Power Out - Day Two

[Diamondpilot]

I keep 30 gallons of gas on hand to power my 8550 Troy Built Generator. That will last me 3 days. The first time I had to use it I had to drive 120 miles to get gas due to none of the gas stations having power to run the pumps and if they did they were out. I also have a boat that is always full of gas, 70 gallons, that I could get out if needed via a 12 volt electric pump. My generator also calls for 50 hour oil changes so I just do it every two days. Most I have been out was 8 days in January Ice Storm and 3 days after a tornado.

One word of caution is to chain up your genny. When we were out after the tornado I heard of a couple that was sleeping and the genny went off line but was still running. The husband said he would go out in a hour or so to check when he got up for work. He went outside and there was a worn out $99 push mower sitting where the genny once was running away. The crooks simply pushed the mower over, started it, shut off the genny, and away they went. I guess they figured with the sound the people would not wake up.

Chris

 

[JoelD]

I keep 30 gallons of gas on hand to power my 8550 Troy Built Generator. That will last me 3 days. The first time I had to use it I had to drive 120 miles to get gas due to none of the gas stations being without power to run the pumps and if they did they were out. I also have a boat that is always full of gas, 70 gallons, that I could get out if needed via a 12 volt electric pump. My generator also calls for 50 hour oil changes so I just do it every two days. Most I have been out was 8 days in January Ice Storm and 3 days after a tornado.

One word of caution is to chain up your genny. When we were out after the tornado I heard of a couple that was sleeping and the genny when off line but was still running. The husband said he would go out in a hour or so to check when he got up for work. He went outside and there was a worn out $99 push mower sitting where the genny once was running away. The crooks simply pushed the mower over, started it, shut off the genny, and away they went. I guess they figured with the sound the people would not wake up.

Chris

This was a fear I had, if we all went out I shut down and rolled into the garage.

My neighbor, who is still on generator (has same exact unit as mine) parked his car in front of the generator.

I have definately thought about the chain idea, mine is also under a motion sensor light.

People will do most anything in an emergency.

Joel

 

[Dmace]

Dmace & JoelD

Nice to see you got power back, most of my city is powered back up. I lost mine Friday morning and got it back Sat. afternoon. didn't get cable and internet back until late Monday night night.

Yeah we ended up getting power back on Sunday, figures once you spend the money on a stand-by system you never lose power more than a day or two. I had some friends in Rochester that actually never lost power just a flicker or two yet homes and businesses less than a mile down the road were out for days. Funny how that works.

 

[Diamondpilot]

My unit is portable but I poured a 4'x5' slab next to the house and put a 1/2" rebarb ring in the concrete to chain the genny up to. The first time I chained it to the deck support but really did not like having a level spot to put the genny near my panel.

I have it set up so if the power goes out I wheel the genny over and use a nice bicycle cable lock that is made of 5/8" cable and a good lock. I start the genny and let it warm up for a minute. I then hook up my 25' 10 gauge cord to the plug near my panel and throw the transfer switch. I also keep with my genny a blue 5'x8' tarp. I use the quick type spring wood clamps to hook one side of the tarp to the gutter and the put bricks on the other end to make a lean too roof over the genny.

Chris

 

[buyerjohn]

How do you tie the generator into the house electrical system? I know you can run extension cords to a unit but don't know how you wire it so it will power the house....

we are going on Day 7 without power...

 

[shvl73]

How do you tie the generator into the house electrical system? I know you can run extension cords to a unit but don't know how you wire it so it will power the house....

we are going on Day 7 without power...

A transfer switch is the best, safest way.

 

[buyerjohn]

A transfer switch is the best, safest way.

thanks...do you just hard wire the transfer switch breakers 1:1 to the breakers you want to power in the house panel and run a connection to the generator? If so, are you limited in the number of circuits the transfer switch can support - ie, if the transfer switch has 4 circuits, then it can only power 4 circuits in the house panel?

 

[shvl73]

Yes, and no...
Some (mine) transfer specific circuits. Others will throw the whole panel. If I had to do it all over again, I'd throw the whole panel and use only selected circuits as needed.

 

[buyerjohn]

Yes, and no...
Some (mine) transfer specific circuits. Others will throw the whole panel. If I had to do it all over again, I'd throw the whole panel and use only selected circuits as needed.

yeah, I'd think the whole panel would be the easiest...when the power comes back on, is there a potential issue with the generator and the electric company sending juice into the panel at the same time? or does the transfer switch sense the change and turn off the supply from the generator?

 

[shvl73]

The transfer switch (properly wired) will only allow one or the other.