Quote from: angler on February 08, 2010, 08:34:30 AM
Was reading Boston's Gun Bible over the weekend while the power was out. That book is a trip to read, particularly when you are feeling a bit apocalyptic......need to buy more guns, more ammo, and a generator.......
i have a little pos 1000w 2 stroke gen that i've had for about 8 years now. I used to live in NYC and I needed it for power tools at the parking lot. I used it during the blackout there -- put it on top of my window unit AC and ran an extension cord to my fridge.
I've used it for several blackouts around here. This saturday, when the power went out, I wired it into our main breakers for the furnace fan and fridge. I did the math and the furnace fan uses 3A and the fridge uses 6.1A. It grunted and ran like a champ, we had heat, fridge and cooking (gas). I plugged in one light circuit in the bedrooms and we had light (thanks to using CFLs everywhere).
I want a bigger generator, but this one cost me $89 at harbor freight. It's small and as long as I keep putting stabil in it and good gas, it will run forever.
"ETQ, I LUV U"
(http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51MdRA35CtL._SL500_.jpg)
Quote from: angler on February 08, 2010, 09:55:57 AM
$89 bucks???? I can't afford not to have one. We had lights, in the form of propane camp lanterns, and a gas stove and gas hot water, but sure would have been nice to have a little heat.......
yeah, this one is the best for the size because it puts out 1000w nominally and 1200w surge. other ones do 900/800w and that's a waste.
they go for 100-150 now
just turn off the main breaker and wire it to the panel. you can do it a number of ways. i put a male plug off the side of my main box with a switch. the hot wire goes to one of the main circuit runs and the neutral goes to neutral. just turn off the main and plug in the extension cord and it energizes half of the whole panel. I have the furnace blower breaker and fridge breaker on the same run.
as long as you do it right, it's easy as hell. put the generator anywhere you have space and extension cord to support 10A and you are golden.
that little gen holds about 1.5 gallons and that goes for about 6-8 hours. it has a breaker on the generator so if you overload it, it just pops. reset it and go.
90% of the houses around here have NG furnaces and you just need some juice to run the blower, usually 2-4A max. Check on the fan itself, might have to open the furnace up to see it or look on the label.
If you don't like messing with electrics, then don't. If you don't do it right and the power comes on, you cna blow your house up (well, probably just your fridge, fan and generator)
Damn! Harbor Freight no longer carries them. They have the same looking one made by Chicago Electric and it is only rated for 800 kw.
Just called both of my local Harbor Freights and they don't have a single gennie in stock.......so much for picking one up before tomorrow.
Quote from: angler on February 08, 2010, 10:21:59 AM
Damn! Harbor Freight no longer carries them. They have the same looking one made by Chicago Electric and it is only rated for 800 kw.
Just called both of my local Harbor Freights and they don't have a single gennie in stock.......so much for picking one up before tomorrow.
Northern Tool? Yeah, it might be hard to find one right now......
Maybe call Sun or United Rental and suck it up for a day or two?
I've got power now, but barely. If so much as a bird lands on the wrong branch, it's lights out. Northern Tool has them and so does Amazon. There are no Northern Tool locations up here.
Not the same exactly, but it is backup power never the less:
(http://gopaultech.com/files/2009/03/apc-battery-backup.jpg)
Quote from: Monster Dave on February 08, 2010, 10:54:30 AM
Not the same exactly, but it is backup power never the less:
everything counts. i have a 1000 size model for my PC and the FIOS router.
my old setup was great, it came from a 450, but the batteries died so i hooked up two deep cycle marine batteries in parallel. disabled the charging circuit in the APS, and put a smart charger on them. i unplugged the UPS brain to see how long it would last with that setup and it was still going after a day.
Quote from: angler on February 08, 2010, 10:44:51 AM
I've got power now, but barely. If so much as a bird lands on the wrong branch, it's lights out. Northern Tool has them and so does Amazon. There are no Northern Tool locations up here.
i meant tractor supply, not northern tool. sorry.. they ahve a store in leesburg, but they don't have any of the small cheap gens, at least not on their website.
give the store a call and see what they have, i know they had something i don't see on the website.
