How do you prep for future power outages?

[5030]

How about the term 'Whole Farm then.... I just make sure the bulk diesel tank is pretty full, the fluid levels are within specs on the Turbocharged JD engine and call it good.

Mine is ore 4, just like my tractors, so it smokes when loaded too....

 

[5030]

Only someone financially flush would have a resistance heated dwelling. terribly inefficient way to heat. expensive too.

 

[grsthegreat]

I really wish people would stop using that TERM, WHOLE HOUSE. It's kind of meaningless for a number of reasons.

One it can mean, that you have a transfer switch for your whole service and a generator that will handle every load in your house and possibly property at the SAME TIME! That would be expensive and possibly cause more problems than it solves. And, do you need to dry clothes and have the hot tub heating during a power outage?

Then it could mean that you have a transfer switch that switches the main service but with a lesser generator, and automatic or manual load managment. That is my preffered choice. In fact, I have a 200 amp automatic ASCO switch, in an electrically heated house, with five buildings and typically use a 7.5 KW generator. In the summer, that's still too big. But every light in every building works, and for me that important. I switch to wood stove in the winter during an outage.

My whole house handles my entire house and barn at one time. That’s why I call it a whole house. House is gas mostly.

 

[robertm]

Jeesh. Picking pepper out of fly dung. The term whole house generator has been and always will define a generator that replaces power to the same capacity of the panel it services. If you have a 200 amp service in your house like I do, and the generator provides the power necessary to power every circuit in that load center, it’s whole house. If you have a genset that only supplies partial loads, it’s not whole house. My house service panel served by a 22Kw generator also feeds my 100 amp panel in my barn. Do I call it a whole house/barn generator? No. Frankly, I could have saved a whopping $400 going to a smaller generator, but why? If the power is out for days or a week, I’ll enjoy all amenities I’m used to for minimal cost. The natural gas used for the extra 6Kw means nothing, I don’t have a hot tub, but why let the water cool down after a five day power outage just to reheat it. I’d grab a beer and hop in while ComEd figures out what priority our neighborhood is in the list of outages.

 

[grsthegreat]

I just serviced a well generator. 11kw air cooled GENERAC. Run hours 75 hours during last power outage. While I was there the propane co showed up to top off tank. After 2.5 days runtime, only took 20 gallons. Yeiks.

I couldn’t believe it, but that 20g took it back to 80%. I guess it mush have run a lot at 25% power?. I was sure it would have use more fuel. This well supplied 30 or so homes.

 

[Diggin It]

With the transfer switch cut in between the meter and the main panel inside the house, I would certainly call mine a 'whole house' system. 16Kw should power everything in the house, just as normal, but I may choose not to do laundry and turn the forced air furnace thermostat down a bit on power out days.

 

[Industrial Toys]

Aside from high demand loads, which there are actually few, many people have no idea how little power they need even for a large house or spread.

In an outage, LIGHT is certainly the number one in terms or importance and mental well-being. And that, requires almost nothing. Maybe the next is water, flowing and HOT, and there it gets a bit tricky. Mostly on account of expectations. But water is also very intermittant. Maybe next is power to run heating equuipment if it's not making electric BTUs.

The utility "Ontario Hydro" has often come in here during an outage to see what's going on. Like a Ball Game in progress. Big spread, lots of buildings and outdoor lighting spread over a large area. And mostly running on 7.5 KW gensets. Often running at less than half load. I could get by on my air cooled 3.7KW Yanmar Diesel, but I don't favour this high speed noisy air cooled diesel. It does make good power though. I just consder it my portable or back up for my back up for my back for my back up for my backup.

 

[Hay Dude]

I did a Generac 22KW which at the time was their largest air cooled. Natural gas. It will run my 400 amp system with 2 smart switches....house has everything covered, both AC, too. One barn has everything covered. Has worked like a champ. Despite plent of electrical power failures, never experienced a loss of gas from Excelon.

 

[SylvainG]

I have a loud Coleman 5,5kw generator bought in 2003. I've used it four times for more than a day each, and only twice, was it during winter and it lasted less than 48 hours. Less than that, not worth hooking it up. Even in Winter, it takes time before the house looses enough heat for it to become a problem. Fridge and freezer can take 24 hour power loss before it needs to be plugged in. Cottage is built on sand so no need for a sump pump so that's not an issue for me. My basement drain is actually just a hole in the sand. Never had water flow back through it.

I keep a 5 gal premium gas (no ethanol) container that I pour in the SUV if we haven't used it after 3 months (which is almost always the case). For short one to two hours outage, UPS on the Internet and battery on the alarm panel do the job.

 

[Industrial Toys]

Sorry. Maybe I'm just really bad at expressing myself. Whole house, whole farm, that's not the point. Is Every last thing being used or almost nothing? BIG DIFFERENCE in genset requirment. Just for instance, if you absolutely NEED a good sized compressor, electric pressure washer or welder welder during an outage, that really changes things.

