Home Generator Illustrated

Look Inside the Book

Every page has one big drawing and a box with the numbers and steps you need to know:

Three generators side by side: what each powers, how it connects and who installs it.

Motors need a short starting surge; lights and chargers don't.

CO has no color and no smell: about 100 U.S. deaths a year from portable generators (CPSC).

Backfeeding through a wall outlet can kill utility workers and neighbors on your transformer.

Stabilizer goes in at fill-up; new gas cans must have flame mitigation devices.

Oil, fuel, air filter, nothing plugged in, 20 feet out with exhaust away

Break-in oil change: the hour number is in your manual, not in a forum

Call an electrician for: transfer switch, interlock, inlet box, well pump, grounding, standby, the panel.

Swipe to see more →

These are real pages from the book. The table of contents is the full one: 8 parts and 63 topics.

The Problem Isn't You. It's How It Was Explained to You.

The power has been out for three hours. The generator is running somewhere near the house, and someone asks you: is it far enough away? Is the garage OK if the door is up?

You open the manual by flashlight. The carbon monoxide warning is a gray box of small print between the warranty and the parts list. It tells you CO is dangerous. It doesn't show you what to do about it.

In the book, that same topic is one page: a big drawing showing that CO has no color and no smell, the U.S. numbers from CPSC, and the generator outside with the exhaust pointing away. You get it in one look, even by flashlight.

Every other decision works the same way: starting vs running watts, the 20-foot spot, where the CO alarms go, the double-male cord you never use, refueling without a fire. Each one has its own page.

At the next outage, you know where it goes and why. You set it up without opening the manual in the rain.

COMPARE FOR YOURSELF

The Same Topic, Two Ways to Learn It

THIS

The manual: line after line of small print
Starting watts explained only in words
You face the outage still unsure

Rated (running) wattage refers to the continuous electrical output the generator is capable of sustaining under normal operating conditions, while surge (starting) wattage denotes the momentary output available for a limited duration to accommodate the inrush current of inductive loads. Electric motors, including those in refrigerators, well pumps and sump pumps, may draw several times their rated running wattage upon start-up. The operator should consult appliance nameplates and calculate total load requirements prior to connection, ensuring that neither the rated nor the surge capacity of the unit is exceeded.

FOR THIS

Starting vs running watts in one drawing
The numbers in one box
You see it and you get it

CONTENTS

Take a Look at the 8 Parts and 63 Topics

Know it, size it, place it, connect it, fuel it, run it, keep it ready, and outage night: 67 pages, all illustrated

IKnow Your Generator · pp. 5-12

Portable, Inverter or Standby: Side by Side
Read the Data Label in 30 Seconds
Watts, Volts and Amps in One Drawing
The Outlets on the Panel
120 V Loads vs 240 V Loads
Gasoline, Propane or Natural Gas
The CO Shutoff Feature on Newer Models
Run Time on the Spec Sheet

IISize It: What Can It Run? · pp. 13-22

Running Watts vs Starting Watts
The Sizing Rule: Biggest Surge + Everything Running
Find the Real Wattage of an Appliance
The Well Pump Page
Sump Pump, Fridge and Freezer
The Furnace Blower and Electronics
What a Portable Usually Can't Run
Build Your Load Table Step by Step
Essentials First, Comfort Second
Signs You Are Overloading It

IIIPlace It: Carbon Monoxide Rules · pp. 23-31

Why CO Is the Real Danger
Never Inside: Not Even the Garage
Twenty Feet From the House, Exhaust Away
Doors, Windows, Vents and the Wind
CO Alarms: Where They Go
Test, Replace, Check the Date
If the Alarm Sounds
Rain, Snow and a Dry Spot
Clearance, Fire and Stability

IVConnect It Safely · pp. 32-39

Never Backfeed: The Double-Male Cord
Extension Cords: Gauge vs Length
Inspect the Cord Before Every Outage
GFCI Protection Outdoors
Manual Transfer Switch: What It Is
Interlock Kit and Inlet Box: What They Are
Automatic Transfer Switch on a Standby
Grounding and Neutral: Follow the Manual

