POWER PROTECTION

Power Protection: Protect your family, home and electronics ^ | unknown | Unknown

[Dixielander]

A growing number of Americans are converting their portable gasoline generators into emergency backup power systems.

The minimum size recommended for home-emergency use is a 5,000-watt generator (starting around $500), which can power multiple appliances for 8 hours.

Portable generators are available at home improvement stores and warehouse clubs around the country, and may become scarce during a blackout.

Extension Cords The most common way to use a portable generator is to place it outdoors, then run an extension cord(s) through an open window or door to the chosen appliance. This approach works well for smaller generators because you can only plug in one or two items.

Be sure to use appropriately sized power cords to carry the electric load. If you use an undersized cord, you can potentially damage the generator and appliances.

Extension cords are rated by "gauges." For example, the most common size for generator use is 14, 12 and 10 gauge. The smaller the gauge number, the thicker the cord and the more electricity it can carry.

Extension cords have several other drawbacks. First, most extension cords can't be plugged into a furnace, well pump, or ceiling-light fixture. And, if they are placed under rugs or carpets, heat can build up and spark a fire.

Transfer Switch For safety's sake, hire a licensed electrician to install a transfer switch that distributes power from the generator to the home's circuit box. This reduces the need for multiple extension cords running from the generator to specific appliances, and eliminates the risk of electrical "back feed" injuring utility workers working on downed power lines.

The transfer switch (around $150-$250) is installed beside the main electrical panel, and then it's connected to circuits you'll need during a blackout. When the power goes out, you simply crank up the generator and run a single extension cord from it to the transfer switch.

Once the generator is running, you can choose which circuits you want to use by flipping the switches on the transfer switch.

It's important to keep track of what's being powered because the transfer switch is often wired into more circuits than the generator can handle all at once.

A typical transfer-switch installation will take less than two hours and cost around $100-$200, but it's an investment that will be fully appreciated the next time the power goes out. Important Generator Safety Tips

· Never connect a generator to your home's internal wiring. The electrical "back feed" can injure or even kill utility workers repairing the power lines.

· Never run a generator indoors or in an enclosed space like a garage or basement. Like other engines, generators produce deadly carbon monoxide gas.

· Always fill the generator with gasoline in a well-ventilated area while it is turned off.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Blackouts From Severe Weather to Sunspots

Home Standby Generators The Ultimate Protection

Prolonged Power Outages Without Power, But Not Powerless

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Coleman Powermate

© 2001-2003 Coleman Powermate, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

[Dixielander]

For those of you using generators for power, read on. This website contains lots of good information on portable generator use and safety. It also includes a wattage wizard.

[MaryFromMichigan]

BTTT

[Lokibob]

If you are the only house on the block with electricity, guess where the neighbors are coming, especially during January?

[Maria S]

Other good emergency items to have on hand (and not too expensive, either!):

hand-crank portable radio - Grundig has a great one for about $35. It can convert to a shortwave, too. You just crank it for a few minutes for an hour's worth of listening.

flashlights that operate by shaking - these are great! You just shake them back and forth about 20 second for a couple of hours worth of light. No batteries.

[Dixielander]

Don't forget to include thieves. During the recent power outage in Memphis, generators were stolen and resold.

Probably a good idea to get your neighbors to purchase generators so that they won't settle at your house.

[Dixielander]

"flashlights that operate by shaking - these are great! You just shake them back and forth about 20 second for a couple of hours worth of light. No batteries."

All right! Where can I purchase one?

The CC Plus radio is wonderful. A bit expensive but it has has TV audio, Weather FM/AM bands. The quality of the AM clarity is awesome. I ran my CC on battery power almost continuously for over a week.

[JackOfVA]

This corner of Fairfax County went through Isabel with only two 5 second power hits. Phones were out for about half a day, but that's not a big problem.

Nonetheless, after the recent NE blackout, I ordered a 25KW autostart propane fueled generator and automatic transfer switch to be installed by our power co-op (NOVEC). We are on well/septic, so as long as we have power, we are good to go. 25kW will run everything, including heating and A/C. It won't be installed for another month and a half, so keeping fingers crossed until then. The total cost is $15K, so it isn't cheap, and I hope we never need it, but the stories I'm hearing on local talk radio make me think it was a good idea.

Jack

[Dixielander]

Thanks for the heads-up. Good information there too. Will add it to "favorites."

[Interesting Times]

We have a 6500 watt generator, a transfer switch, and Trace inverter and a 20kw battery pack. The inverter is used to charge the batteries and converts battery power to A/C. The transfer switch toggles the house circuits from line current to battery / generator power.

The way it works it you normally have the inverter plugged into a wall socket, which keeps the batteries topped off. If the power goes out you just flip the transfer switch and connect the inverter to the house. That's good for about 24 hours of limited power. When you fire up the generator, you connect it to the house in place of the inverter, and plug the inverter back into the wall socket to recharge. I've been running the generator about 8 hours a day, and it takes about 5 or 6 hours to reload the battery. We've had pretty much continuous power for the fridge, freezer, limited lights, TV, PCs and microwave for the three days of this outage. Total cost with the generator was about $5,000, and we can add solar panels to the system if we like. The generator eats about 5 gallons of gas per 8 hours.

