How To Safely Operate Portable Generators

Check Weather Conditions

Before you set up your portable generator outdoors, you must check the weather conditions to ensure there won’t be any risk to your generator or the people around you.

• Never run your generator in adverse weather conditions. While most generators come with explicit instructions to avoid wet weather, many people still attempt to use them during rain, storms, and even cyclones. If your generator gets wet, you risk electrocution if the electrical panels get wet. You must refrain from using your generator during dangerous weather conditions to keep yourself safe and prevent damage to your generator.
• Consider purchasing a cover. If wet weather is unavoidable and you need to run your generator, you can do so safely provided you have a canopy or shelter. You can buy steel or plastic enclosures or purchase pop-up covers designed to protect your generator while simultaneously preventing CO build up. To make sure your generator stays dry, take the following precautions;
  • Find a level surface at least 10ft away from any buildings or tents.
  • Put a flat, thick piece of plywood underneath the generator to keep the bottom dry.
  • Place a pop-up canopy or cover over the top of the generator. Ensure the top of the generator is covered and protected from the rain, but leave places for air to circulate to prevent carbon monoxide build-up.
  • Secure the cover into the ground. You’ll want to be sure it’s going to stay in place through strong winds and storms, so take extra precautions to make sure it’s secured firmly in the ground.
• It’s more than just the weather. Even on the sunniest of days, make sure you check your generator site very carefully. Keep it well away from sprinklers, hoses, and swimming pools. If you’re setting up on a grassy area, make sure that spot is free of mildew and mud.
  
  

Do Not Operate Your Portable Generator Indoors

Whatever you do, ever operate your portable generator indoors. Generators should be placed at least 10ft from any building, window, or vent to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning. CO gas is colourless, odourless, and weighs more than air, meaning it can quickly build up in one place. Carbon monoxide is lethal and can linger for hours at a time, creating a genuine threat to anyone in proximity to the gas. Make sure you use your generator in a vast, open space and if you’re using a cover to protect it from wet weather, make sure there is enough room for CO gas to escape.

Genelite’s Top Tips To Operating Your Portable Generator

The team at Genelite are the experts in operating all kinds of generators, so we have a few tips to help you get the most out of your device.

• Prevent fuel clogging. The primary reason why generators won’t start is due to fuel issues. Fuel clogs the fuel injectors and carburettor when it’s left to sit for long periods. If you can, leave your generator running until it runs out of fuel, allowing the injectors and carburettor to run dry. The generator will automatically stall, and then you can add a fuel stabiliser to prevent damage during storage. Try to run your generator once every three months to avoid start-up or fuel issues.
• Only ever use one hand when touching the generator. We often don’t think of the human body as a circuit, but our bodies can conduct electricity. Electric currents flow through the path of least resistance, and when you touch a generator with two hands, that path is you. Make sure only to use one hand at a time and try to wear rubber shoes whenever handling your generator.
• Turn off the main switch before starting your generator. Generators can generate a lot of electricity, and the main on/off switch helps to mitigate the load. Once the generator starts and goes into idle mode, turn off the main switch.
  
  

If You Need To Buy Or Hire A Portable Generator, Head To Genelite

Whether you need a generator for commercial or personal use, Genelite have are proud to stock one of the most diverse range of generators on the market. With years of experience in providing generator solutions for businesses across Australia, the team at Genelite are committed to helping you find the right equipment for your needs. We’re an Aussie-owned and operated company, and we’re renowned in the industry for our professionalism, second-to-none product knowledge, and our high-quality range of equipment. If you’re looking to Buy or Hire a portable generator, Genelite can sort you out.