Generac 5500XL manual Grounding The Generator, Never operate the generator

Generac Portable Products 5500XL Extended Life Generator

•Never handle any kind of electrical cord or device while standing in water, while barefoot, or while hands or feet are wet. Death or serious injury from electrocution may result.

•Use a ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) in any damp or highly conductive area (such as metal decking or steel work).

•Never use worn, bare, frayed or otherwise damaged electrical cords with the generator. Death, serious injury, or property damage from electrical shock may result.

•Gasoline is highly FLAMMABLE and its vapors are EXPLOSIVE. Never allow smoking, open flames, sparks or heat in the vicinity while handling gasoline. Avoid spilling gasoline on a hot engine. Comply with all laws regulating storage and handling of gasoline.

•Do Not overfill the fuel tank. Always allow room for fuel expansion. If tank is overfilled, fuel can overflow onto a hot engine and cause a FIRE or an EXPLOSION.

•Never store a generator with fuel in the tank where gasoline vapors might reach an open flame, spark or pilot light (as on a furnace, water heater, clothes dryer). FIRE or an EXPLOSION may result.

•The unit requires an adequate flow of cooling air for its continued proper operation. Never operate the unit inside any room or enclosure where the free flow of cooling air into and out of the unit might be obstructed. Allow at least 2 feet of clearance on all sides of generator, or you could damage the unit. Read “Cold Weather Operation” on page 8.

•Never start or stop the unit with electrical loads connected to receptacles and with the connected devices turned ON. Start the engine and let it stabilize before connecting any electrical loads. Disconnect all electrical loads before shutting down the generator.

•Do Not insert any object through cooling slots of the engine. You could damage the unit or injure yourself.

•Never operate the generator:

in rain; in any enclosed compartment; when connected electrical devices overheat; if electrical output is lost; if engine or generator sparks; if flame or smoke is observed while unit is running; if unit vibrates excessively.

GROUNDING THE

GENERATOR

The National Electrical Code requires that the frame and external electrically conductive parts of this generator be properly connected to an approved earth ground. Local electrical codes may also require proper grounding of the unit. For that purpose, a GROUNDING WING NUT is provided on the generator (Figure 1).

Figure 1 - Grounding Wing Nut

Grounding Wing Nut

Generally, connecting a No. 12 AWG (American Wire Gauge) stranded copper wire to the grounding wing nut and to an earth–driven copper or brass grounding rod (electrode) provides adequate protection against electrical shock. Be careful to keep the grounding wire attached to the generator when connecting the stranded copper wire to the grounding rod. However, local codes may vary widely. Consult with a local electrician for grounding requirements in your area.

Properly grounding the generator helps prevent electrical shock if a ground fault condition exists in the generator or in connected electrical devices. Proper grounding also helps dissipate static electricity, which often builds up in ungrounded devices.

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