New Generator & Hurricane Isabel

[k8ny]

Well, about a month and a half ago I saw a terrific deal from Harbor Freight on a 7.5KW generator with a Honda 13hp engine (electric start and auto-idle) for $749.99. I couldn't believe what I was reading so I immediately placed an order for one via the web site. I received an email confirmation the next day and about 5 days later I received a post card confirmation as well. About 1 week after that I then received a second post card notifying me my order had been cancelled. I immediately called customer satisfaction and they told me they had run out of that generator and really should not have taken the order. Well, to make a real long story short, they offered me a 'returned' generator (the same one as advertised) and said it was a refurbished unit and they could not sell it as new. They offered me the unit at a considerable discount from the advertised price so I accepted their offer.
The generator arrived a week ago this past Thursday and I quickly went about assembling it (wheel kit and battery) and then testing it. It worked fine.
I then heard about the hurricane heading our way ( I am 60 miles west of Wash, DC, just where the track of the storm was predicted) so I set up the wiring and transfer switch to my electrical panel. Finished up this past Thursday and then Friday morning (12:00 AM) the hurricane hit us (not all that bad) and we lost power. I started the genny up a 6:00 AM and it ran great for the 15 hours we were without power (it had enough power to start the well pump so we always had water)
After a 'bad' initial experience, things turned out well. All I can say is, that was great timing!!

Bob

 

[GaryM]

Nice unit and a good ending to the story. Did you run your ham station on the generator too? /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif Looked you up on QRZ.COM.

Gary, WØGOM

 

[_RaT_]

Bob, after you get the refrigerator/freezer and well pump going, everything else is just gravy. Sounds like a great setup.

 

[k8ny]

Yes Gary, I did try out the Icom barefoot on 40. I made 3 cw qso's and then had to qrt because I had much cleanup to do here. The hurricane did leave much tree damage in her wake. I didn't have the guts to fire up the Alpha though but since it's a large generator I should not have a problem with the amp.
Hope to work you on the bands.

73
Bob

 

[k8ny]

You're right on the money RaT. Once I had the pump and fridge/freezer going all else was gravy. The wife did make us all breakfast that morning, she had the toaster, coffee maker and electric skillet running, no problems!

Bob

 

[Gatorboy]

Glad to see you have your generator outside. Sounds like common sense, right?

Although it's a sad story, sometimes you just got to say, "What was he thinking?"

Here in Baltimore, a guy put his generator in his basement and ran it from down there. Now, he along with his 3 year daughter are dead from carbon monoxide poisioning. The mother is in critical condition.

 

[Mrwurm]

You are so right. Not everyone has received the message about exhaust safety.

We had some guys get severe burns here a winter or two ago. They refueled their kerosene heater while it was running WITH GASOLINE !

Some people are just too dumb for their own good.

 

[k8ny]

Yes Dave, just heard about that on the local news (I'm near Baltimore as well). What a sad and tragic story.
I noticed as I was shopping for a NEMA 30A 125/250V connector for the generator, many folks in the stores buying generators and totally unaware of what they do with it when they cart it home. They had no clue of how to connect them and it was a bit too late to get an electrician in there to install the transfer switch. My best guess on that one was the guy had it going in his basement with an extension cord backfeeding a 120V receptacle.

Bob

 

[TerryinMD]

Well, here in Washington County, Md, we had Isabel blow through and cause some minor damage in our area.

We had most of the homes lose power due to trees falling on the power lines and splices failing. So, we lost power about two AM on Friday morning and it was just restored about an hour ago.

Our neighbor had power and he has an old Lincoln Welder that puts out abou 10Kva and let us use it. It was God sent!! That little Perkins diesel just kept on humming along putting out the power. It kept our two home fridges, a comeercial fridge (72 cu ft), and two freezes running, plus the well, and of course assorted lignts etc. When the well pump started, the diesel would groan a little but put out the power. Used about 25 gallons of diesel fuel, but that is a heck of lot cheaper than restocking the freezers and the fridges.

I'm beginning to investigate the purchase of a PTO generator and maybe a new JD to power it. The 4100 may not have enough ummph to power the smallest PTO generator.

Later,

Terry