I am going to buy a portable generator to use in case of a power outage this winter. What do I need to know?
Portable generators can come in handy when there is a temporary power outage. You’re smart to buy one before an outage happens.
Portable generators are designed to supply temporary electricity to individual electric appliances, such as a refrigerator, electric space heater or a television. They are not designed to energize your entire home.
Generators come in a range of sizes measured in watts. Which size you buy will depend on the total wattage of the appliances you plan to power.
“Consumers can find information on wattages and help in estimating the size of generator they’ll need on the Consumer Reports website (consumerreports.org),” said Michael Getman, Clark Public Utilities safety manager. “Or ask an electrician or your retailer for help.”
You’ll also want to consider the additional electricity needed when starting up the motor in an appliance such as a refrigerator. Start-up wattages can be three to five times as much as when the appliance is simply running.
Carbon monoxide
“Generators are combustion engines, so they produce heat, exhaust and carbon monoxide,” Getman said. “Never use it indoors or in an enclosed space such as a garage. Carbon monoxide poisoning can occur silently and quickly.”
As a safety precaution, install a carbon monoxide alarm to sense any poison in the air. “These alarms should be certified to the requirements of the latest safety standards, UL 2034, IAS6-96 or CSA 6.19.01,” Getman said.
Proper generator use
Make sure the generator has three to four feet of space on all sides to ensure adequate ventilation. Locate it away from doors, windows or vents that could allow exhaust to enter the home. Keep the generator dry, sheltering it from rain with a canopy if necessary.
Plug electric appliances directly into the generator, using the generator manufacturer’s recommended outdoor extension cord. Be sure that it is grounded, which means it will have three prongs.
Never connect the generator to a home’s electrical panel or a wall outlet.
“Plugging it into a wall outlet creates a condition called backfeed, which is extremely dangerous and presents a risk of electrocution to utility workers and even neighbors who are served by the same utility transformer,” Getman said. “It also bypasses some of the built-in household circuit protection devices.”
Finally, store fuel for the generator outside of your home in clearly marked, non-glass safety containers. Do not store fuel near a fuel-burning appliance, such as a gas water heater. Refuel the generator only when it is off and cool. Gasoline spilled onto hot engine parts could cause a fire.
At Clark Public Utilities, we work to ensure reliable delivery of electricity throughout Clark County. Unfortunately, Mother Nature can interfere and wreak havoc on our electrical system. Should an outage happen, we’ll be working to bring the power back on as quickly as possible.
The Energy Adviser is written by Clark Public Utilities energy counselors, who provide conservation and energy use information to utility customers. Send questions to energyadviser@clarkpud.com or to Energy Adviser, in care of Clark Public Utilities, P.O. Box 8900, Vancouver, WA 98668. Past topics are available at www.clarkpublicutilities.com.
