Diesel Generator Operator Requirements and Electrical Safety Basics

In industrial production, diesel generator sets must be managed by designated operators who strictly follow procedures to prevent equipment damage or accidents. Operators must complete technical training provided by the generator manufacturer, pass qualification assessments, and master safety knowledge, operational skills, and basic generator performance and safety measures. Adherence to management regulations during operation is mandatory. Below are essential electrical common sense for professionals in the power generation equipment industry:

Key Electrical Safety Guidelines

1.Low-voltage fuses shall not be used as overload protection for electric motors.

2.The rated voltage of fuses must be greater than or equal to the working voltage of the distribution line.

3.The rated current of fuses must be greater than or equal to the rated current of the fuse element.

4.The breaking capacity of fuses must exceed the short-circuit current possible in the distribution line.

5.The rated current of fuse elements must match the normal working current of the line and the starting current of motors.

6.For short-circuit protection of electric furnaces, lighting, and similar loads, the rated current of the fuse element should be equal to or slightly greater than the load’s rated current.

7.For single motors: Fuse element rated current ≥ (1.5–2.5) × motor rated current.

8.In distribution systems, fuse element ratings must be coordinated between upper and lower levels to achieve selective protection, with lower-level ratings smaller than upper-level ones.

9.Porcelain plug fuses must be installed vertically, using qualified fuse wires; copper wires or substitutes are strictly prohibited.

10.For screw-type fuses: The power incoming line connects to the central terminal of the base, and the load outgoing line connects to the terminal of the threaded shell.

11.When replacing fuse elements, disconnect the electrical equipment first to prevent arcing.

12.Fuses must be installed on each phase line; they are strictly prohibited on the neutral line in two-phase three-wire or three-phase four-wire circuits.

13.Fuses are primarily used for short-circuit protection.

14.When used for isolation, fuses must be installed at the line’s starting end.

15.Functions of fuses: Short-circuit protection, power isolation, and safe maintenance.

16.Functions of knife switches: Power isolation and safe maintenance.

17.Bakelite cover and porcelain base knife switches are generally used as control switches for electrical lighting circuits and electric heating circuits, or as distribution switches for branch circuits.

18.Three-pole bakelite cover knife switches can be used to control infrequent motor starting operations when their capacity is appropriately reduced.

19.For three-pole bakelite cover knife switches: The power incoming line connects to the static contact terminal, and the electrical equipment connects to the outgoing terminal of the lower fuse.

20.Knife switches must be installed with the handle downward in the off position and upward in the on position; inversion or horizontal installation is prohibited.

21.Functions of three-pole bakelite cover knife switches: Short-circuit protection, power isolation, and safe maintenance.

22.The shell of low-voltage load switches must be reliably earthed.

23.When using automatic air switches as main switches, a visible disconnecting point (e.g., isolating switch, knife switch, or fuse) must be installed on the incoming side.

24.Main functions of fuses: Overload or short-circuit protection.

25.Capacitor parallel compensation: Connect capacitors directly to the compensated equipment in the same circuit to improve power factor.

26.The most convenient method to improve power factor is parallel compensation with capacitors.

27.Wall switches should be installed 1.3 meters above the ground; wall sockets 0.3 meters.

28.Pull switches should be installed 2–3 meters above the ground.

29.Watt-hour meters should be installed 1.4–1.8 meters above the ground.

30.Incoming lines should be installed 2.7 meters above the ground.

Generator sets must be operated by designated personnel, who must read the operation manual and these regulations carefully before use. Any abnormalities identified during operation checks should be addressed immediately; unresolved issues require prompt contact with the manufacturer for after-sales support.

Dingbo Power was founded in 1974 and is one of the earliest manufacturers of generators and diesel generator sets in China. If you want get more information, please feel free to send email to [email protected] we will pay highly attention on your question.