VFuel It · pp. 40-45

Gasoline That Will Start in a Storm
Storing Fuel Away From the House
Refueling Without a Fire
Propane Tanks: Hookup and Cold Weather
Natural Gas for a Standby
How Much Fuel for a Three-Day Outage

VIRun It: Same Steps, Same Order · pp. 46-53

Pre-Start Check
The Start-Up Sequence
Adding Loads in the Right Order
While It Runs: The Hourly Look
Low-Oil Shutdown and Other Stops
The Shutdown Sequence
When the Power Comes Back
Eco Mode and Quiet Running

VIIKeep It Ready · pp. 54-61

Break-In and the First Oil Change
Oil Change Intervals
The Monthly Test Run Under Load
Spark Plug and Air Filter
Stop the Carburetor From Gumming
Electric Start Battery
Standby Exercise and Annual Service
Storing It Between Seasons

VIIIOutage Night: Review and Checklists · pp. 62-67

24 Hours Before the Storm
The First Hour of an Outage
Running Through Several Days
The Most Frequent Mistakes
When to Call a Licensed Electrician
The Whole Book on One Page

One Page, One Topic, All Clear

Think of it this way:

It's the first night of an ice storm. The fridge is full, the sump pump is in the basement, and you need to know whether the generator can start the well pump too.

You open the book to the well pump page and there it is, drawn: the starting surge next to the running watts, a worked example, and where to find the number on your pump's label.

The same goes for where it sits outside, the CO alarms, refueling, the start-up order and the shutdown order: each one on its own page.

Home Generator Illustrated is 8 parts and 63 topics, all drawn, and it ends with the outage-night checklists, the most frequent mistakes and the whole book on one page.

What you see drawn, you don't have to memorize.

What's Inside Home Generator Illustrated:

Ipp. 5-12

Know Your Generator

Portable, inverter or standby side by side, the data label, watts, volts and amps, the outlets, 120 V vs 240 V loads, fuel types, the CO shutoff and run time.

IIpp. 13-22

Size It: What Can It Run?

Running vs starting watts, the sizing rule, real appliance wattage, the well pump, sump pump, fridge, furnace blower, what a portable can't run and your load table step by step.

IIIpp. 23-31

Place It: Carbon Monoxide Rules

Why CO is the real danger, never inside (not even the garage), 20 feet out with the exhaust away, CO alarms and their dates, what to do if one sounds, rain, snow and clearance.

IVpp. 32-39

Connect It Safely

Why you never backfeed, cord gauge vs length, inspecting cords, GFCI outdoors, and what a transfer switch or interlock is (installed only by a licensed electrician).

Vpp. 40-45

Fuel It

Gasoline that starts in a storm, storing fuel away from the house, refueling without a fire, propane in cold weather, natural gas for a standby and fuel for a three-day outage.

VIpp. 46-53

Run It: Same Steps, Same Order

The pre-start check, the start-up sequence, adding loads in order, the hourly look, low-oil shutdown, the shutdown sequence, when the power comes back and eco mode.

VIIpp. 54-61

Keep It Ready

Break-in and the first oil change, oil intervals, the monthly test run under load, spark plug, air filter, carburetor, battery, standby service and storage between seasons.

VIIIpp. 62-67

Outage Night: Review and Checklists

The 24 hours before the storm, the first hour of an outage, several days of running, the most frequent mistakes, when to call a licensed electrician and the whole book on one page.

At the end of the book: Outage-night checklists, the most frequent mistakes and the whole book on one page.

SHOW ME WHAT'S INSIDE

Plus: 2 Free Books

BONUS 1: «Size-It-Yourself Workbook: 12 House Load Tables to Fill In»

Value on its own: US$ 17.90

Practice sizing on 12 real-life houses (well pump, sump pump, furnace fan, fridge) and check your answers, so you can do your own load table with confidence.

BONUS 2: «Outage Night Cards: Start-Up, Refueling and CO Rules on One Page Each»

Value on its own: US$ 14.90

Print them, tape them inside the garage, and follow the same steps in the dark without opening the book.

