Standby Generator

[shooterdon]

If you use 1 gal/hr of LP and run a stand by 24 hr/day, you use 24 g/day. At $1.50/g, that is $36/day. Every stand by unit I looked into 6 years ago used more than that.

I think the numbers came to $50/day.

When we have an outage, I cycle the gasoline unit for an hour or so every 5-6 hours. During that hour, we take showers and do laundry if needed. Also charge up any battery operated items. An hour is enough to get the fridge cold. The freezer can go a lot longer but we do not unplug it.

I have a Honda 11000. It uses about 1 g/hr. By cycling it it runs 4 hr/day.....cost about $12/day.

I keep 100-250 gallons of gasoline in a storage tank. So I could go 1-2 months if the SHTF... not counting fuel in the vehicles.

I got the Honda from a buddy going through a divorce. The 11000 Honda is bigger than I need so will end up selling it and getting a smaller unit.

 

[newbury]

500 LP gallon tank.Is that enough info ??

Yup, thanks. This should also help with MossRoads post.

/edit- so for 4 days of running you used between 35 and 50 gallons of propane if my math is correct

 

[coobie]

If you use 1 gal/hr of LP and run a stand by 24 hr/day, you use 24 g/day. At $1.50/g, that is $36/day. Every stand by unit I looked into 6 years ago used more than that.

I think the numbers came to $50/day.

When we have an outage, I cycle the gasoline unit for an hour or so every 5-6 hours. During that hour, we take showers and do laundry if needed. Also charge up any battery operated items. An hour is enough to get the fridge cold. The freezer can go a lot longer but we do not unplug it.

I have a Honda 11000. It uses about 1 g/hr. By cycling it it runs 4 hr/day.....cost about $12/day.

I keep 100-250 gallons of gasoline in a storage tank. So I could go 1-2 months if the SHTF... not counting fuel in the vehicles.

I got the Honda from a buddy going through a divorce. The 11000 Honda is bigger than I need so will end up selling it and getting a smaller unit.

At 1gal(LP) per hour are you talking FULL electric load or less load? We use 1 tank(500 gal.)per year of LP as we burn wood pellets for heat.My last fill was august(2018) at $1.09 per gal last year(2017) in august we filled up for 93 cents per gal.

 

[J.Wal]

For me it’s not so much the cost per gallon/ per day as it is having to get a tank just for the portable, putting in a tri fuel kit... all that.

If I really wanted to use something other than gasoline I would have a natural gas line ran from the fireplace to the garage ( 30’ or so) and do a quick connect to the generator from there.... and may do that one day, but not as of now.

 

[Diggin It]

Thing to think about.....

If stuff gets really bad .... ice storm, wind storm, worse ...... and roads are closed/impassible, how will the propane truck get to you? How many of you already have gasoline or diesel on hand in some quantity?

 

[J.Wal]

Thing to think about.....

If stuff gets really bad .... ice storm, wind storm, worse ...... and roads are closed/impassible, how will the propane truck get to you? How many of you already have gasoline or diesel on hand in some quantity?

May be a long ride time wise but chain saw, Kubota with loader and warm cloths I can get to the store for more gasoline.

But the idea of getting my natural gas line ran for it is a future plan. When finances are ready and other products completed.

 

[coobie]

Thing to think about.....

If stuff gets really bad .... ice storm, wind storm, worse ...... and roads are closed/impassible, how will the propane truck get to you? How many of you already have gasoline or diesel on hand in some quantity?

I have both,propane and gas/diesel farm tanks (300 gals.per tank).We also have small gas generator in case the propane one takes a crap.Being a retired electric lineman and have seen quite a few outages and how crazy folks can get.

 

[Diggin It]

May be a long ride time wise but chain saw, Kubota with loader and warm cloths I can get to the store for more gasoline.

If you don't have power, will they? If not, do they have a generator to run the gas pumps?

 

[J.Wal]

If you don't have power, will they? If not, do they have a generator to run the gas pumps?

It would be very rare for one of the two towns I am between to be fully out of power.

South of me is Memphis TN, north of me is Millington TN.... I know outages have caused long term outages so it is possible... but once I get the road clear I can go further with my truck.

I have looked for a ways to safely store gasoline for extended periods of time... I can get 100% gas with no ethanol also.

Best I saw was a 55 gallon drum filled 90%, with a 5psi vent on the smaller bung for releasing pressure to prevent expansion or collapse of barrel.

I treat every bit of my fuel ( excluding regular vehicles) with PRI-G to prevent breakdown best I can.

 

[goeduck]

You guys out there on the East side of the state don't have any trees to fall onto power lines and cause outages!!! :laughing:

Our trees over here sure do not help. The Doug Firs loose limbs and the Big Leaf Maples are snappy. KPUD has their hands full after a windstorm. I have a Honda gas 7KW that I use when we are home and a Yanmar air cooled diesel 3KW that I use at night when it is just the fridge, freezer and fireplace insert blower. The Yanmar sips fuel. Summertime outages are as rare as hens teeth.