Are you ready for a Power Outage?

[mark]

Originally Posted by cprowler

I talked to my electrician buddy. Motors usually draw 125% of the wattage to get them started and if a generators is rated for say 1000 watts, 80% should be usable. So I would say a 1000 watt would get you by with out any trouble, it would allow you a heater or something else possibly.

And generators are normally spec'd with their continuous rating and there's a allowed peak load (not that I would run one though at it's maximum continuous rating).

[cprowler]

I got mine at Costco last summer on sale for $300. Tank of gas lasts 8hrs, I had half the house running off it.

[Swags]

I am using this bad boy, under $600 delivered (including Fedex bogus duties):

http://cgi.ebay.ca/Super-Quiet-Power...QQcmdZViewItem

And I got a cool knife! I am very happy with it, my electrician has hooked it up to a 240 line, so when power goes out, I turn off the main breaker, plug the gen into a dryer outlet, start the gen, and everything works in the house. Of course I do not run the all mh's, baseboard heaters, stove, or the water heater (only at night for 60 mins, I hate cold showers!). And it is only 69 dBa! Still loud, but not nearly as bad as I thought it was going to be.

Cheers,
Phil

[Reefer Rob]

Since it's always windy when the power goes out how about one of these?

http://www.canadiantire.ca/browse/pr...romSearch=true

[mark]

Swags, I'm surprised a electrician would set you up like than. Be careful for yourself and be really careful that the main is off during an outage so you don't kill a Linesman that might be out there trying to restore power.

[StirCrazy]

Originally Posted by mark

Swags, I'm surprised a electrician would set you up like than. Be careful for yourself and be really careful that the main is off during an outage so you don't kill a Linesman that might be out there trying to restore power.

I am going to assume that he was told to turn off his main breaker before he plugs the gen set it.. otherwise the power coming back on could fry his new gen set, and he would be feeding the neighborhood with power, well not really but at least the lines to the pole would be energized and until it hit a transformer.

Steve

[Farrmanchu]

I've had my Reef go for 8 hours with no power, and no problems. That was the longest power outage I've ever experienced, so I'm not too worried about alternate power.

[Swags]

Originally Posted by StirCrazy

I am going to assume that he was told to turn off his main breaker before he plugs the gen set it.. otherwise the power coming back on could fry his new gen set, and he would be feeding the neighborhood with power, well not really but at least the lines to the pole would be energized and until it hit a transformer.

Steve

Thanks Steve! You are correct. I was told to turn off the main breaker to protect my gen. I did not go with the option for auto-shutoff, too expensive for flipping a switch. If the gen was auto-start, then I would have spent the extra dough, but that was a few thousand more! Have not had to use it yet (fingers crossed), but the security of having it there is priceless!
Cheers,
Phil