So many solutions to this problem. Fact is, folks would rather whine and complain than problem solve.
Get any snow?
- Thread starter Mauser
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Sorry for the s*** in Texas, but I will enjoy our good luck and have some coffee at the Daily Grind, this next Sat morning, and enjoy a spot of good weather around here.
You make a good point. People who "prepare" for natural "disasters" get classed as a "loony preppers," which the liberal media has negatively classified. Plus, those same types have convinced us that we should plan on, and expect, the government to save us. We should not be allowed to save ourselves. And if something happens to us, it's the government's fault. We are not responsible for our own well-being. It's the government's job to save us from ourselves.
I thought we were keeping politics off of here.
Pappy said the liberal media, not a specific political party.
My rant was against the media, not Democrats, or Republicans, or against the government. I hate it when governments get blamed for everything, when the problem is at the personal level.
Liberal/conservative it’s still political. You can’t say Liberal Media without it being political. What if I were to rant about the Conservative Media? Don’t get me started. Do you see my point?Pappy said the liberal media, not a specific political party.
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My bad, I don't claim either of those.
Speaking of being prepared, I've been wanting to buy a backup generator for a while now. I had asked some advice and got some good recommendations. I'm thinking at this point finding one that can run on both propane and gasoline. And I want to make sure I can keep freezers and the refrigerator running when there are extended power outages and the weather isn't helping me to keep stuff cold. I'm going to get a Tee installed in my propane line coming into the house next to the garage so I can hook that puppy up to the big tank. I know Honda generators have a good reputation but they seem to be more focused on smaller generation needs. I'm thinking about something that could be considered a job-site size so that if I need power farther away from my house when doing work on the property, I have it for that too. Anybody have any experience with any specific brands of generators that are more reliable or not too hard to get parts for and work on?
Mauser
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I have a 6kw Multiquip. It's a great generator. Honda engine. Parts are easy to find if you ever need them. They are expensive to buy though. Most rental companies use Multiquip for rentals. I have seen them run for days without a hiccup. The best way to go is with an electric start generator with an auto transfer switch Propane is the way to go if you live out here. Just because most of us have a tank, and it really doesn't go bad.
I just rebuilt the engine on mine because it needed rings. Now it runs like a top. Honda engines are awesome. Mine is probably close to 15 years old and was bought form a rental place.
alia176
SILVER Star
Marc - i replied to your FB question on this topic with a Honda 6.5kw unit that I'm using. It has been converted to run on petrol or propane by me. Conversion kits are common on the 'net. I'm doing the same thing you're suggesting, a Tee from the main tank into the house for generator. This is going into a 220 volt 50amp breaker into the service panel and I have to go to the street power pole that feeds my house and turn off the 200 amp breaker from the power company so that I don't back feed into the power lines. I don't have a transfer switch to do this automatically but given that I've never had to do this in the 14 years of living here, I'm not too worried about it. My main concern was to run the well pump in case of an extended power outage. I could also take the generator down to the well house and set it up permanently down there on a concrete pad and a tiny house but that has yet to happen. That's really where the generator needs to live, at the power pole so that my house can be fed by PNM or by a Honda
Unfortunately, the propane tank is by the house, which 300' from the power pole.I do, however, use a tiny honda 2000eu unit to power up the house and selected circuits. This feeds the kitchen fridge, lights and bedroom lights. So far, I've had to do this twice when someone ran into a pole or something and we had an extended outage. My kitchen stove is on propane so cooking is easy during a power outage.
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I guess my solution to a major outage here in the winter is to just not be here! I'll either be in Vegas or take my trailer down to Tucson somewhere. I think its too cold here in the winter anyway! I do have a small Honda 2000eu generator that does come in handy.
alia176
SILVER Star
I like your solution amigo 
I was contemplating getting an electrician buddy to help me add a plug and associated breaker to just feed it right into my main panel where I could turn off the main breaker from the electric co-op at the meter and then fire up the generator. The propane line and the main service panel are about 3' away from each other. Then I could selectively turn off circuits that aren't critical during a power outage but still have some backup power for the fridge, freezers and fireplace blowers.Marc - i replied to your FB question on this topic with a Honda 6.5kw unit that I'm using. It has been converted to run on petrol or propane by me. Conversion kits are common on the 'net. I'm doing the same thing you're suggesting, a Tee from the main tank into the house for generator. This is going into a 220 volt 50amp breaker into the service panel and I have to go to the street power pole that feeds my house and turn off the 200 amp breaker from the power company so that I don't back feed into the power lines. I don't have a transfer switch to do this automatically but given that I've never had to do this in the 14 years of living here, I'm not too worried about it. My main concern was to run the well pump in case of an extended power outage. I could also take the generator down to the well house and set it up permanently down there on a concrete pad and a tiny house but that has yet to happen. That's really where the generator needs to live, at the power pole so that my house can be fed by PNM or by a Honda
I do, however, use a tiny honda 2000eu unit to power up the house and selected circuits. This feeds the kitchen fridge, lights and bedroom lights. So far, I've had to do this twice when someone ran into a pole or something and we had an extended outage. My kitchen stove is on propane so cooking is easy during a power outage.
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alia176
SILVER Star
Yup, that's a solid plan. I do the same thing, just turn off the breakers that aren't important during a power outage. It's smart to energize both bus bars of your service panel, if possible.
Assuming you mean to apply 240V to the panel, as opposed to 120V on only one bus bar? I have a main service panel on the outside that has the meter, main breaker and all the 240V circuits/breakers. Then I have a sub panel in the garage for all the 120V circuits/breakers.
alia176
SILVER Star
if you're going through the trouble of getting a 220vac genie, then yeah, energize both bus bar. However, i mostly just use the Honda EU2000i and backfeed the house through an external outlet. This method energizes a single bus bar but it hits the important parts of my house so I left it at that. I made an extension cord with two male plugs which is TOTALLY dangerous but what fun is it if you don't have a potential life threating deal during a power outage, i say.
Me being a mechanical engineer and not fully understanding the black magic that is electricity and electronics, I had wondered about just making a custom cord with two male ends as well. Then I just plug it into whatever circuit I need to power. I did at least consider shutting off all other circuits and disconnecting the house from the grid when I did it but was struggling to comprehend just how dangerous this plan would be.
