Using A Portable Generator

[BB_TX]

I kinda knew you needed to be careful when using a portable generator, but never realized how many people die from it. Here is a report from the US consumer product safety commision.

<font color="blue"> FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 20, 2004
Release # 04-141 CPSC Consumer Hotline: (800) 638-2772
CPSC Media Contact: Ken Giles, (301) 504-7052

Portable Generator Death Reports Double:
CPSC Staff Discusses Ways to Reduce Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Deaths

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC)
today released a new staff report (pdf) announcing that reports of
generator-related carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning deaths doubled in
recent years. In 2003, CPSC had reports of 36 deaths from CO poisoning
associated with portable generators. In 2002, there were 40 deaths
reported. This was a 100 percent increase from the reported 18 deaths in
2001 and 20 deaths in 2000. From 1990 through 2003, 228 CO poisoning
deaths associated with portable generators were reported to CPSC. CPSC
staff held a forum today to discuss the new data and possible ways to
reduce the risk from generators.

"If you use a gasoline-powered generator, set it up outside in a dry
area, away from air intakes to the home," said CPSC Chairman Hal
Stratton. "Opening doors and windows or operating fans to ventilate will
not prevent CO build-up in the home. Even with a CO alarm, you should
never use a gasoline-powered generator inside your home or in a garage."

</font>

 

[Mrwurm]

Yep, every time we have a power outage, someone dies because they thought they could run a gas generator in their basement.

 

[Gatorboy]

It's amazing to me how many stupid people are walking around on this earth.

Hey, when do the 2004 Darwin Awards get announced?

 

[RayBee]

About 10 yrs. ago a fellow down the road from me was down in a well
tile doing some repairs to his well and a helper topside was tending a
portable generator or a gas operated pump (I can't recall) when the
deadly gas settled into the well and killed the owner real quick despite
all medical rescue help could do to revive him /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

 

[mahlers]

That's not the only way to get killed by portable generators. I don't know very many people who actually ground the generator like they're supposed to. Considering that these things are usually used in bad weather (rainy and muddy), it amazes me that more people don't get electrocuted when they go out to do things like check the fuel level or reposition the generator while it's running.

 

[Lazy]

Hi
How would grounding help?

Charlie.

 

[JDgreen227]

All the portable gensets I have seen use a metal frame to hold the mechanicals. If the power cord gets frayed or there is a short in the interior wiring it can energize the frame and touching it can give you a real jolt, especially if the ground you are standing on is wet. I have always thought that if the metal frame was touching the earth that was the same as grounding but apparently not. On my 10 hp Coleman I made a treated lumber cart to move it around, it has two fixed wheels and two swivel casters, and the wheels are rubber. This means that the frame on my genset is never grounded unless I ground it as Coleman recommends.

 

[chim]

Not too long ago an elderly couple near here had a portable generator running outside an open window. I can't remember if only one or both died from the CO getting into the house..............chim

 

[Slamfire]

A little trick I learned in a generating plant is to touch the frame of your generator with the back of your hand, if it is energized it will cause your contracting muscles to pull your hand away from the source. ALL of the equipment in the plant was grounded, but even ground cables fray.

 

[Egon]

I was also taught that Slamfire. Used to do it on everything electrical in the plant.

Egon