Portable generators

Portable generators: inspection, test running, fuel and storage. Placement and exhaust safety are covered in full, because carbon monoxide is the hazard that kills people who did everything else right.

Common failure modes

• A generator never test-run before the outage it was bought for
• Stale fuel
• Placement too close to a dwelling, a window or a vent

Procedures

• How far from the house should a generator be, and which way should the exhaust point?A generator is the one piece of equipment most people buy, store, and then use for the first time in the dark, in bad we
• How to clean or change the air filter on a portable generatorThis is one of the few filter jobs where the manufacturers really do publish a wash-and-reuse method, and they are unusu
• What size generator do I need, and how do I work out running watts and starting watts for the things I want to power?Almost every "what size generator do I need" answer you will find is a table of appliance wattages. This page does not h
• Choose an extension cord for a portable generatorAn undersized extension cord can overheat and cause fire. Match the wire gauge to your generator's amperage and the dist

Where this stops

Connection to a dwelling's wiring needs a licensed electrician and a transfer switch. It is never covered here.