Bangor Hydro Electric Company

Late autumn, winter, and early spring are times when the threat of inclement weather and other unexpected interruptions cause extended power outages.

Many of us, including our friends, family and neighbors, have considered purchasing or borrowing

Click Here to download our Color Brochure

portable generators to use in the event of such a power outage. For the safety of you and your family, along with our field personnel we encourage you read the following tips on generator safety and operation.

Follow instructions - Carefully read and follow all manufacturers instructions, suggestions and safety precautions.

Generator Connections - Thorough knowledge about residential wiring is a must. The number one concern is to avoid "backfeeding" which is the result of improperly installing the generator and endangers the lives of our line workers and other emergency personnel. A generator must always be grounded before connecting to the building load. The safe thing to do is consult with a qualified electrician and consider installing a transfer switch.

Bangor Hydro strongly encourages all residential customers to have a properly licensed electrician install the equipment necessary to connect emergency generators, whether permanently mounted or portable, to their home's electrical system. All installations must meet the National Electrical Code. The Company recommends that following the installation of emergency generating equipment, the customer contact their local electrical inspection authority for final approval.

The following information is provided to assist the customer and their electrician when designing and installing emergency generating facilities. Generating equipment shall be designed to operate isolated from the Company's electrical system.

A positive acting, UL listed double-throw switch or transfer device, which is acceptable to the Company and meets all of the following requirements, shall be used:

  1. When service is manually transferred, this switch must be so arranged as to open all ungrounded conductors of the normal supply from the Company before any connection is made to the emergency supply.
    �
  2. The double-throw switch or transfer device must be so constructed and connected as to positively prevent any possibility of power from the customer's emergency source feeding back into the Company's distribution system.

When it is desired to energize all of the customer's distribution circuits from the emergency source, the above switch may be connected on the line side of the regular service disconnecting means. Where this switch is exposed to the weather, it must be of a rain-tight construction.

Conductors that may be energized by emergency generating equipment shall not be located in the same conduit or raceway as service entrance conductors from the Company's system.

When the emergency generator is arranged to serve only specific equipment by use of separate circuits that are not connected to the normal wiring system, a main transfer switch will not be required.

�Installation Instructions


Due to the number of models available on the market, Bangor Hydro no longer provides generator installation instructions online. We strongly recommend reading all installation instructions from your generator�s manufacturer before attempting to install your generator. If your instructions are missing, try to find your manufacturer on the web, or call your local retailer.

�Know Your Generator Capabilities


Review owners manual for wattage limits and abide by them. Overloading the generator can be a hazard. Consider emergency circuits only. There is no need for a full house circuit. Recommended emergency circuits include heating (gas & oil) or limited electric heat, well and sump pumps, refrigerator, and perhaps one lighting circuit.

Most generators can�t handle all these circuits at one time. With the use of a transfer-switch the load can be balanced by allowing you to manually transfer each circuit or load separately.

�What Size Generator? What Size Loads?


These are the typical wattage requirements of average household appliances to help you determine generator size.

Appliance

Watts

� Clothes Dryer

5000

� Clothes Washer

520

� Dish Washer

1200

� Freezer

450

� Kitchen Counter Outlet

1380

� Microwave Oven

1460

� Oil Fired Heating Plant

1500

� Range, Four Burner

8000

� Range Hood

160

� Refrigerator

450

� Space Heater

1500

� Television

270

� Water Heater, QR.

4500

 Water Pump

750


Warning:
Protect You and Your Family From Carbon Monoxide Poisoning!


The exhaust fumes from a gas-powered generator contain a deadly odorless and tasteless gas called carbon monoxide ("CO" for short). It is important that you not place a generator where carbon monoxide levels can build up and seep into your home. During the Ice Storm of January 1998, over 100 people had to be treated in emergency rooms because of carbon monoxide poisoning; eleven people had to be admitted to a hospital and one person died. The great majority (70%) of these cases were due to improper generator placement.
  • Never Operate a Generator In Your Home! That includes not operating a generator in the basement. Always operate generator outdoors and try to locate away from windows, doors, and fresh air intakes.
     
  • Never operate a gasoline generator in an attached enclosed space such as your basement bulkhead, garage, or porch.
     
  • It is suggested that anyone operating a generator should also have working carbon monoxide detectors powered by batteries. It is very important that you have battery powered sensors because in most instances the generator is running because you have no power and if that circuit for the sensor is not energized it will not detect a carbon monoxide problem. Be sure to check the the monitor has been approved by Underwriters Laboratory.

Interesting Carbon Monoxide (CO) Facts

  • Carbon Monoxide is colorless, odorless, tasteless and very deadly gas that is present in the exhaust fumes of an operating gasoline powered engine.
     
  • It only takes a matter of minutes breathing carbon monoxide to kill you. Carbon Monoxide displaces oxygen molecules which reduces the amount of oxygen our blood cells can deliver to the heart, brain, and other tissues.
     
  • Breathing lower levels of carbon monoxide can cause fatigue and increase chest pain in people with chronic heart disease.
     
  • Breathing higher levels of carbon monoxide causes flu-like symptoms, such as headaches, dizziness, and weakness. It also causes sleepiness, nausea, fatigue, vomiting, confusion, and disorientation.
     
  • Breathing very high levels of carbon monoxide causes loss of consciousness and death.

     "In the event you experience any of these symptoms and you have any reason to suspect carbon monoxide poisoning, you should immediately leave the area and seek fresh air. You should contact your local fire department (they can test for carbon monoxide), and obtain medical advice about need for any treatment."
     
  • Nearly 300 people die every year from carbon monoxide poisoning and thousands of others become ill or seek medical attention.

Thanks to the Bureau of Health, State Toxicologist Augusta, Maine for providing information about carbon monoxide.

For more information about dangers of carbon monoxide poisoning from gas powered generators, contact Andrew E.Smith,Sm,Scd
State Toxicologist; andy.e.smith@state.me.us.