I would say, MOST people with larger "Whole House" gensets would be shocked if they looked at a KW meter to see how little their rig is actually generating.

 

[robertm]

Sorry. Maybe I'm just really bad at expressing myself. Whole house, whole farm, that's not the point. Is Every last thing being used or almost nothing? BIG DIFFERENCE in genset requirment. Just for instance, if you absolutely NEED a good sized compressor, electric pressure washer or welder welder during an outage, that really changes things.

I would say, MOST people with larger "Whole House" gensets would be shocked if they looked at a KW meter to see how little their rig is actually generating.

You are right on that. My dad put a 20Kw unit in about ten years ago. According to him, he put a caliper on the incoming line after shutting down for a day. Even with two big heat pump units, several fridges and freezers, he was only drawing a few kilowatts. I agree the perception of load is exponentially higher than the actual load. I figure it’s better to have more than not enough. The costs for gensets aren’t tremendously different, and they all take similar electrical and gas connections.

 

[Hay Dude]

You are right on that. My dad put a 20Kw unit in about ten years ago. According to him, he put a caliper on the incoming line after shutting down for a day. Even with two big heat pump units, several fridges and freezers, he was only drawing a few kilowatts. I agree the perception of load is exponentially higher than the actual load. I figure it’s better to have more than not enough. The costs for gensets aren’t tremendously different, and they all take similar electrical and gas connections.

Not always. My underground gas line, installed about 18 years ago can support a 22KW.
I built an attached 3 car garage, covered porch and mud room for my neighbor. His gas line was installed 40 years ago. It would not support a 22KW he had hope we would install. His generator was less than 1/2 the size.

 

[Industrial Toys]

I guess if you have lots of money or aren't "cheap" then bigger is better. But if you can have a little diesel keeping you out of the dark, warm showers and hot food, fridges/freezers kept cold AND there isn't any appreciable fuel cost adding up day after day in extended outages, well that's my cup of tea.

 

[robertm]

And, let’s not forget the frequency of outages. Frankly, if mine went out 1 or 2 times a year, I’d have a portable.

 

[grsthegreat]

You are right on that. My dad put a 20Kw unit in about ten years ago. According to him, he put a caliper on the incoming line after shutting down for a day. Even with two big heat pump units, several fridges and freezers, he was only drawing a few kilowatts. I agree the perception of load is exponentially higher than the actual load. I figure it’s better to have more than not enough. The costs for gensets aren’t tremendously different, and they all take similar electrical and gas connections.

absolutely agree. Problem is starting loads. A well can run on 20 amps, but may draw 60a for a second while starting. I size generators to starting loads, not connected loads. Than you may have a well and water heater and ac start at same time. That’s where load shedding delays come in.

 

[SylvainG]

@grsthegreat, isn't that why generators have two numbers? One for short, transient demand and another for running power? Mine has a 6875W maximum and 5500W running power.

 

[grsthegreat]

@grsthegreat, isn't that why generators have two numbers? One for short, transient demand and another for running power? Mine has a 6875W maximum and 5500W running power.

Yes, but when dealing with automatic start and transfer units, I have to show the inspector paperwork verifying the unit can handle multiple loads starting at same time WITHOUT shutting down generator. on my own unit last summer, I had just happened to have fuel guage and monitoring equipment hooked onto my 22kw unit. I was able to see real time numbers. The ac starting previously would bump my unit to 20KW momentarily..... without anything else working. Meaning if i had other big units hooked up and running there could have been an issue. Since than I added a soft start to the ac which dropped startup to about 9kw surge. I did notice that my generator ran for 13 hours, averaged only 5.2 kw and used 19 gal of propane. I only let it run cause my wife had her large quilting group occupying the basement. Happy wife happy life

 

[MoKelly]

The house we bought has a 22Kw Generac standby generator. It runs on natural gas. It has a smart switch.

We have lived here a little over a year and have had no power outages.

MoKelly

 

[hosspuller]

original question: I have two portable gasoline gensets. One purchased 25 years ago. 4KW with 220 to run the well pump and anything else. Then 5 years ago bought a 3kw Honda inverter for camping.
Now, When the power goes out, I run the Honda for TV, internet, lights, refrigerator & freezer. Run it all night for Cpap machine. If power is out for extended time (more than a day), then the 4Kw is brought out for water. Hot showers through a propane water heater. If the outage is during the Summer, we retreat to the RV and its a/c unit. Don't have capacity for the house heat pump.

I keep 20 gallons of gasoline for various small engines. But there's 30 gallons in the truck's tank if needed.

 

[two_bit_score]

The house we bought has a 22Kw Generac standby generator. It runs on natural gas. It has a smart switch.

We have lived here a little over a year and have had no power outages.

MoKelly

Being prepared always wards off adversity.