If you lose power during a storm, or your home is damaged and you need to use a generator for power, it’s important to know how to connect it safely. This can be a daunting task, but it’s not as hard as it seems. There are a few things you need to know before you start hooking everything up.
If there’s one thing that can be said for sure about generators, it’s that they’re incredibly useful in emergency situations. A portable generator can provide power to your home when the grid is down, which can be a lifesaver during a natural disaster or power outage.
However, connecting a portable generator to your house can be tricky, and if it isn’t done properly, So the question is portable generator users is that can I connect my portable generator to the home’s power system safely?
Now you don’t need to worry because today I will show you how to hook up a generator safely in just four steps. You must have your generator set up and ready to go before you try to connect it. The last thing you want is for the power to go out right before you hook up the generator.
One important thing to note is how much power your home’s circuits can handle. If you are unsure of how much electricity your house needs, that information should be on the main fuse box or circuit breaker in your home.
It is usually best to overestimate the power needed during a disaster, especially when appliances like space heaters and refrigerators are being used simultaneously. This way, if your generator kicks on while you are using more than planned, it won’t overload the system.
It is also helpful to know which appliance has what wattage requirement so that you will know how many circuits will be running at once when connecting a portable generator to your house. Remember, not all generators are created equal if you turn on too many things at once, the generator might not be able to handle the load.
Be sure you are aware of any safety precautions associated with connecting your house’s power supply to the portable generator. For example, some codes require that your main breaker be turned off before connecting the generators. Be sure you know what is required for your area before starting this process.
How to connect a portable generator to your house?
Step 1:
You must begin by making sure the generator is in the off position, and that all connections are secured. Once you have done this, turn your main power breaker to the off position. This ensures no electricity will flow through when connecting a portable generator to your house.
It also ensures that there will be no danger of electrocution when starting up the generator later on. Many safety precautions require you to take extra steps like this before connecting a portable generator to your house.
Step 2:
Near the large service panel where your main fuses sit, you should see a smaller metal box known as a sub-panel. If your home uses an aluminum wiring system instead of copper wiring, you might not have a sub-panel. If this is the case, skip steps 2 and 3.
If you have a sub-panel, there should be an electrical disconnect box with metal lugs that can be turned with a wrench or screwdriver to open or shut off the power. You should see wire connections inside of it. Be aware that if your main panel has “knockouts” in the back, they will need to be removed before using them for anything else.
The last thing you want is to run an extension cord through one of these holes only to have it accidentally touch the mainline when you are powering up your generator. This could cause electrocution if the wires are incorrectly installed on both ends.
Turn off the electricity inside of the sub-panel with the shut-off lugs before connecting a portable generator to your house.
To do this, simply follow the main circuit breaker in the sub-panel with any type of long tool until it clicks off the power. If you are using an extension cord to reach the sub-panel, be sure that it is rated for outdoor use. Do not connect a portable generator to your house with an indoor/outdoor extension cord unless it has been specifically designed for just that.
Step 3:
Take out one wire at a time from each lug connection inside of the sub-panel, leaving them all attached by one wire which will be plugged into the generator later on. Make sure you have plenty of length on the wire so that they can all reach the generator without stretching, especially if it is in a separate location.
Conclusion:
Connecting a portable generator to your house is not as difficult as it seems. With the help of this guide, you should be able to do it without any trouble or confusion. Simply follow each step carefully, double-check everything before turning on the generator, and you should be good to go.
FAQs:
Q 1) How many circuits does my generator have to be connected on to my house?
A: It’s best to know which appliance has what wattage requirement so that you will know how many circuits will be running at once when connecting a portable generator to your house. Remember, not all generators are created equal – if you turn on too many things at once, the generator might not be able to handle the load.
Q 2) What is required for me before starting this process?
A: You must begin by making sure the generator is in the off position, and that all connections are secured. Once you have done this, turn your main power breaker to the off position. This ensures no electricity will through when connecting a portable generator to your house.
It also ensures that there will be no danger of electrocution when starting up the generator later on. Many safety precautions require you to take extra steps like this before connecting a portable generator to your house.
Q 3) What is the purpose of disconnecting my sub-panel before making an electrical connection of a portable generator to my house?
Simply turning off all electricity inside of the sub-panel with the shut-off lugs ensures that power cannot flow through while connecting a portable generator to your house. If it does, you can injure or even kill yourself and others.
Make sure they are completely disconnected from one another by following each circuit breaker and shutting them off individually before attempting to do anything else. You should always take safety precautions when connecting a portable generator to your house.
