# Can I use a generator at home during a Queensland power outage? 1. [Home](https://arlite.co/) 2. [Support](https://arlite.co/support/) 3. [Electrical](https://arlite.co/support/electrical/) 4. Can I use a generator at home during a Queensland power outage? **Browse support** [Support home](https://arlite.co/support/) [Solar](https://arlite.co/support/solar/)[View all](https://arlite.co/support/solar/) - [How does a solar power system work in a Brisbane home?](https://arlite.co/support/solar/how-does-a-solar-power-system-work-in-a-brisbane-home/) - [How do I turn off a solar inverter safely?](https://arlite.co/support/solar/turn-off-solar-inverter-safely/) - [Do solar panels work during a blackout?](https://arlite.co/support/solar/solar-during-power-outage/) - [Can I add a battery to my existing solar system?](https://arlite.co/support/solar/add-battery-to-existing-solar-system/) - [Hail or storm damage to solar panels: what to do](https://arlite.co/support/solar/hail-storm-damaged-solar-panels-what-to-do/) [Air conditioning](https://arlite.co/support/air-conditioning/)[View all](https://arlite.co/support/air-conditioning/) - [Why is my air conditioner not cooling or heating properly?](https://arlite.co/support/air-conditioning/air-conditioner-not-cooling-or-heating/) - [Why is my air conditioner leaking water inside?](https://arlite.co/support/air-conditioning/air-conditioner-leaking-water-inside/) - [Why does my air conditioner smell musty or like dirty socks?](https://arlite.co/support/air-conditioning/air-conditioner-smells-musty-dirty-socks/) - [Can solar panels run my air conditioner at night?](https://arlite.co/support/air-conditioning/can-solar-panels-run-my-air-conditioner/) - [What should I ask before getting an air conditioner installed?](https://arlite.co/support/air-conditioning/questions-to-ask-before-air-conditioner-installation/) [Electrical](https://arlite.co/support/electrical/)[View all](https://arlite.co/support/electrical/) - [Can I use a generator at home during a Queensland power outage?](https://arlite.co/support/electrical/generator-home-power-outage-queensland/) - [Why does my circuit breaker keep tripping?](https://arlite.co/support/electrical/circuit-breaker-keeps-tripping/) - [Why does my safety switch keep tripping?](https://arlite.co/support/electrical/safety-switch-keeps-tripping/) - [Burning smell or hot power point: what to do right now](https://arlite.co/support/electrical/burning-smell-hot-power-point/) - [Why is there no hot water? Electrical faults explained](https://arlite.co/support/electrical/no-hot-water-electrical-checks/) [Costs and finance](https://arlite.co/support/costs-and-finance/)[View all](https://arlite.co/support/costs-and-finance/) - [How does interest-free finance work for home energy upgrades?](https://arlite.co/support/costs-and-finance/interest-free-finance-home-energy-upgrades/) - [What affects the cost of a home battery in Brisbane?](https://arlite.co/support/costs-and-finance/what-affects-home-battery-cost-brisbane/) - [Can I get compensation for a power outage in Queensland?](https://arlite.co/support/costs-and-finance/power-outage-compensation-energex/) - [How much does an electrician cost per hour in Brisbane?](https://arlite.co/support/costs-and-finance/electrician-cost-brisbane/) - [What affects switchboard upgrade cost?](https://arlite.co/support/costs-and-finance/switchboard-upgrade-cost/) [Electrical](https://arlite.co/support/electrical/) Yes, a portable generator can run appliances outdoors during a Queensland outage. Never plug it into a power point. Anything connected to house wiring needs a licensed electrician. By Casey Midgley, Arlite Energy 5 minute read **No DIY.** Electrical work must be done by a licensed electrician. Never open, repair, test or modify electrical equipment yourself, even if it looks simple. This guide explains what is happening; it is not a how-to. **On this page** 1. Why must I never plug a generator into a power point? 2. Where can I safely run a generator? 3. Who does what with a generator at home? 4. Can I use a generator with solar panels or a home battery? 5. What about air conditioners, fridges and other big appliances? 6. Do I need a permanent generator connection? 7. What to note before you call a licensed electrician 8. Frequently asked questions Yes, you can use a portable generator at home during an outage, but only outdoors and only by plugging appliances straight into the generator. Never plug it into a power point or the house wiring, because that can send power back into the grid and endanger people. Powering house circuits needs a licensed electrician. ## Why must I never plug a generator into a power point? This is called back-feeding, and it is the most serious mistake people make in an outage. - **It can reach the street.