Saturday 28 September 2013

What You Should Know About the Coleman Generator

The Coleman portable generator is one of the leading generators on the market today, which is not exactly surprising since the Coleman Company has been an industry leader for over a century. Founded in 1902 by W. C. Coleman, the company is headquartered in Wichita, Kansas. The Coleman generator is only one product in a prominent product line, along with different lights that use propane, gasoline and kerosene. They also produce and distribute different camping and recreational items along with air conditioning equipment and home heating devices. If you want to comparison shop, then consider checking the internet for reviews on different generators.

Power outages in the west, tornadoes in the east, tropical disturbances in the south and ice storms in the north have no doubt alerted many people to the importance of being prepared. Along with your emergency plan and enough food and water to last several days, it may also be wise to consider adding a small portable generator to your arsenal of emergency equipment. Perhaps one of the most popular features is the fact that there are so many different models from which to choose; from the Coleman portable generator to the 16,000 watt commercial one and everything in between, it is quality and reliability you can trust.

Portable, standby generators with wheels is one of the best sellers, however, most filling stations will often close down during outages. Most of the Coleman generator home models use 13 to 19 gallons of gas per day and the fuel must be preserved with a stabilizer and stored in a ventilated shed, so just be sure it is away from your home and any type of ignition source.

Many of the portable home generators claim a 2800 to 6600 watt output, which is more than adequate to power your electric appliances, but not enough for heavier power drains, such as central air conditioning. Be sure to check the wattage of the appliances that you want to be able to run and add them up before checking the different generators out so you have some idea of what you will need.

Of course there are risks involved so you need to take measures to keep it running safely. Poisoning by carbon monoxide can be prevented by having it around 18 to 20 feet from your home, and do not let it run in a garage, basement or any other enclosed area.

There are always safety precautions that should be followed when installing the Coleman generator, or any of the other brand name generators. It should never be connected directly to your house; instead, have a transfer switch installation done that will connect it to your home wiring system. Reduce the risk of fire by turning gas generators off before attempting to refuel them and store the gasoline in a cool, well ventilated area in ANSI (American National Standard Institute) approved containers.