How do you prep for future power outages?

[robbyr]

Only once have I had to run a generator because of a power outage which was Hurricane Ike in '08. We were three days without electricity then. Generator ran the refrigerator, freezer, tv, lamp, and couple fans. Got lucky and was able to get enough gas to run it. How many generators do you keep? How many cans of gas? How long will the gas be good?

 

[/pine]

Preparing for a typical outage that may last an hour or most of a day is different than a natural disaster where it could be out for who knows how long...

I try to keep at least 5 gallons of generator fuel and add another 5 when there are storm warnings etc...

One thing I do keep handy anywhere someone may get caught in the dark if the power goes off are cyalume sticks...

 

[Doofy]

We head in to winter with everything that uses gasoline being full. Sleds, Wheeler, Generator and even the Lawnmowers. Additionally, 10 gallons of Ultra low sulfur diesel for the tractor and around 25 gallons of gas in 5 gallon cans. With what is on hand, we can survive for months.

Heating oil tanks and propane tanks are also full as are all 4 freezers. Winters are exceedingly long here and being prepared is a lifestyle.

 

[grsthegreat]

Whole house backup generator and 1000 gal propane tank filled before winter. Also 2 portable gas generators. Have a 55 gal diesel tank and 20 gal non ethanol gas.

 

[OzKioti]

Grid power to our area comes via overhead wires through timbered country, and we lose power maybe a dozen times a year - sometimes due to planned maintenance or connecting a new consumer to the grid, but other times due trees/branches falling across the lines (and not just in storms either -Eucalypts are notorious for dropping branches on still calm days!)

End result? A generator/s pretty much an essential bit of kit if you want to keep fridges/freezers running, let alone just having lights, water pumps, watching tv etc.

We used to have a petrol-hungry 7kva "dirty" gennie which ran the whole house, aircon and all, but replaced that with two Honda 2kva "clean" output units. Economical, easy to carry around, can be paralleled to give 4kva. Very useful if I just need 240v on the farm somewhere to run a power tool.

Honda/Yamaha etc are the big name ones here, but more generic ones (cheapy Chinese) can be had for about a third the price.

As for fuel, our "standard" petrol is 91 octane unleaded. A workshop mate highly recommends adding a fuel preserver as soon as you get a drum home, and then it should be good for MUCH longer than not adding it!

EDIT: Honda/Yamaha etc - refers to the portable enclosed-in-neat-plastic-housing low output inverter gennies; re petrol (gas) - ULP 91 is UnLeadedPetrol without ethanol. E10 (with 10% ethanol) sells for 2 cents/litre less than straight ULP 91.

 

[Doofy]

Gasoline and diesel keep really well in our cold temperatures. Any that is left come Spring gets used during the Summer.

Please store safely and responsibly. Ours is stored in a locked, unheated old barn that is well away from the house and garage.

 

[airbiscuit]

Have loud 6500W Coleman and a quiet 2200W Westinghouse inverter/generator. I use the quiet one. Our outages are usually only a few hours. Mainly for TV, Dish, Internet, AC. Refigerator and freezer stay cold inless I open the door. I usually keep 5 gallons of gas with Seafoam and stabilizer in it.

 

[Doofy]

My Go-To Generator is also a 2,000 watt Honda inverter/generator. Small, portable and quiet. It will run my Toyo Stove oil heaters with the sensitive electronic circuit boards. Best $1000 gen-set for my needs.

 

[drssg]

I also have a whole house generator that is powered by a 1000 gallon propane tank. When the power goes out, the generator is up and running within seconds.

 

[the old grind]

Last noteworthy power outage was a few years ago. Temps were in the teens and we were down for a few days. I'm lazy and didn't find a need for juice, dressed to be outside, read by candle light and listened to NPR on a battery-powered radio. (just another day with a good book wearing longies, a sweater, Winter coat, and stocking cap. It only lasted two days.

Nat gas was not affected so I turned two stove burners on to medium and lit a few candle stubs in a metal pan downstairs. Most of my food reserves are canned vs perishable, could be heated on the stove, andin retirement I don't need to shower for or after work.

I have a Generac ~7hp 3500w or so gen that powers more than I ever need. I loan it more than use it. What it doesn't do for sour hen crap is start a 1/2 hp sump pump. ("Master plumber pal & I did our best, failed")

Don't have or need that here, but I wouldn't try again with <7kw and preferably 'externally' regulated (Honda if few others) vs more economical 'externally' regulated that stalls more easily and IMO doesn't benefit from auto idle control in many instances. (reefer, AC, or well pump kicks on).