Master HWI3000, MGH3000, MGH3000PR, MGH4000C, MGH4000CI Owner's Manual

PORTABLE GASOLINE

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GENERATORS

OWNER’S OPERATION AND INSTALLATION MANUAL

Generator Models: HWI3000, MGH3000G, MGH3000, MGH3000PR, MGH4000C, MGH4000CI,

MGH5000D, MGH5000DI, MGH5000DIE, MGH6000D, MGH6000DI, MGH6500IE, and MGH10000A

IMPORTANT: Read and understand this manual before operating or servic­ing generator. Improper use of generator can cause serious injury. Keep this
manual for future reference.

PORTABLE GASOLINE GENERATORS

R

SAFETY
INFORMATION

WARNINGS

IMPORTANT: Read this owner’s
manual and the engine owner’s
manual carefully. Become familiar
with this generator before trying
to operate or service it. Know
its uses, limitations, and any
hazards involved. Improper use
of generator can cause severe
injury or death from explosion,
fire, burns, electrical shock, or
carbon monoxide poisoning.

DANGER: Carbon monoxide

poisoning may lead to death!

Engine exhaust contains poisonous carbon
monoxide gas. Overexposure will cause loss
of consciousness and will lead to death. Use
only in well-vented areas. Make sure area
has plenty of free-moving, fresh, outside
air. Never run generator in an enclosed or
confined area. Never run generator inside
occupied building.

Carbon Monoxide Poisoning: Early
signs of carbon monoxide poisoning re
semble the flu, with headaches, dizziness,
and nausea. If you have these signs, get
fresh air at once! Some people are more
affected by carbon monoxide than others.
These include pregnant women, persons
with heart or lung disease or anemia, those
under the influence of alcohol, and those at
high altitudes. Make certain you read and
understand all warnings. Keep this manual
for reference. It is your guide to safe and
proper operation of this generator.

Safety information appears throughout these
instructions. Pay close attention to them.
Below are definitions for the safety informa­tion listed throughout this manual.

DANGER: indicates a hazard which will cause
severe personal injury, death, or substantial
property damage if you ignore warning

WARNING: indicates a hazard which can
cause severe personal injury, death, or substan­tial property damage if you ignore warning.

CAUTION: indicates a hazard which will
or can cause minor personal injury or
property damage if you ignore warning.

.

1. Gasoline presents a hazard of fire or
explosion. Gasoline is flammable. Its
vapor is explosive.

• Keep fuel out of children’s reach.

• Refuel generator in a well-vented

area. Do not fill fuel tank in the dark.
Do not refuel while engine is run
ning. Unhook all electrical loads and
shut off engine before refueling.

• Do not overfill fuel tank. Always al-

low room for fuel to expand. If you
overfill tank, fuel can overflow onto
hot generator. This can cause fire or
explosion. After refueling, tightly
close fuel tank cap.

• Do not spill fuel. Fuel or fuel vapor

may ignite. If fuel spills, make sure
area is dry before starting engine.

• Never smoke in refueling area. Never

allow open flames or sparks in area.

• Store fuel in approved container.

Store fuel in a well-vented area free
of open flames or sparks.

2. Guard against fire hazard. Keep opera­tion area well-vented. Keep generator at
least three feet away from any object.
Do not place flammable objects near
generator.

• Do not use generator where flam-

mable vapors are present. Some

-

vapors are heavier than air. These
vapors settle in low-lying places.

• Do not use generator in enclosed

spaces. This includes motor home
or RV generator compartments.

3.

Guard against electric shock. Generator
produces high voltage. This high voltage
can cause severe electric shock. Only re­sponsible adults should use generator.

• Properly ground generator before

starting.

•

Never let anyone operate or service
generator without proper instructions.

• Avoid contact with live terminals or

bare wires.

• Do not use generator outdoors in rain

or snow.

• Do not use generator near standing

water or snow.

• Do not use if generator is wet or

damp.

• Do not use generator in highly con­ductive areas. These areas include
metal decking and steelwork.

• Only use grounded extension cords.

• Do not use any worn or damaged
electric cords. Electric shock or dam-

-

age to generator may result.

• Do not wear damp clothing or wet
shoes when using generator.

4. Guard against burns. Hot engine parts
can cause severe injury. Use caution and
remain alert when using generator.

• Keep children and animals away from

generator while it is running or hot.

• Keep all covers and shields in place.

