Lovin my generator today.

[GMIslander]

Christmas day power was out for 5 hours, 11 am to 4 pm. 3 days later it was out from 11pm , all the next day and came on at 3am.
We ran the generator from Lowes I bought a couple of years ago. We get outages summer and winter - branches, trees from wind damage and ice storms.
5500 watts, pull start. Two pulls at most. I set up my house panel so that it does one side with what I need. It is in my woodshop that I have a 100 amp service line out to. I flip the main breaker off in the house. Walk to my shop, start it and flip on my flip breaker to the house. I can shut off my 100 amp line to the shop from inside my house and check if I have services restored. When it is, I head out to the shop and shut off the generator, flip the line breaker and head back in.

Generators are great - running water, horse trough heater, lights, internet/phone, refrigerator , freezer, etc. .
Saved me a number of times heading out to work - grabbing that shower.

I set it up myself, like most things I do.

These things are simple and you may save a lineman from getting lit up.
GenerLink - Connecting a portable generator made easy and safe. - Genersafe - Canada

 

[Clint S]

Pulling the meter we be 100% effective but here it is also considered tampering and comes with a hefty fine...

Plus most of the meters around here a locked... either need a tool or key to remove the ring...

Same here , but dad has the tool and trained most every person around here.