ELECTRICAL HAZARDS
• All generators covered by this guide produce dangerous electrical voltages
and can cause fatal electrical shock. Utility power delivers extremely high and
dangerous voltages to the transfer switch as well as the standby generator.
Avoid contact with bare wires, terminals, connections, etc., on the generator
as well as the transfer switch, if applicable. Ensure all appropriate covers,
guards and barriers are in place before operating the generator. If work must
be done around an operating unit, stand on an insulated, dry surface to
reduce shock hazard.
• Do not handle any kind of electrical device while standing in water, while
barefoot, or while hands or feet are wet. DANGEROUS ELECTRICAL SHOCK
MAY RESULT.
• If people must stand on metal or concrete while installing, operating, servicing,
adjusting or repairing this equipment, place insulative mats over a dry wooden
platform. Work on the equipment only while standing on such insulative mats.
• The National Electrical Code (NEC), Article 250 requires the frame and
external electrically conductive parts of the generator to be connected to
an approved earth ground and/or grounding rods. This grounding will help
prevent dangerous electrical shock that might be caused by a ground fault
condition in the generator set or by static electricity. Never disconnect the
ground wire.
• Wire gauge sizes of electrical wiring, cables and cord sets must be adequate
to handle the maximum electrical current (ampacity) to which they will be
subjected.
• Before installing or servicing this (and related) equipment, make sure that all
power voltage supplies are positively turned off at their source. Failure to do
so will result in hazardous and possibly fatal electrical shock.
• Connecting these units to an electrical system normally supplied by an electric
utility shall be by means of a transfer switch so as to isolate the generator
electric system from the electric utility distribution system when the generator
is operating. Failure to isolate the two electric system power sources from
each other by such means will result in damage to the generator and may also
result in injury or death to utility power workers due to backfeed of electrical
energy.
• Generators installed with an automatic transfer switch will crank and start
automatically when normal (utility) source voltage is removed or is below an
acceptable preset level. To prevent such automatic start-up and possible injury
to personnel, disable the generator’s automatic start circuit (battery cables,
etc.) before working on or around the unit. Then, place a “Do Not Operate” tag
on the generator control panel and on the transfer switch.
• In case of accident caused by electric shock immediately shut down the
source of electrical power. If this is not possible, attempt to free the victim from
the live conductor. AVOID DIRECT CONTACT WITH THE VICTIM. Use a non-
conducting implement, such as a dry rope or board, to free the victim from the
live conductor. If the victim is unconscious, apply first aid and get immediate
medical help.
