If you plug your generator directly into a wall outlet, then the wiring in your house is no longer protected by a circuit breaker or fuse in your power panel. The wiring could become overloaded, overheat, and start a fire in your house.

How do you hook up a generator to a house outlet?

You simply plug the gen cord into the 20- or 30-amp outlet on your generator. The opposite end splits into several household outlets, where you can start connecting additional extension cords safely indoors.

Do I need a 240 volt generator?

For higher voltage applications such as supplying certain tools or connecting to the house during an outage, the 240-volt option is important. If youre looking at 3000 watts or less, youre probably fine with a 120-volt generator. Otherwise, choose a generator with 120/240-Volt outlets.

Can generators run 220 volts?

The biggest limitation of recreational generators? They cant power hardwired appliances (such as central heating or air conditioning, or a well pump) or plug-in appliances that require 220 volts (such as an electric range or dryer).

What happens if generator is running when power comes back on?

Feeding power back into the electrical system during an outage will energise the transformer serving your house. If power is restored while your generator is backfeeding, it may severely damage the generator.

How do I connect my inverter generator to my house?

0:144:18How to Connect a Small Generator to Your House - Safe - YouTubeYouTube