The InfoHub™ wireless generator monitoring system offers several benefits for your standby generator maintenance needs. It allows you to stay connected and in control of your standby generator, no matter where you are. You can receive real-time updates and alerts about your backup power supply, ensuring peace of mind. With InfoHub™, you can quickly check the system status of your generator from any smart device, ensuring that it is ready to provide power during an outage.

The InfoHub™ wireless generator monitoring system is designed for universal compatibility. It is compatible with any Briggs & Stratton® standby generator manufactured from August 2005 onwards. This ensures that a wide range of users can benefit from the advanced monitoring capabilities provided by InfoHub™, enhancing their generator maintenance practices.

All home standby generator systems have a function known as exercise mode, which automatically turns the generator on at a scheduled time. Once on, the generator will typically run for 20 to 30 minutes and then shut off. This is important as it keeps everything lubricated and allows you to monitor the standby generator system for any issues.

The generator can be programmed so that it switches to exercise mode each week on a specific day and time. After the installation is complete, the electrician will set the system so that it turns on in exercise mode. During this time, the generator will run but the transfer switch will not activate. This enables the electrician to inspect the standby generator system and make sure that there are no leaks or other issues.
Once this is done, you can then program the unit so that it switches to exercise mode at a day and time of your choosing. It is always best to set it so that this happens when you will be home and can monitor the standby generator system for any signs of a problem. Most manufacturers recommend that you set it so that the generator runs once a week, but some say it is only necessary every two weeks or even once a month. Whatever the manufacturer recommends is what you should follow.

The location of the transfer switch depends on its type and the size of your generator. In most cases, the transfer switch is mounted on the wall next to your main breaker panel - this panel is inside a garage, the transfer switch will be inside the garage. Likewise, if the breaker panel is outside of the home, the transfer switch will also be installed outside of the home.

For smaller generators powering only essentials, the non-essentials may remain in the main panel, and essentials may be placed in a sub-panel. With this setup, the transfer switch is installed at the sub-panel to ensure that those essential appliances are powered by the generator in the case of an outage.

When making decisions about your generator monitoring system, the very first thing to do is mount the generator outside your home. National Fire Protection Association code requires that the generator is at least 1.5 feet away from the house or any other structures. However, if the generator is located near an exterior wall with any doors, windows or vents, it needs to be a minimum of five feet away from the wall.

Most local regulations also state that the generator cannot be within five feet of your front, side or rear property lines. In addition, the generator cannot be mounted within three feet of any trees, shrubs or other vegetation. Lastly, the generator needs to be mounted so that the exhaust is pointing away from the house.

While these distances are the minimum allowed by code, many manufacturers and installers recommend installing the unit further away. You should always go with whatever the manufacturer’s recommendation is or else you could void the generator’s warranty.

Some local codes also require that the generator be mounted up to 20 feet away from the building. In this case, the generator will also need to be located in an area that is also at least 20 feet away from your neighbor’s house. These regulations can be different across counties, cities, and even homeowner associations. 

After selecting the appropriate location, a concrete pad will need to be poured for the generator to sit on. The size and weight of the generator will determine how large and thick the concrete slab needs to be. The weight of the concrete needs to be at least 125% of the combined weight of the generator and fuel, i.e. a 10,000-pound generator needs a minimum of 12,500 pounds of concrete. Concrete weighs 150 pounds per cubic foot, and this number is used to calculate how large the pad needs to be.