How To Prepare For a Long Power Failure

[@philliphall5198]

Getting fuel is the hardest part period, plan ahead and have everything ready to fill up extra jugs in storage before storm hits

[@natehowe7975]

Enjoyed the video - useful information and relaxing delivery. I prefer the natural gas option as long as the utility service is operational. In case it fails, having propane on hand is the next in order of preference. Though this video wasn’t focused on solar systems, there can be a role for those, too, especially if you can live without high demands like central AC, oven, and dryer. I see a battery system like Ecoflow or Bluetti, for example, providing immediate power into a transfer switch, then using a generator to refill the batteries in intervals. You might not need to run the generator full time, which would save on fuel and neighborhood noise. The battery supply would last a while and then could be topped off by the traditional generator running for an hour or so. Solar panels can also feed into the batteries, but you get so little power for so much cost, I think a traditional generator still has a role to play. Layers of options is great when planning. If you know you will have a need for heat, a Mr. Buddy system running on a grill tank could be way more efficient than losing energy running through a generator cycle to power a space heater. If you know you need cooling, perhaps fans can get you by or you can consolidate into one room with a window AC. It’s all about reducing your actual consumption needs rather than trying to match all of today’s nice-to-have home services. Drying clothes on a clothes line is another example.

[@Glocktard]

I absolutely agree with what you said here especially the first part about using a battery system first and then a generator to top it off.
That is exactly my plan. I have a Ecoflow Delta Pro and a Honda eu2200i. I’ve tested and ran them to power the house and they are both beasts! They exceed in all categories, reliably, surge pure sine wave, steady 120 volt delivery (almost no voltage dip or sage)

[@markbernier8434]

You should have mentioned how prone to self destruct Generlinks are just when you need them most, in a thunderstorm. For long term outages the best , and over time cheapest solution is a pad mounted permanent generator with an automatic transfer switch and maintenance monitoring connected to natural gas supply or a large propane tank (often shared with house heating in rural areas). I will also point out, that at least in my area, the propane trucks will turn up before the gas stations have gas so if your demand goes up during a bad outage resupply is pretty good.

[@CharlesMartel676]

Or, YOU can make your OWN video with that information! What'dya think?????

[@TheeMelloMan]

Have at it buddy

[@rhaesenya5832]

Thanks for the info!

[@TheMickeymental]

People can decide for themselves which method to choose is best to operate their generator. I have heard the gasoline vs. propane argument for years and I disagree with the propane side of the argument.
I do agree with much of what you stated.
The viewers of this video need to know the generator you are exampling is a loud, gas guzzling generator that produces a dirty sine wave which can damage sensitive electronics, such as refrigerators, freezers, computers, telephones and televisions etc. Anything with a microprocessor can be destroyed by the dirty power these types of units produce.
If you are serious about a long term power outage an inverter generator produces a pure sine wave and uses much less fuel. The most popular inverter generator is the Honda EU2200i which with less than a gallon of gasoline will operate for 3.5 to 8 hours of runtime. These generators are top of the line and their price reflects this fact.
The Champion brand has myriads of issues along with quality control problems and they are very loud. There are cheaper inverter generators for the short term outage. Stay away from the non-inverter generator unless you are running a construction crew.
Propane is safer to store and does not go stale. It does have less energy density than gasoline and natural gas has even less density than propane. Gasoline is dirtier than the liquid gases, but proper maintenance on a generator will keep it running. Engineers design internal combustion engines and factor this into the design.
A 20lb tank holds 3.89 gallons of propane. According to the generator specs of your Champion this amount will run your generator approximately 6 hours, this would require four 20lb tanks of propane per 24 hour period.
Propane tanks are $60 per tank on Amazon while propane in my area is $4.82 per gallon totaling $75 per day of generator operation. The upfront cost of propane tanks is $240, but will one days supply be enough? Many people do not have access to 500 or 1000 gallon propane tanks and must rely on tanks holding less volume.
I have been through four hurricanes and each time the propane stocks were depleted in less than twelve hours. Every person who lives in an RV or a trailer clog the queuing lines making the wait quite long.
In an emergency gasoline providers will shift supplies to a neutral area to assure an abundant supply. Gasoline stations are ubiquitous and offer many pumps to accommodate patrons while propane dealers are sparse and have one tank and one hose to fill the tanks. Octane rating lacks nexus to fuel quality; octane is the fuels ability to withstand detonation.

[@henrywit6147]

Great video. You covered all the bases well. One question though: the tri-fuel generators are not always rated to generate clean power, which can harm electronics. How have you protected your electronics in the home?

[@Pk3_Garage]

I converted our Predator 9000/7250 gasoline only generator to a Tri-fuel generator. We use NG as our primary fuel source. There is an idle screw, that can be adjusted, to help keep the frequency as close to 60Hz. I used a wattage usage meter to make this adjustment. At 20% load, the frequency is 61 to 62 Hz. At 80% load, the frequency is 59 to 60 Hz. No issues with any of our sensative electronics with over 90 hrs. run time.

[@sh839c]

Good video. How can I adapt to my larger home tank?. Do you have any links to the adapters?. Thanks

[@markbernier8434]

For a small generator as shown, get a gas fitter to install a line for a BBQ on the outside of your home. Then just plug in a generator as you would a BBQ. I emphasize small here. This sort of arrangement has limited output.

[@ZaminBacchus]

Great video! For the tri-fuel generators, where can you get the natural gas?

[@solarandwindinsouthtexasda1473]

Don’t call me that because I live in Texas and I 2- 2021. We have dinot have natural gas

[@carnaud]

Get off grid solar…that’s how

[@Glocktard]

Great job here.