** Power pushed into your house wiring can travel back out to the network, even though the grid looks dead. Crews working to restore supply may not expect it. - **It can hurt people.** That includes electricians, neighbours and your own household. - **It can start a fire.** House wiring is not designed to be fed this way. If you want a generator to power parts of your house wiring, that is a job for a licensed electrician. It is not something to improvise during a blackout. ## Where can I safely run a generator? Generators give off carbon monoxide, a gas you cannot see or smell that can be deadly. - **Outdoors only.** Never run one inside the house, in a garage, a shed, a carport or any enclosed or partly enclosed space. - **Away from openings.** Keep the exhaust well away from windows, doors and vents so fumes cannot drift inside. - **Dry and sheltered.** Water and electricity do not mix, so do not run one in rain or on wet ground. - **Out of reach of children and pets.** Generators get very hot and have moving parts. Queensland Government guidance on [using alternative fuel and electricity generation safely](https://www.qld.gov.au/health/staying-healthy/environmental/after-a-disaster/bushfires/using-alternative-fuel-and-electricity-generation-safely) covers these points. Please check the current rules and advice on that page. Carbon monoxide, smoke or fire: leave and call 000 If anyone feels dizzy, gets a headache, feels sick or confused, or becomes drowsy while a generator is running nearby, get everyone into fresh air and call 000. If there is smoke, sparks, flames or a burning smell, leave the building and call 000. Do not go back inside to switch anything off. ## Who does what with a generator at home? - **You:** run a portable generator outdoors, with appliances plugged directly into it, following the maker’s instructions. - **A licensed electrician:** any connection between a generator and your house wiring or switchboard. Queensland electrical work must be done by a licensed person. Our article on [doing your own electrical work in Queensland](https://arlite.co/support/electrical/diy-electrical-work-legal-queensland/) explains the basics, and you can [check an electrician’s licence](https://arlite.co/support/electrical/check-electrician-licence-queensland/) before you book. - **A licensed gas fitter:** anything involving a generator that runs on gas. Gas work is not an electrician’s job and not something to attempt yourself. ## Can I use a generator with solar panels or a home battery? Do not connect a generator to a solar or battery system yourself. Solar and batteries have their own rules for what happens in a blackout, and mixing them with a generator is a job for a licensed installer. Our article on [whether solar panels work during a blackout](https://arlite.co/support/solar/solar-during-power-outage/) explains why many systems shut down when the grid goes off. ## What about air conditioners, fridges and other big appliances? Some appliances need much more power to start than to run. A small generator may not cope, and a poor match can damage the generator or the appliance. Check the labels and the generator’s manual, or ask a licensed electrician. Our article on [using an air conditioner during a blackout or storm](https://arlite.co/support/air-conditioning/air-conditioner-blackout-storm/) has more on that appliance. ## Do I need a permanent generator connection? If you often lose power, or someone at home relies on powered medical equipment, a permanent arrangement may be worth discussing. That means a licensed electrician assessing your switchboard and your needs, not a do-it-yourself fix. If you live in a unit, townhouse or rental, check with your body corporate, strata manager or landlord first. Ask the Arlite team what is possible for your home. For what else to do when the lights go out, see our guide to [what to do in a Brisbane power outage](https://arlite.co/support/electrical/power-outage-what-to-do-brisbane/), and our article on what to do in [an electrical emergency, fire or shock](https://arlite.co/support/electrical/electrical-emergency-what-to-do/). Never open, touch or bypass equipment to get power back Do not open your switchboard, move cables or try to connect a generator to the house yourself. If a storm has left wires down, water near electrics or damaged equipment, stay well away and keep others away too. If anyone is in danger, call 000. ## What to note before you call a licensed electrician 1. What you want to power — List the essentials, such as the fridge, lights, a medical device or a fan, and any appliance you would like to keep running. 