The Generation Nation
5 Safety Tips for Using Generators
Power is no joke. We need it. Long ago, humanity only needed fires to keep life going. Nowadays? We need generators.
Maybe you’re camping in the backcountry, and you’re still “working from home” using your phone’s hotspot. That laptop of yours needs power, and so does your phone.
Enter: solar powered generators specifically designed to power up smaller electronics. This way you can hike all day, and work from the comfort of your sleeping bag with a view of a warm fire and snow-capped mountains in the background.
Or, maybe you’re not really an outdoor adventurer, and you need something a little more heavy-duty for disaster scenarios. Power outages are notorious during winter storms, heat waves, and especially tornadoes, hurricanes, and earthquakes. Okay, so pretty much every big city-disturbing natural event out there. But don’t worry, we got you.
Whether you just want to be off the grid, or you want to have a surefire backup when your city’s grid breaks the heck down, a generator is the way to go.
Thing is, generators can actually be quite dangerous.
Here are a few safety tips to keep in mind before you operate yours.
- Carbon Monoxide is a very unwanted guest. It’s lethal. This is especially true if your generator is fuel-powered. Never run your generator in a garage, inside your home, inside a tent, or anywhere without proper ventilation. Keep it outdoors at least 20 feet away from your home, friends!
- Generators are not toys. We love kids, and that’s why it’s important to keep yours away from generators. Be sure to explain to them that they can get very, very hot and can cause burns. Only grown ups get to use the generator!
- Friends don’t let friends operate generators in the rain. Only operate generators in wet conditions when absolutely necessary. You’ve gotta use a canopy-like structure so that absolutely no water gets on it, and make sure no puddles form nearby. Make sure your hands are dry too! Electrical shock is not fun.
- Generators are little helpers, but they’re not invincible. Before you plug appliances into your generator, make sure it’s turned on. Then, plug in cords one by one so you don’t overload it. Remember, generators are for temporary use.
- Don’t attempt to power up your whole darn house. Plugging a generator into your home’s electrical circuitry is called backfeeding, and, well, simply put, it’s a very, very bad idea. It’s asking for damage to your home’s electrical wiring, and even worse, a nasty home fire.
Thankfully, we don’t have rusty, rickety, super-loud and obnoxious generators for ya. We’ve got some fuel-powered and some solar-powered, all of which are top of the line and smartly built for optimal safety.
Check out our favorites!
Why we love it:
No fuel needed, this one’s great if you want to stay connected by keeping your smart electronics powered up when off the grid or when your grid clunks out!
Why we love it:
It’s both powerful and earth-friendly. Use this solar-generator to power up pretty much anything and feel guilt-free by living sustainably!
No matter what, remember:
don’t worry. be ready.