Keep them tightly secured.

• The muffler becomes very hot dur-

ing operation. The muffler remains
hot for a while after shutdown. Do
not touch muffler while it is hot.
Do not let muffler touch anything
flammable. Let engine cool before
transporting or storing.

5. Have standby installation to home
or building performed by a licensed
electrician. Do not let anyone else wire
into a utility circuit. Personal injury,
equipment damage, or damage to home
could occur.

6. Never connect generator to any exist­ing electrical circuits. The generator
output will back-feed into the utility
power line. This may electrocute a
power company line repair person.
Also, if generator is powering electrical
circuits, the chance of an electrical fire
exists.

7. Battery gives off explosive gases. Keep
sparks, flames, and cigarettes away. Do
not remove or install battery cables
when engine is cranking or running.
Only service or use battery in a well­vented area.

8. Battery contains sulfuric acid. Battery
acid is poisonous if swallowed. Contact
with skin or eyes may cause severe
burns. Do not tilt generator with battery
installed. Tilting could cause battery
acid to spill. Wear protective clothing
and face shield when servicing. Keep
out of children’s reach.

2

106813

OWNER’S MANUAL

FUEL

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FUE

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POWE

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SAFETY
INFORMATION

Continued

9.

Only a qualified electrical service person
should service and repair generator.

• Generator produces high voltage.
Use extreme caution when working
on electrical parts.

• Always remove spark plug wire from
spark plug before servicing. This will
prevent accidental starting.

•

When working on generator, avoid hot
muffler, exhaust manifold, and engine
parts. Severe burns may occur.

• Do not work on generator when
tired.

• Use only factory approved replace­ment parts.

10. Store generator in a well-vented area.
Make sure fuel tank is empty. Never
store with fuel in tank. Vapors may
reach an open flame or spark. Fire or
explosion may result.

11. Never operate generator

• if engine speed changes greatly

• if engine misfires often

• if powered items overheat

• if electrical output drops

• if it is sparking

• if it produces smoke or flames

• if it vibrates at high levels

• if it has a damaged receptacle

12. Kee p generator and nearby areas
clean.

• Keep generator free of oil, mud, and

other foreign matter.

• Remove anything that creates slip

pery areas around generator.

• Remove oily rags and other items

that create fire hazards.

• Keep a fire extinguisher nearby.

Make sure it is rated ABC by the
NFPA. They are good for all uses.
Consult your local fire department.

• Keep fire extinguisher well main-

tained. Be familiar with its use.

13. Know how to stop engine quickly.
Know how to use all controls.

14. Prolonged exposure to loud noise can
cause hearing loss.

• When working around generator,

• Remember neighbors when using

wear approved hearing protection.

generator.

PRODUCT
IDENTIFICATION

Gas Cap/Fuel Gauge

Control
Panel

120 Volt
Receptacle

Full Power

120 Volt
Receptacle
(GFCI)

120 Volt
Receptacle
(Duplex)

Run Lamp

Hour Meter

Choke
Lever

-

Fuel
Valve
Lever

Starter Grip

Engine

Figure 1 - Portable Generator (Model MGH4000C Shown)

Selector Switch

120/240 Volt
Receptacle

Circuit
Breaker

Engine ON/
OFF Switch

Provision for
Auto-Idle Switch

Roll Cage

Gas Tank

Ground
Lug

Alternator

Oil Dipstick

106813

3

PORTABLE GASOLINE GENERATORS

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GENERAL
INFORMATION

Master portable generators are rugged and
compact. These generators use brushless
alternators for dependable, trouble-free ser­vice. Honda gasoline engines provide long
life under heavy use. Honda engines have
overhead valves (OHV). This provides high
performance with lower fuel consumption.
These engines are governed to maintain
engine speed of 3600 RPM under load. 3600
RPM engine speed provides 120/240V, 60
Hz power.

Additional Features

• Circuit breaker protection

• Spark-arresting muffler (except model

MGH10000A)

• Large fuel tank

• Oil alert system

• Electric starter (models MGH5000DIE,

MGH6500IE, and MGH10000A only)

• 15-Amp ground fault circuit interrupter

(GFCI) receptacle (Except HWI3000
Model)

UNPACKING

1. Remove generator from carton.

2. Remove any protective packaging ap­plied to generator for shipment.

3. Check for loose or missing parts. Check
for shipping damage. If any parts are
missing or damaged, promptly inform
dealer where you bought generator.