2. How often you lose power — Note how many outages you have had recently and roughly how long each one lasted. 3. Your generator details — If you already own one, photograph the label and keep the manual handy. Note whether it runs on petrol or gas. 4. Your solar or battery details — If you have solar or a battery, have the make and model ready from the paperwork or the monitoring app. 5. Who needs to agree — If you rent or live in a unit or townhouse, note who needs to approve changes, such as the landlord or body corporate. Talk to the Arlite team Thinking about backup power for your home? Call **(07) 3062 9299** or use the [Arlite contact page](https://arlite.co/contact/) and the team will get back to you. Arlite’s licensed electricians also look after switchboards, which is where any generator question starts. Ask the team what suits your home. ## Frequently asked questions - No. This is called back-feeding and it can send power into the grid and into other people's wiring. Plug appliances directly into the generator, and use a licensed electrician for any house connection. - No. Generators produce carbon monoxide, so they must run outdoors, away from windows, doors and vents. A garage or a partly enclosed space is not safe. - Headache, dizziness, nausea, confusion and drowsiness. Get everyone into fresh air and call 000. - Only a licensed electrician. If the generator runs on gas, a licensed gas fitter must handle the gas side. - Do not connect one yourself. Ask a licensed installer how your system behaves in a blackout and what is safe for your setup. [Learn about Switchboard Work](https://arlite.co/services/electrical/switchboard-work/) ## Official guidance For the rules and safety information that apply to your home, go to the regulators and industry bodies directly. - [Electrical Safety Office Queensland](https://www.electricalsafety.qld.gov.au/) - [Energex](https://www.energex.com.au/) Was this helpful? Written by the team at Arlite Energy, a Brisbane business that designs and installs solar, air conditioning and electrical work for homes and businesses. We write these guides in plain English so you know what is happening in your home. ## Related articles - [ElectricalWhat do I do in a Brisbane power outage?In a power outage, check whether it is street-wide, report it to your network provider and stay clear of fallen lines; call 000 if life is at risk.](https://arlite.co/support/electrical/power-outage-what-to-do-brisbane/) - [ElectricalWhat do I do in an electrical emergency, fire or shock?For fire, smoke, sparks, a shock or anyone hurt, get everyone out and call 000, and do not touch the equipment or the person.](https://arlite.co/support/electrical/electrical-emergency-what-to-do/) - [ElectricalCan I do my own electrical work in Queensland?No: in Queensland electrical work must generally be done by a licensed electrician, with only narrow exceptions for minor tasks.](https://arlite.co/support/electrical/diy-electrical-work-legal-queensland/) - [ElectricalHow do I check my electrician is licensed in Queensland?Ask for the electrician's licence number and look it up on the Electrical Safety Office Queensland's online licence search before work starts.](https://arlite.co/support/electrical/check-electrician-licence-queensland/) ## Still stuck? Tell us what is going on and we can arrange a call-out. [Book a call-out](https://arlite.co/contact/) On this page 1. Why must I never plug a generator into a power point? 2. Where can I safely run a generator? 3. Who does what with a generator at home? 4. Can I use a generator with solar panels or a home battery? 5. What about air conditioners, fridges and other big appliances? 6. Do I need a permanent generator connection? 7. What to note before you call a licensed electrician 8. Frequently asked questions --- **Arlite Energy**, Unit 1, 1468 Anzac Avenue, Kallangur QLD 4503. Phone [(07) 3062 9299](tel:+61730629299), email [info@arlite.co](mailto:info@arlite.co). Monday to Friday, 7am to 5pm. Page: https://arlite.co/support/electrical/generator-home-power-outage-queensland/ Site index for agents: [llms.txt](https://arlite.co/llms.txt), [sitemap](https://arlite.co/wp-sitemap.xml), [developer resources](https://arlite.co/developers/).