Portable Generator - Safety When Troubleshooting Your Generator
Portable Generator Article
Safety When Troubleshooting Your Generator
Troubleshooting a portable generator starts with safety checks of the system. Always use caution when troubleshooting the portable generator since you don't yet know what is wrong with it. Make sure the generator is only operated outside with plenty of ventilation. A by-product of the internal combustion engine is carbon monoxide, an odorless, colorless gas that deprive you of oxygen, making you feel dizzy or sick. If you should notice these conditions, you need to get to fresh air immediately.Other hazzards to watch out for while troubleshooting your portable generator are electrical shock and fire. Running the gererator in a wet environment or working on it while standing in water can cause you severe shock. Likewise, frayed or broken cords can be hazardous. Refueling the portable generator while it is running or before it cools down can cause a fire with any spilled fuel.
Once you have made sure that you have followed these safety steps, you are ready to use the owner's manual to find out what the problem may be. Classify your problem as either a starting issue, a running issue, a generating or power issue, or an issue with transmitting the power to the necessary appliances.
If the portable generator won't start, check to see that there is sufficient fuel available. If the unit has a battery starter, is the battery dead and not starting the engine? If there is no battery starter or the battery starter works but the engine won't fire, you will need to check spark plugs or the ignition to see if they are working properly.
If the portable generator won't keep running after it starts, the problem is most likely stale or contaminated fuel. If the unit has set unused for an extened period of time, you may have to get a fuel additive to get the engine running and then change out the fuel in the tank.
If the portable generator runs but does not generate any power, it is most likely that the generator is either not engaging or has gone defective.
If the portable generator runs and outputs power to the console, but you are not getting power to your appliances, you should change out your cords to make sure they are not defective.
While this is only a cursory look at the problems you may encounter, hopefully it will get you looking in the right direction. Obviously, some repairs may be major and require a qualified technician to take care of. At least you should be able to tell them where you have narrowed the problem down to in the system.
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