Getting prepared.

[3gunr]

My 1800 sq ft home is heated with propane and i can go almost all winter on one tank, I usually have to get more in feb or march . I cant imagine using 500 gals in o couple weeks.

 

[Diggin It]

And I shut mine off at bed time, and usually part of the daytime if not needed.

I wish that process could be automated. My owner's manual lays out a specific procedure that includes turning off the main breaker inside the GenSet and pulling a control fuse. No way to do that without going outside to it.

 

[grsthegreat]

you have to go outside. but i dont mind doing that. it gives me the opportunity to check oil and overall look of gen, shovel snow away from intakes, etc before turning it back on in the morning. its an air cooled generator and the oil needs to be checked every 24 hours of use during an outage. thats just life. even if you started it remotely, you need to go check oil no matter what brand generator.

a replacement engine on a generac runs about $1,500-1,700 or so installed, and wont be covered under warranty if its related to failure to maintain oil during an outage. they have low oil pressure switches, but that means oil pressure has dropped below 10 PSI instead of normal 40PSI. cant be healthy

 

[Alien]

Different conditions in Oz of course. I have a small (4.9 kWh) solar system. We are on the grid. My biggest power/heating/cooling bill in the last 8 years was $200 for a 1/4. . I got a summer one a few days ago. It was $42.
We have our AC on a LOT. I really feel for you guys forking out all that dough for heating.
We don't have fireplaces here.
I can't remember the last time we had a power outage but I have a small generator to keep the fridge and water pump running if it happens.

 

[gsganzer]

I didn't get caught flat footed, but I've certainly defined some weaknesses that I need to improve upon.

I'll be adding a 50A Reliance 10 circuit transfer station, so I can hook my welder /generator (9,500/10,000 peak) up to the house if needed. I have propane heat, water heater and cook stove. Although the furnaces need electricity for the fans and oven needs it for the controls. I need to map my breaker box, this is a 50 year old house and has been changed over the years so the breaker box has 24 circuits. I'll need to define the 10 I need and will include the furnaces, well pump, fridge, chest freezer and probably the addition that has a 1.5 ton A/C. With gas on the main appliances, my electrical needs are actually pretty low.

My well house froze up when we got to the coldest temps (-3 degrees), partly due to the rolling outages. But I did find some insulation and heat trace deficiencies that I'll remedy. I'll also find a small portable propane heater to put in there (a little buddy will work just fine, if I keep a supply of 1 lb bottles). I need to streamline some of the piping and add some drains so I can isolate and thaw sections.

Some of my freeze proof hydrants aren't deep enough. I new this already as most of my yard lines (pre-existing) are barely 6 inches deep. It seems the cold was able to transfer down the hydrant and freeze at a tee or elbow.

I'm on a pier and beam foundation and didn't suffer any pipes freezing under the house, but we were pretty good about keeping faucets dripping.

My in-law apartment (separate building) will need some supplemental heat. I'll get a Big Buddy heater for there and run it off the big bottles.

Gasoline supply was an issue as I have few things that actually run on straight gas, with the exception of my welder/generator and a pressure washer and I don't normally keep much around. The welder/generator actually burns a fair amount of gas when it's generating. I'll have to get some extra gas cans and fill them before an "event". 25 gallons or so should suffice. I can pour them in the car fuel tanks if they're not needed.

 

[grsthegreat]

I didn't get caught flat footed, but I've certainly defined some weaknesses that I need to improve upon.

I'll be adding a 50A Reliance 10 circuit transfer station, so I can hook my welder /generator (9,500/10,000 peak) up to the house if needed. I have propane heat, water heater and cook stove. Although the furnaces need electricity for the fans and oven needs it for the controls. I need to map my breaker box, this is a 50 year old house and has been changed over the years so the breaker box has 24 circuits. I'll need to define the 10 I need and will include the furnaces, well pump, fridge, chest freezer and probably the addition that has a 1.5 ton A/C. With gas on the main appliances, my electrical needs are actually pretty low.