4. Battery cables are supplied for models
MGH5000DIE, MGH6500IE, and
MGH10000A only. These cables are in
a separate bag inside generator carton.
You must install these cables to engine.
See Battery, page 8 for installation
instructions.

VENTILATION

DANGER: Use only in well­vented areas. Make sure area
has plenty of free-moving, fresh,
outside air. Never run generator
in an enclosed or confined area.
Never run generator inside oc­cupied building. Engine exhaust
con tains p o isonous carbon
monoxide gas. Overexposure will
cause loss of consciousness and
will lead to death.

This generator needs cooling air to run prop­erly. Never block free-flowing, cooling air
to generator. Overheating will occur without
cooling air. This will damage the generator.
Keep generator at least three feet away from
any object.

DUST, DIRT, RAIN,
AND SNOW

WARNING: Do not use genera­tor outdoors in rain or snow. Do not
use generator near standing water
or snow. Do not use if generator is
wet or damp. Operating generator
in these conditions increases the
risk of electrocution. Severe injury
or death can occur.

Do not use generator in extremely dusty or
dirty conditions. This will severely affect its
life. Keep generator clean. Do not allow dust,
dirt, rain, or snow to collect on it. Protect
generator from outdoor elements.

HIGH AND LOW
TEMPERATURE
OPERATION

Air temperature affects generator output.
Output drops 1% for each 10° temperature rise
above 60° F. Very low temperatures may make
the engine hard to start. See engine owner’s
manual for more information.

4

106813

OWNER’S MANUAL

MGH5000D

SPECIFICATIONS

MGH4000C MGH5000DI
MODEL HWI3000 MGH3000G MGH3000 MGH3000PR MGH4000CI MGH5000DIE

Electrical

Rated Wattage 2500 2500 2500 2500 4000 5000
Rated Amperage

120 V 20.8 20.8 20.8 20.8 33.3 41.7
240 V –– –– –– –– 16.7 20.8

Receptacle

120-V Duplex –– –– –– –– Yes Yes
120-V, 20-A Duplex Yes –– –– –– ––
120-V, 15-A GFCI No Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
120-V Twist-Lock No No No No 30 Amp 30 Amp
120/240-V Twist-Lock No No No No 20 Amp 20 Amp
120-V Full-Power Switch No No No No Yes Yes
120/240-V, 50-A No No No No No No

General

Honda Engine H.P. 5.5 5.5 5.5 5.0 8 9
Honda Model GX160K1VX GX160K1VX GX160K1VX GC160VXA GX240K1VA GX270VA
Fuel Type Gasoline Gasoline Gasoline Gasoline Gasoline Gasoline
Fuel Tank Capacity 3.9 qt. 3.9 qt. 3.9 qt. 3.9 qt. 5 gal. 8 gal.
Oil Alert System Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Start Method Recoil Recoil Recoil Recoil Recoil Recoil/Elec.
Weight (pounds) 85.5 85.5 85.5 84 139 173

* Single-phase, 1.0 power factor

MGH6000D

MODEL MGH6000DI MGH6500IE MGH10000A

Electrical

Rated Wattage 6000 6500 10,000
Rated Amperage

120 V 50 57 83.3
240 V 25 28.3 41.7

Receptacle

120-V Duplex Yes Yes Yes
120-V, 20-A Duplex –– –– ––
120-V, 15-A GFCI Yes Yes Yes
120-V Twist-Lock 30 Amp 30 Amp 30 Amp
120/240-V Twist-Lock 20 Amp 30 Amp 30 Amp
120-V Full-Power Switch Yes No No
120/240-V, 50-A No No Yes

General

Honda Engine H.P. 11 13 20
Honda Model GX340K1VA GX390K1VXE GX620VXA3
Fuel Type Gasoline Gasoline Gasoline
Fuel Tank Capacity 8 gal. 8 gal. 13 gal.
Oil Alert System Yes Yes Yes
Start Method Recoil Electric Electric
Weight (pounds) 191 247 350

* Single-phase, 1.0 power factor

Note: Ratings apply to SAE standard
conditions. Reduce ratings 3 1/2% for
each 1000 feet above sea level and 1% for
each 10° Fahrenheit rise above 60°F.

