Use Your Camping Generator Safely

Your camping generator can be your best friend in the event of an extended power failure at home. Hurricanes, tornadoes, ice storms, and nasty summer thunderstorms take down utility power lines all the time. No matter where you live extreme weather is always a possibility.

If you been camping with your generator a few times you are probably already well versed in generator safety. But what about the rest of your family members? If you were not readily available when the portable generator was needed could they start it up and operate it safely?

With sufficient warning time you can dig the generator out the back of the rv or wheel it out of the shed to a convenient location likely to stay out of the weather. Top off the generator while the engine is not running and is cool to the touch. If you cannot attach the filler cap with a cord or whatever to the generator frame then pick up a spare and secure the spare filler cap to the generator.

A common practice in hurrican alley is to store gasoline in metal 5 gallon containers (jerry can). Mark the date you filled the container on masking tape and place it right on the jerry can. Because gasoline absorbs moisture and changes its consistency over time you will want to empty the container into your vehicle and refill it with fresh gas every three months. Gasoline fumes are extremely explosive and your jerry cans must be stored in a cool and well ventilated area.

Carbon monoixide is a killer. Not many inexperienced operators will actually bring a generator into the house, but many will leave a running portable generator under an open window or beside an open door. Even if the smell of gasoline fumes is not evident inside the house odorless carbon monoxide fumes can still be replacing the inside air. It doesn’t take much to cause headaches and drowsiness, and not much more than that to cause death.

If your portable generator has been stored for any length of time check the electrical outlets for insects and dirt. You’d be surprised how many different things can end up inside the receptacles. In an emergency an inexperienced user may attempt to clean it out while the generator is running.