(http://www.vuw.ac.nz/scps-demos/demos/Circuits_and_Electromagnetism/BicycleGenerator/bike.jpg)
Runs from 3-10 Yogurts an hour depending on fuel settings
Quote from: ducatiz on February 08, 2010, 11:09:01 AM
i meant tractor supply, not northern tool. sorry.. they ahve a store in leesburg, but they don't have any of the small cheap gens, at least not on their website.
give the store a call and see what they have, i know they had something i don't see on the website.
I've called everywhere. No tractor supply near me. Home Despot has a few, but they are the giant ones.
Hopefully the recently upgraded storm tomorrow won't take my power again.
My electric is all under ground here.
Lived here for 6 years and never had a power outage.
My parents should have done what you guys did (live in South Bend, IN).
Their power goes out all the make the beast with two backsing time.
Quote from: angler on February 08, 2010, 11:45:24 AM
I've called everywhere. No tractor supply near me. Home Despot has a few, but they are the giant ones.
Hopefully the recently upgraded storm tomorrow won't take my power again.
My Kroger Grocery Store sells generators.........WTF?
Quote from: He Man on February 08, 2010, 11:40:09 AM
(http://www.vuw.ac.nz/scps-demos/demos/Circuits_and_Electromagnetism/BicycleGenerator/bike.jpg)
Runs from 3-10 Yogurts an hour depending on fuel settings
Doesn't Ed Begley, Jr. have one of those...
Reminds me of that ESPN Ad where Lance Armstrong is in the basement peddling his bike to power the ESPN Office Building
I've got a crusty old Coleman Vantage 3500 that I got free a few years ago. Just needed a good carb cleaning and fuel tank flush. Largely ignored since (luckily), but always starts on the first or second pull.
I'd post a pic, but that would mean going out to the ten degree garage and digging it out. Sorry.
I have this one:
(http://salestores.com/stores/images/images_747/PMA525302.jpg)
but i like this picture better
(came up in the search for the coleman 5000)
Doesn't mean you should post it...
Quote3. Images.
3.1 Members shall not post images or links containing, nudity, partial nudity, sexual acts, or depiction thereof. This includes pictures for purely sexual purposes. This isn't a frat house, and the board needs to be work-appropriate. As a simple example, the DMF should be able to be up on a screen in anyone's office and not get them in trouble for anything other than wasting time. Pictures of clothed spouses or significant others are ok. If questionable, images should be linked and not directly visible in a thread.
Honda EM6500SX
(http://www.hayesequipment.com/images/em6500-large.jpg)
Shares a garage with the bikes
(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/xc-05.JPG)
I have a lot of experience in back-up systems, since I work in the electrical distribution industry, and was part of a project to do a whole house backup system integrated with the main load center, not a sub-panel.
I did a ton of research on my own when I went to buy, and I settled on a " Chonda" (chinese honda knockoff). I have a sub-panel in my garage that feeds 6 outlets in my basement - it is completely separate from my utility fed household wiring. The generator and outlets are enough to run a couple lights, my furnace, and the fridge, all with extension cords.
(http://www.championpowerequipment.com/img/lC46540.jpg)
I found a cool single circuit transfer switch for the furnace that is hardwired in - so anyone could connect a drop cord to it, just like an appliance, and switch between utility and generator feed.
(http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41S40B1EJ8L._SS500_.jpg)
I will dig up a presentation I did, and post it if anyone is interested.
mitt
Quote from: mitt on February 08, 2010, 02:05:26 PM
I will dig up a presentation I did, and post it if anyone is interested.
mitt
consider me interested. The street behind me had power throughout this last storm. I thought about wiring a plug and second cutoff/transfer into the cutoff switch for the furnace and running an extension cord to a plug in my neighbors house. I probably have enough extension cord to reach, but I was worried about the length of that run (probably 150 feet)
Quote from: angler on February 08, 2010, 02:10:08 PM
consider me interested. The street behind me had power throughout this last storm. I thought about wiring a plug and second cutoff/transfer into the cutoff switch for the furnace and running an extension cord to a plug in my neighbors house. I probably have enough extension cord to reach, but I was worried about the length of that run (probably 150 feet)
I'd be worried about the wire gauge with extension cords if you have a hot air furnace.
