Emergency generators

[Deadhead]

I've got a portable gasoline generator with a professionally installed transfer switch.

The cost of the generator was equal to one homeowner's insurance deductible. I would much rather have the generator than to pay for frozen and ruptured pipes not to mention the hassle. Around here, no power means no water - hot, cold, or otherwise. With the generator, I can pump and heat water, run the refrigerator, microwave, some lights downstairs and upstairs, space heaters in the winter and a window A/C unit in the summer. As long as I can drive somewhere to get gas, my house, family and pets are safe and secure. If there's a friend in need, I can take the generator with me.

[Logan01]

Generators

5.5 KW portable in S. Alabama, runs referigerators, freezer, lights, and an air conditioner during hurricane power failures. After Ivan, the insurance adjuster was amazed we didn't lose any food in the freezer during the outage. (ours sits outside in an open shed)
A few things to consider during an extended power failure: Cell phone towers last about 24 hours until the batteries go dead - around here they don't have backup generators, people steal them. Our city water ran dry after about 12 hours, no electricity to pump or treat the water. And, of course, cordless phones don't work without electricity.

[sacherjj]

I didn't really think too much about reading through this thread until I started hearing about the 100 or so people getting CO poisioning and a few fatalities from people bring portable generators inside to run. $3k is cheaper than dying, I guess. Although, if you were smart enough to get a decent generator installed, you probably wouldn't be running a portable one in your house.

[RagerXS]

What is the recommended size??

Let's shift this discussion to provide advice to those of us planning to get a generator in the near future. I have a family of 4 for now, two toddlers. No pets yet... We have a large underground propane tank and everything is powered by that except the oven (dual fuel range). I'd be happy to run my generator off propane as well.

Will 5000 or 5500 KW be enough? Any particular brand recommended? Any brands specifically to avoid? I've been very intrigued by the units HF sells, with the Robin/Subaru engines.

~ Fred

[LCHIEN]

Let's shift this discussion to provide advice to those of us planning to get a generator in the near future. I have a family of 4 for now, two toddlers. No pets yet... We have a large underground propane tank and everything is powered by that except the oven (dual fuel range). I'd be happy to run my generator off propane as well.

Will 5000 or 5500 KW be enough? Any particular brand recommended? Any brands specifically to avoid? I've been very intrigued by the units HF sells, with the Robin/Subaru engines.

~ Fred

No on can answer for you if 5KW is enough, depends on your usage and what you are willing to shed when the mains power goes out or how much you are willing to pay to go on at the same usage rate.

A laser printer can draw 1 KW all by itself printing at full tilt. Do you have a laser printer? Do you intend to be printing books when the power it out?

Small Electric heaters generally pull 1.5 to 1.8KW - do you run auxilairy heaters in addition to central heating?

What does your central heat circulation fan draw?

How about lights? 10 100W light bulbs is 1KW.

Computer .3KW, Plasma TV and Home theater, .5 KW, it all adds up.

refreigerator, toaster oven, iron, hair dryer (1.5 KW), coffee maker, etc. it all has to be totaled or do without.

I think you definately want to keep the table saw and dust collector going... 3.6 KW right there.

[ironhat]

Back in '99 I had a 5K cheapie installed with the proper transfer switch and an outside plug to couple the gen to the panel. With a power outage I only need to maintain the fridge and chest freezer as we switch to a wood burning insert during outage and during the cold snaps. We decided on which circuits we actually 'needed' (but missed the microwave!! - an extension cord works). Getting to the point, I wish that I had spent more on the generator as these cheapies produce a dirty wave form which isn't good for computers or many of the circuitboards of newer furnaces. I believe Hondas have wave rectification which takes out the spikes, troughs and the noise. Much more expensive but also much quieter and efficient, from what I've read.
Later,
Chiz

[RagerXS]

Line Conditioners?

I'll have to look into line conditioner capacities/cost and compare that to just buying a more expensive generator.

~ Fred

[ironhat]

I'll have to look into line conditioner capacities/cost and compare that to just buying a more expensive generator.

~ Fred

If you run into anything that looks promising, Fred, please post back. I did a quick search and there was a ton of stuff - mostly small units for PC's.
Later,
Chiz

[RagerXS]

Whole House Protection

For surge protection:
http://www.powersystemsdirect.com/Pa..._c29_21_34.php

Someone's home brew version (I got it off an audiophile forum via a google search): http://games.accs.com/ER/wizards/thoth/power_240/

The only line conditioners I found were way too expensive.

~ Fred