Bought one some years ago and it has paid for itself twice. Fifty four hours one time and just under forty eight the next. Both times it was during cold weather.
Power outage...😫
- Thread starter BULL'S-EYE
- Start date
We have a whole house generator also. Well worth the investment.
I have an older generac, it's only 12kw vs the new 24kw ones, and a 250 gal propane tank.
WOrks good for me so far though. I just have to start it manually since I don't use the transfer switch.
WOrks good for me so far though. I just have to start it manually since I don't use the transfer switch.
In 2000, We were out 9 days. Had 4 houses Chickens that were supposed to go out the night ice storm hit. I had small 4100 Ford tractor and Neighbor had 25kw PTO Generator. We fed our 4 houses twice a day and His 4 pullet houses 1 time per day. Then rode tractor 3 mi to Rural Water pump station and would pump water 10-12 hrs per night. I was glad to see thise birds leave and glad to get power back on. We barely dodged bullet this time. Several poultry house's, Barns, carports collapsed around here this time
Collapsed buildings are bad news.
20 years ago, I remember that we used to have outages with just about any brisk storm at home. Now, I think we had one power outage in the past 2, maybe 3 years now.
I was on my boat last year, and there was a huge storm that knocked over a bunch of trees. I was pretty much the only one in the marina at the time. I just fired up my generator, kicked my AC back on and grilled up a nice steak. Perfect night!
You don't need a huge whole house generator - just a whole house hook-up. I got stuck in a Nor-easter in 2010 that was as strong as any hurricane. Lost power 5or 6 days. At that time all I had was a $100 1kw Chicago Tool generator. (Harbor Freight) that I usually used for outdoor tools. I already had a hook up for a future generator. That little 1000 water ran my gas/hot water furnace (electric pilot only) fridge and chest freezer (intermittent just to maintain temp) some lamps with LED bulbs, TV (antennae- cable was out), and some fans. I hand lit my gas stove. All of that using ONE GALLON of gas every 8 hours or so. Not knocking a permanent general, but knock folks who go out and get 8kW that they don't need and blow 8 times the fuel for no reason.
Either way, if one can afford to buy a house, there is NO reason they should not have some kind of back-up power. The grid was originally designed and built for 1/3 today's population, and 1/5th the usage. The only time they up grade is when doing repairs. When I was growing up the news never told us to worry about blackouts. Now they do it with almost any storm. If you have an apartment you can still get a 1500w window system instead of a generator.
FIgure out what you can afford, but get SOME back- up
Either way, if one can afford to buy a house, there is NO reason they should not have some kind of back-up power. The grid was originally designed and built for 1/3 today's population, and 1/5th the usage. The only time they up grade is when doing repairs. When I was growing up the news never told us to worry about blackouts. Now they do it with almost any storm. If you have an apartment you can still get a 1500w window system instead of a generator.
FIgure out what you can afford, but get SOME back- up