106813

5

PORTABLE GASOLINE GENERATORS

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HONDA

OFFONSTART

ENGINE SW

CIRCUIT
BREAKER

ENGINE SW

ON

OFF

GENERATOR
FEATURES

OIL ALERT SYSTEM

The oil alert system protects the engine from
low oil damage. This system automatically
shuts down the engine and prevents engine
restarting if the oil level falls too low.

Note: When this happens, the engine switch
remains in the ON position. The oil alert
system is wired into the ON/OFF Switch.

If this system shuts down the engine, the
engine will not start until you add oil. Add
oil to engine (see Engine Oil, page 7).

Note: Operate generator on a level surface.
If not level, the oil may flow away from the
oil level sensing device. This will cause the
oil alert system to shut down engine.

See engine owner’s manual for more
information.

Model
MGH3000PR

FULL POWER SELECTOR
SWITCH

All models except HWI3000, MGH3000G,
MGH3000, MGH3000PR, MGH6500IE,
and MGH10000A have a full power selec­tor switch on the control panel. The switch
has two positions: 120 VOLT ONLY, and
120/240 VOLT.

120 VOLT ONLY: This position sends full
power to the 120V receptacles only. 240V
power is not available. Use this position
when powering 120V items only.

120/240 VOLT: This position sends full power
to the 120/240V receptacle. It also powers the
120V receptacles at reduced wattage capacity.

IMPORTANT: Do not move the full power se­lector switch while powering electrical items.
Unplug all items before moving switch. Failure
to do so can damage switch. Models HWI3000,
MGH3000G, MGH3000, MGH3000PR,
MGH6500IE, and MGH10000A do not have
this switch. These models provide full power
to all receptacles.

ELECTRIC START

(Models MGH5000DIE,
MGH6500IE, and MGH10000A)

Models MGH5000DIE, MGH6500IE,
and MGH10000A have electric starters.
A battery is not supplied with generator.
You must provide a 12-volt, 32-amp-hour
battery. For more battery information, see
Battery, page 8.

GROUND FAULT CIRCUIT
INTERRUPTER RECEPTACLE

All models (Except HWI3000) have a 120­volt ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI)
receptacle. The GFCI receptacle is on the
control panel or top cover of alternator (models
MGH3000G, MGH3000, and MGH3000PR
only). The GFCI protects you against hazard­ous electrical shock caused when your body
becomes a path through which electricity
travels to reach ground. This could happen
when you touch an appliance or cord that
is ‘live’ through faulty mechanism, damp or
worn insulation, etc.

When protected by the GFCI, you may still
feel a shock, but the GFCI should cut it off
quickly. A person in normal health should
not receive serious injury. Note: Infants and
very small children may still be affected.

Models HWI3000,
MGH3000G, MGH3000,
MGH4000C, MGH4000CI,
MGH5000D, MGH5000DI,
MGH6000D, and
MGH6000DI

Models
MGH5000DIE,
MGH6500IE, and
MGH10000A

Figure 2 - Engine Switch Location

120 VOLT ONLY

Position

Figure 3 - Full Power Selector Switch

120/240 VOLT

Position

AUTO-IDLE SYSTEM

The Auto-Idle System allows the engine to idle
down or run at a slower speed when the gen­erator is not being used to supply power. The
Auto-idle system can be turned ON or OFF by
a rocker switch on the control panel. When the
switch is in the OFF position, the engine runs
at full speed all of the time. When the switch
is in the ON position, the engine slows down
to idle speed until an electrical load is applied.
When a load is applied to the generator (an
electrical item is plugged in and turned on) the
engine speeds up to the preset speed required
to produce the correct voltage.

IMPORTANT: A minimum current load
of 1 Amp is required to disengage the auto
idle solenoid and cause the engine to come
up to speed for correct voltage. Powering
items at reduced engine speed will damage
generator and powered items.

6

Test Procedure

Check the GFCI receptacle every month.
This insures it is working right.

1. Push black TEST button. Red RESET
button should pop out. This should trip
GFCI, resulting in no electrical power
at receptacle. Verify this by plugging
test lamp with good bulb into recep­tacle. If lamp does not work, GFCI
receptacle is good.

WARNING: If RESET button
does not pop out, do not use the
GFCI receptacle. Contact a quali
fied electrician for repairs.