The fan draws quite a bit, and you would have a bit of line loss from cords.
Quote from: angler on February 08, 2010, 02:10:08 PM
consider me interested. The street behind me had power throughout this last storm. I thought about wiring a plug and second cutoff/transfer into the cutoff switch for the furnace and running an extension cord to a plug in my neighbors house. I probably have enough extension cord to reach, but I was worried about the length of that run (probably 150 feet)
Yea, a few amps over 150' on 12 or 14 awg drop cord, and you are going to loose some voltage.
mitt
Quote from: ducpainter on February 08, 2010, 02:13:22 PM
I'd be worried about the wire gauge with extension cords if you have a hot air furnace.
The fan draws quite a bit, and you would have a bit of line loss from cords.
Yep - I have some data I took from my house when I was working on the project about peak in-rush (less than 1 second) and peak steady state (2 or more seconds) current draw for misc. electrical loads. On my gas furnace, the hot glow igniter draws the most "steady state" current if I remember right, for about 10 seconds, while the squirel cage has a bigger peak in-rush, but lower steady state use.
Once your gas furnace is lit, it doesn't take that much electrical power to run it. Same goes for compressors, like fridges and freezers, only times 10. My fridge takes over 20A in-rush to start, but then less than 2A to run.
mitt
The furnace is natural gas forced air. It is brand spankin' new.
That is what I thought. I've got enough of the beefy gauge cords, but I was worried about loss and the cords getting warm.
We have another decent storm headed our way and if it is wet, we will loose power. It sounds like it will be wet. I can do 48 hours without heat, but then it gets a little uncomfortable. I couldn't find a single generator in the DC Metro today......
Thanks to hurricane Ike, I've got me one of these: Briggs and Stratton XL4000
(http://www.dyersheatandcool.com/modules/4nAlbum/album/album2/4000_Watt_XL_Por.jpg)
The paint matches my bike. Yellow is the voltage regulatingest color :)
If I had to do it again -that is, not scour the city for days and pay a hurricane-refugee-in-your-own-home price for one - I would get a multi-fuel (including natural gas) pedestal unit.
Quote from: angler on February 08, 2010, 02:21:08 PM
That is what I thought. I've got enough of the beefy gauge cords, but I was worried about loss and the cords getting warm.
It really depends on the equipment and the gauge of the extension cords.
If you have 12 g cords 150' is not an issue.
If you have 16g cords it
may be if your furnace draws 20 amps when the blower starts.
If I was freezing I'd probably try it. ;)
Damn, now someone makes a thread like this.
I got rid of my oddball '89 Hyundia Excel engine belt driven 10kw generator last year.
I can't find any good pictures of it either, you can just see it in the background of some unrelated ones. :'(
Quote from: il d00d on February 08, 2010, 02:23:19 PM
Yellow is the voltage regulatingest color :)
Red melts a microwave faster. ;D
Quote from: ducpainter on February 08, 2010, 02:26:05 PM
It really depends on the equipment and the gauge of the extension cords.
If you have 12 g cords 150' is not an issue.
If you have 16g cords it may be if your furnace draws 20 amps when the blower starts.
If I was freezing I'd probably try it. ;)
I'll check the gauge and the amps on my blower. After two nights without power, the house was 43 degrees, which was manageable for me but the GF was getting worried. If we hadn't gotten power yesterday afternoon, I was either going to run the extension cords or go camp out at a friend's house with power.
Quote from: angler on February 08, 2010, 02:32:23 PM
I'll check the gauge and the amps on my blower.
1 HP = 750Watt (steady state). Watts/120V = current draw for (120V devices). Add a factor of 2 to 3 X for non-compressor motor starts, or 3 to 10X for motor on compressor starts, and you get an idea of peak draw. My furnace is a 1/3 HP, but I measured around 600W running, so the rating on the motor may be without much load.
