Are you ready for the next hurricane season?

After seeing multiple hurricanes last year, we know now, more than ever that we need to be prepared for the worst. During and after a hurricane we can often be without power for a considerable time and while there are obvious inconveniences associated with that, there can also be many not so obvious health concerns as a result.

A loss of power will of course mean that we can't enjoy some of the luxuries that we've grown accustomed to such as television, air conditioning or email, but it also means that our perishable foods will last for a considerably shorter time. If we don't have enough non-perishable food to sustain us then we could be forced to either go hungry or eat food that may not be 100% safe. However with proper planning, we can utilize a portable generator to keep our refrigerator running and ensure that ...

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Top Reasons For Buying A Used Portable Generator

Are you interested in owning a used portable generator but you are afraid to make a mistake on picking the right one? Portable generators have become very popular over the last several years as people seek to have protection for their home and family in case of power shortage or power outage.

Some areas of the world are prone to frequent electrical outages or even power surges which means that having a portable generator becomes very important. For example, if lightning strikes nearby or high winds cause problems with the local cables running power to your house, this can cause ...

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Operation and Maintenance Tips in Using Portable Generators

It is great to have a portable generator when there is a power outage. It is an instant source of electricity to power up most of your appliances so that even if there is no current supply of electricity, you can count on this machine.

However, you need to be careful in maintaining this unit to avoid possible accidents that are terrible enough to affect your health and even your life. But as long as you keep proper procedures came from the manufacturer’s manual, you should be safe.

Electrocution, exposure to the toxic Carbon Monoxide, and fire accident will be the possible types of disaster you might face in lack of maintenance and ...

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Fixing Your Portable Generator

So, you've brought your generator out of storage, filled the tank, pulled the cord, and nothing. Hopefully, you are finding this out BEFORE the power outage or camping trip. This article will help you fix some common problems you may encounter. Before attempting any repair, remove the spark plug to prevent accidental starting while you are working on the unit.

If the generator will not start or won't stay started, check the muffler exhaust for an foreign debris. Once that is clean, check the gas and oil to make sure you have appropriate levels of both. Finally, make sure the spark plug has a good connection.

If the alternator fails to excite, it may be running at too low of a speed. Adjust the rpm. This can also result from a faulty capacitor or windings, which must be replaced and tightened.

If the voltage is running high with no load on the generator, you may need to adjust the rpms to a lower speed or replace the capacitor. Conversely, if the voltage is running low under no load, you may need to adjust the rpms to a higher speed or replace the capacitor with one with a higher rating. In addition, for low voltage, you should check your winding resistance and replace your rotary diodes, if needed.

If your voltage is ok with no load, but drops when you add a small load, you may need to increase your rpms or remove some of the load. You could also need to replace your rotary diodes.

If the voltage drops when you add a high load, you probably need to adjust the rpms or remove some of the load.

Finally, if the voltage fluctuates, it may be the result of loose or dirty connections. You may also need to regulate the rpms to solve this problem.