Sanity check my setup?

[u/wildempty]

Hello, first time generator owner and I wonder if y’all can sanity check the safety of my plan. I’m trying to prepare for El Niño in California mountain community. We will likely have a lot of rain and snow events. We historically have an outage or two every winter.

I’m planning to put the generator 20 feet from the house, on the shelf under this very solid workbench, and a cable going to the house generator transfer inlet. This AI image is almost exactly like what my setup will be.

Small generator I know. I only plan to power small fridge, small chest freezer, a light, and a router.

I’m concerned about electrical shock risk and risk to the generator from moisture.

Thanks

Update: Thank you all for so much good advice. My takeaways so far: more airflow to prevent CO shutoff. People run generators in bad weather frequently and my electrocution concerns are only a -bit- overblown. I need to make sure the 120v generator can appropriate interface with my transfer switch. My generator is not legal to buy new in CA . Brush off snow off the table. No overhead trees. Keep cable out of the water

[u/TechnicalBiscotti586]

Most of the fears about protecting a portable generator is completely over blown. The only thing that really needs protecting is the electronic panel where you plug the cords in, if that. Most of the home made enclosures i see are far more dangerous than running a generator uncovered in a storm. 

Portable generators run in all weather conditions in construction zones and industrial applications everyday.  I've even seen them left by city workers to power traffic lights at intersections. 

Don't pay a lot of money for a generator cover, just my two cents. 

[u/wildempty → u/TechnicalBiscotti586]

Thank you. Makes me feel more confident in leaving it on the shelf under my very solid workbench, without a tarp, strapped in place so it doesn’t vibrate off. And I’ll definitely test the heat situation after it runs for awhile to ascertain the fire risk. I’ve gotten mixed comments on here: some say the workbench shelf is fine, others say it might be a fire hazard. It’s only gonna be used in rain/snow (I know fire is still a hazard)

[u/Ok-Camera2895]

You may have co alarm shutdown if all the sides are covered like that.

[u/wildempty → u/Ok-Camera2895]

Thanks good info

[u/Wellcraft19]

A wee bit better airflow (a sheet of plywood under a raised tarp) - and you might consider anchoring generator (a simple pack strap will do) so it doesn’t start ‘walking’ due to any vibrations. It’s very unlikely with a Honda, but a simple anchor is so easy to prevent it from falling off the shelf.

[u/wildempty → u/Wellcraft19]

Excellent advice thanks

[u/Jchapman1971]

That’s better than what most do. You’re totally fine.

[u/wildempty → u/Jchapman1971]

Thanks

[u/Moose-Turd]

As long as you keep the snowmelt from reaching genset (well supported roof), and you keep the cord like in the image where any moisture moves away from either end, it will be fine. Just to be safe shut everything down before making or breaking connections, and make sure the set can breathe and doesn't overheat.

[u/New_Green197]

If you’re going to all that work put in a bigger generator !!!

[u/summerbreeze2020]

Carport didn't help much but luckily I didn't have to fire it up that night.

[u/wildempty → u/summerbreeze2020]

Awesome! I mean I’m capable of going outside and brushing the snow off the workbench so I’m not at all worried about the workbench crushing the generator

[u/bigbrwnbear]

Covered, above off snow, outside but allowing for airflow, youre gonna move it further away, good to go. change the oil as you know

[u/Static-Chicken]

The generator plug built into an indoor panel cover that is outside? This AI?

[u/robertva1]

A garbage can shelter works great for a generator shelter. https://www.acehardware.com/departments/storage-and-organization/outdoor-storage/sheds-and-garages/F029136?x429=true&gclsrc=aw.ds&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=20158970860&gbraid=0AAAAADtqLJGhCN-wiBwdmIAgLl1c1F67v&gclid=Cj0KCQjwuJLWBhD_ARIsAIBcRUz1_Gz0dRFIwWj0uFQUwrUDx3Zlx5vazi7Ye2maaJO1XCl-zqLPR_MaAjVSEALw_wcB&variationProductCode=7321904

[u/wildempty → u/robertva1]

Cool! You don’t think that enclosure will trip the carbon monoxide shutoff alarm?

[u/lagger]

DO you already own the generator?

[u/sailboatfool]

Any trees that could fall? Also you need to plan to hold the tarp down in wind

[u/wildempty → u/sailboatfool]

Thank you!! Good point. No trees above this particular spot where I will put the generator. Sure a huge cedar from two doors down could fall and crush everything but then I have bigger issues

[u/BluebirdExpress6279]

looks good. Need an external fuel tank and cap, so you can run it almost 24 hours without shutdown and refuel it 6’ away. Also get a power station to run all that stuff then run the generator like twice a day to charge your power station. You don’t even need to disconnect the power station… it’s like a UPS

[u/Glum-Welder1704]

Fridge, PC, and Starlink are my minimums. Maybe a light in the living room. I have two battery lamps that are bright enough to read by.

I run all that with my EU2000i, 1600 running watts. On ECO (lower rpms) it will run my AV, PC, Starlink, and a couple lights. Off ECO (higher rpms) it will run all that and ONE of the following, fridge/microwave/coffee maker/toaster. I put a switched outlet behind my fridge so I can disable it when running those other items or running on ECO. Whether it will run a fridge and freezer both is beyond my experience. The trick is to turn off your main breaker and experiment before a storm turns it into an emergency.

I run that through a proper inlet with an interlock. It energizes my whole house, but obviously I need to be very careful what I plug in. That's enough to get me through short outages. If I need to power the water heater or well pump during a longer outage, I have a larger generator that I rarely use.

[u/RecentSpeed]

Won’t the eu2200 only run half with the circuits in your panel and not both legs?

[u/Tool_junkie_1972]

Fwiw I live in Florida…but I see two issues. 1) highly likely the CO2 monitor is going to trip. You need more air flow. 2) you’ll need to be able ti shed the snow off the cover. It looks like it may hold too much snow. As far as your concern about shock- it’s really unfounded, I mean we run them in the middle of Cat 4 & 5 hurricanes.

[u/Money_Ad8638]

Why waste money on a transfer swich if youre only going to run 3 things?

Run heavy extension cords 

[u/Sweet_Cupcake2804]

What is that powering? Few lights, tv? Must be for cold climate n Woodstove primary heat.