Owner Guide

Electrical Hazards
Follow these tips to protect against electrical hazards:
• NEVER try to power the house wiring by plugging the generator into a wall outlet, a practice known as “Back
Feeding”. This is an extremely dangerous practice that presents an electrocution risk to utility workers and
neighbours served by the same transformer. It also bypasses some of the built-in household circuit protection
devises.
• If you must connect the generator to household wiring to power appliances, have a qualified Electrical
Contractor install the appropriate equipment in accordance with Australia Wiring Rules and Energex or Ergon
Energy requirements.
• For power outages, permanently installed stationary generators are better suited for providing backup power to
the home. Even a properly connected portable generator can become overloaded. This may result in
overheating or stressing the generator components, possibly leading to generator failure.
• Keep the generator dry and do not use in the rain or wet conditions. To protect from moisture, operate it on a
dry surface under an open, canopy-like structure. Dry your hands if wet before touching the generator.
• Plug appliances directly into the generator. Or, use a heavy duty, outdoor-rated extension cord that is rated (in
watts or amps) at least equal to the sum of the connected appliances loads. Check that the entire cord is free of
cuts or tears and that the plug has all three prongs, especially a grounding pin.
To avoid electrocution:
• Plug individual appliances into the generator using heavy duty, outdoor rated cords with a current rating/wire
size adequate for the appliance load,
• Observe the generator manufacturer’s instructions for safe operation.
• Do not plug the generator into a wall outlet.
• If you need to connect the generator to the house wiring, have a qualified electrical contractor install the
standby electrical system.
Fire Hazards
Follow these tips to protect against fire hazards:
• Never store fuel for your generator in the home. Petrol, propane, kerosene and other flammable liquids should
be stored outside of living areas in properly labelled, non-glass safety containers. Do not store them near a fuel
burning appliance, such as a natural gas water heater in a garage. If the fuel is soiled, or the container is not
sealed properly, invisible vapours from the fuel can travel along the ground and can be ignited by the
appliance’s pilot light or by the arcs from electric switches in the appliances.
• Before refuelling the generator, turn it off and let it cool down. Gasoline spilled on hot engine parts could ignite.
Permanently connected generators
A generator may be connected to your house circuit. This must be done by a Licensed Electrical Contractor and must
meet Local Supply Authority requirements and also be installed in accordance with Australian Standards for electrical
safety.
• AS/NZS 3000 Wiring Rules
• AS 3010.1 Electrical Installations – Supply by Generating Set,
• Australian Standard AS2790 – Electricity Generating Sets – Transportable (up to
25kW)