Month: April 2013

Since the first engines began to power the world, they have required maintenance to keep them operating. A sure fire way to damage your equipment is the lack of maintenance and service interruption. To put it in perspective, normally we are used to tuning up our motor vehicles with frequent checkups, fluids and filters. Parts wear out; fluids break down or get used up. Routinely parts will slip a little out of place or will wear on certain regions and soon enough these small difficulties turn into larger ones ending up in the engine being out of sync. It’s no different for a standby generator. Like an automobile, they are powered by internal combustion engines. Keep standby generators ready for power outages by conducting maintenance on schedule. Make sure to look over your owner’s manual and be completely positive that the unit will not start while you are executing your maintenance

Lubrication

The engine is lubricated by oil. Most standby generators will shut down to avert damage if there is insufficient oil to lubricate the engine. For the period of operation, oil level or oil pressure sensors will alert the generator’s controller if the oil pressure or level drops beneath suitable levels. At this time, the controller will deactivate the generator. Every month, be sure to check the level of oil and top up as needed. Frequently check your oil during any type of extended operation. For some generators the oil filter will require to be changed as often as every 100 hours of operation for certain types of generators. Always use the correct viscosity oil specified for the temperature range of the generator’s operating environment.

Cooling

While the engine is in operation, cooling vents in an air-cooled generator make it possible for air to flow over over-top. Keeping these vents clear of any debris or obstruction is most critical to allow the engine to breathe. Be sure that no leaves, grass or any other debris is blocking any cooling vents or air intakes . Make sure that doors, lids, and sides are closed and locked. Examine the cooling system on liquid-cooled generators for suitable coolant levels and top off the coolant as necessary. Make sure there are no loose clamps or any leaking hoses. Substitute any parts that are damaged or have apparent deterioration. Change the coolant as necessary according to the maintenance schedule found in the owner’s manual. Verify the fan belt on liquid-cooled standby generators for cracks, wear, and signs of impending failure. Always be sure to replace a belt before it malfunctions and breaks as this can lead to additional damage to the unit.

For more info go to: www.BackupHomePower.com

Portable generators deliver electrical power anywhere electrical power is required such as construction sites, campgrounds, and even properties hit by a power outage. Not just for convenience, they power tools, medical tools, and keep necessary appliances operating. Along with hooking up your generator, and making proper connections. To prevent potentially life-threatening mishaps, you must follow these portable generator safety tips. Always read your owner’s manual for safety instructions specific to the model you own.

General Safety

Never refuel a portable generator while it is running. Turn the generator off and allow it to cool before adding fuel. Don’t allow children to play near a generator during operation. Burn and electrical hazards can injure a child. Disconnect loads from the generator before you turn it off and keep them disconnected until the generator is running again. When the generator is being used near your home or any other dwelling, make sure to use a battery-powered carbon monoxide detector. Keep combustible materials away from the generator. Generator exhaust contains carbon monoxide, an odorless, colorless gas that can quickly kill in a confined space. Even if the windows are open and you believe there is enough ventilation, never keep a portable generator running inside of a home, garage, shed, or any other closed space. No matter the fuel being used, windows and doors cannot provide enough proper ventilation for an internal combustion engine. Keep portable generators at least 10 feet from any dwelling including homes, tents, RVs, and campers. Keep the generator away from open doors, windows, or vents. Also, be sure to place your generator downwind to avoid fumes entering the dwelling. Be mindful of your neighbor’s and aware of where exhaust may travel. Always have a level stable surface that will not flood to place your generator on. 

Using Extension Cords

Use extension cords designed and rated for external use. These extension cords are three-pronged plugs and receptacles and also should possess a ground wire. Select cords sized to hold the actual the devices used will draw. Common wire sizes include 14 gauges for up to 15 amperes, 12 gauges for up to 20 amperes, and 10 gauges for up to 30 amperes. When the cords will carry near to their maximum rated load more than 80 percent of the time, boost to another (smaller gauge number) size cord. Extension cords beyond 100 feet require larger wires (smaller gauge number) to reduce voltage drop, which may cause motors to overheat or burn out. Do not pinch extension cords in windows or doors, or use cords while they are coiled up. Pinched wires can rapidly overheat and begin a fire. Uncoil cords before you make connections to make sure they’re from overheating. Just use extension cords in excellent with unbroken sheathing and solid connections to plugs and receptacles. 

Making Connections

Make connections relating to the portable generator’s convenience receptacles straight away to appliances with extension cords.

Join generators with a home’s electrical system through a manual transfer switch. Never connect capability to a home by backfeeding a machine circuit like an electrical range or dryer outlet. Backfeeding can kill or injure utility workers.

On homes, a conveyable generator’s neutral and ground wire be bonded (connected) for the generator to satisfy OSHA safety regulations (unless a different, approved ground is given). Connection of a job-site generator with a home’s manual transfer switch may necessitate disabling the link before link to the switch. Confirm the user guide for instructions specific to grounding the portable generator.