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106813

OWNER’S MANUAL

HONDA

OFFONSTART

ENGINE SW

CIRCUIT
BREAKER

ON/push OFF

R

E

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20

20

GENERATOR
FEATURES

Continued

2. If the GFCI receptacle tests okay,
restore power by pushing the RESET
button back in. The test lamp should
work at this time. IMPORTANT: You
must press the RESET button firmly
and fully. It should lock into place. If
the GFCI does not lock into place, do
not use receptacle. Contact a qualified
electrician for repairs.

Figure 4 - GFCI Receptacle

ENGINE CIRCUIT BREAKER

(Models MGH5000DIE,
MGH6500IE, and MGH10000A)

This circuit breaker, or fuse, protects the bat­tery charging circuit. A short circuit will trip
the circuit breaker. The circuit breaker will
also trip if you install battery wrong. Push
circuit breaker button to reset. On Model
MGH10000A, the fuse is located inside of
the Keyswitch box.

Engine Circuit
Breaker Button

Figure 5 - Engine Circuit Breaker

106813

RECEPTACLE CIRCUIT
BREAKER

The circuit breakers protect the receptacles
and alternator. Overloading generator will
trip circuit breaker. A short circuit in item
being powered will also trip breaker. If this
occurs, unplug electrical load from receptacle.
Let circuit breaker cool down. Push circuit
breaker button to reset.

Electric motors need higher starting current.
They require up to three-times their rated
wattage to start. The starting current needed
may be too high. This can cause nuisance
circuit breaker tripping. To help prevent this,
start electric motors first. Connect additional
items to generator after starting motors. If
this continues to happen, reduce the total
generator load.

Normal

Figure 6 - Receptacle Circuit Breaker
Button

Tripped

Note: High ambient temperature will cause
nuisance tripping.

ENGINE OIL

We ship the generator without oil in the
engine crankcase. You must add oil before
starting engine. See engine owner’s manual
for specific oil type.

CHECKING OIL LEVEL AND
ADDING OIL

Follow steps below to check oil level. Make
sure engine is level and stopped.

1. Remove dipstick (see Figure 7). Wipe
dipstick clean.

2. Insert dipstick into oil filler neck. Do
not screw it in. Oil level should be at top
of filler neck. Oil should cover most of
dipstick. For Model MGH10000A only,
the oil should be between the two dots
on dipstick.

3. If level is low, fill to top of oil filler neck
(see Figure 7). For Model MGH10000A
only, fill to top dot on dipstick. Only use
oil recommended in engine owner’s
manual.

Note: If oil level is too low, oil alert system
will shutdown engine and prevent engine
from restarting.

7

Oil Level
At Top Of
Filler Neck

Oil

Figure 7 - Checking Oil Level (Model
MGH4000C Shown)

Dipstick

FUEL

WARNING: Gasoline presents
a hazard of fire or explosion.
Gasoline is flammable. Its vapor
is explosive.

• Keep fuel out of children’s

reach.

•

Refuel generator in a well­vented area. Do not fill fuel tank
in the dark. Do not refuel while
engine is running. Unhook all
electrical loads and shut off
engine before refueling.

• Do not overfill fuel tank. Always

allow room for fuel to expand.
If you overfill tank, fuel can
overflow onto hot engine. This
can cause fire or explosion.
After refueling, tightly close
fuel tank cap.

• Do not spill fuel. Fuel or fuel

vapor may ignite. If fuel spills,
make sure area is dry before
starting engine.

• Never smoke in refueling area.

Never allow open flames or
sparks in area.

• Store fuel in approved contain-

er. Store fuel in a well-vented
area free of open flames or
sparks.

Use clean, fresh, unleaded gasoline. Use
gasoline with octane rating of 86 or higher.
Service station gasoline pumps should dis
play the octane rating. Using gasoline with
lower octane level could damage engine.
Avoid getting dirt, dust, or water in fuel
tank. Do not mix oil with gasoline.

See engine owner’s manual for more
information.

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PORTABLE GASOLINE GENERATORS

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F

FUEL

F

FUEL

HANDLES AND TOP
COVER

(Model MGH10000A)

Follow the steps below to attach the handles
and top cover to Model MGH10000A:

1. Remove the two bolts, lock nuts, and
washers holding side panels to control
panel end of roll cage. Insert bolts
with washers through two holes in the
handle and then back through roll cage
and side screen panels (See Figure 8).
Tighten the lock nuts against the side
screen panels.

2. Place top cover on top of generator roll
cage with notch on control panel side.
Use four #8 sems screws provided to at­tach cover to roll cage (See Figure 9).

