Generac owner wants to skip a planned outage run, and users say just press 'off'

A Generac owner facing a planned overnight utility outage had a counterintuitive problem to solve. They wanted to make sure their generator did not kick on after the power went off.

Here's what to know

According to the Reddit post, the power company had warned of an outage starting at 11 p.m. that could last for up to six hours. Since the furnace probably would not be needed, the owner wanted the house to remain on utility service until the cutoff and then simply go dark without the generator stepping in and wasting propane. They also wanted to avoid the noise it makes.

Automatic backup generators are designed to respond to any loss of utility power, including a planned outage that a homeowner may prefer to ride out without backup power. With that in mind, the original poster thought they needed to take a variety of steps to halt their generator.

Redditors said there was no need for an elaborate shutdown process. 

"Just press the off button on the controller," one instructed. "It will not start during the outage. Press auto in the morning."

Several commenters questioned whether the savings would amount to much. One person pegged it at "$1 worth of propane," though even a small avoided burn can matter to an owner who would rather save the fuel for a longer or colder emergency.

More background

The owner took a hands-on approach to shutting off the generator, switching off the utility breaker, pressing "Off" on the generator controller, and pulling the fuse from the control panel. That was overkill, per commenters. 

Another Redditor noted that multihour outages can serve as better real-world checks than the generator's "weekly five-minute runs," and the owner responded that the system had recently gone through two outages of a few hours.

Not everyone thought bypassing backup power was worth it. One commenter focused on the risk that a scheduled outage can go awry: "We keep food in our refrigerator and prefer our milk is liquid."

Skipping backup power can save fuel and money and reduce noise, but it also gives up the protection a standby generator provides.

What can be done?

One commenter who identified themselves as a "previous Generac employee who built, tested, and QC'd these units" said rocker switches on the enclosure can also be used to stop the generator from starting during an emergency. 

Another commenter added an important warning: "It will not operate again until the e-stop warning is cleared."

Lastly, someone else suggested, "Remember to unplug your TVs and computers. When utility company restores power, sometimes you get a power spike."

Where can I learn more?

A planned outage can raise questions about backup power and outage safety. 

• After three sweltering days without power, a homeowner turned to a portable propane generator.

• After Hurricane Beryl, experts warned that carbon monoxide risks can make backup generators deadly indoors.

• During hurricane season, one homeowner found an EV offered backup power without generator noise.