One word of caution when using a generator:

When you hook a backup generator to your house when your power is out......
......PLEASE turn OFF your *main* breaker in your electric panel.

This will prevent power being sent out to the power lines. If the power is out, the linemen could be hurt by the power coming back through the system onto a power line they are working on.

Basically what happens is that the power back feeds from your house to the transformer that is connected to the power line. The transformer works both ways....it takes high voltage from the power line and turns it into 120 volts for your house. If your house sends 120 volts to the transformer, it will put high voltage out on the line.

my 2 cents.
Brian