Planning Ahead: Portable Generator Safety

When the power goes out be ready with a portable generator. NDSU Extension Engineer Ken Hellevang walks you through the safety protocols of using a portable generator for emergency power.

[@ronniejones8508]

Awesome video. Thank you for it.

[@feedyourhead7464]

Fantastic. Thanks for your help Sir. Answered many of my questions about generators in ONE video.

[@johnny07652]

Thank you, this is an excellent video and the information in it is extremely important. This is a great help and service. Thank you so much!

[@hubercats]

Outstanding video. Thank you!

[@billthestinker]

thanks so much, safety is number one

[@__hjg__2123]

He seems to be referring to “surge watts” or “peak watts” which is the watt "maximum" when an item (re)starts - those are not "additional" watts - since the running watts are still included in the "peak" number. i.e. an item with 100 running watt requirement and 300 peak watts needs 300 watts available - not 400.

[@rolandedrummer9723]

Thanks bro.

[@BruceLyeg]

So, I dunno about you, but where I live if put a generator in the middle of the driveway and no one is watching it every second it's there, it's gone.

[@raymondgarafano8604]

U were using it right? u did not have it covered in case it rained. did not have it in back yard instead of displaying it? did not take wheels off it to make it harder to carry off?

[@davidpetersen1]

@@raymondgarafano8604 🤣🤣🤣

[@PatrickWagz]

Wow, you have some real jackasses in your neighborhood. Time to buy a nice 12-gauge??

[@raymondgarafano8604]

@Ac Tion u call me Karen and I know what that means but ur the idiot w no generator, too bad ya didn't electrocute yourself first, then u would not know it was stolen, I do give you credit though, you won the award for ultimate stupidity, did u take a course or were you just born that way? '

[@jenkinsljenkinssquire9137]

Can you use a GFCI and not have to ground the unit?

[@cliffbrown4217]

Thank you , I bought a generator and have no idea what I am doing.

[@chrospoke]

Is it ok to plug an appliance using 120 volt plug into the heavy duty 240 volt power cord which has pigtail or multiple female ends on it. The cord is rated at 30 amps. Thanks fr ur very good video. Also My home is older built in 1958. Would u recommend that I bury a grounding rod and ground the portable, stand alone, portable generator? Westinghouse 7500 E

[@edpippin]

You need to make sure the cord you are describing is splitting the 240 volts onto to 120 legs. The best way to find someone who has a voltage meter and test one of the ends. These usually have 4 plugs on their ends. The volt meter will tell you if it is 120v or 240 output. You should find each plug is 120v and are taking two plugs off each leg of the generator. I am not an electrician.

[@steveos111]

No video I watch can give me adequate information regarding earthing of a portable generator. Lots of other information but this issue is glossed over 99% of the time . What about earth stakes? What gauge wire is suitable for earthing?

[@DragonPilot]

Every electrician I've talked to recommends copper wire, at least 10 AWG. If you're close enough, you can just connect to the existing ground rod for the house. Otherwise you'll need to drive in a 4'-6' copper or galvanized rod.

[@moneypenni1694]

@@DragonPilot ; Gary, where would I attach the grounding wire to the generator before I attach it to the grounding rod? Thank you.

[@DragonPilot]

@@moneypenni1694 I think it depends on the gen. Some come with a grounding lug and screw on the lower part of the frame. Without that I would think any screw or bolt attached to the frame would work. Or drill a small hole in the frame and drive in your own screw/bolt.

[@moneypenni1694]

@@DragonPilot ; thank you for responding, I"ll do that ...:-}

[@chewtoy6669]

@@moneypenni1694 Don’t forget to float the neutral on the generator or you will trip the house GFCI outlets. Also ground rods need to be 8ft long and at least 8ft from home ground rod. You can ground the generator to the same house rod if your close enough

[@spacecatboy2962]

does this guy know how to party or what

[@raymondgarafano8604]

Yup, not enough voltage with a long cord, the motor will stay in 'start' mode as the motor will not spin fast enough to go into 'run' mode and the start winding will burn out. Many appliances Co. will void the warranty if an extension cord is used.

[@raymondgarafano8604]

One woman in FL. ran her generator in the living room. the person in the bedroom never woke up.