Full Product Manual

100406 - 3550W PORTABLE GENERATOR
OPERATION
16
 WARNING
Connecting a generator to your electric utility company’s
power lines or to another power source may be against
the law. In addition this action, if done incorrectly, could
damage your generator and appliances and could cause
serious injury or even death to you or a utility worker who
may be working on nearby power lines. If you plan to run a
portable electric generator during an outage, please notify
your electric utility company immediately and remember to
plug your appliances directly into the generator. Do not plug
the generator into any electric outlet in your home. Doing
so could create a connection to the utility company power
lines. You are responsible for ensuring that your generator’s
electricity does not feed back into the electric utility power
lines.
If the generator will be connected to a building electrical
system, consult your local utility company or a qualified
electrician. Connections must isolate generator power from
utility power and must comply with all applicable laws and
codes.
Do Not Overload Generator
Capacity
Follow these simple steps to calculate the running and starting
watts necessary for your purposes:
1. Select the electrical devices you plan on running at the
same time.
2. Total the running watts of these items. This is the amount
of power you need to keep your items running.
3. Identify the highest starting wattage of all devices
identified in step 1. Add this number to the number
calculated in step 2. Starting wattage is the extra burst
of power needed to start some electric driven equipment.
Following the steps listed under "Power Management" will
guarantee that only one device will be starting at a time.
Power Management
Use the following formula to convert voltage and amperage to
watts:
Volts × Amps = Watts
To prolong the life of your generator and attached devices,
follow these steps to add electrical load:
1. Start the generator with no electrical load attached
2. Allow the engine to run for several minutes to stabilize.
3. Plug in and turn on the first item. It is best to attach the
item with the largest load first.
4. Allow the engine to stabilize.
5. Plug in and turn on the next item.
6. Allow the engine to stabilize.
7. Repeat steps 5-6 for each additional item.

NOTICE
Never exceed the specified capacity when adding loads to
the generator.
Stopping the Engine
1. Turn off and unplug all electrical loads. Never start or stop
the generator with electrical devices plugged in or turned
on.
2. Let the generator run at no-load for several minutes to
stabilize internal temperatures of the engine and generator.
3. Turn the fuel valve to the “OFF” position.
4. Let the engine run until fuel starvation has stopped the
engine. This usually takes a few minutes.
5. Press the engine switch to the “OFF” position.
Important: Always ensure that the fuel valve and the engine
switch are in the “OFF” position when the generator is not in
use.

NOTICE
If the engine will not be used for a period of two (2) weeks or
longer, please see the Storage section for proper engine and
fuel storage.
Operation at High Altitude
The density of air at high altitude is lower than at sea level.
Engine power is reduced as the air mass and air-fuel ratio
decrease. Engine power and generator output will be reduced
approximately 3½% for every 1000 ft. of elevation above
sea level. This is a natural trend and cannot be changed by
adjusting the engine. At high altitudes increased exhaust
emissions can also result due to the increased enrichment of
the air fuel ratio. Other high altitude issues can include hard
starting, increased fuel consumption and spark plug fouling.
To alleviate high altitude issues other than the natural power
loss, CPE can provide a high altitude carburetor main jet.
The alternative main jet and installation instructions can be
obtained by contacting our Technical Support Team. Installation
instructions are also available in the Technical Bulletin area of
the CPE website.
The part number and recommended minimum altitude for the
application of the high altitude carburetor main jet is listed in
the table below.