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Post by scbrian on Oct 8, 2016 23:19:29 GMT
Nameless has power again. Said something about food, shower, etc...
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Post by LowKey on Oct 9, 2016 13:16:03 GMT
Guys, plunk down $500 and get a dual or triple fuel generator and rig your circuit breaker box* so you can power the essentials in your home. Fridge and freezer. Lights. A wall AC unit for a bedroom if you're in the hot and humid South. Well pump if you're on well water.
Get an on demand propane or NG hot water heater and you'll have hot water even with the power out, and it will save you quite a bit of cash compared to electricly heated tank models.
*Properly, dammit. We don't need to fry any lineman. There's a switch that makes it physically impossible to be tied to the grid at the same time you're getting power from your generator. Use one.
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Post by scbrian on Oct 9, 2016 20:47:57 GMT
Yea, I've kicked it around a few times, but I cant self justify the cost/use out of it. I'm on a good underground grid, and rarely lose power. (knocks on wood). It would only get used once or twice a year...
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Post by scbrian on Oct 9, 2016 21:16:58 GMT
*Properly, dammit. We don't need to fry any lineman. There's a switch that makes it physically impossible to be tied to the grid at the same time you're getting power from your generator. Use one. ? What if I want to show Rick I'm thinking about him??  |
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Post by omegaman on Oct 9, 2016 21:35:58 GMT
Guys, plunk down $500 and get a dual or triple fuel generator and rig your circuit breaker box* so you can power the essentials in your home. Fridge and freezer. Lights. A wall AC unit for a bedroom if you're in the hot and humid South. Well pump if you're on well water. Get an on demand propane or NG hot water heater and you'll have hot water even with the power out, and it will save you quite a bit of cash compared to electricly heated tank models. *Properly, dammit. We don't need to fry any lineman. There's a switch that makes it physically impossible to be tied to the grid at the same time you're getting power from your generator. Use one. Transfer switch was top of my list, but the damn hurricane beat me to it  Of course, now that I have a genny...officials still are not letting folks back into Beaufort county. My deputy buddy said all roads in are still blocked. I have about 24 more hours to save all my food in the chest freezer! |
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Post by dannusmaximus on Oct 10, 2016 4:35:01 GMT
Yea, I've kicked it around a few times, but I cant self justify the cost/use out of it. I'm on a good underground grid, and rarely lose power. (knocks on wood). It would only get used once or twice a year... Ditto. I've got an inverter that I can hook up to my car so I can use it as a 'generator' to power individual appliances. It will run my fridge, sump pump, lamps, box fan, wood stove blower, etc. (not all at once, of course). I like the idea of a generator, but storing additional fuel would be a pain, and I frankly just don't want to dick with it.
If I lived out in the hinterlands I would likely be more serious about such a thing. One of the few advantages to living in an urban area is that you will likely be among the first to get your power back, as the utility companies try to get large blocks of people back online then work their way out to more sparsely populated areas.
We did have a really bad ice storm a few years back and were out of power for about a week, even in town. I could still cook on my gas stove, the gas water heater was still working (it had a pilot light, not an electric ignition) and my wood burner can keep the house warm even without the blower running. Still, a week without power is a pain in the ass. When the first caravan of line-workers rolled onto our block, it looked like the liberation of Paris by Allied forces, with folks lining the streets and clapping and cheering for them!
Glad everybody is doing okay, and hope things get back to normal for you all as soon as possible!
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Post by LowKey on Oct 10, 2016 12:04:17 GMT
I like the idea of a generator, but storing additional fuel would be a pain, and I frankly just don't want to dick with it. It doesn't have to be a pain. You're already storing fuel that would run this one  , the DuroMax XP4400EH Dual Fuel 4,400 Watt Hybrid Propane/Gasoline Portable Generator With Wheel Kit And Electric Start $479 plus free shipping. It's the one I used in Alaska, worked like a charm. Just stash a couple of extra propane tanks. The fuel doesn't go bad, and you can also use them to run your BBQ grill. If your house has natural gas* then it's even easier. Look up "Tri-Fuel" generators or "Tri-Fuel" adapters such as the ones HERE and simply connect it to your house's natural gas lines**. Then you have zero fuel storage issues. *Dannus ** Properly, and don't use your bic lighter to check for leaks please. Soapy water on a rag, thanks. |
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Post by NamelessStain on Oct 10, 2016 14:06:03 GMT
Yea, I'm fine. Did have a nice nick out of one of the boards I used to cover up the windows in my sun room. So there is some money saved.
