Craig’s Electrical & Generator Service — Kenner, LA
Quick answer: During a long outage, shut your generator down every 24 hours to inspect it and check the oil — but always in this order: breaker off, let it cool down, controller off, then wait a full hour before you check anything. Skipping the order or the wait can damage the unit. Here is a Quick Generator Guide!
Why You’d Shut It Down Mid-Outage
When your generator is running your whole house during an extended utility outage, it’s easy to assume the best thing to do is just let it run. It’s not. Every 24 hours of continuous run time, you should shut the unit down briefly to do a visual inspection and add any fluids it needs. Fuel conservation and routine maintenance are the other common reasons to shut down mid-outage.
The one rule that matters more than any single step: always remove the load from the generator before you shut it down. That’s what the breaker step below does — don’t skip to the controller first.
Shutting Your Generator Down
Tip: these same steps are also printed right on your generator — look for the numbered stickers (1, 2, 3) on the control panel.
Follow these steps in order:
- Set the generator’s own main breaker (MLCB) to OFF. This is the breaker on the generator or transfer switch itself — not the main breaker inside your home’s electrical panel. Opening the wrong one won’t shut the generator down.
- Let the generator run to cool down before doing anything else — your technician set an exact cool-down time for your unit (commonly around 30 seconds, though it varies by generator model and how your system is programmed).
- At the generator’s control panel, set it to OFF.
- Let the generator rest for a full one hour. Don’t shortcut this — the wait matters.
- After the hour, check the oil level and top it off if it needs it.
Most installs skip a separate “main utility disconnect” step entirely — your automatic transfer switch handles isolating utility power on its own. If your specific system does include a manual utility disconnect, your technician pointed it out when your generator was installed; when in doubt, call us before touching anything you’re not sure about.
What “Charger Missing AC” Means (and Why It’s Normal)
While there’s no utility power, your generator’s controller may show a Charger Missing AC fault — or, if your unit is an older analog system with no display screen, the same condition still applies even though you won’t see a message for it.
This isn’t a malfunction. It just means there’s currently no utility power available to charge the generator’s own battery. Once the generator is running, it charges its battery itself. But if the generator sits off for a long stretch — generally 8-12 hours, depending on your battery’s condition — that battery can lose charge over time since it’s what powers the generator’s controls. Ask your technician about removing the 7.5A fuse if you expect an extended standby period — it reduces that battery drain.
Restarting Your Generator
- Confirm the main breaker (MLCB) is still OFF.
- At the control panel, set the generator to AUTO.
- The generator will start and run — give it a short warm-up period (commonly around 30 seconds, per how your technician programmed your system) before doing anything else.
- Set the main breaker (MLCB) back to ON.
Once you’re done, the system is back in automatic mode, and the “Charger Missing AC” message will clear on its own. If your generator has the latest firmware and an LED display, a flashing green LED confirms it’s running with your home’s load on it.
What Happens Right After You Restart
The control panel may briefly cycle through its own startup programming. Your settings aren’t lost — you’ll typically just need to press ENTER to get past it, or make adjustments per your owner’s manual, until the main screen shows something like “Switched to off, hours of protection” or “System.” If your generator has FLEET remote monitoring, you’ll get an automatic message confirming it’s back off or back running — you don’t have to check it yourself.
FAQ
Do I need to do anything with my main electrical panel or utility disconnect? On most installs, no — your automatic transfer switch handles that isolation for you. A small number of setups include a separate manual utility disconnect; if yours does, your technician showed you where it is at installation. Not sure which you have? Call us and we’ll tell you.
What’s the yellow/green light on my generator about? That’s a maintenance-due indicator, not an emergency — but don’t ignore it for long. It commonly shows up after your generator’s break-in run right after installation, or once it hits its next service interval. That interval depends on your specific generator model, so check your paperwork or ask your technician if you’re not sure when yours is due.
Is it actually safe to let my generator run for days straight during a hurricane or long outage? Yes, that’s what it’s built for — as long as you’re doing the 24-hour shutdown/inspection cycle above and keeping it fueled. Continuous running isn’t the problem; skipping the periodic check-ins is.
What if I have an older analog generator with no display screen? Everything above still applies — you just won’t see the “Charger Missing AC” message spelled out on a screen. The underlying condition (and the fix) is the same.
Who do I call if something doesn’t look right? Office: (504) 677-1023. For after-hours service, warranty, or repair: (504) 677-1062, or (504) 677-1023 and select Option 2. If in doubt, call before you troubleshoot on your own.
Have a question about your specific generator or install? Reach out to your Craig’s Electrical project coordinator anytime.
One more safety note: at some point during shutdown or restart, your automatic transfer switch (ATS) will click over — it’s not always mounted right next to the generator, so this may happen somewhere else on your property. Never stand in front of it while it’s transferring power. A click and an LED color change are normal; just stand clear until the transfer finishes.