For more info go to: www.GeneratorPowerForLess.com

The impact that a power outage has on our lives is critically increased due to the sole fact that we are so reliant on electricity. Homes, health care facilities, industry, and business all rely on electrical power not just for comfort, but to operate safety systems and protect property.

Key to a ::standbygenerator system:: is its capacity to discover a power outage and then start and run automatically without human intervention. In conjunction with an automatic transfer switch, they are permanently installed systems that discover a power outage and then provide the home or facility with power until the electric utility is capable to restore service. The generator will also automatically shut down once utility power is restored.

Critical Environments

Critical environments are those that cannot tolerate a power interruption. These include hospital operating rooms and intensive care units, computer installations, and other critical systems. These systems utilize uninterrupted power to prevent their systems from experiencing an outage, even for a few seconds.

Electrical power is stored in batteries. An inverter switches the battery power to the same power provided by the utility, which then powers the equipment connected to it. If power is interrupted, the batteries continue to supply power until the standby generator comes online and takes over keeping the batteries charged until the utility restores power .

In hospitals, other systems may not call for uninterrupted power, but they cannot be out of service for any length of time. During an outage, standby generators are the ones keeping these systems operational.

Commercial Facilities

Large commercial buildings have safety systems that rely on electrical power. Everything from emergency lighting to ventilation and fire safety systems require electricity, and when the power goes out, standby generators fill in until the electric company turns the power back on. During long-term outages, the batteries in emergency lights may have only a few hours of useful life . Without a standby generator to take over when the power goes out, emergency lights will fade and building occupants won’t be able to find their way.

For more info go to: www.Got-Generators.com

Portable generators provide electrical power wherever electrical power is required such as construction sites, campgrounds, and even homes hit by a power outage. Not just for comfort, they power tools, medical tools, and keep crucial home appliances working. It is crucial that working a generator is done safely and appropriate placement is paramount along with hooking it up and making connections. Follow these portable generator safety tips to prevent life-threatening mishaps. Always read your owner’s manual for safety instructions specific to the model you own.

General Safety

When a generator is currently in use, never try to refuel it. Turn the generator off and allow it to cool before adding fuel. When a generator is in operation, do not allow children to play near or around it. Burn and electrical hazards can injure a child. Disconnect loads from the generator before you turn it off and keep them disconnected until the generator is running again. When the generator is being used near your home or any other dwelling, make sure to use a battery-powered carbon monoxide detector. Keep combustible materials away from the generator. Generator exhaust contains carbon monoxide, an odorless, colorless gas that can quickly kill in a confined space. Never place a portable generator indoors, including the inside of a home, garage or shed, even if the windows and doors are open. No matter the fuel being used, windows and doors cannot provide enough proper ventilation for an internal combustion engine. Keep portable generators at least 10 feet from any dwelling including homes, tents, RVs, and campers. Make sure that your generator is far away from open doors, windows, or vents, as the fumes can seep into where you are residing. Also, be sure to place your generator downwind to avoid fumes entering the dwelling. Also, be mindful of the direction your exhaust may travel, and make sure to be aware of how close your neighbors are in relation to your generator. Always have a level stable surface that will not flood to place your generator on. 

Using Extension Cords

Use extension cords designed and rated for outdoor use. These extension cords are three-pronged plugs and receptacles and also should possess a ground wire. Make sure to obtain cords that will support how much power the devices used will draw. Common wire sizes include 14 gauges for up to 15 amperes, 12 gauges for up to 20 amperes, and 10 gauges for up to 30 amperes. In the event the cords will carry close to their maximum rated load greater than 80 % of times, intensify to the next (smaller gauge number) size cord. Electrical cords more than 100 feet require larger wires (smaller gauge number) to scale back voltage drop, that may cause motors to overheat or wear out. Tend not to pinch extension cords in windows or doors, or use cords when they’re coiled up. Pinched wires can quickly overheat and initiate a hearth. Uncoil cords before making connections to ensure that they’re from overheating. Only use extension cords in good shape with unbroken sheathing and solid connections to plugs and receptacles. 

Making Connections

Make connections between your portable generator’s convenience receptacles straight to appliances with extension cords.

Join generators into a home’s electrical system through a manual transfer switch. Never connect power to a house by backfeeding an appliance circuit like an electric powered range or dryer outlet. Backfeeding can kill or injure utility workers.

On project sites, a transportable generator’s neutral and ground wire be bonded (connected) for the generator to fulfill OSHA safety regulations (unless a different, approved ground is given). Connection of your job-site generator into a home’s manual transfer switch might require disabling the link before connection to the switch. Confirm the user guide for instructions specific to grounding the portable generator.

For more info go to: www.GeneratorPowerForLess.com