It could save a life.Įlectrical Safety Foundation International
#Florida generator backfeed generator#
Make sure you aren’t creating unnecessary danger by properly and safely using your generator to prevent backfeed. When the power goes out, having a generator means that you can continue to have heat, light and many of the other conveniences we’ve come to enjoy. The wiring in your home could then become overloaded, overheat, and start a fire. If you plug your generator directly into a wall outlet, then the wiring in your home is no longer protected by a circuit breaker or fuse in your power panel. Here’s another reason for having a qualified electrician complete the work. Indiana Electric Cooperatives’ responsibility for electric service ends at the meter, so we cannot know when, or if, you have installed a generator and we cannot know if the installation was done to the specifications of the National Electric Code. Make sure to have a qualified, licensed electrician installs the transfer switch for you. It also protects your generator from damage if the power is restored while it’s connected. A transfer switch ensures your household wiring, or selected circuits to be supplied by the generator, can’t be connected to the power grid and the generator at the same time, eliminating backfeed. The best way to avoid backfeed is by installing a transfer switch. To prevent backfeed, generators (whether permanent or portable) should never be plugged into a home’s wiring or directly to the circuit breaker panel. This is not only for the protection of our employees, but for your safety as well,” stated Rick Coons, CEO of Indiana Electric Cooperatives. “At Indiana Electric Cooperatives, we encourage our members who use generators to make sure they are installed correctly. If your generator isn’t installed properly, the resulting backfeed of electric current could kill or severely injure a lineman working to restore your power. What is backfeed? Backfeed occurs when power travels back through the utility lines and re-energizes them.īackfeed creates a very dangerous, and potentially deadly, situation for lineworkers at your electric cooperative.
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Short circuits may occur in wet conditions, which can cause a generator fire. Carefully follow all instructions on properly "grounding" the generator.
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Because CO is invisible and odorless, it makes sense to buy a CO detector (similar to or sometimes combined in a smoke Get fresh air immediately if you begin to feel sick, dizzy or light-headed or experience flu-like symptoms. Maintain plenty of air flow space around the generator. Never use generators indoors or outside near windows, vents, or air intakes that could allow CO to come indoors. Proper ventilation is critical to reducing the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning from a generator's engine exhaust. Carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning is a common, serious danger that can cause death if generators are used improperly this is particularly true when the fuel is not burned completely.
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OctoResidents using generators are asked to take necessary precautions for safe operation.