Finally! Someone finally explained how to choose the proper generator size. I have been researching for weeks! I ordered mine (literally) just yesterday (tax-free week for FL hurricane season) I chose 11,000/8,300 (duel fuel) generator because I couldn't figure it out and err'd on the side of too much. Too late for choosing the right size, but at least I know how to determine what can be plugged into it. Now I just need to figure out how to keep someone from stealing it when it's in use. Thanks so much!
No matter what you say sir, YOU ARE A PREPPER. Preppers aren't those that just prepare for government collapse. We preppers here in South Florida mostly prepare for Hurricanes and the aftermath. GREAT VIDEO!!! THANK YOU!!!
Nelson Reyes came here to say the same thing. Prepper doesn’t have to be a negative connotation. Let’s call it “casual prepper” if that feels better, lol. That said, if you can lock yourself inside for 6 months, you’re a prepper.
I'm in the Savannah GA area and spent 14 days after David in 1979. An old tip from my mother many years ago, fill your bathtub full of water. The water can be used from drinking to flushing a toilet for days.
Seems like you have things pretty well figured out. The one thing I would change is get rid of the extension cords. I played that game for a long time use the 240 volt plug and tie it into your main breaker box. It is so much better
Doc. You're the Jack of all trades I've been watching you doing lawns. How ironic I bought a generator to power my house for a storm and I ran into you on this channel.👏👏👌👌
Thanks for sharing! Some great tips and ideas for getting ready to weather the storm. Whether it’s brought on by the weather or something else. Tips that stuck out for me were: 1. Get ready when you have time to not when you don’t. 2. Your garage pantry ( utility cabinet ). Don’t use open shelves. The critters will find your supplies before you need them! 3. Plenty of fuel. Maybe find a way to store outdoors (shed or utility bin). 4. Mag lights. Keep on your person. Never know when you’ll need it.
I would suggest filling the gas cans every 2 weeks until you get all 7 full. Once all are full, every two weeks, dump one an in your vehicle and fill it up at the gas station. Fresh gas at all times, and no need to wast 14 gallons once a year.
Thank you for the tips. This is coming in handy since we have Hurricane Florence heading our way in SC. Bought a CAT rp5500 generator and never used one before. Only using it to power my refrigerator and freezer. Purchased 100% gasoline instead of ethanol mix. Called CAT and they advised its ok to use 10% ethanol or less gas. But since I run my lawn mower with 100%, figured this should be the same concept. Lowes did not advise me that I may need a Generator Cord, so this tip was extremely helpful. Also the running of the line in window helped. Being on my own taking care of my mother with cancer is making this prep a challenge. Long as she is comfortable and her meds are cold in the fridge, I can manage. Thanks again.
Crit Robbins make sure your power provider knows about the medical issues, they can help prioritize restoration in your home. Also make sure to keep a calibrated thermometer in the fridge to know the temp and keep the medication viable
I live in CA - earthquake country. I too am NOT a prepper but I am prepared. Its not a matter of if, but when. The quake will come. At my house I have a 7,000 watt Generator with 60 gallons gas. 10 twenty pound propane. 100 gallons water. 2 weeks of food and sanitation supplies. Clothing. Tents. All the prep, cooking and dishing supplies we ever used when camping. Lots of LED flashlights with extra batteries galore, White gas cooktop and lanterns with lots of fuel, charcoal BBQ as back up. A small 7 inch TV with a portable (high up) antenna to get the SF signals. Can only get several SJ stations with the built in antenna. AM FM radios, various walkie-talkies, CB radios, etc. All in sheds away from my 2 story house, so that nothing gets damaged if the house falls. The propane does not need to be rotated out - it should last "forever". The gasoline is rotated out 10 gallons every 2 months, thus all 60 gallons are within a year of being "fresh". I also use some fuel stabilizer, as recommended by Champion. I run the gen every month for 20 minutes or so, with various power loads ( 1kW to 6 kW) as recommended. When its time to shut it down, I turn off the gas supply and let the carb run dry, also as recommended by Champion. They have been fantastic with the various Qs I had when I first bought it. Water is stored in those 2.5 gallon jugs, which my wife also uses at school - so every time she needs one, I take it from the supply and replenish that. We also have lots of those 8 ounce containers of water from Costco - and I make sure that the emergency supply is never more than 18 months old. Food is mostly cans of meat, veggies, fruit, peanut butter, etc - and I have taken Rice-a-roni and Pasta-roni products and put them into the food saver vacuum type bags to seal them and protect them from weavels and such. I rotate those out at their expiration, using them in the house. I check the food supplies twice a year - June and December. My wife and I also know that at earthquake time, we fill both bath tubs full of water, we have three 32 gallon plastic garbage cans (ONLY for water use) that will need to be filled before any loss of water pressure. We have chlorine to purify the water. We chose not to have a tankless heater, opting to stay with a 75 gallon tank, which as long as it does not topple over, it is another 75 gallons of fresh water.