An easy way to measure current draw is buy a clamp on meter, they are pretty cheap anymore. The cheap ones can measure steady state loads, but not peak, they are not fast enough and do not use an accurate peak rms calculator.
Sucks to hear so many people without power - good luck. The first time I got really interested in this, I was without power for about 1.5 days in cold weather, and I rigged up a 750W black and decker inverter from Wal Mart to run my furnace off my car. It was at the very limits of getting the furnace started, but it was better than being cold.
mitt
Quote from: ducpainter on February 08, 2010, 02:13:22 PM
I'd be worried about the wire gauge with extension cords if you have a hot air furnace.
The fan draws quite a bit, and you would have a bit of line loss from cords.
electric or gas?
my gas furnace fan only pulls about 3A
Quote from: mitt on February 08, 2010, 02:20:36 PM
Once your gas furnace is lit, it doesn't take that much electrical power to run it. Same goes for compressors, like fridges and freezers, only times 10. My fridge takes over 20A in-rush to start, but then less than 2A to run.
mitt
what the hell kind of fridge is that?
I have a brand new LG fridge (the french door model). it pulls 6 A on running and only 7.5 on startup.
i know the old old school fridges pull hard on startup, but sheehs, 2 to 20? wtf?
Quote from: ducatiz on February 08, 2010, 04:38:30 PM
electric or gas?
my gas furnace fan only pulls about 3A
Gas
How are you measuring it?
Quote from: ducatiz on February 08, 2010, 04:38:30 PM
electric or gas?
my gas furnace fan only pulls about 3A
The blower?
I think not.
mine is oil BTW.
Quote from: mitt on February 08, 2010, 04:43:09 PM
Gas
How are you measuring it?
I open the filter door and voila, there is a sticker on it.
Quote from: ducpainter on February 08, 2010, 04:43:36 PM
The blower?
I think not.
that's nothing new... ;D
Quote from: ducatiz on February 08, 2010, 04:45:46 PM
I open the filter door and voila, there is a sticker on it.
not much of a blower. :-\
Quote from: ducatiz on February 08, 2010, 04:40:09 PM
what the hell kind of fridge is that?
I have a brand new LG fridge (the french door model). it pulls 6 A on running and only 7.5 on startup.
i know the old old school fridges pull hard on startup, but sheehs, 2 to 20? wtf?
You would be surprised at how high real peak current is on electrical motors. It doesn't last long it is only 1 or 2 AC cycles, each cycle is 16.67 milliseconds. Circuit breakers for example set their mag trip levels from 3 to 10X their handle rating.
I brought a high end true rms peak capture fluke meter with hall current sensor and a tektronix scope home to capture my data.
Here is a chart of my household loads and other misc info I found for anyone who is interested:
http://sites.google.com/site/mittelstadtc/Home/engineering/generators (http://sites.google.com/site/mittelstadtc/Home/engineering/generators)
mitt
Quote from: ducpainter on February 08, 2010, 04:46:59 PM
not much of a blower. :-\
it's a trane high efficiency system, <6 yo. works fine for our house which is just under 3000 sq ft.
Quote from: mitt on February 08, 2010, 04:48:51 PM
You would be surprised at how high real peak current is on electrical motors. It doesn't last long it is only 1 or 2 AC cycles, each cycle is 16.67 milliseconds. Circuit breakers for example set their mag trip levels from 3 to 10X their handle rating.
i don't understand why my 1000w generator isn't grenading then...
6.1A fridge and 3A furnace fan. generator has 1200w peak for i don't know how long.
Quote from: ducpainter on February 08, 2010, 04:46:59 PM
not much of a blower. :-\
3A might be what it says, but not what your furnace is using when pulling air. My furnace says 1/3HP, so about 250W, so about 2A, similar to yours, but it pulls more like 600W, about 5 A when running. There are a few other loads in the furnace that are in that figure too.
mitt
Quote from: ducatiz on February 08, 2010, 04:51:00 PM
i don't understand why my 1000w generator isn't grenading then...
6.1A fridge and 3A furnace fan. generator has 1200w peak for i don't know how long.
Where did you get 6.1A for the fridge?
mitt
Quote from: mitt on February 08, 2010, 04:53:41 PM
Where did you get 6.1A for the fridge?
mitt
I'm wondering what voltage they're using?
