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Why Would My Home Standby Generator Start Running When I'm Not in an Outage?

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Why Would My Home Standby Generator Start Running When I'm Not in an Outage?
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Read the manual thoroughly and understand all of the instructions, cautions, and warnings before using this equipment. If any section of the manual is not understood, contact your nearest authorized dealer, or contact Generac Customer Service at 1-888-436-3722 (1-888-GENERAC), or www.generac.com with any questions or concerns. 

 

Troubleshooting generator startup with utility power present

If your generator is running and you have confirmed that utility power is present in your home, follow these troubleshooting steps:

Note: Generators can also start in "brown out" situations where the utility voltage drops too low to safely power the house. This can cause the generator to start when it appears that utility power is still present. If brown outs happen regularly in your area, a brown out kit can be purchased to manage this: What Is a Brown out Kit and How Does It Work?


Environment

This article applies to Generac air-cooled home standby generators with an Evolution I or Evolution II controller. See here for more information: What is the Evolution controller for Generac home standby generators?
 

Troubleshooting steps

1. The generator may be exercising. Guardian series generators with Evo 1 or Evo 2 controllers do not power the home (transfer loads) during an exercise. See the What Is a Generator Exercise? article for more information.

2. Check the generator's control panel for error codes or alarms: Where can I find a list of error codes for my generator?

  • If there is an error code, turn the generator MLCB to OFF. Allow it to cool down for 5 minutes with no load applied.
  • Clear the error code by pressing OFF, then ENTER. Then, press MANUAL.
  • If the error code returns, follow the recommended troubleshooting to resolve it. Some error codes require attention from a service dealer: What Error Codes Do I Need to Call a Dealer For?

3. Verify the utility service disconnect is ON or CLOSED. 

  • The utility service disconnect is the breaker immediately after the utility meter. This may be in the home's main panel, automatic transfer switch, or a stand-alone box.
  • If you have confirmed that utility power is present, and the transfer switch is in the utility position, it is safe to turn the generator OFF at the control panel.
  • If you have confirmed that utility power is present, and the transfer switch is in the standby source or generator position, follow this process to safely shut down the generator: How Do I Shut Down My Generator When It’s Powering My House (During an Outage)?
  • For next steps, we recommend reaching out to a Generac authorized service dealer.
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