Roll Cage

Washers

Bolts

Handle

Lock Nuts

BATTERY

(Models MGH5000DIE,
MGH6500IE, and MGH10000A)

WARNING: Battery gives off
explosive gases. Keep sparks,
flames, and cigarettes away. Do
not remove or install battery
cables when engine is cranking
or running. Only service or use
battery in a well-vented area.

WARNING: Battery contains
sulfuric acid. Contact with skin
or eyes may cause severe burns.
Do not tilt generator with battery
installed. Tilting could cause bat
tery acid to spill. Wear protective
clothing and face shield when
servicing. Keep out of children’s
reach.

• If battery acid gets on your skin,

wash with water.

• If battery acid gets in your eyes,

flush with water at least 15
minutes. Call a doctor at once.
Battery acid is poisonous.

•

If swallowed, drink large amounts
of water or milk. Follow with milk
of magnesia or vegetable oil.
Call a doctor at once.

Always wear safety glasses when working
with battery. Make sure battery terminals
are clean. Make sure cable connections
are tight.

Always shut down engine before removing
or attaching battery cables. Always remove
the negative (–) cable first. Always attach
negative (–) cable last.

INSTALLING BATTERY
CABLES TO ENGINE

1. Attach the red, positive (+) battery
cable to the starter solenoid on engine
(see Figure 10). The starter solenoid
is located directly above the starter
on Model MGH10000A. This cable is

-

factory installed.

CAUTION: Do not over tighten
positive terminal on starter so­lenoid. Positive terminal could
rotate and cut into negative ter­minal, causing a short.

2. Attach the black, negative (–) battery cable
to the engine block. Use the bolt, nut, and
two washers provided with the battery
cables. Use long mounting hole on oppo
site side of engine from starter solenoid.
Attach cable as shown in Figure 11.

-

Figure 8 – Attaching Handles to Roll

SEMS Screws

Top Cover

SEMS
Screws

Figure 9 – Attaching Top Cover to Roll
Cage

CAUTION: If you remove bat­tery, insulate the red, positive (+)
battery cable terminal. Insulate
with electrical tape. Exposed
terminal may spark when genera

-

tor runs.

IMPORTANT: Make sure battery connec
tions are the correct polarity. Electric start
generators use negative ground, 12-volt DC
starting system.

Models MGH5000DIE, MGH6500IE, and
MGH10000A have an electric starter. A
battery is not supplied with generator. You
must provide a 12-volt, 32-amp-hour battery.
The positive and negative battery cables are
supplied with generator. You must install
these cables before mounting battery.

8

Starter
Solenoid

Red, Positive (+)
Battery Cable

-

Figure 10 - Connecting Red, Positive (+)
Battery Cable to Engine Starter Solenoid
(Model MGH6500IE Shown)

Black,
Negative (–)
Battery Cable

Figure 11 - Connecting Black, Negative
(-) Battery Cable to Engine Block (Model
MGH6500IE Shown)

106813

OWNER’S MANUAL

FUEL

F

F

FUEL

TO STARTER
SOLENOID

TO ENGINE
BLOCK

12

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/1
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FUEL

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05

HO
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1/10

FULL POWER

BATTERY

Continued

MOUNTING BATTERY TO
GENERATOR

1. Secure battery to generator by battery
hold-down system. This system con­sists of the battery mounting bracket,
hook bolts, and nut (see Figure 12).

Note: Model MGH10000A battery is

located on opposite side as shown (see
Figure 13).

2. Locate the red, positive (+) battery
cable from starter solenoid. Connect it
to the positive (+) battery terminal (see
Figures 14 and 15).

3. Locate the black, negative (–) battery
cable attached to engine block. Connect
it to the negative (–) battery terminal
(see Figures 14 and 15).

4. Check battery before starting engine.
Make sure fluid levels are full. Make
sure battery is charged.

See engine owner’s manual for more
information.

Battery Mounting Bracket

Battery

Hook Bolt

Figure 12 - Battery Hold-Down System
(Model MGH6500IE Shown)

Nut

Hook
Bolt

Figure 13 - Battery Hold-Down System
(Model MGH10000A Shown)

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Battery Mounting
Bracket

Battery

Nut

Figure 14 - Connecting Positive and
Negative Cables to Battery
(Model MGH6500IE Shown)

To Starter
Solenoid

To Engine
Block

Figure 15 - Connecting Positive and
Negative Cables to Battery

(Model MGH10000A Shown)

EXTENSION
CORDS

Only use grounded extension cords. Be sure
to use extension cord with proper wire gauge
size. See chart below.