Quote from: mitt on February 08, 2010, 04:53:41 PM
Where did you get 6.1A for the fridge?
mitt
here
(http://i99.photobucket.com/albums/l309/ducatiz/Mobile%20Uploads/utf-8BL01lZGlhIENhcmQvQmxhY2tCZX-5.jpg)
Quote from: ducatiz on February 08, 2010, 04:57:27 PM
here
(http://i99.photobucket.com/albums/l309/ducatiz/Mobile%20Uploads/utf-8BL01lZGlhIENhcmQvQmxhY2tCZX-5.jpg)
I believe I know why your generator is handling it.
Quote from: ducpainter on February 08, 2010, 04:58:20 PM
I believe I know why your generator is handling it.
i ~know~ why.. the fridge and the fan are <1000W operating and <1200W startup.. AFAIK
you guys are convinced my fan is pulling 5-6 amps and i can't believe it.
Quote from: ducatiz on February 08, 2010, 04:59:57 PM
i ~know~ why.. the fridge and the fan are <1000W operating and <1200W startup.. AFAIK
you guys are convinced my fan is pulling 5-6 amps and i can't believe it.
nope...
your generator and your utility is delivering more than 115 volts.
P=IE...
measure your supply voltage...and
do the math counselor
Quote from: ducpainter on February 08, 2010, 05:01:43 PM
nope...
your generator and your utility is delivering more than 115 volts.
P=IE...
measure your supply voltage...and
do the math counselor
i haven't checked the generator, it might be putting out 120, but i doubt more than that. can't be drastically more amperage though. it's got a voltage regulator on it (yeah yeah i know, they go bad)
At 120v the motor will draw less amperage.
It probably doesn't affect the total wattage, but it certainly would make life easier on the generator.
Your 6A for the fridge again is some number the mfg came up with, but it might not be the value that it pulls just sitting there running. It could be the value running, plus going trough a defrost cycle or something.
My fridge is 10 years old, and takes measured 20A to start, then 3.5A to run with everything on (compressor, fans, and lights), then 1.5A to just run the fans and lights.
If I could find my label easy, I could compare what it says versus measured. I think your little gen can handle it, cause both things you are running are taking less than 1000W when running steady state. Now, if both of them started at the exact same time, it might cause problems.
mitt
i've got a honda eu1000i.
yrs ago hawaii had an earthquake that took out electrically for the island of oahu. we hooked up the fridge, tv, dvd player, and amp. everything worked fine, to the point we didn't realize the power had come back on... until the movie ended. ;D
Ah. So as long as they don't both kick off at the same time.
And my fridge startup must be very modest then.
Any recommendations on what size generator is needed to run a fridge, freezer, very efficient forced hot water propane fired boiler, propane fired instant hot water heater, a few lights and (where I'm having the difficulty) a well water pump?
I've been putting off buying one but I think it's time now. We're ok without power in the winter. I can heat the house with a wood stove and I can melt snow for water (not for drinking,) We can simply put for in coolers outside to keep it cold or frozen.
It's the summer and warmer weather I'm concerned about. I don't want to lose the food in the fridge and freezer and I'd like to still have running water.
Quote from: The Architect on February 09, 2010, 02:59:43 AM
Any recommendations on what size generator is needed to run a fridge, freezer, very efficient forced hot water propane fired boiler, propane fired instant hot water heater, a few lights and (where I'm having the difficulty) a well water pump?
I've been putting off buying one but I think it's time now. We're ok without power in the winter. I can heat the house with a wood stove and I can melt snow for water (not for drinking,) We can simply put for in coolers outside to keep it cold or frozen.
It's the summer and warmer weather I'm concerned about. I don't want to lose the food in the fridge and freezer and I'd like to still have running water.
I run everything required with a 4400w max 4000 w nominal coleman.
I just don't let everything try to start at the same time.
