For several years now, I have had a portable Predator 4375 generator. Whenever a big storm occurred and commercial power was lost, I would drag the heavy generator 300 feet from the shed to my back deck. I have considered building a permanent generator stand where the generator could live full-time for quite some time.
This past Saturday, I sat down at my computer and used Google drawing to sketch out what I wanted. The design consisted of a simple but sturdy deck with a sloped roof. It would not have any sides since the generator needs room to exhaust and cool. I decided I would buy a canvas cover for the generator for additional weather protection while not in use.
The stand is constructed of treated 2×6 and 4×4 lumber, and the hinged roof is built out of 2×6 lumber covered in half-inch plywood. All of the lumber is fastened with 3-inch deck screws. The purpose of the hinge is to allow easier refueling with larger gas cans.
It took about four hours to put the stand together, thanks to the help of my good buddy Jason. The generator was moved from the shed to the stand and securely fastened to the deck. It was really cool to see the imagined project come to life.
Now, the generator is easily accessible for monthly maintenance starts and for backup use during power outages. I plan to add roof covering, such as shingles or metal, to the plywood. In time, I would like to install an interconnect with the main panel to disable shore power and connect the generator, allowing me to easily select which circuits I want to power with the generator.
In addition to backup of everyday things like lights and the refrigerator during power outages, the generator will also allow me to power my amateur radio to assist with emergency communication in the event of a significant event involving loss of power.
