How to Safely Operate a Portable Generator

[wcresponder]

you forgot to mention a fire extinguisher nearby in case of fire. good video though.

[mrbillpowers100]

The transfer switch is certainly safe but you only get 6 to 10 circuits and is a bear to wire and takes wall space. Look into these things called Interlock Kits (google it). They go right on the face of your existing panel and make a UL code leagel transfer switch out of your panel (no rewiring). It locks out the main breaker when the generator breaker is on.

[ab9957]

last night i ran my generator to power my house for 3 hours through a 4 wire cable like the one in this video and noticed that everything worked except my cable TV channels were digitizing, freeze framing and intermittent audio. ever heard of this?

[djembeing]

What about grounding?

[levike75]

@djembeing The grounding is done trough the house's own ground. If you noticed the heavy duty outside cord has 4 terminals: one for the neutral, two for the 2 phases and one for the ground. This way the generator is safely grounded in accordance with the NEC.