Running a Portable Generator in Rain / Snow

wsmm

Member
Every manual I've read, says not to run your generator in the rain or snow. I use mine to power my house when we loose power, which seems to be way too much this year. Do any of your use your generator in the rain or snow? If so what precautions do you use. Any and all suggestions and advice is appreciated. My generator is a Honda clone, 6500 watt. I have a plug on the exterior of my house that feeds the transfer panel in the house. We lost power about 3am on the 24th and they don't expect to have it restored until 11:36 Monday the 28th. Weather man just said rain today and fir the next few days, just great. Don't want to ruin my generator, but with my wife just home for the hospital, need to power the house at least during the day. In the night I try to keep the fire place going, that keeps the chill somewhat off of the house.
Thanks for any and all help,
Bill
 
I have not had to use mine yet (touch my wooden head), but I have a dedicated spot and a tarp to hang over it.
 
Most generators have a ground terminal where you can run a heavy wire to a good ground. This will be the ground rod on your house or drive a new ground rod near the generator since it shouldn't be running near your house due to CO poisoning. With rain and snow using ground wire would be safer to prevent electric shocks. The rain shouldn't damage the engine, but could damage the generator if it causes a short. We run our generator all the time without a ground, but in wet conditions like yours I would use one and keep a tarp over it.

Larry
 
We lost power last Tuesday. Power was off for just 12 hrs. Wind blew main line down about a mile from our house. I hook gen in shop, just leave big doors open about 2 ft. It was raining hard. Have you thought about one of those summer pop up sun shades. We use one to go to tractor pulls. About $100. Or a deer hunting blind.
 
This last week we were out of electric for 48 hours from ice storm. I run mine in work shop just inside over head door (100 feet from house). I ran it with door half open during day and shut it at night and in morning throw both over head doors before fueling it.
 
I run ours in our shed and back feed the house. I put it on a small two wheel trailer to make it easier to move around if the need would arise. I've considered putting a small tin roof/cover over it like the old steam engine tractors use to have. But soon I'm going to me mounting it permanently in my shed close to the electric box and run the exhaust out thru the wall, so I won't have to worry about moisture.
 

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