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. 

 

Generator maintenance safety

It is recommended that generator owners unfamiliar with generator maintenance tasks contact an Independent Authorized Service Dealer to perform generator maintenance. See the How Can I Find a Generac Service Dealer in My Area? article for more information. 

If an owner wishes to perform the maintenance themselves, they should consult their generator's owner’s manual before performing any maintenance items. To locate an owner's manual for a specific generator, see the How Do I Find a Copy of My Home Standby Generator Owner's Manual and Spec Sheets? article.

Environment

This article generally applies to home standby and portable generators. This information should be referenced when performing maintenance.

Powering off a home standby generator

1. Set the utility Main Line Circuit Breaker (MLCB) to Off (open).
2. Lift the generator lid and set generator MLCB (generator disconnect) to Off (open).
3. If running during a utility outage, allow the generator to run and cool down for five minutes with no load.
4. Press the OFF button on the controller to turn off the generator. Remove the 7.5A fuse to prevent the battery from draining when utility and the generator are both off.

Note: See How Do I Shut Down My Generator When It’s Powering My House (During an Outage)? for more information about how to safely shut a generator down while running during an outage.

Restoring power

When maintenance is complete:
 

1. Install the 7.5A fuse.
2. Verify the generator's MLCB is still off (the generator should never be started under load).
3. Press the AUTO button to turn the unit back to AUTO.
4. Allow the generator to warm up for a minute or so.
5. Turn the generator's MLCB on.
6. Turn the utility disconnect back on.

Powering off a portable generator

Before performing maintenance on a portable generator, owners should ensure the unit is turned off and has been allowed to cool.
 

1. Remove all loads from the portable generator.
2. Run the generator without a load for five minutes to cool down.
3. Use the power switch on the generator to power it off. 
4. Wait for the generator to cool down before performing maintenance tasks.

Additional precautions

• For all maintenance on home standby and portable generators, take off any jewelry or watches on hands or wrists to avoid injury.
• Always wear safety glasses while working on a generator. It is recommended to wear gloves to protect against harmful skin irritation associated with engine oil.
• Wipe away any drips of old or new oil when finished changing the oil.
• Do not handle an air filter with dirty hands or gloves.
• Let the unit cool before refueling to prevent any gasoline or deisel spills on hot engine parts.
• Keep children and pets away from the generator while performing maintenance.
• Clear plants, debris, or snow out and away from the generator. Clearance requirements will vary based on the generator model. See the What Should I Know About Clearance Requirements When Installing My Generator? article for more information.