which portable generators do people have

[ultrarunner]

At work we are regulated as to how much fuel can be stored for emergency power... but, this also came with a provision that should a disaster be declared the county would keep us fueled...

Participated in several disaster preparedness drills and the county has us fully integrated in the comprehensive plan... hope to never find out!

 

[Einthewoods]

While I am working at needing less grid power at my place, my parents place has a Generac natural gas whole home backup gen installed. Whenever the power goes out their neighbors come over to tell them how it sucks the power is out and that they have to look at my parents outdoor lights, xmas lights and whole house is lit up. Of course they stay and have some coffee or dinner or whatever. LOL

 

[ultrarunner]

Generator envy is real... very real in urban areas.

Stories of you share or calls go into the police for disturbing the peace... some units are just plain loud and who wants to hear a neighbors lawnmower from 10 feet away.

Also recommend a good strong chain and lock... LOL

As a kid of 9 I took an old car battery and wired a 12 volt light for the bedroom... used the hollow tube that supports the ceiling lamp shade to run the wire.

Folks got a lot of comments why one room of the house was all lit up when everyone in the neighborhood was dark or using candles.

 

[Industrial Toys]

The generac (propane) I installed for a customer at his cottage as a favor sounded much like a lawn mower running full tilt inside a large steel garbage can. If I were a neighbor, I wouldn't be happy. So not only might I not have power, now I have to listen to THAT? It's actually kind of ignorant, if you're close to your neighbors.

 

[TheMan419]

Got a 6500 watt (8k surge) w a Honda engine. Living out where there is no city water and having animals we have to have water.

Heat is nat gas fired but need to run the pumps (boiler).

That kind of power will also let me run a lot of other stuff if I want when the water is off.

 

[3930dave]

At work we are regulated as to how much fuel can be stored for emergency power... but, this also came with a provision that should a disaster be declared the county would keep us fueled...

Participated in several disaster preparedness drills and the county has us fully integrated in the comprehensive plan... hope to never find out!

Plans of men, mice, and generator owners......

Unless it's military, fuel trucks usually aren't high-mobility vehicles. Administrative plans look great on a table top, but in a major disaster, roads may not be passable until you run a dozer down them..... sometimes not even then...

I'm glad Cali crazy hasn't caught on here, yet..... I took my wife to one of the nearby big hospitals recently, they had 3 very large outdoor storage tanks next to their service plant. Seriously ? ...... in a big emergency, you need standby fuel at fire and police stations, but what is more important than a hospital ?

Relevant to the thread..... safely storing and properly rotating (gas, diesel at least) enough fuel for at least a few days emergency operation is obviously wise.....

Rgds, D

 

[Industrial Toys]

Many people really do think that spending money they don't have on stuff people don't need is more important. I'm talking Christmas, in case no one guessed. I didn't spend one dollar on presents. I did drive six hours to bring my Mom a tree we dug out of the ground and put in a big pot. So, maybe a hundred bucks in fuel.

 

[ultrarunner]

Some of the Hospitals had Natural Gas Generators because the fuel storage tanks were a big issue in the 90's... and later as a terrorist target...

Problem for most of the natural gas units is earthquakes could disrupt distribution...

I was in my 1922 home when the big California Earthquake hit... only needed electricity for the refrigerator...

The old home had a huge basement gas fired central furnace... no blower... millivolt gravity system... old stove also pilot light and water heater gas... light was by candle light.

Power was out for almost a week...

Those around me that had "Upgraded" were not doing well... no electricity meant no cooking and no heat and for one no hot water...

We were not always so dependent on electricity... and life was still "Modern"

 

[Industrial Toys]

Not much is ever discussed about the NG distribution system. I would like to know more about it. Is it backed up by itself with compressors and generators. Is the IT backed up or does it (now) rely on the Internet?

I know where my electricity comes from. The route and transformer stations. Comes in handy. A short drive can sometimes tell you way more then staying on HOLD or waiting for some computer generated STATUS report.

I also know where the fuses are located and have on occasion relayed my observations to the crews should I meet them. ****, I've even leant them my chainsaw. That was funny! They are a great bunch of guys.

 

[ultrarunner]

A few years back the line supplying natural gas to the Tahoe Basin ruptured...

Many had switched from Propane as Gas was available... they had a lot of problems... staying warm, frozen pipes... etc.

All the electric heaters plugging in caused concern about the grid as this was winter.

I was one of the few that kept Propane... we owned the tank... and glad I did.