lets discuss preps for disasters

k0ua · Jan 29, 2016

EddieWalker said:
On storing fuel for a generator, what type of fuel is best? Gas seems to be the worse since it breaks down so quickly and needs to be used and replaced on a regular basis. If I see a storm coming, I will fill my 5 gallon gas cans, but that's just for a small Honda generator that isn't big enough to keep my freezers and fridge going. How long can you store diesel? Or is it best to just do the same as I do with gas and fill up fuel cans when I see a storm on the way? I've often thought that a propane generator would be best. Burns clean and you can store it for a very long time. I have natural gas to my parents house, but didn't run it to mine. I can if I want to, just a matter of digging the trench and installing everything needed to make it happen. Are there natural gas generators?

Eddie, I have heard of people using diesel that was many years old. As long as it doesn't get water in it to grow algae I think you can keep if for a very long time. Of course as you mentioned propane keeps for a very long time (forever?). Yes, most of the auto start generators can be run on propane or natural gas with the proper conversion kits.

davesl708 · Jan 29, 2016

One thing a woman who spent a year at sea in a sailboat taught me was packing stores. She was told by many that dry goods were best. They don't spoil.
Then she thought if the boat gets swamped and the dry goods get wet your toast. Could be weeks before getting to another port. You also have to carry enough water to add to the food. So she went with canned goods. Water is already in it so less drinking water used in preparation. Canned goods last for years and not harmed by water or other contaminates.

So I keep at least a months worth of canned fruit and veggies in rotation as well as other stores.

quicksandfarmer · Jan 29, 2016

EddieWalker said:
On storing fuel for a generator, what type of fuel is best? Gas seems to be the worse since it breaks down so quickly and needs to be used and replaced on a regular basis. If I see a storm coming, I will fill my 5 gallon gas cans, but that's just for a small Honda generator that isn't big enough to keep my freezers and fridge going. How long can you store diesel? Or is it best to just do the same as I do with gas and fill up fuel cans when I see a storm on the way? I've often thought that a propane generator would be best. Burns clean and you can store it for a very long time. I have natural gas to my parents house, but didn't run it to mine. I can if I want to, just a matter of digging the trench and installing everything needed to make it happen. Are there natural gas generators?

Generac makes a natural gas generator. Very popular in cities where power lines are overhead and gas lines are buried. Natural gas tends to be more reliable than electricity, phone or water.

EddieWalker · Jan 29, 2016

Thanks. This ties into another reason I want a bigger generator. I want something big enough to power my welder so I can do my fence corners, round pen and entrance gates. Plus whatever else I will need to weld out in the field away from my house. If I go with propane, I'm hoping I can run it off a portable tank like used for BBQ's. Diesel seems more common, but I haven't really compared the two types to see what would be more practical.

TnAndy · Jan 29, 2016

EddieWalker said:
Thanks. This ties into another reason I want a bigger generator. I want something big enough to power my welder so I can do my fence corners, round pen and entrance gates. Plus whatever else I will need to weld out in the field away from my house. If I go with propane, I'm hoping I can run it off a portable tank like used for BBQ's. Diesel seems more common, but I haven't really compared the two types to see what would be more practical.

I did a "2 for 1".....bought a Miller Bobcat welder/generator. 8,000w on the generator side. My thinking was I would be more likely to keep up this kind of unit so it was ready to generate power when I need it by having the welder that I would use enough to maintenance it. Many folks with backup gasoline generators let them sit around for years, and when they do need them, they have rebuild the carb before it will run again because they never get it out and 'exercise' it.

As for keeping gasoline, if you'll keep it in sealed containers, using PRI-G, it will keep quite a while. I've personally stored it 5 years in 55gal drums with no problem. Diesel, use PRI-D, and it will keep forever I think. I have a buddy in Alaska that was using diesel stored in drums from WW2 as of a few years ago.

You could run a portable generator off propane, and use a BBQ tank, but be aware that even small generators use 1/2-1 gallon per hour of propane, and a BBQ tank is around 4 gallons....so you're not looking at a long run time per tank. I bought an older Onan 4kw generator out of an RV that I plan to convert to propane, mount on a permanent skid to move with the tractor, and mount a couple of 100lb bottles with it. That would give 40-60hrs of run time (depending on load).

TnAndy · Jan 29, 2016

Forum posted twice...don't ask me why......

Egon · Jan 29, 2016

Garandman said:
I have bottles of booze and quarts of motor oil. I can probably trade for anything else needed.....

You think?

Garandman · Jan 29, 2016

EddieWalker said:
On storing fuel for a generator, what type of fuel is best? Gas seems to be the worse since it breaks down so quickly and needs to be used and replaced on a regular basis. If I see a storm coming, I will fill my 5 gallon gas cans, but that's just for a small Honda generator that isn't big enough to keep my freezers and fridge going. How long can you store diesel? Or is it best to just do the same as I do with gas and fill up fuel cans when I see a storm on the way? I've often thought that a propane generator would be best. Burns clean and you can store it for a very long time. I have natural gas to my parents house, but didn't run it to mine. I can if I want to, just a matter of digging the trench and installing everything needed to make it happen. Are there natural gas generators?

You can buy converters to run gensets on gas, propane, or natural gas.

Most backup generators around here are propane. But you need enough tank capacity that the tanks won't chill and loose pressure: you aren't likely to have that problem.

Natural gas is "off grid" but in Hurricane Sandy, some coastal neighborhoods were wiped out so the gas was shut off to that area - which meant those who'd survived OK got shut down. Oil tanks and propane tanks got washed or blown away as well so not sure that's material.

A lot of people who heat with fuel oil run diesel because it's the same fuel. There are a lot of good Milsurp gensets around as well.

When we were looking at houses in NH, every one that had backup power ran on propane. But we run our portable generators on gas because there are a lot more supply points if there was a storm.