peter lena 8,610 #1 Posted December 21, 2022 with the bomb storm coming , got in a few hours on the generator , armature nice and warm , quick start up , was just a good time to verify , just in case, saposed to get very heavy rain and ground run off, all lights, fridge , sump pump ,furnace ,lighting , water pump, microwave . ready , pete 5 2 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JCM 9,130 #2 Posted December 21, 2022 Just ran the Honda 1 hour ago, all set. 3 1 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Snoopy11 5,714 #3 Posted December 21, 2022 Thanks for reminding me Pete, I need to run mine today as well! Don 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Racinbob 11,053 #5 Posted December 21, 2022 We've had a few recent power outages so I know it's ready. With west winds we are out of the main lake effect.............if that holds true. But we won't miss the 50mph gusts and 30° to 40° below wind chills. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
squonk 41,071 #6 Posted December 21, 2022 I've lived here 35 years and the power has gone out for a total of about 5 hours. 4 hours of that is when a drunk knocked down a pole. 1 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Evguy 556 #7 Posted December 21, 2022 I started the Kohler powered genny, checked oil and fuel levels. It has saved the day on a few occasions. 1 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ri702bill 8,316 #8 Posted December 21, 2022 It's like the Fire Extinguisher hanging on the wall in the shop - better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it .... Bill 4 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Red-Bovine 309 #9 Posted December 21, 2022 We just installed a 24KW Generac whole house standby system last May. It motors all by itself every Monday morning so it should be ready if anything gets blown over. Had a 15 hour outage last year in November and the Hubby said no more of this. 4 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Evguy 556 #10 Posted December 21, 2022 11 minutes ago, ri702bill said: It's like the Fire Extinguisher hanging on the wall in the shop - better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it .... Bill True, a winter storm came through a few years ago , power went out, looking outside to see my pole on fire and burnt in two. power was out 11+ hours as they replaced everything. 3 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Snoopy11 5,714 #11 Posted December 21, 2022 Well, we are ready... got plastic on the chicken run... bringing the ducks and turkeys in the garage tomorrow night. Plenty of straw in the truck. Stocked with 15 gallons of fuel (for the generators and tractors)... got the snow plow machine ready to rock. Cranked the generator(s) up, they all run beautifully... Bring it on. I sure hope we get a good bit of snow here... looking forward to it!!! Don 1 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
WHX?? 48,815 #12 Posted December 21, 2022 2 hours ago, squonk said: 4 hours of that is when a drunk knocked down a pole. Whadda you do that for?!?! 1 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
squonk 41,071 #13 Posted December 21, 2022 4 minutes ago, WHX?? said: Whadda you do that for?!?! I was asleep when it happened. My universal power supply for my puter went into alarm and woke me up. Took me 10 minutes to figure out what the heck was beeping in the dark. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jeff-C175 7,199 #14 Posted December 22, 2022 1 hour ago, squonk said: asleep when it happened Asleep at the wheel? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sparky-(Admin) 21,315 #15 Posted December 22, 2022 Ready for whatever happens! Don’t lose it to often but when we do it’s so nice to have. Hmm…might be time for fresh oil 4 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
oldlineman 1,481 #16 Posted December 22, 2022 Remember to say a prayer and thank a lineman and linewomen when the power goes down, that work is not fun and very dangerous. I've been there, but the rewards are good for the heart when the people cheer and thank you when power is restored. Be safe, this kind of temperature is nothing to take lightly. Bob 2 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
peter lena 8,610 #17 Posted December 22, 2022 @Sparky might look up USED CALF HUTCH, LIKE A MINI QUONSET HUT , have mine now for years , makes a perfect weather cover , got it at a local farm , for cheap, pete 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sparky-(Admin) 21,315 #18 Posted December 22, 2022 30 minutes ago, peter lena said: @Sparky might look up USED CALF HUTCH, LIKE A MINI QUONSET HUT , have mine now for years , makes a perfect weather cover , got it at a local farm , for cheap, pete Do you run it while it’s in the hut?? Mine lives in my basement so it’s warm and dry with a fully charged battery. It’s only outside when it’s powering the house. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
lynnmor 7,305 #19 Posted December 22, 2022 I had an outage on Christmas day about 20 years ago, the power was off for a week. That calf hutch is a good idea because problems can develop with an engine running in certain cold conditions. During my week of generator running it almost stalled several times when a high load kicked on, that was caused by carburetor icing and I fixed the problem by covering the generator almost completely with a cardboard box. The generator did have a winter setting for the air intake that simply is rotating it so air is drawn very close to the muffler, but that wasn't enough. If you run a portable generator, do read the manual to see if there is a winter adjustment. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Racinbob 11,053 #20 Posted December 22, 2022 (edited) I'm loving this Gen-Tent. Semi specific for your particular generator to clear the intake and exhaust. It's got velcroed flaps to lift for fuel and whatever. Stays right with the generator but quickly removes if you want to. Edited December 22, 2022 by Racinbob 1 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
peter lena 8,610 #21 Posted December 22, 2022 @Sparky , mine lives outside in a shed , wheeled over and plugged in like yours outside , air in / exhaust out , see if I can get a picture , pete 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RED-Z06 2,221 #22 Posted December 23, 2022 Its supposed to hit 27⁰ here tonight and 15⁰ tomorrow night...not anticipating anything in the way of snow but when the entire Southeast starts running heaters i suspect the grid will go down so i pulled out the big girl and made sure she ran...my neighbors can run cords over to it if need be, no one is prepared at all 4 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Evguy 556 #23 Posted December 23, 2022 @red-z06 that should get it done! mine is half that and runs about everything except air conditioning. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jeff-C175 7,199 #24 Posted December 23, 2022 I've got a 5500W and a couple 3600W and a 1500W 120V only. I can run whatever I need on the 5500W ... EXCEPT my washing machine. But if the power is out that long and I need clean undies, I'll just buy some. Or turn them inside out. My washing machine goes NUTZ on the generator. Doesn't know whether to wash, rinse, or spin, or lock and unlock the door. Control just bounces all over the place! 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Snoopy11 5,714 #25 Posted December 23, 2022 Just now, Jeff-C175 said: if the power is out that long and I need clean undies, I'll just turn them inside out. Bettuh yet... go commado! Nothing like unpeeling a banana! Orsippus did find that you can run faster without a loin cloth... Don 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