Recommended Minimum Wire
Gauges (AWG) for Extension
Cords

Ampere AWG for Length of

Load Cord in Feet

50' 100' 150'

2 18 18 18

3 18 18 18
4 16 16 16
5 16 16 16
6 16 16 14
8 16 14 12
10 16 14 12
12 14 14 12
14 14 12 10
16 12 12 10
20 10 10 8

9

GENERATOR
GROUNDING

WARNING: You must properly
earth-ground generator before
starting. This will help guard
against deadly electric shock. Only
use grounded plugs with genera­tor. Only use grounded extension
cords. Only use three-wire or
double-insulated power tools.

Grounding generator helps prevent electric
shock from a ground fault condition. Locate
ground lug on end of generator housing (see
Figure 16). Attach a #10 stranded-copper
ground wire to ground lug. Drive grounding
point into ground. Grounding point can be
a stake, grounding rod, or pipe. Grounding
point should be copper or brass. Attach
ground wire to grounding point. You must
supply the ground wire and grounding point.
These do not come with generator. Follow
the National Electrical Code and all state and
local codes. Consult your power company
or a licensed electrician.

WARNING: For a grounding
point, do not use metal pipe be­ing used to carry combustible
materials or gases.

Ground Lug

Copper
or Brass
Grounding
Point

Alternator

Fig u r e 16 - Gr ounding Genera t or
(Model MGH4000C Shown)

Ground Wire

PORTABLE GASOLINE GENERATORS

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STANDBY
INSTALLATION
TO HOME OR
BUILDING

WARNING: Have standby in­stallation performed by a skilled,
licensed electrician. Do not let
anyone else wire into a utility
circuit. Personal injury, equip­ment damage, or damage to home
could occur.

IMPORTANT: This generator will not
power your entire home. Most home utility
electric service is more than 60 amps. This
will exceed generator output. Only power
needed items during a power outage. Make
sure total wattage of electrical load does not
exceed rated wattage of generator.

You may need to use this generator as a
standby power source. During a power out
age, the generator will power selected items
in a building. Have generator and additional
wiring installed by a skilled, licensed electri­cian. This is not a do-it-yourself job. Follow
all local codes.

WARNING: The electrician
must install a double-throw
transfer switch. This isolates ex

­isting electrical circuits from the
utility power line. If not isolated,
generator output will back-feed
into utility power line. This may
electrocute a power company line
repair person.

DETERMINING
ELECTRICAL LOAD
FOR GENERATOR

You must decide what electrical load your
generator can power. Do this before us­ing generator. Use the following four-step
method. It will help you select a load that
is not too large. Make sure total wattage of
all electrical loads does not exceed rated
wattage of generator. For rated wattage of
your generator, see Specifications, page 5.
Electric motors present a special problem
when figuring load. Read Step 3 carefully.

1. Make two lists of items you want pow­ered by generator. List all motors and
motor powered appliances in one. List
all lights, small appliances, etc. in the
other. For standby service to home or
building, only include items you must
power.

2. Enter running watts of each item except
motors. The light bulb or appliance
nameplate lists its wattage. Remem
ber, 1KW = 1000 watts. Note: The
nameplate may not list wattage. It may
only list volts and amps. The formula
for finding wattage is: Volts x Amps
= Watts. For example: An appliance
nameplate states 3 amps at 120 volts.
3 amps x 120 volts = 360 watts.

3. Electric motors present a special prob­lem. They require up to three-times
their rated wattage to start. Chart 2,

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size motors. For example: an electric
motor nameplate states 5 amps at 120
volts. 5 amps x 120 volts = 600 watts
running. Multiply this figure by 3. This
will show the starting watts needed. 600
watts x 3 = 1800 watts to start. When
figuring the generator load for motors,
you must use the starting watts figure.
Do not use the running watts figure.
Note: Some motors require nearly the
same wattage to run as to start. These
items include saws, drills, hair dryers,
and food mixers. See Chart 1 for typical
appliance wattage examples.

