Step-by-step fixes for generators that will not start, surge, shut off, trip breakers or run with no power, plus how to store and revive a generator.
Overloading is the most common reason a generator’s breaker trips or an inverter generator cuts out. The good news is that it is easy to diagnose with a little arithmetic. This guide explains the two kinds of overload, how to work out your numbers and how to get everything running without tripping anything. Why generator…
Most generator problems are really storage problems. Fuel goes stale, carburetors gum up, batteries die and the generator will not start when the next outage arrives. Good storage takes about 15 minutes and prevents nearly all of it. This guide covers short-term and long-term storage, where to keep a generator safely, and how to revive…
A generator that starts fine and then cuts out is frustrating, but the cause is usually simple. The pattern tells you a lot: does it die in seconds, after a few minutes, only under load, or only when hot? Use the table below to match your symptom, then read the detailed fix. Safety: always run…
When a generator surges (also called hunting), the engine speed rises and falls in a repeating pattern. You hear the revs go up and down, and lights or appliances flicker in time with it. It is one of the most common generator complaints, and it is usually caused by a fuel or carburetor problem that…
The engine is running smoothly, but nothing works when you plug in. This is almost always an electrical problem rather than an engine problem. Many causes take a minute to check, such as a tripped breaker or GFCI. The rest involve the alternator, and some of those need a technician. This guide walks through them…
A generator that will not start almost always has one of four problems: fuel is not reaching the engine, there is no spark, the engine cannot get air, or a safety system such as the low-oil sensor is stopping it. Work through the checks below in order, from the 30-second basics to the carburetor, and…