There are a number of reasons why you might have invested in a Honda generator. Perhaps you live on a rural property and want the reassurance of power should there be an outage. Perhaps you enjoy camping but don't want to give up the comforts of home. Perhaps your work regularly takes you away from outlets but you still need to power tools or machines. No matter the reason, it is important that you keep a few safety considerations in mind.
Never operate an internal combustion engine inside your home, garage or any other enclosed area. A generator needs an unlimited supply of fresh air during its operation to ensure proper cooling. As these engines generate carbon monoxide (which can be lethal if exposed for too long), good ventilation is essential. The equipment needs a minimum of 3 to 4 feet of space on all sides (including the top) and should only be operated on a level surface.
Never feed power from your Honda generator into a wall outlet. This is commonly referred to as “back feeding” and can actually cause several safety hazards. You will actually be feeding power into the power lines connected to the building, which can cause severe injury or even death to any workers coming into contact with them. The equipment may also produce more amperage than the circuit can safely handle, which can cause overheating and fires.
Never add fuel to your Honda generator when it is running. It is safe to add fuel once the equipment has been turned off, even if it hasn't cooled down. It is important that spare fuel is stored in approved containers, as this will ensure that it stays fresh for as long as possible and that the fumes will be contained. The use of old fuel can actually cause problems for the equipment, from affected performance through to a refusal to start.
Safely providing a building with power is achieved with the use of a quality extension cord and surge protected power strip. This should be connected from the generator directly to the appliance that you want to power. You can use a power requirement chart to help determine which appliances can be powered safely (and which can't). During a power outage, your main concern should be sufficient light (followed by powering the fridge and freezer).
Please note that portable generators over 2000 watts can be used to power microwave ovens, toaster ovens, and other electrical cooking devices (so you can eat a hot meal even if the power is out).
We hope that the considerations and instructions outlined above have shown you the importance of safety when it comes to the use of Honda generators. It doesn't matter where you intend on using this equipment, all that matters is that you use it safely. This is why it is equally important that you read the manual accompanying your generator before putting it to use, as this will provide you with considerations relevant to your particular model.
Hastings Mowers supplies wide range of branded ride on mowers, lawn mowers, line trimmers, chainsaws and log splitters in Melbourne, Australia.