4. Add watts and starting watts of all
items. This total must not be larger than
the rated wattage of your generator.
It is a good idea to have up to 25%
extra capacity for future needs or extra
equipment.

below, shows starting watts for different

Chart 1 - Typical Electric Appliance Wattages

-

Running Starting
Equipment Watts Watts

Light bulb (100W) 100 100
Radio 150 150
Fan 200 600
Television 400 400
Furnace fan
with blower 600 1800
Vacuum cleaner 600 750
Sump pump
Refrigerator/freezer 800 2400
6" Circular saw 800 1000
Floodlight 1000 1000

(1/3 hp)

(1/3 hp)

700 2100

Running Starting
Equipment Watts Watts

1/2" Drill 1000 1250
Toaster 1200 1200
Coffee maker 1200 1200
Skillet 1200 1200
14" Chain saw 1200 1500
Water well pump
(1/2 hp) 1000 3000
Hot plate/range
(per burner) 1500 1500
10" Table saw 2000 6000
Water heater

(storage-type)

5000 5000

Chart 2

Approximate Starting Watts*

Motor Approximate Universal Repulsion Split
HP Running Motors Induction Capacitor Phase
Rating Watts (small appliance) Motors Motors Motors

1/8 500 625 1100 1500 2250

1/4 700 875 1550 2100 3150
1/3 800 1000 1750 2400 3600
1/2 1100 1375 2400 3300 4950
3/4 1400 1750 3100 4200 x
1 1700 2125 3750 5100 x
1 1/2 2100 2625 4620 6300 x
2 2450 3075 5400 7350 x
3 3600 x 7900 10800 x

* – Always use starting watts, not running watts, when figuring correct electrical load.
x – Motors of higher horsepower are not generally used.

10

106813

OWNER’S MANUAL

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OPERATION

GENERAL INFORMATION

This generator is not large enough to power
your entire home. Do not connect generator
to any existing electrical circuits. Plug items
directly into generator receptacles. Do not
exceed amperage rating of receptacles. Only
use grounded cords.

DANGER: Use only in well­vented areas. Make sure area
has plenty of free-moving, fresh,
outside air. Never run generator
in an enclosed or confined area.
Never run generator inside oc­cupied building. Engine exhaust
con tains p o isonous carbon
monoxide gas. Overexposure will
cause loss of consciousness and
will lead to death.

DANGER: Never connect gen­erator to any existing electrical
circuits. The generator output will
back-feed into the utility power
line. This may electrocute a power
company line repair person. Also,
if generator is powering electrical
circuits, the chance of an electri­cal fire exists.

Model MGH10000A also has a 120/240V,
50-amp receptacle (see Figure 17).

Model HWI3000 has only the 120V, 20-amp
duplex receptacle.

Model s MGH 3000G, MGH30 00 and
MGH3000PR have only the 120V, 15-amp
GFCI duplex receptacle.

120V, 15-Amp GFCI Duplex

120V, 15-Amp Duplex

120/240V, 20 or 30­Amp Twist-Lock

120V, 30-Amp
Twist-Lock

POWER CORD AND PLUG
REQUIREMENTS

120V, 30-amp twist-lock receptacle

• NEMA L5-30P plug

• Three-wire, 30-amp cord

12 0/240V, 20 or 30- a mp twist -lock
receptacle

• NEMA L14-20P (20-amp) or L14-30P
(30-amp) plug

• Four-wire, 20-amp or 30-amp cord

120/240V, 50-amp receptacle

• NEMA L14-50P

• Four-wire, 50-amp cord

Note: We supply the engine owner’s manual
with generator. Refer to that manual for ques­tions concerning engine operation.

USING RECEPTACLE

Note: Do not exceed amperage rating of
receptacles. Exceeding rating will trip re
ceptacle circuit breaker.

Use receptacles properly. Improper use could
damage generator. Use only grounded extension
cords. Power only grounded or double-insulated
items. Do not overload receptacles. All genera
tors (except models HWI3000, MGH3000G,
MGH3000, and MGH3000PR) have the fol
lowing receptacles (see Figure 17):

• 120V, 15-amp GFCI duplex receptacle

• 120V, 30-amp twist-lock receptacle

• 120/240V, 20 or 30-amp twist-lock
receptacle

• 120V, 15-amp duplex receptacle

106813

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120/240V, 50-Amp

(Model MGH10000A only)

Figure 17 - Receptacle Locations

11

Figure 18 - Cord and Plug Configurations

Continued