How do I power my house with a portable generator?
When the hurricanes started racing through the west coast of Florida last August and September, the first thought for a lot of residents was: portable generator . These gasoline-fueled devices provide electrical power when the lines are down. After a hurricane, when it may be days or weeks before electricity is restored, they can be a godsend. They can also be a menace. A Tampa woman burned down her home when gasoline fumes from a generator were ignited by the open flame of her water heater. Three people around the state died of carbon monoxide poisoning created by their generators, and many were sickened by fumes. In 2003, 36 people nationwide died of carbon-monoxide poisoning from generators, and 40 people the year before, the Consumer Product Safety Commission reports. “It’s powered by a gasoline engine. It emits carbon monoxide. It’s a piece of outdoor power equipment that must be run outdoors,” said Scott Alderton, director of marketing for Briggs & Stratton Power Group, which man
