Hookups & Safety

Generators are safe when they are connected the right way and run in the right place. Most of the serious accidents come from two mistakes: backfeeding a house through a cord, and running an engine where exhaust can get indoors.

The safe way into your wiring is a transfer switch or interlock; what a transfer switch for a portable generator is explains the options and what installing one costs gives you a budget. Grounding confuses a lot of owners, so whether you need to ground a portable generator sets out when it matters. For weather and exhaust, see running a generator in the rain. Panel work belongs to a licensed electrician.