Seven hours on generator power

[aviator]

At least it was not a duper hot day, heard an explosion and power went out. Took a drive around about quarter mile a thick transmission cable on the ground, five utility company trucks and cops blocking the road. About a thousand people affected and I have a lot of food in the two fridges l, good old Honda started right of way and everything runs except my sir conditioner. We do have ceiling fans all over so we get by. They expect to get it fixed by 2300.

[4thIDvet]

Yup Fred HONDA. Takes a beatin and keeps on ticken.. I did not start mine for about 6 months. My bad just did not get around to it. Went out turned the gas on set the choke turned the key? Bingo cranked right the frig up first turn of the damn key. Now tomorrow the same with the other two and the pressure washer. 2 Hondas one not I will see.

[flopshot]

my rule with air cooled small engines is that eight hours run time calls for an oil change but I am obsessive.

[aviator]

my rule with air cooled small engines is that eight hours run time calls for an oil change but I am obsessive.

I just did. Those small engines you need to.. And a whole comedy of errors endured. Tires didn't have enough air and the air hose was not long enough, so I dragged my compressor to the side of the house and get them filled up, then the oil pan I normally use, well, I guess someone (wife) thought it was garbage so it went away, , OK, I found a large plastic container I could fit under, ran the engine and closed the fuel line, let it starve and pump the fuel that was left in the tank back into a red container, drain the oil (which still looked good) and tried to tilt the generator, crack! goes the plastic container, I get oil all over my shoes, the grass, a total mess., By this time I'm pissed I'm short of breath, my chest incision hurts, I figure, sit down have a cold beer, placed the beer on the slab and accidentally kicked it, there went the beer all over the oil...fuck! OK, put it all together, fill it up with oil and get ready to roll it back into the garage...not moving, one tire was flat again. Gathered whatever strength I had left on this 90º morning and pulled hard until I got it inside, then collapsed on a wheelchair I have there left over from my son bad days. I just found a solid tire replacement, I'm ordering them, I'm tired of having to fill them up every year. We did get power back around 2200 last night.

[Solid Snake]

What size generator are you running?

[aviator]

What size generator are you running?

8 Kw fed to a 60 amp dual breaker, main comes off, gen breaker goes on, it runs everything except the big items like water heater, pool equipment, stove and AC. A connector is outside right under the main breaker box. #8 cable feeding it. If it wasn't because of the gas hookup I'd get a whole house Generac 24Kw but I'd have to switch the line to the right of the house and my rear neighbor has a large shed he built right over the easement line and he's an old retired firefighter I don't want to hurt him and I don't have room for an underground tank.

[44044]

Ain’t electric nice to have…

[4thIDvet]

Generlink .png Here yah go Fred 'Generlink'.

The GenerLink Switch:

• Is installed behind the electric meter with no wiring required of your electric system.
• Detects when the generator is operating and automatically disconnects from our distribution system, eliminating a dangerous back-feed.
• Can operate any appliance, up to the capacity of the generator, by use of the home breaker panel.

GenerLink | Clay Electric Cooperative, Inc. Keystone Heights, Florida

Pull your meter install the Generlink their is only one wire reinstall your meter and yer done. Now you can connect direct to your panel box and the device is made so NO backfeed goes in reverse to the street lines.


"You can buy a GenerLink transfer switch directly online or through select major retailers, with prices starting around $999. Top purchasing options include the GenerLink Official Store and The Home Depot."

[rto]

Dang Fred, looks like you're ready for a condo. J/K!

[rto]

Tim, thanks for that info. I'll probably get ClayEC to hook me up.

[Solid Snake]

I have a portable Generac 3600w and a Honda eU2000. Plenty of power to keep the fridges and freezer running (don't have to constantly power them, couple hours on couple hours off). And I have a Jackery 600w to keep my laptop charged and wifi running. I run the two generators for about 20 minutes every three months. I would have gone bigger than the Generac 3600, but I am limited on the space I have to store it. Everyone should have a generator of some kind.