Back On-Line after Ice Storm

CVHoss · Feb 3, 2002

Finally got power back late Friday after the ice storm we had here in Kansas. There's still some isolated areas without power. Managed to get my generator cut into my furnace line so we at least had heat, but you sure don't realize how dependent you are on electricity until you don't have it for two days. Here's a couple of photos:
<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.kansascas.com/images/ICE_STORM/DSC00517.jpg>Photo 1</A>
<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.kansascas.com/images/ICE_STORM/DSC00520.jpg>Photo 2</A>
plus there are some more on <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.kansascas.com/family_photos.htm>this page</A> of my web site if anyone wants to look. Hope all of the rest of you that were affected by this storm are back to normal, though it's probably going to take a while to get all of the branches cleaned up.

Hoss

MDNY · Feb 3, 2002

Hoss: Nice web site. It's odd how the ice is all over the place but the lawn looks green. kind of scary. You don't know what surfaces are safe out there.

As we move closer to our start date on building I have talked with our builder on generator's and cut over box for the the generator to feed the house. I guess to properly run a house you need about 10k and his suggestion was to get a generator that runs off HEP (propane) since I am building in the country. Just started me research on that. But I can say that the fear of being without power or heat for one to two days is not a fun prospect.

stevepio · Feb 3, 2002

Looks like a doozy Hoss. The same storm came thru Buffalo, NY. My power was out for over 24 hours, some are still out. Still amazes me to watch people buzz right thru an intersection where the signal is out like they have a green light. No light means 4 way stop!!! So there has been a few wrecks......

DocHeb · Feb 3, 2002

We're thinking about a backup generator also - being in the county the power goes out frequently. I think we'll get one of the automatic transfer switches so it powers up even if I'm not there. We also are lucky to have natural gas at the street, so we'll be able to use that. The NG generators are downrated since they are less efficient than propane.

AndyR · Feb 3, 2002

A 10 KW generator sounds a bit big - how big will your house be?

Buck · Feb 3, 2002

MDNY,

No this is an opportunity to use GlueGuys' philosophy of simplicity of maintenance with the wife.

"Don't worry honey, I'll get a 3PH generator when I get my new tractor, I want to save our money. Why complicate our lives?"

On another note, are you going to wire your house for a generator?

Buck

MossRoad · Feb 4, 2002

We have a 4.0Kw generator and it is no where big enough to run an entire house as normal.

It will, however;

run the well pump(shower and toilets work)
furnace fan(natural gase forced air furnace)
the refridgerator(cold beverages)
the freezer(side of beef)
and some lights

10KW should be fine as a backup in emergencies.

My in-laws used it this fall for several days after tornadoes and they used it again for 2 days after an ice storm.

They run it for about 2 hours in the morning, two hours in the afternoon, and 2 hours before they go to bed.

You might want to consider a larger engine that will run longer. Might even want to consider a diesel.

Timd · Feb 4, 2002

<font color=blue>But I can say that the fear of being without power or
heat for one to two days is not a fun prospect. </font color=blue>

We lost power for over a week in the NE ice storm of 98.
We were lucky:

- There was about 2' of snow cover on the ground
- We have a kerosene cookstove I use for shop heat
and had a full tank of kerosene
- We have an insulated house with fireplaces and had firewood

It still wasn't even close to fun. We shoveled snow into
buckets and melted those on the cookstove to have water
for flushing toilets and limited bathing.

I ran the two fireplaces 7x24 but the house slowly got colder
and colder in spite of it. After a week the house was down to
45 degrees. I 'll never forget my kids whimpering "Daddy
I'm cold...". Makes you wonder how the old-timers got by
without central heat. Quilts I guess.

When the power finally came back it took two hours to get
the house back up to 68.

I thought about buying a generator but just got a 50000 BTUh
Vermont Castings woodstove for the living room. At least
we'll never be cold like that again.

30 miles north of us and beyond some people were without
power for a month. My offroad club ran pickup loads of
firewood to those in need for awhile.

Timd

MDNY · Feb 13, 2002

Buck,

I am working on having a cutover circuit breaker so I can kill the main switch and cut over to generator power. Our builder tells me that the 5K generators wouldn't run more than the refigrerator and the furnace, maybe a light or two. But I want to be able to run some normal life in the winter. I am considering a Propane gernator since I will have HP gas at my house, no natural gas and no cable tv so satelite tv and internet it is.

JeffRey30747 · Feb 14, 2002

I have two 30K BTU propane infrareds so I don't have to worry about getting cold. To hook my little 5Kw generator into the house I went the safe, budget route. The fridge, freezer and two banks of 110 outlets are run through a subpanel with breakers. There is a 30A DPDT switch between the subpanel and main panel that allows me to select either pole service or generator input for the subpanel. I can leave a conspicuous light on that draws from the main panel (so I know when the power comes back online) and use the generator for necessities such as keeping food from spoiling.