Home Generator Illustrated with 2 Free Books

Home Generator Illustrated: 67 illustrated pagesUS$ 63
BONUS 1: Size-It-Yourself Workbook: 12 House Load Tables to Fill InUS$ 17.90
BONUS 2: Outage Night Cards: Start-Up, Refueling and CO Rules on One Page EachUS$ 14.90
High-resolution PDF to printIncluded

~~Total value US$ 95.80~~

YOUR PRICE:

US$ 27

You save US$ 68.80

YES, I WANT HOME GENERATOR ILLUSTRATED FOR US$ 27

📄 This is a digital PDF book sent to your email: nothing is printed or shipped.

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PDF by email: We email you Home Generator Illustrated as a PDF, together with the two free books. It's a single payment: no installments, no extra charges.

Who This Book Is For

Your generator is still in the box

You learn what it can run and where it goes before the first storm, one page at a time.

Storm season is on the way

The day-before checklist, your load table and the 20-foot spot, ready to print and tape inside the garage.

You've already run it through an outage

You put the steps in order: start-up, refueling, shutdown, and the maintenance that keeps it starting.

Everything You Get Today

Home Generator Illustrated: 67 illustrated pages in 8 parts, from knowing your generator to outage night
Outage-night checklists, the most frequent mistakes and the whole book on one page
Bonus 1: “Size-It-Yourself Workbook: 12 House Load Tables to Fill In” (worth US$ 17.90)
Bonus 2: “Outage Night Cards: Start-Up, Refueling and CO Rules on One Page Each” (worth US$ 14.90)
It arrives by email: open it on your phone or print it at home
30-day guarantee

~~US$ 95.80~~US$ 27

YES, I WANT HOME GENERATOR ILLUSTRATED FOR US$ 27

📄 This is a digital PDF book sent to your email: nothing is printed or shipped.

30DAYS
GUARANTEE

30-Day Guarantee

Try Home Generator Illustrated for 30 days, bonus books included.

We refund everything if the file won't open, if the book isn't what you see here, if you were charged twice or if the email doesn't arrive. Just email us.

You pay once. No subscriptions.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it for me if my generator is still in the box?

Yes. It starts from the data label and builds up one page at a time. It's written for homeowners, not electricians.

Where does the content come from?

From U.S. CPSC portable generator and carbon monoxide guidance, the National Electrical Code (NFPA 70), the fire alarm code (NFPA 72) and FEMA/Ready.gov outage guidance. Every distance, interval and label value is marked so you can check it against your generator's manual and your local code.

Is it official material?

No. It's an independent illustrated guide. It isn't affiliated with or endorsed by any agency or any generator brand.

I already have the manual. What does this add?

Your manual covers your model's parts and specs. The book draws the decisions around it: what you can run, where it sits, the CO alarms, refueling, and the start-up and shutdown order. Your manual and local code still have the final word. It never shows how to wire anything into your panel: a transfer switch or interlock is installed only by a licensed electrician, with a permit and an inspection.

Will it work for my generator's brand and model?

Yes. It's general: it works for portable, inverter and standby units of any brand. Each page shows you where to find the number on your own data label and manual, so you check every value against your machine. The 12 practice load tables in the workbook are written for this book.

When and how do I get it?

The book and the 2 bonus books arrive as PDFs by email, at the address you enter at checkout.

Do I have to pay every month?

No. It's a one-time payment.

Can I have it on paper?

Yes. Print it at home or at a print shop and keep it in the garage for when the power is out.

How does the refund work?

You have 30 days. We refund everything if the file won't open, if the book isn't what you see on this page, if you were charged twice or if the email doesn't arrive: just email us.

Before You Close This Page

No more rereading the manual by flashlight.

Starting watts and the 20-foot rule: you see them drawn, and that's it.

You head into the next outage knowing where everything goes.

Drawings make studying faster.

The book is right below.

One-time payment: US$ 27 · Guarantee: 30 days · PDF by email

YES, I WANT HOME GENERATOR ILLUSTRATED FOR US$ 27

📄 This is a digital PDF book sent to your email: nothing is printed or shipped.