Safety  Precautions 
A  Generator  Set,  like  any  other  electro-mechanical  device 
can  pose  potential  dangers  to  life  and  limb  if  improperly 
maintained  or  imprudently  operated.  The  best  safeguards 
against  accident  are  to  be  ever  mindful  of  the  potential 
dangers  and  to  always  use  good  common  sense.  In  the 
interest  of  safety,  some  general  precautions  relating  to 
operating  of  a  Generator  Set  are  presented  below.  Keep 
these  in  mind. 
A 
WARNING 
LETHAL  EXHAUST  GAS!  An  engine  discharges  deadly 
carbon  monoxide  as  part  of  the  exhaust  when  operating. 
Carbon  monoxide  is  particularly  dangerous  in  that  it  is an 
odorless,  tasteless,  and  nonirritating  gas,  but  be  ever 
mindful  that  it  can  cause  death  if  inhaled  for  even  a short 
period  of  time.  Have  only  qualified  specialists  install  and 
replace  exhaust  system  components  and  have  the  system 
inspected  frequently.  Be  careful  when  parking  your  coach 
to  avoid  obstructing  the  exhaust  outlet.  The  exhaust 
gasses  must  discharge  freely,  otherwise  carbon  monoxide 
may  deflect  under  and  into  the  vehicle  or  enter  through 
open  doors,  windows,  or  vents.  Also  make  sure  that  your 
exhaust  cannot  be  discharged  toward  neighboring  RV’s, 
campers,  or any  occupied  building.  Be especially  watchful 
for  exhaust  accumulation  under  calm,  windless  condi- 
tions. 
A 
WARNING 
ELECTRICAL  SHOCK!  Battery  can  cause  electrical  burns 
and  shocks.  Exercise  reasonable  care  when  working  near 
the  battery  to  avoid  electrical  connections  through  tools. 
Remove  wristwatch,  rings,  and  any  other  jewelry. 
A 
WARNING 
HIGH  VOLTAGE!  Remember  that  the  function  of  a genera- 
tor  set  is to  produce  electricity  and  that  wherever  electric- 
ity  is  present,  there  is  the  potential  danger  of  electrocu- 
tion.  Take  the  same  precautions  with  electrical  appliances 
in  your  coach  that  you  would  observe  in  your  home.  Keep 
away  from  electrical  circuits  and  wiring  while  the  set  is 
running  and  have  electrical  service  performed  only  by 
qualified  electricians.  Make  sure  unqualified  persons, 
especially  children,  cannot  gain  access  to  your  set  -  keep 
the  compartment  door  locked  or  securely  latched  at  all 
times.  Be  sure  that  generator  is properly  grounded.  Never 
touch  electrical  leads  or  appliances  with  wet  hands,  when 
standing  in  water,  or  on  wet  ground  as  the  chance  of 
electrocution  is  especially  prevalent  under  such  con- 
ditions. 
A 
WARNING 
UNIT  STARTS  WITHOUT  NOTICE!  To  prevent  accidental 
starting  on  units  with  a  remote  start/stop  switch,  always 
disconnect  battery  (remove  negative  lead  first  and  recon- 
nect  it  last)  to  disable  generator  set  before  working  on  any 
equipment  connected  to  generator. 
A 
WARNING 
DANGEROUS  ACID!  Avoid  contact  with  battery  electro- 
lyte.  It  contains  acid  which  can  eat  holes  in  clothing,  burn 
skin,  and  cause  permanent  damage  to  eyes.  Always  wear 
splash-proof  safety  goggles  when  working  around  the 
battery.  If  battery  electrolyte  is splashed  in  the  eyes  or  on 
skin,  immediately  flush  the  affected  area  for  15  minutes 
with  large  quantities  of  clean  water.  In  the  case  of  eye 
contact,  seek  immediate  medical  aid.  Never  add  acid  to  a 
battery  once  the  battery  has  been  placed  in service.  Doing 
so  may  result  in  dangerous  spattering  of  electrolyte. 
.A  WARNING 
EXPLOSIVE  t3ATTERY  GASES!  The  gases  generated  by  a 
battery  being  charged  are  highly  explosive.  Do  not  smoke 
or  permit  flame  or  spark  to  occur  near  a  battery  at  any 
time,  particularly  when  it  is being  charged.  Avoid  contact- 
ing  terminals  with  tools,  etc.,  to  prevent  burns  and  to 
prevent  sparks  that  could  cause  an  explosion.  Remove 
wristwatch,  rings,  and  any  other  jewelry  before  handling 
battery.  Any  compartment  containing  batteries  should  be 
... 
well  ventilated  to  prevent  accumulation  of explosive  gases. 
To  avoid  sparks,  do  not  disturb  battery  charger  connec- 
tions  while  battery  is  being  charged  and  always  turn 
charger  off  before  disconnecting  battery  connections. 
Turn  automotive  test  equipment  off  when  connecting  or 
removing  battery  clips.  When  removing  or  reconnecting 
battery  cables,  make  sure  ignition  switch  and  all  accesso- 
ries  are  turned  off. 
A 
WARNING 
EXCESSIVE  NOISE!  Never  operate  without  adequate 
muffler  or  with  faulty  exhaust  system  -  exposure  to 
excessive  noise  is  not  only  tiring  but  can  lead  to  impair- 
ment  of  hearing. 
A 
WARNING 
HOT  PIPING!  An  engine  gets  hot  while  running  and 
exhaust  system  components  get  extremely  hot.  Do  not 
work  on  generator  set  until  unit  is allowed  to  cool. 
A 
WARNING 
DANGEROUS  FUELS!  Use  extreme  caution  when  hand- 
ling,  storing,  and  using  fuels  -  all  fuels  are  highly 
explosive  in  a  vapor  state.  Store  fuel  in  a  well-ventilated 
area  away  from  spark  producing  equipment  and  out  of  the 
reach  of  children.  Never  add  fuel  to  the  tank  while  the 
engine  is  running  to  prevent  spilled  fuel  from  igniting  on 
contact  with  hot  parts  or  from  ignition  spark.  Keep  fuel 
lines  and  connections  tight  and  in good  condition  -  don’t 
replace  flexible  fuel  lines  with  rigid  lines.  Flexiblesections 
are  used  to  avoid  breakage  due  to  vibration.  Should  any 
fuel  leakage,  fuel  accumulation,  or  electrical  sparks  be 
noted,  DO  NOT  OPERATE  GENERATOR  SET.  Have  sys-