How do you prep for future power outages?

[drssg]

IME, there are different approaches to the "whole house" backup generator. One approach is to attempt to make the system idiotic-proof, so the homeowner can't possibly overload the generator. The other approach is to just switch everything over and assume the homeowner will use some common sense. I went with the second approach.

 

[MoKelly]

IME, there are different approaches to the "whole house" backup generator. One approach is to attempt to make the system idiotic-proof, so the homeowner can't possibly overload the generator. The other approach is to just switch everything over and assume the homeowner will use some common sense. I went with the second approach.

The second approach seems to create some liability for the manufacturer. We all know what “assume” means.

You are probably in the minority in understanding how it works - especially if it’s needed rarely.

MoKelly

 

[TheMan419]

We have a 7kw gasoline portable generator. During the spring/summer/fall I do not keep much fuel on hand. If we have a power outage that will likely be a small event and I can get fuel easily. During the winter, or if there is major weather forecast, I will fill up the generator and keep 15 gal gas on hand. That will all get stabil treated. If the power stays on the fuel goes through the car or the lawn mower if it is mowing season.

Last outage lasted 23 hours and was wide spread due to ice storm. Next improvement will be wiring the barn for its own generator so I do not have to haul water from the house for the horses. That will be my excuse also to buy a back up back up generator.

 

[check]

IME, there are different approaches to the "whole house" backup generator. One approach is to attempt to make the system idiotic-proof, so the homeowner can't possibly overload the generator. The other approach is to just switch everything over and assume the homeowner will use some common sense. I went with the second approach.

I agree. After my wife and child tripped the breaker on the generator, I printed out and posted a power consumption chart for various appliances. So, THAT will never happen again!

 

[drssg]

I agree. After my wife and child tripped the breaker on the generator, I printed out and posted a power consumption chart for various appliances. So, THAT will never happen again!

That reminds me of some of the Green Acres episodes. Oliver made a list of all the household appliances and assigned a number to each item. The sum of all appliances used at once had to be less than X, or their power would go out.

 

[drssg]

The second approach seems to create some liability for the manufacturer. We all know what “assume” means.

You are probably in the minority in understanding how it works - especially if it’s needed rarely.

MoKelly

That's interesting. Perhaps I don't know what I don't know. I understood that the risk in overloading is that I could damage the generator. I wouldn't think the manufacturer would have a liability risk associated with that, but who knows.

To purchase a Generac, they have you sign up on their website, and they send out two installers to provide two quotes. The first guy wanted to install a second generator for my barn, and the second one thought that one generator would work OK.

Between the house and the barn, I have enough stuff to overload the generator, but very little is really needed during a power outage.

 

[grsthegreat]

overloading isnt particularly good on a generator, but wont wreck it, unless you dont fix the problem. Generac auto starts will simply try a restart 10 seconds later. biggest problem i see is the transfer switch has already been thrown, so generator is starting against a load. i always try to mitigate these issues by installing smm modules. since i started installing the SMM units, i have had no complaints about generators shutting down. i do get them from new customers, ones that arnt provided with these. i just had 1 new one that would keep shutting down. turns out the heat pump auxiliary heat strips total 90 amps...on a 96 amp generator. ya see a problem.

 

[grsthegreat]

That's interesting. Perhaps I don't know what I don't know. I understood that the risk in overloading is that I could damage the generator. I wouldn't think the manufacturer would have a liability risk associated with that, but who knows.

To purchase a Generac, they have you sign up on their website, and they send out two installers to provide two quotes. The first guy wanted to install a second generator for my barn, and the second one thought that one generator would work OK.

Between the house and the barn, I have enough stuff to overload the generator, but very little is really needed during a power outage.

whats the load on the barn. my barn has about 600 watts of heat for water tank heaters. its hooked onto the house generator. not an issue.

 

[Oaktree]

A UPS is a necessity if I want to keep my internet and phone up. My modem/router requires a 12 volt supply, so I have a battery tender on a 12 volt deep cycle battery in the garage, I run it through a 7812 voltage regulator, and a couple caps and fuses. The internet sails through any power dropouts with no interruptions.[/URL]

This of course assumes the internet connection to your house stays up. If the outage is widespread, or if the lines are down between you and your ISP's CO, maybe not.

 

[grsthegreat]

last outage here our cell tower went dark for about 24 hours or so. apparently their generator failed. i did not lose wifi or the internet microwave site i use, so i ported my cell phones thru the wifi and had phone service at least.

power was out for 2.5 days here. by lake it was out for 8 days.