Illinois
COMMENTRY

Generator safety

Do you own a generator? Did you know that a generator owner could be a killer? Yes — it is possible for you to kill someone with a generator if it is not properly wired into your farm, home or business.

Let's start with a story of one of my lineman friends. It was mid-morning on a September day when the line crew shut the power off to a residential area to install a new line. My friend was on the pole in his hooks working on the old line when the rest of the crew heard him groan and then saw him drop about four feet until the neutral caught him. Two of his fellow workers went up the pole and performed — what we call as linemen — hurtman rescue, lowering him to the ground. He still had a heartbeat and was breathing, but had no muscle control or strength. He was taken to the hospital by ambulance.

Kyle Finley

The investigation began to learn why he was shocked by electricity when the line had been deenergized. While interviewing the neighbors, it became apparent that one of the homeowners was trying to power his home with a generator! Unfortunately, the homeowner did not realize that he had backfed the utility system and almost cost a lineman his life. Luckily for my friend, the generator was not large enough to backfeed the entire system. Because of this accident, the homeowner learned the importance of having a generator transfer switch installed, and my friend learned the importance of grounding the line before working on it.

If you have a generator or are considering buying one, the following information could save your life or someone else's. First, you need to understand that if a generator is wired into your farm, home or business incorrectly, starting the generator will send the voltage backwards through your service, your meter, and then on to the utility system's transformer. As the voltage from your generator travels through the transformer backwards, it is stepped up to full primary voltage, which in most cases is 7,200 volts. Backfeeding the utility system in this way can cause injury or even death to a lineman or anyone else coming in contact with the energized wire, for which you will be liable. It is just not worth the risk. So make sure you have a UL listed and approved generator transfer switch installed within accordance of the National Electrical Code.

Other safety tips include: Never operate a generator in your home or attached garage due to the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning, never store gasoline or other flammable liquids near a running generator and never fill the generator while it is running.

If you were considering buying a generator solely on the hype of the Y2K scare, I would suggest you save your money. Your cooperative is testing and upgrading its computer systems to assure that your electrical service is not interrupted.

Kyle Finley is owner and operator of Live Line Demo, Inc.

Con artists cash in on Y2K

The Federal Trade Commission's (FTC) Bureau of Consumer Protection and the Philadelphia-based National Fraud Center are sounding the Y2K-scam alarm. Individuals and businesses are vulnerable to con artists promising Y2K fixes for everything from credit cards to computer systems.

The Bureau of Consumer Protection warns of con artists who call consumers and claim to be preparing their bank accounts, credit card accounts and Social Security accounts for the year 2000. Consumers are advised to refuse the requested information. Even a written request for personal information should be verified by calling your bank or credit card customer service representative.

Companies eager to buy into Y2K remedies need to be cautious, as well, says Norman Willox Jr., president of the National Fraud Center. "The scams that are out there are so diverse, there is no one fix-all type of solution."

The FTC has a toll-free hotline for consumers to call with questions about Y2K swindles: 1-888-USA-4-Y2K.

4 ILLINOIS COUNTRY LIVING SEPTEMBER 1999