Portable Generator Safety

In South Texas, when the next tropical storm or hurricane threatens many NEC members purchase, connect, and test their back-up generators. A back-up generator is a tremendous resource during these difficult times when multiple day power outages may be common. However, it’s important to follow manufacturer’s instructions when installing and connecting generators to your home or business to ensure safety for both your family, the public and NEC line workers.

If you connect appliances directly to the generator, then you don’t need to worry about power back-feeding through your home wiring, and through our power lines to endanger our line workers trying to restore power.

If you plan to connect your generator to your home electrical wiring system to you can use your home outlets, then you need a licensed electrician to install a transfer switch to ensure there is no danger of electricity back-feeding. For more information, review our fact sheet, How to Operate a Portable Generator Safely.