty which applies in any commercial or rental application, and a three-year consumer warranty for residential applications.

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Home Generators for Emergency Power

Posted on December 18, 2012 by MJ Logan
Winter Power Outage

Are you prepared for a winter power outage?

No matter where you live, a power outage is a possibility and concern. When the power goes out for an extended period, your home loses the ability to control its indoor climate. Damage can result from frozen pipes, flooded basements, and mold from heat and high humidity. Food spoils in refrigerators and freezers and if the house is freezing or too hot, you may have to find shelter outside your home.

Generators for home use can provide power during an outage and keep your house safe and comfortable. A wide range of choices and options are available and there are generators to fit your budget and circumstances.

Standby or Portable?

Standby generators are permanent installations. They power your home’s electrical system though an automatic transfer switch, start and operate automatically, and run on either LP gas stored in a tank, or connect directly to your home’s natural gas supply. Air cooled models ranging from 7 kilowatts to 20 kilowatts are available, depending on your needs and the amount of power you need in an emergency. Liquid cooled models are capable of supplying even more power to keep the largest homes running at full electrical capacity.

A portable generator is not permanently connected. You can take it wherever you need it to provide power in emergencies or for convenience. For emergency power, they connect directly to appliances and lighting with extension cords, or through a manual transfer switch which powers select, emergency circuits only. These generators are available in a wide range of power capabilities beginning at 800 watts up to 20 kilowatts. Most portable models run on gasoline, but tri-fuel generators are capable of using gasoline, LP gas, and natural gas. Other options include diesel and LP-powered portables.

Choosing a Generator

Your choice of which generator to buy will depend primarily on three things; how much power you need, what you can afford, and whether you need automatic operation or not.

Automatic operation is all about convenience and reliability. You don’t have to worry about locating fuel to buy during an outage and the unit starts and runs automatically and keeps your critical circuits running even if you are away from home on vacation. You won’t return to find the basement flooded, the food in the refrigerator spoiled, or frozen pipes in the winter. The peace of mind a standby generator offers is well worth the cost of the unit and installation.

For homeowners that are rarely out of town or rarely experience power outages, a portable generator may be the right choice. In order to power permanently installed appliances like central air conditioners and furnaces, well pumps and light fixtures, a manual transfer switch that connects to the generator with a heavy duty supply cable is required.

Determining how much power you absolutely need, and how much extra power you want is a matter of adding up the power use of each item in your home and then deciding what is critical and what isn’t. Norwall Power Systems offers generator sizing guides for portable, commercial and standby generators to help you determine what size generator to buy.

Keeping the Lights On

It is easy enough to live through a short-term power interruption, but longer outages are more than an inconvenience. Whether or not you will experience an extended outage that lasts a day, week or even a month is more a question of when, than if it will happen. Be prepared with either a standby or portable generator, and when the power does go out, you’ll have less to worry about.

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Portable Generators and Your Home’s Electrical Ground

Posted on December 17, 2012 by MJ Logan

A necessary part of any electrical system is the ground―a path without resistance to the earth in most systems, such as that found in your home. The ground protects people from harmful or even fatal shocks and it protects buildings from fire caused by overheated wires.

If a person becomes the easiest path back to earth, electricity will travel through the person and possibly cause injury or electrocution. If a hot wire becomes shorted, electricity will travel through the ground and if the current is high enough to cause the wires to overheat and start a fire, the circuit breaker will trip before a fire starts.

Portable generators must be grounded in order to provide the same protection, and how grounding is accomplished depends on how the generator is used and connected.

Neutral and Ground Conductors

Most outlets in a home are supplied by one hot wire, one neutral wire, and one ground conductor. Electricity travels to the outlet through the hot wire, powers a device and flows back to the main panel through the neutral wire. The ground provides an additional, emergency path back to the panel.

In the main panel, or at the service disconnect switch in some homes, the neutral and ground wires are connected (bonded) to the grounding electrode. Neutral wires are often called the grounded conductor for this reason. The grounding electrode connects (bonds) the ground and neutral wires to the earth through metal water pipes and copper rods driven into the earth.

Neutral and ground are only bonded at the point where electricity enters the home, never anywhere else.

Generator Grounds

Generator Ground Lug

Generator Ground Lug

If your portable generator has appliance outlets, those outlets provide a ground. The outlet neutral and ground terminals are usually bonded to the generator frame. In this case, when you plug your refrigerator, a few lights and any other appliance into the generator outlets, the generator supplies the ground and keeps the appliances safe. Electricity is able to return to its source, which is the generator, even if there is a short.

Larger portable generators may connect directly to the home’s electrical system though a manual transfer switch via a heavy-duty cord. This type of connection is ideal, but if the generator bonds the neutral and ground wires and plugs into a switched-neutral transfer switch, the generator’s main GFCI breaker will trip continuously because the load won’t remain balanced, so the bond between neutral and ground is removed.

