How to Test Generator Alarms

A generator alarm is not designed to sound if the electric power has been cut to an electrical device, for example, a freezer in the garage or a refrigerator in a shed outside the home. Instead, it sounds when the electric power has been restored after an outage or other act that has cut the power to inform others what has occurred. You can test whether a generator alarm is functioning correctly or not. The procedure is straightforward, requires the use of the same tools that were used to install the generator alarm and will not harm the alarm in any way.

Things You'll Need

• Non-conductive gloves

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Instructions

1. • 1

     Put on a pair of non-conductive gloves for safety. Go to the fuse box.

   • 2

     Trip the circuit breaker that supplies electric power to the device that the generator alarm is connected to. Let 10 seconds pass.

   • 3

     Trip the circuit breaker again to restore the electric power. Let the generator alarm begin to sound an alarm.

   • 4

     Press the "Reset' or similarly named button on the generator alarm to discontinue the alarm. Adjust the settings on the generator alarm to return it to the same functionality that it had before it was tested.