Power out again????????

[ROBERTSUNRUS]

Hi, since we moved to Oregon our power has been out so many times. Time to drag out my faithful Yamaha 2400 generator. I used two 50' extension cords to run my two refrigerators, one in the kitchen and one in the garage. Later on I made a window filler so my connection through my dining room window would be sealed and somewhat easier to hook up.

Next step, with the blessing of my wife, I bought a 30 Amp 6 circuit transfer switch and an inlet box. [various other odds and ends] Now I'm ready for the next power outage. And now that I'm ready, Murphy's Law will prevent me from using needing it.

[Tamarack]

Nice! I’m in middle of doing the same generator upgrade project, and yes I’m a fellow Oregonian 😂

[OTRA15]

Good move Bob . . . we did this years ago at the old family home, and it paid off a couple of times . . . once for a hurricane . . . and once for a bad ice storm. The setup was also a good [albeit minor] benefit when selling the house.

Like any other insurance, you don't really want to "need" it anyway, do you?



Oh . . . by the way . . . we still have the old Honda 3500 as a back-up here at the new much smaller place. It gets run a couple of times year, with Stabil-treated gas, and will power the FC20 A/C in the driveway if needed.

Redundant tools here and there . . . life is good . . . win/win IMO.

[WhatNext]

Good that you installed the 6 circuit transfer switch box and outdoor connector. Safest way to hook up the house to a generator. Did you use a heavy gauge wire between the outdoor connector and the transfer box? Your Yamaha 2400 (2400 watts?) will be a little light on power if more than a couple big motors are on at the same time (fridg, AC, etc). Sump pumps are real bad for startup surge power. So you'll find out what you can run at the same time.

After a freak tornado swept thru in the '90s (NY capital district), I ran out and grabbed a Coleman 5000. Was without power for a few days. Soon after I did install a 6 circuit generator transfer box and outside connector (like the OP) but other than a few hours without power here and there, no big deal until... a snow storm hit in December and we were without power for a week! Here it gets cold (its mid April and we got snow) and I was able to keep my gas/hot air furnace plus gas hot water heater running and fridge/freezers cold. So definitely worth it in my book. Yeah I know, no one will invest the money until a generator is really needed.

[pmclemore]

After we went through several storms that knocked out power for a week or so (Isabel, Irene, other unnamed storms), we went whole hog and installed a whole-house generator. Automatic switch, self-testing routines, the whole shebang.

Needless to say, Dominion Power then upgraded so many of its lines that it hardly ever goes out any more, even for a few hours.

I hope my neighbors appreciate what I have done for them.

I hope your efforts are rewarded.

Pat

[Burnside Bob]

Originally Posted by ROBERTSUNRUS

And now that I'm ready, Murphy's Law will prevent me from using needing it.

Dear Robert:

Don't forget the overdue magnitude 9 subduction zone earthquake. You are just in time!

Pratum Coop sells "clear" gasoline--no alcohol--for extended storage for your generator needs.

Photo: Inside blue circle--our genset with fuel--runnning the essentials--refer, freezer, satellite internet, laptops. We were good.

Memo to self: change genset oil.

[Ray Eklund]

Fuel shortages reported in Southern Nevada. Delivery through pipelines is not adequate. Diesel has adequate supply. You cannot depend on anything... over the short or long term.

What about those taking their Airstream out of hibernation? Gives me some additional planning to consider. Hope they get this worked out. Nevada depends of its energy needs everywhere, but in Nevada. Lots of Solar... for EV's.

Depending on a generator needing gasoline can change. Depending on Natural Gas as an alternative can change. I read about gasoline pumps in southern Nevada being 'out of order' and creating a bit of Panic, like the Middle East oil embargo of yesteryears.

Our Airstream can only go so far on Solar, as Propane provides the major energy supplier. That was not mentioned...

A friend said to search "gasoline shortages in Las Vegas". I did. That area has had issues 'on an off' over the years. They say 'increased demand' as traffic has increased due to the... Casinos opening up with vigor?

I am shocked... Casino Traffic? I thought gambling was no longer an interest.

[OTRA15]

OT

Originally Posted by WhatNext

. . .
. . . no one will invest the money until a generator is really needed.
. . .

. . . which reminds of the great old tune "You Don't Miss Your Water ['Til Your Well Runs Dry]" by the Good Ol' Persons:

Yee Ha!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yfo8Yc-bIwA

Here endeth the thread hijack . . . sorry Bob.



PS -- Great 1968 Taj Mahal cover here.
Composer, Lyricist: W. Bell

[OTRA15]

Originally Posted by Ray Eklund

. . .
. . . I thought gambling was no longer an interest.
. . .

Are we not all gamblers now in Milton's "Lost Paradise" city of Pandemic Pandemonium?

[jcanavera]

Bob, my goal is to make the refinement for connectivity into my electrical system that you did with your Yamaha. My one difference is that my Yamaha is tri-fueled. I've got the natural gas line on the deck, and I already have two 20 lb propane bottles that are dedicated for backup generator use. The natural gas option is the best for longer term outages.

I've lost power for as long as a week. That was due to a massive ice storm back almost 35 years ago. We eventually had to leave the house due to lack of heat. With selective use of the circuits I can keep my gas furnace operational along with the fridge and selective lighting.

Jack

[mkarahashi]

> Murphy's Law will prevent me from using needing it.

In this case, you hope that's the case though, that you actually never need to use it. Sadly, however, I'm sure you will end up using it.

I'm considering backup power for my house as well. Except I live a typical residential area with lots being ~8k sq ft. So a generator might solicit complaints and power outages are typically short. So leaning towards battery backup (Tesla, Enphase, Goal Zero, etc). Big problem is, all of those solutions are mega $$$$.

[jcanavera]

I've used mine twice since purchasing it. Longest run was 4 hours and in both cases it was due to power outages. I used the propane tank on those runs.

Jack

[ROBERTSUNRUS]

Hi, My main concerns were my refrigerators; My generator runs both of them very easily. My next concern was my fireplace. Mine is natural gas with electronic ignition. My fireplace will work with two "D" cell batteries for power outages. Due to a contractor screw up, I had to fix my fireplace so it would work with the batteries. My water heater is natural gas and needs no electrical power to operate. I don't plan to run my HVAC unit and I don't have a well pump.

So here is basically how I set it up.

(A) Runs my house refrigerator and some local wall sockets that I most likely won't use.

(B) Runs my garage refrigerator, garage door, and some wall sockets.

(C) Runs my computer systems, fireplace, and my television. And some ceiling lights.

These were the most important for us. (A) (B) (C)

(D) (E) and (F) Allow me to turn on all of the ceiling lights in the house.

I originally was going to buy a four circuit transfer switch, but for about $12.00 more I got the 6 circuit transfer switch. I used 10 gauge wires for the system.

[mikeinca]

We also tired of power outages in our area from random weather events and for the last couple of years from lengthy planned shutdowns due to fire danger. Dragging out my pair of Honda 2000 generators and running extension cords all over the place got to be a pain and what we could power was limited anyway.

So, we have now added Tesla Powerwall batteries to our solar array and have full house backup when the grid goes down. Solar recharges the batteries even with no grid power so as long as we get minimal sun with reasonable usage we can last indefinitely. No electric bills and charging our BEV is clean and free. Still need diesel to tow the Airstream though....

[OTRA15]

Thanks for the great updates Bob and Mike.