Posted on 01/22/2012 8:48:55 AM PST by djf
Here's how they explain it on the website:
The principle of the Aladdin burner is to produce a blue flame (virtually 100 % combustion) for maximum heat output. This heat causes the mantle to incandesce due to its unique chemical composition and properties. The Aladdin emits approximately 2500 BTUs of heat per hour. The Aladdin lamp emits 60 candlepower of white light—No pumping—No noise—No smoke—No odor—No Danger. So easy to use, all you need is a match.
All I can tell you is that they work.
We were without power for 5 hours here in North Texas for who knows what reason. It was a great time to test my supplies. The first thing I discovered is that too many of my lighting items, such as oil lamps and lanterns were stored too high for me to reach by myself and hubby was gone. So...first lesson..get those things in an easy to reach area. We found that little collapsible lantern made by Coleman to really put out a lot of light. It uses D cell batteries. I got a big fire going in the fireplace for warmth and lighting. This blackout hit around dark which made a problem for gathering things together. We just ate sandwiches from things in the fridge. We have one phone still on a land line which meant we had phone service to the house. Most of our phones are the cordless variety which don’t work in a powerless environment. We had cell phones but tried to not use those unless absolutely necessary. In general, a good trial run for some things.
That is exactly what I have securing my 10kw generator. A Kryptonite chain, lock and concrete bolted anchor and Mossberg 500. I also have motion detectors and two large dogs.
You had the wrong generator. Spend a few more bucks to get a generator that won't harm sensitive equipment: http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200467367_200467367 Also don't try to avoid the cost of having an electrician install a transfer switch by backfeeding into your dryer's input plug. When the power comes back on you just might electrocute a utility worker and be charged with manslaughter.
Those look nice. I have a bunch of regular wick lamps (from the thrift store) - but might need to splurge! The branches are again falling at my house near Seattle, but we lucked out this storm.
A few years ago we were without power for 7 days when it was cold (5 degrees IIRC). The family was downstairs with the woodburning stove, fold-out couch, puzzles, etc. Plenty of food to cook on the wood stove or the camp stoves.
After a couple nights the old gal next door in poor health finally took up our offer to stay with us in the heat and light. (Shared the sofa with my wife!).
The wood went fast though! I figured I had enough, but at those cold temps I would have been out in another 3 weeks. Luckily it doesn’t usually get that cold here.
Got a kerosene heater and generator after that. Still haven’t needed either one yet.
Hot water is from the gas company - so even with the electric out could still get a hot shower. Except it was upstairs where it was only in the low 40’s!
According to my dad they'll burn for at least 10 hours on a tank of fuel. And they just plain look really, really cool.
5000 / 6250 surge has served me well in a similar situation.
Get chains or cables and locks for your generators. The one fear I had was that, during the night after the gennie was put to bed, someone would come back and steal it. It’s locked to the deck post.
Yeah we had a similar outage here a few years ago. 5:30 AM I wake up and all my power failure lights are on, tv is off, and my UPS units are beeping away.
I get up, see that the power is out on the whole street (It wasnt just my breaker blown) and proceed to set up my indoor safe propane heater. Back to the living room as its 17 outside and freezing, so I set up the fireplace and that is going good. Once I see the power is not coming back any time soon, I set up my 3 propane stoves on the counter in the kitchen, and I am cooking breakfast for the wife and I will coffee. I put the garage freezer on my smaller solar backup unit.. it kept going for 2 days without issue. I also put the fridge on the larger solar unit (I have two solar backup units) and it worked flawlessly.
I had company.. lol our neighbors, kept everyone warm and fed for 2 days until the power came back. My neighbors are now much better prepared.
I didnt even need to fire up the generator.. I was good with the solar backup and propane running everything else.
It was a Sunday and I Still remember hearing the call over the police scanner about needing cops at the power company as people were banging on the windows telling them to “Turn the power back on” lol
Yes good point. We have a large set of chains for our generator and mind you, we have a screened in room in the back of our house (Patio area) that works perfectly for running it. Even inside there, we keep chains on it when we have needed to run it.
There is something refreshing about stepping outside and not hearing traffic, trains or any other noise during ice storms. Just complete silence except for tree limbs breaking and crashing down.
I can relate to that. The morning after Katrina hit, I opened my front door and the water was to my porch. No one was in sight. When my son and I would talk to each other you could almost hear an echo it was so quiet. I could see the stars at night for the first time in years. Frankly, it irritated me when people started to return. I had the land and the streets to myself and I liked it. Then, back to reality.
***Generators came in from other areas - they were being snapped up quickly (many sold after power came back up****
Our local stores learned of a scam real quick.
When a storm was forecast, locals would rush to the stores and buy up the generators. As soon as the storm was past and clear, they would return the generator (often unused)to the store and demand their money back. There was nothing wrong with the generators.
The stores now require the buyers to return the generator to the manufacturer.
We got stung because of people returning generators after their power is back up
We had an old generator - a 4,000 on it’s last leg- wanted to get a new one - they were coming in from everywhere - so my husband bought a 7,000 from Home Depot one morning - we took it out of the box and realized it wasn’t an electric start.
My husband went to sleep that morning - he was working the storm - and I went back to HD to switch to electric start (2 hours later) They took it in the back to check it (I should have went with them) - and found gas in the tank (say huh?)- we didn’t touch anything - they would not take the return. Policy. (it was 2 hours later from when he bought it - the wheels weren’t on the thing - we were still without power - they wouldn’t take it back)Wherever the load came from apparently that store didn’t check for fuel on return....or they did something ‘in the back’...that bit us in the rear.
We just struggled by with the old struggling generator. (we had to sell the new one to recoup our purchase - $700)
Ended up selling it to a friend weeks later
Home Depot stinks
Got a new Generator from Costco
Lessons Learned (open up and inspect every big purchase with strict return policies before you leave the store)
And working for 20 hours straight is no excuse for buying the wrong product - lol:>)
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