UF/IFAS Okeechobee County Extension Service

458 Highway 98 North

Okeechobee, FL 34972-2578

Phone: (863) 763-6469

E- mail:  dfculbert@ifas.ufl.edu

July 13, 2005

Feature Article - for release the week of July 17, 2005

Dan Culbert - Extension Horticulture Agent

Know Watt's Right and Wrong

With seven to nine hurricanes predicted for the current season — including two or three that may hit the US — sales of portable generators are rising fast, and so are the safety concerns about using them. Already this year, one death has been blamed on Hurricane Dennis due to carbon monoxide poisoning from a generator

University of Florida Extension safety experts say common mistakes include operating generators in closed spaces without proper ventilation, overloading them with too many appliances and plugging or wiring them directly into house electrical systems.

“First, if you’re going to buy a generator, don’t wait until the last minute,” said, a Lake County Extension agent Julie England. “Buying before demand peaks will save money.”  Before you buy, determine your power needs. England said some people think a generator will provide enough power to run everything in the house. However, an average household needs 3,000 to 5,000 watts to provide enough energy for basic needs such as lighting, cooking, refrigeration and pumping water.

First calculate the wattage needed for additional appliances that are essential for day-to-day living, such as refrigerators and lighting. Most generators in this wattage range sell for $400 to $700.  Next add up the watts needed to run those appliances that would be nice when power is off, but not necessary.  Then begin the search for the right combination of power and price to fit your needs and desires.

“When you determine how many watts of generating capacity you will need, calculate running watts and starting watts,” England said. “Starting watts are the extra power needed to start the appliance, and they are usually at least twice the amount needed to operate the appliance. Add the running and starting watts to get the total wattage that will be needed. Overloading your generator can damage the appliances and generator.”

England said it’s important to start the generator without the appliances plugged in.  After getting the generator up and running, start by plugging in the most necessary appliance and the one that consumes the highest wattage.  Add other appliances one at time, allowing the generator to stabilize as each one is added.  Stay under the wattage rating, and do not operate the generator at maximum wattage for more than 30 minutes.

“Never plug a generator into a household outlet,” England said. “This may cause a problem known as back feeding, sending a surge of power through the lines that can injure or kill power workers or your neighbors. ( for three related news articles - click here:  1   2    3  )  When your electric utility restores the power, the resulting power could damage your generator.”

She said the only way to hook up a generator to house wiring is with a transfer switch installed by a licensed electrician. This will require a permit from the local electric utility provider. Okeechobee Extension Director Pat Miller recently had one installed at his home, and it cost several thousand dollars for the parts labor and the inspection.

UF/IFAS Extension Specialist Carol Lehtola, a safety expert in Gainesville, says portable generators should be operated in a safe, secure, well-ventilated place. “Generators give off dangerous carbon monoxide (CO) gas that cannot be seen or smelled. Do not place generators near doors, windows, ventilation intakes or any other place that lets gas into your home.”

Generators should be placed more than five feet from buildings or anything that might catch fire. Protect the generator from rain by placing it under a roof or canopy.  Avoid placing it near windows that will be open or in corners of the home that have little air movement.  Keep children away from the generator, and keep it out of view to prevent theft. Be courteous to your neighbors - a generator can be very noisy, so try to place it in an area that’s as far away from other homes as possible.

Lehtola said it’s important to read the owner’s manual before starting the generator for the first time. “Don’t wait until you need the generator before using it. Start your generator every month to help maintain the engine and recharge the battery if it has one. If you wait until there is a power failure to start the generator, it may not start or run properly.”

Use the manufacturer’s recommended fuel and oil. Never refuel the generator when it is running, and allow it to cool down before adding fuel. Improper fueling can lead to fire or explosion. Don’t store fuel inside the living area of your home, and only store it in approved containers. Estimate your fuel and oil needs in case of emergency. Most generators use about one- half to three-quarters of a gallon per hour (12 to 18 gallons per day). And have several quarts of engine oil on hand as part of your hurricane supplies.

Lehtola said there also are 15,000-watt generators that can provide back-up power for small homes.  Some use diesel fuel, while others operate on LP bottle gas (e.g. FPL Energy Services’ new Readi-Power^SM program).  These stand-by units, which automatically start when there is a power failure, are usually wired directly into the house electrical system.  Local utilities require a permit to install and operate this type of system.

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Trade names, where used, are given for the purpose of providing specific information. They do not constitute an endorsement or guarantee of products named, nor does it imply criticism of products not named. The Florida Cooperative Extension Service - Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer authorized to provide research, educational information, and other services to individuals and institutions that function without regard to race, color, sex, age, handicap, or national origin.  Florida Cooperative Extension Service / IFAS / University of Florida.  Larry A.  Arrington, Dean Last update: 07/14/2005 .  This page is maintained by Dan Culbert 

references

American Honda Power Equipment Division  Generator Safety (commercial website). Alpharetta, GA, 2005.

Standby Electric Generators for Emergency Power (Section 2.14).  Gainesville: UF/IFAS Disaster Handbook, 1998. http://disaster.ifas.ufl.edu/PDFS/CHAP02/D02-14.PDF

US Consumer Product Safety Commission.  Portable Generator Hazards (Safety Alert)  Washington: 7/2005.  www.cpsc.gov/CPSCPUB/PUBS/portgen.html

Why Diesel Generators Are Better Than Gas Generators (commercial website).  Brighton, Colorado: U.S. Diesel Engine & Generator Sales, 2005.

Woods, Chuck.  Portable Generators: Know Watt's Right And Wrong.    Gainesville:  UF IFAS News, 07.11.2005  Note: the article above was adapted for local conditions from a similar news article released from UF on July 11, 2005.