My well house froze up when we got to the coldest temps (-3 degrees), partly due to the rolling outages. But I did find some insulation and heat trace deficiencies that I'll remedy. I'll also find a small portable propane heater to put in there (a little buddy will work just fine, if I keep a supply of 1 lb bottles). I need to streamline some of the piping and add some drains so I can isolate and thaw sections.

Some of my freeze proof hydrants aren't deep enough. I new this already as most of my yard lines (pre-existing) are barely 6 inches deep. It seems the cold was able to transfer down the hydrant and freeze at a tee or elbow.

I'm on a pier and beam foundation and didn't suffer any pipes freezing under the house, but we were pretty good about keeping faucets dripping.

My in-law apartment (separate building) will need some supplemental heat. I'll get a Big Buddy heater for there and run it off the big bottles.

Gasoline supply was an issue as I have few things that actually run on straight gas, with the exception of my welder/generator and a pressure washer and I don't normally keep much around. The welder/generator actually burns a fair amount of gas when it's generating. I'll have to get some extra gas cans and fill them before an "event". 25 gallons or so should suffice. I can pour them in the car fuel tanks if they're not needed.

You can run way more than 10 circuits on a 9,000 watt generator.

 

[Gem99ultra]

My 1800 sq ft home is heated with propane and i can go almost all winter on one tank, I usually have to get more in feb or march . I cant imagine using 500 gals in o couple weeks.

Same here. We use about 500 gallons per year. I do have an auxiliary connection to my house LP supply to run a 10,000 watt generator for lights, frig, etc. should our outage last longer than my 6 - 20# bottles. We also keep a 300 gallon tank of clean drinking water on hand.

Our objective is to be able to get by in case of an emergency. All of the creature comforts are not necessary for the short run.

 

[Diggin It]

I'll be adding a 50A Reliance 10 circuit transfer station, so I can hook my welder /generator (9,500/10,000 peak) up to the house if needed.

I need to map my breaker box, this is a 50 year old house and has been changed over the years so the breaker box has 24 circuits. I'll need to define the 10 I need and will include the furnaces, well pump, fridge, chest freezer and probably the addition that has a 1.5 ton A/C.

Look at a whole house transfer switch. One box between the meter and the main panel. No need to select individual circuits to rewire to the new box. Higher loads can simply be turned off at the main panel if necessary.

 

[gsganzer]

You can run way more than 10 circuits on a 9,000 watt generator.

I'll map my breaker panel and see how many I really need to power. My panel is a mess with all the additions over the years. Being prepared is like auto insurance, you have to figure out what coverage you're comfortable with. The funny thing is in the 30+ years I've lived in Texas, I don't think I've ever lost power for more than a few hours total and it's usually during lightening storms.

 

[gsganzer]

Look at a whole house transfer switch. One box between the meter and the main panel. No need to select individual circuits to rewire to the new box. Higher loads can simply be turned off at the main panel if necessary.

I actually tried to have a whole house transfer put in back during the summer. Unfortunately, with the construction boom I could never find an electrician to give me a quote. With this latest fiasco, good luck finding an electrician or plumber for the next 9 months.

I'll look into the whole house transfer though. I'll still need to map my breaker panel and I'm drawing up a house plan right now with the locations of all the outlets/switches/lights. This will be like a giant Easter egg hunt when I start switching breakers, there's no telling how my circuits are laid out.

 

[grsthegreat]

Look at this site. Products Archive | Page 2 of 3 | GenInterlock

Thay make lots of easily installed interlock kits. But you need enough space in your panel to add a double breaker from generator. Some panels I see are so packed full there’s no way to just simply add more.

 

[OWDouglas]

Just got 2 generators running again, just in case

 

[Wakey]

I have a 22K whole house generator and I’ve been thinking of wiring up some separate circuits to power with a portable generator during a prolonged outage.

I have a 500 gallon tank but in the event that delivery is slow, I have 3 vehicles I could siphon fuel from.

If it’s winter I can heat the entire home with my fireplace blower. I need to add up the basics and see if my 5.5K HF can run them ok.

I have 2 fridge/freezers and a stand up freezer. From there I was going to put an outlet in each bedroom for a fan, and to charge devices.