Yesterday I re-positioned the car to get in the garage, then this morning the car wouldn't start but was turning over. I'm guessing there is some water in the fuel since I had the fuel door pointing into the wind. Probably some minor water which I will throw some Heet in there and hopefully get it cleared up.
Lost power for about 5 hours and the mailbox was laying in the driveway so I walked out and grabbed it. Front yard is already cleaned up and all the boards are down and stowed in the garage. I had about 2 inches of water in the back yard, but that is normal during heavy rains since it it technically a wetland behind my yard, the 6' gator told me so.
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Post by rickoshea on Oct 11, 2016 23:34:50 GMT
My guys finished their work at Clay Electric in Florida yesterday, and left for Palmetto Electric in South Carolina this morning. I believe its in the southern tip of the state.
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Post by redeyes on Oct 12, 2016 6:45:59 GMT
I like the idea of a generator, but storing additional fuel would be a pain, and I frankly just don't want to dick with it. It doesn't have to be a pain. You're already storing fuel that would run this one , the DuroMax XP4400EH Dual Fuel 4,400 Watt Hybrid Propane/Gasoline Portable Generator With Wheel Kit And Electric Start $479 plus free shipping. It's the one I used in Alaska, worked like a charm. Just stash a couple of extra propane tanks. The fuel doesn't go bad, and you can also use them to run your BBQ grill. If your house has natural gas* then it's even easier. Look up "Tri-Fuel" generators or "Tri-Fuel" adapters such as the ones HERE and simply connect it to your house's natural gas lines**. Then you have zero fuel storage issues. *Dannus ** Properly, and don't use your bic lighter to check for leaks please. Soapy water on a rag, thanks. I have a generator I sorta inherited. It is fairly new but is gas only. I keep around 50 gal of gas around. I am replacing my plastic cans with metal Valpro cans. I also have an Eagle metal can. In the South, we cut grass damn near year round. Makes it easy to cycle fuel and necessitates keeping at least a can or two of gas around. I use Sea Foam to stabilize fuel. I have used gas that was nearly two years old with no problems. A propane generator would be the business though. Plastic Walmart cans suck. They swell out in hot weather, and contract in cold. The plastic carb compliant nozzles break and spill more gas than the old school straight spouts. Sucks to have to pay $65 for decent cans. Thanks California! Glad everyone got through the storm well! |
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Post by rickoshea on Oct 18, 2016 2:49:30 GMT
Our crews came home late Friday night. Palmetto Electric had all their members back on by Saturday. From some of the pics & vids I've seen, seven days ain't too bad for a total restoration of service.
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Post by dannusmaximus on Aug 25, 2017 17:00:22 GMT
Fast forward to 2017, any of our south western US regulars in the path of the big storm that's going to hit Texas/Louisiana?
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Post by Browning35 on Aug 26, 2017 2:37:52 GMT
Fast forward to 2017, any of our south western US regulars in the path of the big storm that's going to hit Texas/Louisiana? Sort of. Our house isn't in it's path, but I got volunteered to go for the hurricane off the Texas coast as back up to the guys who went down there the day before yesterday (Harvey). |
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Post by NamelessStain on Aug 29, 2017 10:48:43 GMT
Got word from my sister, who lives NE of Houston, that the floods reached their house and started coming in about 4:45AM. She said the water rose about 4 feet in 12 hours. With 2+ more days until possible peak, they are working on getting out.
So, there may be a road trip in my future to go pick them up wherever the gov drops them off.
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Post by LowKey on Aug 29, 2017 11:30:50 GMT
Got word from my sister, who lives NE of Houston, that the floods reached their house and started coming in about 4:45AM. She said the water rose about 4 feet in 12 hours. With 2+ more days until possible peak, they are working on getting out. So, there may be a road trip in my future to go pick them up wherever the gov drops them off. Nameless, I don't know what more I can do but wish them and you luck. Do you know if they were able to secure most of their irreplaceable stuff above flood levels? |
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