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Providing
Powerful Solutions for Changing Times
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The hurricanes this summer and
the massive blackout in August 2003 created an increased demand for emergency
generators. Tornadoes, ice, and snowstorms can also cause major, long-term
outage emergencies. But buying a generator in an emergency is never a good idea.
First of all, the price is normally high and can increase with demand. Even
worse, safe installation and use of the generator are often ignored when
installed quickly during an emergency. Improperly installing and
running a generator can kill you or the line personnel trying to restore power.
Improper use can also damage or destroy appliances, cause fire or cause carbon
monoxide poisoning. The safety of transferring your power needs to an emergency
generator is your responsibility. The biggest concern is proper
hookup of the generator. It must be hooked up through a double-pole,
double-throw transfer switch unless you are plugging in individual appliances
directly to the generator. When you're using your generator to provide power to
the whole house, a transfer switch disconnects your wiring system and generator
from your power supplier’s system. This eliminates any chance of the generator
feeding power back into the electric system. We can't stress enough the
importance of using a transfer switch and hooking up the generator properly. The
danger works the other way, too. Should service be restored while the generator
is running without a proper transfer switch, the generator can be damaged or
destroyed. Small generators are usually not
powerful enough to run your complete household needs. Overloading can cause
damage to the generator and appliances. It can also cause a fire hazard.
Undersized extension cords can also overheat. Don't let a
weather disaster turn into a personal disaster. If you need an emergency
generator, by all means, purchase one now and have a transfer switch installed
before the storm hits. Southwest PPD line personnel will always work tirelessly
to get your power back on as quickly as possible. It's a dangerous job even in
the best of conditions. By installing a double-pole, double-throw generator
transfer switch you'll know you've protected them and your home. They'll
appreciate your concern for their safety. Don Suda |
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