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Mr. Luddite

On 1/20/2014 11:16 PM, wrote:
On Mon, 20 Jan 2014 19:03:48 -0500, "F.O.A.D." wrote:

Since we had our genny installed, we haven't had a power outage that
lasts more than a couple of minutes. We take credit for that!

Me too, since I bought a generator, I have not had anything worth
going out and flipping the transfer switch.
(not automatic)

I am glad I saved that $5000 ;-)

The only way I could justify a whole house generator is if there was a
permanent and direct fuel supply to it, like natural gas. Otherwise it
doesn't make sense to me.

A short term (meaning 1 or 2 day) loss of power is manageable using a
small generator like the little Honda.

The problem I'd have with a large, whole house generator is fuel. We
don't have natural gas coming up to the house so the generator would
have to be propane, gas or diesel. We have a 100 gal propane tank that
feeds a Hot Dawg garage heater but a whole house generator would drain a
full tank of propane in a couple of days. Since long term power outages
up here are due to winter snowstorms, it's unlikely we could get a
propane delivery every other day. Same with diesel.

I learned that lesson in Florida following Hurricane Wilma. I had just
purchased the little Honda and had also purchased a 12KW gasoline
powered generator and wired it into the main panel. It wouldn't power
everything, but I could selectively turn on what was needed (well pump,
water heater, certain room outlets, refrigerator, microwave, etc.)

I thought I was well prepared with about 6, five gallon gasoline
containers. Not so. That 12kw generator burned far more gas than I
expected and it was clear that my supply would only last two or three
days at best. So I used it sparingly and had the little Honda running
24/7 to power a refrigerator, couple of lights, the Direct TV box and a
TV. The Honda sips fuel, running almost 24 hours on two gallons or less.

We were powerless for just over a week following Wilma and gas, if you
could find a station with aux power, was scarce.

When we installed our pool eight years ago (up here in MA) the
electrical contractor tried to sell me a whole house generator, telling
me it could be fueled by the propane tank we use for the garage heater.
He specified a 20kw generator for our house. I doubt a full tank of
propane would last 2 days.

We ran underground conduit and wiring for one, but I held off on the
generator. In the eight years since, we've only experienced two longer
term power outages, both due to winter storms. Each lasted about 3 days
and the little Honda got us through them both.