Work:
3 of these:
(http://www.generatorpower.com.au/images/KD88%20Kohler%20Enclosed%20Diesel%20Generator.jpg)
And 2 of these:
(http://www.bhphotovideo.com/images/images345x345/613888.jpg)
Home:
(http://www.rainbowkits.com/lights/shakeLight.jpg)
And
(http://www.blogcdn.com/www.shelterpop.com/media/2009/08/down-comforter-425js080409.jpg)
Quote from: ducpainter on February 09, 2010, 03:08:29 AM
I run everything required with a 4400w max 4000 w nominal coleman.
I just don't let everything try to start at the same time.
Thanks Nate!
Quote from: mitt on February 08, 2010, 03:49:40 PM
Sucks to hear so many people without power - good luck. The first time I got really interested in this, I was without power for about 1.5 days in cold weather, and I rigged up a 750W black and decker inverter from Wal Mart to run my furnace off my car. It was at the very limits of getting the furnace started, but it was better than being cold.
mitt
I thought about that as well. I have a small inverter. I figured it would be better to run extensions cords from the neighbor than run my Dodge V8 to run the furnace.
Quote from: ducatiz on February 09, 2010, 01:33:39 AM
Ah. So as long as they don't both kick off at the same time.
And my fridge startup must be very modest then.
Just a couple tips if you are pushing the limits of your generator.
Start the largest loads first, then add the smaller.
Start up is the highest power requirement for any appliance. Once you get it started, force it to keep running, the generator will appreciate that. On your fridge, turn it down to the coldest setting, and let it run for an hour straight. Similar for your furnace, turn the thermostat up, and let it run continous for an hour.
Then, shut electrical things off and then shut of generator and let them sit for a couple hours. You can save fuel that way also, versus letting things run on and off all day.
mitt
Quote from: angler on February 09, 2010, 05:11:16 AM
I thought about that as well. I have a small inverter. I figured it would be better to run extensions cords from the neighbor than run my Dodge V8 to run the furnace.
Yea, I didn't like letting my car sit in the driveway and idle for 30 minutes, but it was getting cold inside.
The inverter method does work awesome during summer storms for the sump pump. I can run my sump pump unattended approximately twice an hour all night off my honda crv battery, without running the car or having the battery discharge below 11.5V.
My neighbor has the same inverter, but his sump pump will not run off it without his car running. I think there is a wide range in sump pump efficiencies.
mitt
Quote from: mitt on February 09, 2010, 05:18:55 AM
Yea, I didn't like letting my car sit in the driveway and idle for 30 minutes, but it was getting cold inside.
The inverter method does work awesome during summer storms for the sump pump. I can run my sump pump unattended approximately twice an hour all night off my honda crv battery, without running the car or having the battery discharge below 11.5V.
My neighbor has the same inverter, but his sump pump will not run off it without his car running. I think there is a wide range in sump pump efficiencies.
mitt
I thought about this angle as well for back-up power. How large of a deep cycle battery bank would I need to run the furnace and the sump pump? Cost would likely be similar to a generator, but it would recharge through house power when it was available and maybe a small solar panel otherwise.
It'd be cheaper to buy a gen set. A couple of places around here sell power inverter/Deep Cycle set-up's for pellet stoves. They don't last more than 12hrs. That's with a +/- 120v feed, maybe 3amp load. Figure around $400-500 for that. I've got a Coleman Powermate 6250 wired to a 220v, 20amp circuit. Last year when the power was out for a week, I ran the pellet stove, the forced hot air gas furnace & lights, 2 10yr old fridges, no issues. I just have to manually trip the main to the house before I start the gen set. I've used this set up probably 5 times over the last 10yrs, anywhere from 3 days to the 7 days last year. Cost me about $500-600, don't remember exactly.
get a gen set, it'll last longer.
Batteries versus generators can be argued for or against like any topic where there is not a clear winner.
Batteries versus a generator
Pros
Always ready
More quite
Converting electricity to electricity - more efficient
More Reliable
No fuel to store
Easier to automate and integrate as a backup
Cons
Relatively Large
More Toxic - where to store
Sensitive to storage conditions, moisture, temperature, etc.
Need maintenance schedule to get useful life
Finite useful life (max 10 years or so)
Probably need a control system to keep charged and then invert power when in use
Finite run time until a recharge is needed
There are a lot more, these just came to mind.
