Owner Guide

A permanently wired generator changeover switch must be installed to ensure that at no time parallel operation is
possible, and that effective isolation is maintained between all active conductors of the load being supplied by the
generator and the electrical installation connected to supply from either Energex or Ergon Energy.
Carbon Monoxide Hazard
NEVER use a generator in enclosed or partially enclosed spaces. Generators can produce high levels of Carbon Monoxide
(CO) very quickly. When you use a portable generator remember that you cannot smell or see CO. even if you don’t
smell exhaust fumes, you may still be exposed to CO. If you start to feel sick, dizzy or weak while using a generator, get
to fresh air RIGHT AWAY. DO NOT DELAY. The CO from generators can rapidly lead to full incapacitation and death.
If you experience serious symptoms, get medical attention immediately. Inform medical staff that CO poisoning is
suspected. If you experience symptoms while indoors, have someone call the fire department to determine when it is
safe to renter the building.
Follow these safety tips to protect against CO poisoning:
• NEVER use a generator indoors, including in homes, garages, basements, crawl spaces, and other enclosed or
partially enclosed areas, even with ventilation. Opening doors and windows or using fans will not prevent CO
build-up in the home.
• Follow the instructions that come with your generator. Locate the unit outdoors and away from doors, windows
and vents that could allow CO to come indoors.
• Install battery-operated CO alarms or plug-in CO alarms with battery back-up in your home, according to the
manufacturer’s installation instructions. Test your CO alarms frequently and replace dead batteries.
Backfeeding
Backfeeding is a very dangerous condition in which electricity from your generator flows back through your electrical
panel and meter into Energex or Ergon Energy electrical systems.
Backfeeding can occur when a generator is connected to your home wiring system without disconnecting from the
Energex or Ergon electrical systems.
The most common way this could occur is if you directly connect a generator to your electric panel or to a circuit in your
home.
If you feed power back into the electrical system during an outage, you will energize the transformer serving your
house. This poses an electrocution hazard for Energex or Ergon Energy line crews and for your neighbours who may not
know the lines are energized. If power is restored while your generator is backfeeding, you generator will be severely
damanged.
How can backfeeding be prevented?
The simple answer is to always keep generator power and Energex or Ergon Energy electrical systems isolated from each
other.
• Permanent generators are isolated from the electrical system with a transfer switch installed between the
generator and the electrical panel. The transfer switch allows power to be fed from only one source at a time. A
licensed Electrical Contractor must conduct this.
• Portable generators are usually connected directly to an appliance or piece of equipment through an extension
cord. As long as the equipment has not hard-wired to the building’s electrical panel, there is no path back to the
panel. Transfer switches are available to safely connect portable generators to building electrical systems.