Switched-neutral transfer switches allow easier wiring of AFCI and GFCI circuit breakers, but when the generator neutral and grounds are not bonded, the connection does not meet National Electrical Code. A ground rod driven into the earth and connected to the generator frame is required, and the neutral and ground must bond in the transfer switch or exterior disconnect switch (check local building codes).

Generator Internal Wiring

There are no industry standards that govern whether or not a generator’s neutral and ground are bonded together. As a rule of thumb, if the generator has outlets for appliances, the generator ground and neutral are probably bonded, but check the owner’s manual or with the manufacturer directly.

Portable generators used on job sites have the neutral and ground bonded in order to meet OSHA regulations. When connected to a switched-neutral transfer switch, the generator’s neutral-ground bond will have to be removed, which then requires the addition of a grounding electrode and a bond at the transfer switch.

Understand how your portable generator is wired and how it connects to your home’s electrical system so that when the need for emergency power arises, your family and home are safe from shock and fire hazards, and your generator is ready to use without trouble.

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Portable Generator Fuel Storage

Posted on December 14, 2012 by MJ Logan

When a power outage strikes, the last thing you want to do is drive around looking for an open gas station to buy fuel for your portable generator. Nearby retailers may be affected by the outage and unless they have their own generators operating, they won’t be open for business.

Have your fuel on hand and ready to use in an emergency, rather than looking for an open gas station to buy it.

Gasoline Storage Tips

Photographer Jim Occi captured these photos of gas lines in Cranford on Thursday following Hurricane Sandy.

Photographer Jim Occi captured these photos of gas lines in Cranford on Thursday following Hurricane Sandy.

Store gasoline in approved containers only. Portable containers typically hold five gallons or less, are red in color, and are specifically designed for storing gasoline. Local fire codes usually permit you to store up to 25 gallons of gasoline.

Safety Tip: Never fill a generator when the engine is running or when it is hot. Always shut off the generator and allow it to cool before filling it. A spill on a hot engine can quickly turn into a fire or explosion when the spilled fuel ignites.

Use a gasoline stabilizer for long term storage. Add the stabilizer to the container before you fill it so that it is well mixed. The stabilizer will extend the life of gasoline up to 12 months.

Do not fill containers completely. Each five gallon container should be filled with no more than 4.75 gallons of fuel. This allows for air space in the container, which allows the gasoline to expand and contract as the temperature changes. The gasoline in a container can expand dramatically in the summer heat and the container may split or burst as a result if it is too full.

Keep containers of gasoline well away from gas water heaters, furnaces and other sources of flame. The best place is outside the house in a garage or shed where there are never open flames or sparks. Don’t store containers directly on concrete since it may cause the container to deteriorate. Keep the storage area well ventilated.

Always remove the fuel container from your vehicle and place it on the concrete to fill it. Static electricity on the container can jump to the metal nozzle in the form of a spark and ignite the fuel. By placing the container on the concrete prior to filling, the static electricity is drained harmlessly off the can.

How Much Fuel?

BERGS (Breeze Extended Run Generator System)

BERGS (Breeze Extended Run Generator System) Extended run fuel system provides extra run time for your “suitcase” type portable generator, up to 72 hours.

A 2000 watt generator will operate two or three small appliances and provide some lights, or perhaps one large appliance. At half load, this generator will use five gallons of gasoline in about one day. As generator size increases, so does fuel usage. A 5500 watt portable generator will burn 7 gallons of fuel in just 10 hours at 50 percent load, and usage can easily double at full load to 14 gallons.

Just having enough gasoline on hand is only half the problem. The other half is finding and stocking up on fuel if the outage continues. Have your stored gasoline reserve handy, and keep additional containers ready for filling as necessary.

Aging Fuel

Gasoline ages quickly and after just two months in summer, or four months in winter, it is beginning to change from fuel to a gummy varnish. A fuel stabilizer can extend it’s life for a year or more. It is important not to skimp―follow the manufacturer’s directions for the amount to add.

Don’t try to keep fuel too long. It is a good practice to rotate your fuel supply. Purchase fuel for your generator, add stabilizer and keep it for six to eight months. Then pour it into your car’s gas tank or use it in the lawnmower. Replace the fuel as you use it.

Portable Generators Need Oil

The air-cooled engines found in portable generators, and in standby generators, use oil more quickly than your car, truck or other liquid-cooled engine. Don’t forget to keep oil on hand and to check the oil during extended periods of operation. Other maintenance may also be required. When your generator is operating for days or weeks without a break, it will need oil and oil filter changes, air filters and spark plugs. Put a maintenance kit and extra oil on your list of supplies.

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