Installation / Initial Set-Up
24
3. Planning the Power Load
Plan your power load so that you do not exceed the generator’s rated capacity.
See the “Power Load Planning & Management” section of this manual to review how to plan and manage power
loads for the generator.
4
. Set-up either as a BUILDING BACK-UP or PORTABLE Power Source
This generator is designed to provide up to its rated amount of electrical power. It can supply electricity in two
ways:
1.
As a back-up, standby power source for a building.
For this application, you must arrange for a licensed
electrician to connect the generator to your building’s electrical system via the installation of an
UL-approved
transfer switch. The transfer switch must be installed in accordance with building electrical code and
guidelines supplied by your power company.
2.
As a portable power source
. You can plug appliances or tools directly into the generator’s electrical
outlets.
Specific requirements for each are given below.
Note: Regardless of whether you use your generator as a back-up power source connected to a building or as a
portable power source, you must not overload the generator. Overloading may cause serious damage to the
generator and attached electrical devices.
Using as a
Back-up Power
Source for a
Building
Contact a licensed electrician to install an UL-listed transfer switch
if you want to use
your generator as a back-up power source for a building.
What does a transfer switch do? It:
a) Safely connects the generator to your building’s electrical sy
stem by isolating your
generator from your utility company’s power lines, AND
b) Connects your generator to a critical subset of your building’s circuits that are needed
for emergency power needs.
If your generator will be connected to your building’s el
ectrical system, it MUST ALWAYS
be isolated from the utility power grid with a
UL-listed transfer switch installed by a licensed
electrician
in compliance with all applicable building and electrical codes, and in
accordance with guidelines supplied by your power company.
DANGER
:
A transfer switch must be installed in order to isolate your
generator from the utility power grid. If your generator is NOT properly isolated
from the utility system, serious hazards will arise:
When your generator is running, its output will back feed into the utility
power line and transformer that are normally used to provide you with
power. The transformer will step up the current to the normal line voltage.
An unsuspecting utility line worker working on an assumed deactivated line
could be electrocuted.
If your generator is connected (running or not) when utility power is
restored, your generator will be destroyed. It could also explode or cause
fire.
