Generator Safety

Lawn Mower Safety

Designing a Safe Generator

Your Honda generator is equipped with several significant safety features. Fully understanding each function is the key to safe operation.

It is important to familiarize yourself with your product and its features, design and operation before use, even if you have operated similar power products in the past.

Please read and fully understand your owner's manual and see the information below for proper controls on how to safely operate them.

Number one

Canadian Standards Association (CSA) approved (not all manufacturers are)

Number two

Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI) protection on certain models

Number three

Honda's Super Quiet EU Series have lower noise ratings, which can contribute to a safer work environment.

*Disclaimer: users are advised to check owner's manual to confirm available product safety features prior to use.

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A Few Words About Safety

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  • Your safety and the safety of others are very important.
  • This information alerts you to potential hazards that could hurt you or others.
  • It is not practical or possible to warn you about all the hazards associated with operating or maintaining your Honda lawn mower. You must use your own good judgement.
  • Your safety is your responsibility. A little time spent in preparation will significantly reduce your risk of injury.
  • Read and understand your owner's manual.
  • Know what the controls do and how to operate them.
  • Familiarize yourself with your lawn mower and its operation before you begin using it.
  • Know how to quickly shut off your Honda lawn mower in case of emergency.

Keep Your Generator In Safe Operating Condition

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  • Read and understand the owner's manual before operating the generator. Failure to do so could result in personal injury or equipment damage.
  • Always perform a pre-operation inspection before starting the engine.
  • All Honda generators are CSA certified. Never modify your generator. CSA certification requires the generator to be operated in its original condition only.
  • Operate the generator on a level surface
  • Do not connect an extension to the exhaust pipe.
  • Connections for standby power to a building's electrical system must be made by a qualified electrician and must comply with all applicable laws and electrical codes.
  • Improper connections can allow electrical current from the generator to backfeed into the utility lines. Such back feed may electrocute utility company workers or others who contact the lines during a power outage, and when utility power is restored, the generator may explode, burn, or cause fires in the building's electrical system.
  • Use an approved isolation/transfer switch to ensure that either grid or generator electricity (but never both) feed the panel at one time.
  • When an extension cable is required, be sure to use a tough rubber sheathed flexible cable (IEC 245 or equivalent).
  • Limit length of extension cables; 60 m for cables of 1.5 mm squared and 100 m for cables of 2.5 mm squared. Long extension cables will lower usable power due to resistance in the extension cable.
  • Never overload your Honda generator. Learn beforehand how much electrical power is necessary for your household essentials for startup and continuous running. A handy equation to remember is: Watts = Volts x Amps. For example, you know that your furnace motor runs on 120 volts AC and it draws 20 amps during start up. So, 120 volts x 20 amps is 2400 watts. Consequently, you would require a 2500-watt continuous output generator just to run your furnace motor. If you are unsure of your electrical power requirements, consult a certified electrician.

Keep Yourself Safe

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  • Know how to stop your generator quickly.
  • Understand the operation of all controls.
  • Never permit anyone to operate the generator without proper instructions.
  • An external ground strap should be connected from the external ground terminal on the generator to a steel peg driven well into the ground.
  • Never operate a generator indoors, including inside your house, garage, basement or an enclosure of any kind, because its carbon monoxide exhaust fumes are deadly.
  • Be alert. Operating this product when you are tired, ill or under the influence of alcohol or drugs may result in serious injury.
  • Honda generators should not be operated in the rain or snow.
  • Position your generator outside, but close to the house or household panel while maintaining a minimum clearance of one meter (3 feet) on all sides of the generator and at least 3 meter (15 feet) from the house.
  • The generator is a potential source of electrical shocks when misused.
  • Before refueling, shut the generator off and check the engine oil level.
  • Use a proper funnel to eliminate fuel spillage. Never run the generator with the fuel cap removed or restart the generator if fuel has been spilled while refueling.
  • Ensure the generator is free (dry) of any spilled fuel before restarting it
  • Keep away from cigarettes, smoke and sparks when refueling the generator. Always refuel in a well-ventilated location.
  • Fuel should be safely stored in an approved container at least ten meters (32.8 feet) away from the generator and/or 10 meters (32.8 feet) away from any open flame.
  • Do not operate the generator while it is on a vehicle.
  • Avoid any place exposed to direct sunlight when putting the generator on a vehicle. If the generator is left in an enclosed vehicle for many hours, high temperatures inside the vehicle could also cause fuel to vaporize, resulting in a possible explosion.
  • Honda recommends using gasoline without ethanol in your Honda generator.
  • Refuel with care, as gasoline is extremely flammable and vapours can explode.

Keep Safety Of Others In Mind

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  • Always check conditions and inspect the area for potential hazards before operating the generator
  • Clear the area of children and pets when it is in operation. Their safety is your responsibility.
  • Turn engine off when not in use.

12V Charging / DC Receptable

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  • The DC receptacle may be used for charging 12-volt automotive-type batteries only.
  • In DC operation, turn the eco throttle switch to the OFF position.
  • To prevent the possibility of creating a spark near the battery, connect charging cables first to the generator, then to the battery. Also be sure to disconnect cables first at the battery, then at the generator.
  • Before connecting charging cables to a battery that is installed in a vehicle, disconnect the vehicle's grounded battery cable. Reconnect the vehicle's grounded battery cable after the charging cables are removed. This procedure will prevent the possibility of a short circuit and sparks if you make accidental contact between a battery terminal and the vehicle's frame or body.
  • Do not attempt to start an automobile engine with the generator still connected to the battery. The generator may become damaged.
  • Connect the positive battery terminal to the positive charging cord. Do not reverse the charging cables, or serious damage to the generator and/or battery may occur.

Generator Wattage Calculator

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  • Depending on how you will use your generator, there are different categories to meet your needs. This can include recreation, home standby and construction.
  • Honda also offers inverter generators. Inverter generators are smaller and lighter as power is created electronically and not through a conventional alternator. Inverter power offers the cleanest power output, ideal for sensitive electronic devices.
  • If you want a generator for home standby, for example, if you want to run your refrigerator, you'll need at least 2500 watts or more. And if you want to use a transfer switch so that power can go directly into your home, you'll want a generator with at least 5000 watts.
  • You'll also need to consider the maximum and rated power of the generator. This is important depending on what items you want to run off of your generator. Items such as toaster, lamps, and coffee makers are generally resistive, or constant, loads and their total load can be calculated at amps x 1. Power tool items such as saws and drills are generally reactive loads and while the running load may be small, the starting load should be calculated at running amps x 3. Remember, after the initial start less power is usually required for actual operation.
  • Always remember, simple power management will allow a smaller generator to do a big job. Very seldom are all tools or appliances operating simultaneously.
  • When calculating power requirements, consider the starting requirements are only for the initial start and then additional tools may be operated in addition.
  • If you are unsure about your electrical power requirements, consult a certified electrician.
  • Remember Ohm's Law: WATTS = VOLTS x AMPS AMPS = WATTS / VOLTS VOLTS = WATTS / AMPS
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