The perfect system would be a hybrid of battery, solar, and a generator used as needed to fill the gap or recharge the banks.
mitt
Quote from: mitt on February 09, 2010, 08:18:20 AM
The perfect system would be a hybrid of battery, solar, and a generator used as needed to fill the gap or recharge the banks.
mitt
There was talk maybe 10 years ago of power moving away from the grid and going to mini-power station/fuel cells. I want to say Japan has done this sort of thing.
These power outages make me want to be energy self sufficient. A little solar, a little wind perhpas and maybe a natural gas fuel cell to round things out. A good friend of mine that grew up and still lives in Eastern Oregon has a small NG fuel cell and it seems ideal.....
Power just came back on. Honda eu2000i powered the following without a hiccup:
-48" GE Monogram Fridge
-High efficiency furnace.
-Direct Vent gas hot water heater
-Upright freezer
-Couple lights
-TV/DVD for the kiddos.
Mayberrys in New Jersey had the best price on them (by far) when I bought. Love that little machine!
Power backup? I work for the power company, I go find why your power is out and fix it.
Which leads me to this - please, please, please make sure that you have some sort of disconnect from your normal service. Either by plugging the appliances that you want to run directly into the generator or making sure that your generator is disconnected from your normal source.
Backfeed is a scary thing in my world.
Quote from: wbeck257 on February 09, 2010, 11:51:33 AM
Either by plugging the appliances that you want to run directly into the generator
Backfeed is a scary thing in my world.
that is why I really like this single circuit xfer switch, so un-informed people aren't running their furnaces through their main panel and possibly back feeding the grid.
(http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41S40B1EJ8L._SL500_AA280_.jpg)
mitt
Quote from: mitt on February 09, 2010, 12:20:53 PM
that is why I really like this single circuit xfer switch, so un-informed people aren't running their furnaces through their main panel and possibly back feeding the grid.
mitt
i don't know if you meant that towards me.. i hooked mine up on the fly.. i disconnected both mains and our ground goes to an actual ground, so my patch-in couldn't cause backfeed. the only thing that got energized was part of the panel -- i did check that with a voltmeter. i don't have a transfer switch in place, but i will be looking into it now that i've actually had to use the backup.
we want a full house setup, but since we are planning additions, we have to wait since the location can't be done until then. i've been looking at the generac 10-15kw setups with their automatic switchover. that would be awfully nice rather than rigging the panel like i did.
Quote from: ducatiz on February 09, 2010, 02:53:31 PM
i don't know if you meant that towards me.
No not at all. I was meaning it towards me & my family as much as anyone else listening, and replying to wbeck257 talking about his fears as a line man.
I have been in the emergency situation before, and took some short cuts that were not right, but they were safe, and worked for a couple days. That is why I bought the xfer switch above during a non-emergency.
I like the little xfer switch, cause it is $80, and I think even a novice like my wife could hook up the generator to the furnace if I wasn't home. It is simple and safe, almost like plugging in a TV.
mitt
Guess what I did Saturday night? After being without out power for almost a whole day, I gave in to my family breaking my balls I saw my family was uncomfortable and went out and bought a generator. Fortunately Home Depot had just received an emergency shipment from out of state.
On my way home I got the phone call. "You're not going to believe this. The powers back!" :P
It's a 5500w. I'll post some more info when I open the box.
Quote from: The Architect on March 01, 2010, 04:14:06 PM
Guess what I did Saturday night? After being without out power for almost a whole day, I gave in to my family breaking my balls I saw my family was uncomfortable and went out and bought a generator. Fortunately Home Depot had just received an emergency shipment from out of state.
On my way home I got the phone call. "You're not going to believe this. The powers back!" :P
It's a 5500w. I'll post some more info when I open the box.
\
You can run your whole house with that. [thumbsup]
Quote from: The Architect on March 01, 2010, 04:14:06 PM
Guess what I did Saturday night? After being without out power for almost a whole day, I gave in to my family breaking my balls I saw my family was uncomfortable and went out and bought a generator. Fortunately Home Depot had just received an emergency shipment from out of state.
