The purpose of buying a generator is often due to concerns about an unstable power grid and potential outages or power quality issues. It's important to understand that before your generator activates, you are still relying on that unstable utility power. Outages can be caused by various incidents, such as trees falling on power lines and causing a phase-to-phase surge that can blow a transformer. Animals like squirrels can also nest inside transformers and cause similar issues. Additionally, a car accident involving a drunk driver crashing into a transformer can result in a major phase-to-phase short circuit.
Within your electrical panel, and in some outlets in your home, there are special circuit breakers designed to shut off in certain arc fault or ground fault situations. These breakers are meant to protect you from electrocution or fire hazards. For instance, they can prevent accidents if a blow dryer falls into a tub, wiring in your home is damaged by nails or staples, or extension cords are cut, creating unsafe conditions. While these devices are essential for safety, they can sometimes seem like a nuisance, such as when all the food in your basement refrigerator spoils due to a tripped breaker.
Returning to the issue of utility power and your generator: if a transformer blows before your generator activates, your GFI or Arc Fault breakers in the panel might interpret this as a dangerous situation and shut off to protect your home and its occupants. Consequently, you might think the generator caused the issue, but it was actually the utility problem that triggered the generator. Although this can be frustrating, it's a necessary safety feature required by code. Surge protection can provide additional safeguards to help mitigate these issues, but it cannot completely eliminate all risks.
Circuit breakers are more reliable than outlet devices, but both can fail or experience nuisance trips as they age. These sensitive electronic devices will eventually need replacement. If your breakers trip every time you use them or when the generator starts, it may indicate a need for inspection of the individual device. However, if all the breakers in your panel trip simultaneously, it suggests a large surge event, which might have protected all your electronics. Replacing a breaker is cheaper and easier than replacing all the TVs, computers, and appliances in your home.