Community Corner

You Just Bought a Home Generator, Now What?

Some tips from CL&P to help keep you and its workers safe.

With electric generators quickly disappearing from store shelves as Hurricane Irene approaches, CL&P is reminding customers that while a generator can provide peace of mind, there are important safety aspects to using them. Following these guidelines will help protect everyone from possible electric shock or worse.

Never use a generator indoors or in an attached garage.  Also, never use a generator in basements, crawl spaces, or other enclosed or partially-enclosed areas, even when they are ventilated.  Opening doors and windows or using fans will not prevent carbon monoxide build-up. Put the unit far from doors, windows, and vents that could allow the carbon monoxide to come inside your home.

 Don’t connect the generator directly to your home’s wiring. Have a qualified electrician connect the generator with a transfer switch. Improperly installed generators can feed electricity back into the power lines connected to your home, posing a deadly situation for electric line workers who may be working in the area.

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Prevent electrical shock - make sure your generator is properly grounded. Consult your manufacturer’s manual for correct grounding procedures.

Don’t overload the generator. Prioritize your needs, and don’t operate more appliances and equipment than the generator can handle.  A portable electric generator should be used only when necessary, and only to power essential equipment. Overloading your generator can seriously damage your appliances and electronics. 

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Read and adhere to the manufacturer’s instructions for safe operation.  Don’t cut corners when it comes to safety.  Carefully read and observe all instructions in the owner's manual.  Also, follow state, local, and national fire and electric codes.

Turn off all equipment powered by the generator before shutting down your generator.       

Keep children and pets away from electric generators at all times.

Use the proper power cords. Only use heavy-duty, outdoor-rated power cords with an adequate wire gauge.  Overloaded cords can cause fires or equipment damage.  Never use extension cords with exposed wires or worn shielding.  Check that the entire cord is free of cuts or tears, and that the plug has all three prongs, especially the grounding pin.  Make sure the cords from the generatordon’t present a tripping hazard and protect the cords from getting pinched or crushed if they pass through a window or doorway.

Remember to turn off the generator while you sleep or if you leave your home.

CL&P is also reminding customers they can report outages or check the status of an outage by using our website,  or by calling800-286-2000.  You can also get updates on outages in your town by texting “outage” and your zip code to 24612.

 


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