6 Steps to Safely Hook Up a Portable Generator to Your House

Electricity powers nearly every aspect of modern home life—from lighting and refrigeration to heating, cooling, communications, and home security. When the power grid fails due to severe weather, equipment failure, or damaged transmission lines, losing access to these essentials can quickly become stressful.

A portable generator offers an effective backup solution to keep your home running when the grid goes down. But owning the generator is only the first step—you also need to know how to safely and properly connect it to your home.

This guide walks you through how portable generators work, how to hook one up correctly, and the safety practices every homeowner should follow.

How Do Portable Generators Work?

A portable generator is a standalone power source that you set up and run during an outage. Unlike a standby generator, which is permanently installed and automatically activates during a blackout, a portable generator requires some planning and hands-on setup each time you use it.

The benefit? Portable generators are affordable, versatile, and perfect for homeowners who want reliable backup power without the cost of a full standby system.

How to Hook Up a Generator to a House

Connecting a generator is not as simple as plugging it into a wall outlet—you must follow the proper procedures to protect yourself, your appliances, and the electrical grid. Here’s how to do it safely:

1. Plan Ahead

A power outage is the worst time to figure out your generator setup. Plan everything in advance:

Choose a generator that meets your home’s wattage demands.
Decide which appliances or circuits you will prioritize during an outage.
Create a clear plan for where the generator will run and where extension cords will reach.
Add up the starting wattages of the appliances you’ll power and ensure they stay within your generator’s capacity.

Being prepared prevents rushed decisions and ensures you have the right equipment before an emergency hits.

2. Don't Use a Double Male Plug

Commonly referred to as a widow maker or suicide cord, these should never be used under any circumstances as it poses unnecessary harm to the user.

You should never use a double male plug to power your house. This is because:

It's illegal in most places
You'll violate the electrical code
It can shock company linemen if you do not disconnect the main breaker, making you liable for lawsuits
Since male plug prongs are exposed, you can easily get shocked

Generators produce greater voltage than what the receptacle, electrical wire, and breaker can handle. Therefore, if you use a double male plug, you can easily start a fire.

3. Gather Necessary Supplies

Besides what comes with your DuroMax generator, you will need:

Breaker interlock kit (UL-listed and compatible with your breaker panel)
2-pole (double) breaker sized for your generator’s output
Proper wire gauge in red, black, white, and green
Power inlet box
Schedule 40 electrical conduit and fittings
Conduit body
Flexible non-metallic conduit
Conduit glue
Generator cord

Your equipment’s amperage ratings must match your generator and breaker specifications. Always consult a licensed electrician before buying.

4. Find the Perfect Spot for Your Generator

Placement is critical for safety:

Never operate a generator indoors. Gas engines produce deadly carbon monoxide.
Run it outdoors only, on a dry surface such as a porch, patio, or driveway.
Protect it from rain using a generator tent or cover designed for safe operation.
Keep it positioned 20 feet away from windows, doors, or vents.
Consider noise levels and place the generator where it’s less disruptive.

Also ensure you have long enough extension cords and an adequate fuel supply—whether it’s gas or propane.

5. Contact a Certified Electrician

For a safe, code-compliant setup, have a certified electrician:

Install your interlock kit
Add the generator breaker
Install your inlet box and exterior wiring
Ensure your home’s electrical system is ready for generator use

This step is essential for avoiding hazards and protecting your home.

6. Put the Generator to Good Use

With everything in place, all that's left is using your generator when there is a power outage. Use the following steps when using the generator:

Confirm that the power is out
Start the generator and ensure it's running at normal speeds
Turn off all the breakers at the breaker box
Switch off the main breaker
Slide the interlock up so that the generator breaker's 'On' position is visible and turn it on
Turn on selected breakers one by one with a 5-second gap to see how the generator takes each circuits load

Similarly, you also need to be careful when powering off the generator. You'll need to:

Turn off all branch breakers
Switch off the generator breaker
Expose the main breaker's 'On' position by sliding down the generator interlock and turn on the main breaker on
Turn on branch breakers individually with a 5-second gap between each
Switch off the generator
Remove the extension cord

Portable Generator Maintenance

Keeping your portable generator in peak condition is vital if you want it to serve you well and for long. Some of the maintenance tasks you should do include:

Clean or change spark plugs periodically
Clean the screen on the spark arrestor
Regularly clean or change the air filter
Ensure the generator always has sufficient oil
Change the oil according to the generators maintenance schedule
Add a fuel stabilizer to the tank if you do not use the generator for over a month

It All Starts with the Right Generator

Not all generators are created equal. Your home’s size, your essential appliances, and your preferred fuel type all play a role in choosing the right model.

At DuroMax, we build powerful, durable portable generators designed specifically for home backup needs. Whether you want to power a few essentials or most of your home, we have a model that fits your needs.

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