[NautiNurse]

Good to see you back online. Can't wait to see the pics.

Have solar panels here with a 40amp Trace inverter, 4 extra deep cycle battery bank. It's designed to provide energy for three days without adequate sunlight for recharging. It was very expensive, and will only pay for itself through peace of mind. It is independent from the breaker box. Use it routinely about three times per week to power up accessory computer equipment.

Also have 40 gallon solar water heater ($2500). It paid for itself in about four years. It is the primary water heater. The electric water heater is backup providing an additional 40 gallons as necessary.

[Think free or die]

We put in an 11KW generator a few years ago and had an electrician wire it up for us. Our neighbor has the same unit. It's been just wonderful to have backup power. We're in a heavily wooded area where trees fall on power lines with every storm. During small outages we have power restored pretty quickly. When there are thousands of homes without power, we drop to the bottom of the list, since a subdivision may be restored with the same labor as our handful of homes in the woods.

We keep our well pump, fridges, heater fan, sump pump and lights burning. All we really miss is our hot water heater, dishwasher and cook top and oven. It cost us around $6-7K fully installed, and was one of the best investments we ever made. We were without power for 18 hours with Isabel. That would have been a long time without refrigeration or running water.

[Squantos]

I have the Kohler natural gas driven gen sets. I do not have to store fuel for them and given all the power outtages over the years the gas company keeps em running for regular power outtages.

Now a natural disaster such as Tornado, Hurricane, Flood or Earthquake where the gas lines would have to be shut down because of dangers from broken lines would make my setup undesireable. At that point a simple wood stove, a box of candles and a baygen windup radio and LED light would make do with a stack of reading material and a comfy rocking chair till the lines are repaired. !

Stay Safe !

[lodwick]

Sweet!

[patton]

My biggest problem was that I had two dates for the prom.

My wife, understandably, wanted my butt at home to handle the downed trees, et al.

Meanwhile, I needed to ride out the storm on my boat, or that sucker was goin' down.

What to do, what to do?

[Maria S]

"All right! Where can I purchase one?"

I can't remember the exact name of the catalogue...darn it! It's one of those companies, like Hemmler-Schlemmer?? [spelling], that sells all sorts of gadgets. I think you might also be able to find them at Home Depot, Lowe's, etc. They were about $40 apiece, but well worth it if we ever need them. Don't have to ever worry about batteries.

[Squantos]

Take the wife on a romantic cruise and let Isabel rock the boat .........:o)

Call me if ya need me again !......Stay Safe !

[patton]

Heh. Butthead.

[Timm]

I have a small generator, that doubles as a camping convenience.

Generators are great when you need them. Bear in mind that you won't need them very often. In the meantime, you have to run the things now and then to keep them operational. Maintenance and proper oil changes are essential. You also have to make sure you store enough fuel safely and in usable condition on site. (You can't count on being able to buy it in a power outage). Even with treatment gas will last only a year or so, bear in mind.

You also have to be familiar enough with the thing's operation, including checking fuel, oil, and setting up a proper ground, to get the generator running quickly in the cold and dark. Know where your flashlights and any necessary tools are

You can't run the things indoors, but you also have to watch out for theft.

Still, having a generator around beats living like a refugee when a hurricane hits, or there's ice on the power lines, or a tornado comes to town. If you have a satellite dish, you will have access to national cable news even when all power around you is down. You can run the fridge for a short while each day. You can use the computer (though you'll need a dial-up backup if you use broadband, since your cable company may well be down, too.) You can charge the batteries in your cell phone, portable electronic gadgets, and what not.

Having said that, it's also a good idea, and sometimes even an alternative, to have a lot of spare batteries around. They're inexpensive, and you can provide yourself with a few nights worth of lantern and flashlight light for very little money. Small appliances like radios and portable t.v.'s can run on batteries. There's no noise, no gasoline, no refueling in the dark, no fumes, and no fire from batteries. With a charged battery, a cell phone can be used to get onto the internet (cell networks stay up when the power's down, though they get crowded).

[Dixielander]

Jack,
The 25kw autostart propane fueled generator that you bought is a good idea from all that you said about it. As expensive as the system is it should really function well. Now let me admit my ignorance of generators and ask a few questions. You said that it was an autostart. Does that mean that if your power goes out it comes on automatically? Do you keep propane tanks on your property? If so, what capacity?

Will you, Jack, have to maintain your Cadillac generator as Timm maintains his portable? (see Timm's post #19) Timm mentioned the possibility of theft of portables. Is the one that you bought large enough that even if you were in a suburban area no one could steal it?

Timm, thanks for your valuable input. It never occurred to me that the portables required so much TLC.

Squantos, (Post #13) what an optimist and/or romantic you are! What if your power was out for weeks, and during the summer when it is unbearably hot without air conditioning? The Kohler natural gas driven generator sounds like a good backup idea though. You mentioned severed gas lines. Well we experienced such a situation during our recent very damaging windstorm: a huge oak tree in my neighborhood was uprooted. Entwined among the roots were cables that none of us nosies could identify. A couple of days later, I heard a loud hissing sound coming from the tree, and called the fire department. That's when we all learned that the cables were gas lines. The utility department came quickly and plugged the leak and fortunately there was no explosion.