How to Prep, Run & Maintain Your Portable Generator

You just purchased — or are going to purchase — your very first generator. Great! It is going to be an important asset for your family, particularly in times of emergency. Although, a diesel generator has got a diesel engine and a pull cable, it is not the exact same thing as a lawn mower or weed whacker. There are a range of measures in the method of preparing, running and keeping your generator, you ought to know about before you start using it.

Here are a couple of tips to make certain that you get smooth, safe operation, and also the energy which you need:

NEVER run your diesel generator in a garage (even an open garage); also NEVER operate it at the house. Keep it out, at least 15 feet in the house, and far away from all windows. As valuable as the generator would be to keeping things going, it’s also a carbon monoxide machine.
Read the instruction manual from cover to cover, before you begin using this machine. The more you understand about your diesel generator, the much more competent to manage it efficiently, and it’ll offer several years of low-maintenance emergency power.
Before setup, you’d want to ground the generator. This can be done by connecting a number 6 AWG grounding cable in the grounding terminal to the pole that is at least 24 inches inside the floor. The grounding pole needs to become an earth-driven brass or aluminum rod which could satisfactorily ground the generator. The grounding cable and pole may not be included with the generator, so be sure you get those too as soon as making your purchase.

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Also read: Tips on Buying a Used Diesel Generator that Lasts Longer

Electric start generators are fast and effortless. It is a premium feature to have in diesel generators. If you already do possess an electric start generator, now is the time to make sure that the 12v battery is installed and connected.
Oil is vital to the long life of the engine. Also, without fuel the engine wouldn’t ignite. Go through the manual and make sure that you are using the apt type of oil and changing it according to the manufacturer’s specification.
Never overfill the oil tank. Be careful to keep the fuel level within 1” of the tank.
Let your used diesel generators for sale run briefly before you plug anything in it, and make sure when you do plug, that the appliance is off. Plug in appliances one at a time, and power each one up before you plug in the next one. You want to make sure you’ve got the power to spare. Before you plug in the equipment keep an eye on the watts of each unit. You must stay under the generator’s max, at all times. Overloading of the generator could damage the appliances.

Other tips to keep in mind

Avoid connecting your generator with a power cord into any electrical outlet in the house. This power will back feed into the utility lines running in your house, and during a blackout, this could harm the crew called in to restore electricity to your neighborhood.
Proper power cord must only be used. A power cord is measured in amps, while the power supplied by generators is measured in watts. Therefore, if you ever need a replacement power cord, choose one that matches the most powerful outlet on your generator. Make sure the power cord is heavy duty, less than 100 feet and at least 12 gauge.

Do not ever refuel a generator that is running, or even one with still-hot engine. The heat could ignite the fuel. Always shut it off and let it cool for at least 15 minutes. Also, refuel it only in a well-ventilated area.
Change the oil during lengthy outages. If your generator does not have an hour meter, keep a log so you don’t lose track of the time it has been running for.
Try conserving gas, only use appliances you need to and, if possible, turn it off overnight. Because, if your neighborhood is without power, chances are that the local gas stations are also in the dark.

When you’re done

When the power is restored, drain the fuel from the gen-set. If you leave the gas in, it might ruin the carburetor.
Change the oil once again.
Remember to feed the generator a 1/2 gallon of gas and run it for at least a 1/2 hour, every month. This will stop blockage in the carburetor.

If you follow these steps as suggested by the experts at Mid-American Engines, your generator will be ready for the next emergency, and will last for years, without leaving you in the dark even for once!

Frequently Asked Questions About Portable Generators

How to ensure smooth and safe operations from your diesel generator?

To start with, keep the generator at least 15 feet away from your home or office as it emits carbon monoxide. Get familiar with the generator by reading the manual thoroughly. The better you understand the machine, the better you will be able to operate it. And lastly, don’t forget to ground your generator before operating.

What are the other important things to keep in mind while operating a diesel generator?

You must avoid connecting the generator with a power cord to an electric outlet. Never refuel your generator while it is running. Use a proper power cord for attachment. Keep a tab on its running time and change the oil during long outages. Finally, use it judiciously. Connect only those appliances that you wish to use and turn the generator off overnight.

How to take care of the generator when it is not being used?

An idle machine is more likely to conk off than one that is used regularly. So, empty the generator’s fuel tank if you are not going to use it for a long time. Change the oil before storing it. Fill in some fuel and run the generator for half an hour once every month if it remains unused for a long time. This will stop any kind of blockages in the system.