Grounding The Generator - Generac Portable Products 5500XL Owner's Manual

• The generator produces a very powerful voltage that can
cause serious injury or death by electrocution. Never
touch bare wires or receptacles. Never permit a child
or any unqualified person to operate the 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 9.
• Never start or stop the unit with electrical loads
connected to receptacles 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.
Generac Portable Products 5500XL Generator
• 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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