On my way home I got the phone call. "You're not going to believe this. The powers back!" :P
It's a 5500w. I'll post some more info when I open the box.
If it is any consolation, I haven't
needed mine since I bought it either ;D I did run it for a couple hours last summer to keep the beer cold during a short power outage.
Better to have and not need than need and not have.
mitt
Quote from: mitt on March 01, 2010, 05:17:21 PM
If it is any consolation, I haven't needed mine since I bought it either ;D I did run it for a couple hours last summer to keep the beer cold during a short power outage.
Better to have and not need than need and not have.
mitt
And that's why I didn't turn around and return it. ;)
Quote from: The Architect on March 02, 2010, 03:36:38 AM
And that's why I didn't turn around and return it. ;)
Don't even put any fuel in it.
The ethanol garbage will ruin it before you get a chance to use it.
Stash it away for when you need it.
Quote from: ducpainter on March 02, 2010, 03:43:44 AM
Don't even put any fuel in it.
The ethanol garbage will ruin it before you get a chance to use it.
Stash it away for when you need it.
amen to that. although it's a good idea to know if it works at all....
i'd put a little in with some stabil marine, run it thru and then drain it out. i drain my little generator after use. i put in like 5x the amount of stabil, run it for a few minutes and then drain it.
Quote from: ducatiz on March 02, 2010, 04:37:51 AM
i'd put a little in with some stabil marine,
Why "marine"?
Stabil Marine
"•America's #1 Selling Marine Fuel Additive Brand!
•BEST Ethanol Problem Fighter
•More than FOUR TIMES the Fuel System Cleaner than in Regular STA-BIL
•DOUBLE the corrosion preventer than in Regular STA-BIL
•Prevents corrosion from moisture & ethanol-induced water attraction
•Improves marine engine performance YEAR-ROUND, not just for seasonal storage "
I'm trying Starbrite "Startron". http://mystarbrite.com/startron/ (http://mystarbrite.com/startron/)
I'll let you know if it works.
Quote from: ducpainter on March 02, 2010, 04:54:04 AM
I'm trying Starbrite "Startron". http://mystarbrite.com/startron/ (http://mystarbrite.com/startron/)
I'll let you know if it works.
i think the startron is equal in performance to the stabil marine. the stabil is just easier to find-- advance auto carries it.
Quote from: rgramjet on March 02, 2010, 04:52:42 AM
Stabil Marine
"•America's #1 Selling Marine Fuel Additive Brand!
•BEST Ethanol Problem Fighter
•More than FOUR TIMES the Fuel System Cleaner than in Regular STA-BIL
•DOUBLE the corrosion preventer than in Regular STA-BIL
•Prevents corrosion from moisture & ethanol-induced water attraction
•Improves marine engine performance YEAR-ROUND, not just for seasonal storage "
Is that straight off the bottle ;)
Good to know for next time. First I have to use up the 5 half bottles of regular stabil I have lying around.
Quote from: XJDAVE on March 02, 2010, 05:32:46 AM
Is that straight off the bottle ;)
Good to know for next time. First I have to use up the 5 half bottles of regular stabil I have lying around.
Had a bottle sittn here right next to me! Right next to my Martini.
[thumbsup]
I cracked the box open this morning to make sure I didn't buy a box of rocks. The first thing I saw was packets of fuel stabilizer. I got a good chuckle out of it. I'm going to have to read the manual and see what they recommend about the fuel and storage.
Quote from: ducpainter on March 02, 2010, 03:43:44 AM
Don't even put any fuel in it.
The ethanol garbage will ruin it before you get a chance to use it.
Stash it away for when you need it.
I hear you! I used to always have a 5 gallon jug of gas plus a few smaller ones around. Not anymore. Now at the peak of snow blowing or lawn mowing I keep a small 2 gallon and a 1.5 gallon. Anything more will bring me nothing but grief. I was considering keeping the 5 gallon around and after a month pour it into the car and refill it. What a pain in the ass! And the best part about the ethanol garbage is.............. my car gets 3-4 miles less per gallon!