If there is room I can put in an outlet for both TV sets.

I can run the whole house genny to heat water, wash clothes etc once a day.

 

[truckdiagnostics]

I have used my vehicles for gas in an emergency. Necessity is the mother of invention. I used an old fuel pressure tester, screw into the shredder valve on the fuel rail, turn the key on fuel pumps out(depends on make) into 5 gal gas can. Go to work fill the truck up rinse repeat. Got caught with my pants down once back in 1992-93? when upstate New York(Rochester) had real bad ice storm. We were out for weeks. Couldn't get out, to get gas. Lot of neighbors had gas in there cars. First few days was a mess. I was home at the time taking care of my elderly parents. Dad had a generator and (a) 5 gal gas can half full when the storm hit. When we weren't using it the neighbors were. Dad is still alive and my guess is the generator is still sitting there with a 1/2 empty gas can. They have outages and the neighbors borrow the generator and takes care of the old man. I have asked him about it and his answer has been I got the generator I don't need the gas.

 

[TnAndy]

I considered a whole house generator, but opted to go solar instead...because it offers me payback during normal conditions (we haven't had an electric bill in 12 years) and had a 30% federal tax credit, where as a generator is simply a money pit in financial terms.

During grid down conditions, I walk out in the garage and flip a 100amp transfer switch to our solar which either delivers power from the panels or the battery bank, depending on sun conditions.

Nice thing about a battery bank is if you need a small amount of power in the middle of the night for example, you aren't running a generator to supply it.

If we got many extended days, and no sun, I'll use a small generator for a few hours to charge the battery bank.

 

[gsganzer]

I started doing some more research and it seems like a "load side manual transfer" might be the better option for me.
https://www.homedepot.com/p/Reliance-Controls-50-Amp-10-Circuit-Manual-Transfer-Switch-A510C/206503336

This would be one of the more cost effective options and simpler for my wife and daughters to figure out, if I'm on the road, because they can clearly see the 10 items that can be swapped to the generator. Plus I could print very simple instructions for them, right on the panel. Simple for them to connect a cord between the gen/welder and the house bulkhead, if the Gen isn't already hooked up.

 

[3Ts]

I considered a whole house generator, but opted to go solar instead...because it offers me payback during normal conditions (we haven't had an electric bill in 12 years) and had a 30% federal tax credit, where as a generator is simply a money pit in financial terms.

During grid down conditions, I walk out in the garage and flip a 100amp transfer switch to our solar which either delivers power from the panels or the battery bank, depending on sun conditions.

. . .

Nice thing about a battery bank is if you need a small amount of power in the middle of the night for example, you aren't running a generator to supply it.

If we got many extended days, and no sun, I'll use a small generator for a few hours to charge the battery bank.

What brand of transfer switch is that? I'm looking for a 100 or 200 amp manual transfer switch in an outdoor enclosure and not finding any, only automatic ones. I have 2 buildings that it will be powering.

 

[Diggin It]

I'm looking for a 100 or 200 amp manual transfer switch in an outdoor enclosure and not finding any, only automatic ones. I have 2 buildings that it will be powering.

Quick search for '100a manual transfer switch' finds big box store links to several including a GE Model #TC10323R for about $150 and the 200A version for about $450. Both are in a NEMA type-3R enclosure for outdoor use.

 

[TnAndy]

It's Cutler Hammer, which for some reason, Harbor Freight was carrying at that time....it was around 100 bucks then. I checked their website and seems they no longer have them. Home Deport has them for $195

 

[coobie]

I considered a whole house generator, but opted to go solar instead...because it offers me payback during normal conditions (we haven't had an electric bill in 12 years) and had a 30% federal tax credit, where as a generator is simply a money pit in financial terms.

During grid down conditions, I walk out in the garage and flip a 100amp transfer switch to our solar which either delivers power from the panels or the battery bank, depending on sun conditions.

Nice thing about a battery bank is if you need a small amount of power in the middle of the night for example, you aren't running a generator to supply it.

If we got many extended days, and no sun, I'll use a small generator for a few hours to charge the battery bank.

Always IMPRESSED with your setups..