Doc, install an interlock plate and a 30a feed plug and quit using all those extension cords. It would take you about an hour total to do. 4 wires from your main breaker panel to the plug and that's it. Then you can just plug the generator directly into your house and run everything from there. Just turn off the breakers you don't want to power and your good to go. It takes me about 5 mins to hook up my generator and there's no mess to deal with running cords and towels in the windows etc.
Thinking about this further... You've probably not gone the extra mile to do this because you're on city water. Out here in the boonies we have to power our wells or we have no toilets, showers, drinking water etc.
Jon Starnes I did the same thing but I used a transfer switch. My panel didn’t have any room left. But I agree with you. Ditch those extension cords. Also consider converting to nat gas. I added a $150 converter to my generator now it can run on nat gas from my house.
That's fine until you have to deal with floods or actual structure damage. (been through both) Then the ability to MOVE it becomes critical. It's a good option for some... but when in coastal areas or flood prone areas, don't hard wire in. You may be running on the top deck of your home.
How To with Doc you still have all the portability. Having an interlock/transfer switch and a nat gas conversion doesn’t get rid of my generators ability to run on gasoline. If I have to run it somewhere else.
Great video man, you may want to look into installing a generator outlet going into your panel... that way you can you can use that 240 outlet on your generator to plug to power your panel. It will eliminate all those extension cord.... thanks for all the ideas
Thanks Doc for pointing out some of the problems you will run into run into (learned the hard way) during a several day power outage. I have lived in Florida for 46 years so, also quite familiar with these problems. I wanted to add a few tips to complement your information. (1) After you total up your expected power requirements, you should buy a generator that is at least 30% larger than your wattage draw to prevent overheating the generator if you live in a hot climate and plan to run the generator 24/7. (2) If you can afford it, purchase an Inverter Generator. They run the engine slower if the load is light which, reduces noise, engine wear, and fuel consumption. (3) If you run your generator 24/7, you will need to change the oil every 2 days. (4) Portable generators all use lawn mower engines and generally run at 3,600 rpm to maintain the 60 Hertz line frequency. The engine lifetime with this operation is only around 1,000 to 2,500 hours. (5) Backup power is notoriously unreliable, it's always good to have a backup generator and other backups, like rechargeable battery power. I use a 7,000 watt generator when I want to run some air conditioners (small window units, which are worth their weight in gold during several day power outages) and fall back to a 1,600 watt generator when power requirements are less. At night, I run the refrigerator and a few lights off of 3 parallel marine batteries and a power inverter. This way I can keep my gas consumption down to around 5 gallons per day. (6) As you mentioned, you will need a husky extension cord to get the power into the house. That cord should have 12 gauge wire and is typically 50 feet in length. (7) When putting the generator away for long term storage, additionally drain the fuel tank, otherwise it will gel up and absorb water, which rusts out metal fuel tanks. I use Ethanol Free fuel (it's a little easier on the fuel system) with the Sta-Bil and Marvel Mystery Oil (and I have learned this the hard way over many years of fuel problems). Ideally, the last fuel you run in the generator before storage is that Engineered Fuel the hardware stores sell. It's very expensive but, should totally eliminate long term fuel deterioration problems.
Great video on being prepared for a grid down situation. You reminded me of a few things I still need to work on. You should install an outlet for your generator....its worth it....no more cords to trip on.
I keep mine in my shed. Windows slightly open during outages. Also ran underground wire from shed to home foundation then up into a dedicated wall outlet then plug in a four gang box and run cords from there. Like you I’m not a prepper but I was a Boy Scout and we all know their motto. Be prepared. We were out 8 days from a freak October snow storm. Neighbors houses were 43 degrees ours was 70. Only house in the neighborhood with lights and heat.
We store a dual fuel lantern and single burner stove for camping and emergencies. Smart choice! White gas can sit for decades. Bought a 60-year-old Coleman lantern still full of fuel. Fired right up.
I don't run stable or seafoam I use Dollar Tree gas treatment 12 oz for $1 and it's worked for me for many of years. Also start your generator up periodically or any small engine or car for that matter periodically. I have had fuel over 20 years old and burn after I put some Dollar Tree gas treatment in it and let it sit for a day I come back and it starts right up. Converting your gasoline generator to propane and gasoline dual fuel is the best thing. Later down the road if you cannot get a carburetor for a generator like me because it's too old you can run propane and it doesn't matter if the carburetor is shot. As long as your motor on your generator has fire off spark plug you can run propane. And Propane is one of the cleanest fuels out there. And no black smoke will ever come out the pipe with the choke on or off on propane. But running propane keep the choke off always . I ran one of my generators without even a carburetor on it off of propane down the intake. Your gas fuels like propane, natural gas, hydrogen and gasification is the cleanest fuels. The motors last longer and they do not come out of tune nor do they need the maintenance as much as a gasoline engine which is a liquid fuel. Here's an emergency way you can run propane if you have the little propane torch set which is MAPP gas and oxygen with the rubber 5 foot cord or I believe it's MAPP gas and propane one pound cylinders each. You just plug off the oxygen fitting and use the torch in the throat of the carburetor of your generator. The torch has a spark arrestor so Fire won't go back in the line and in the tank and explode. Cut the fuel valve off for the gasoline going into the generator. And keep the choke off and put the torch in the intake tract or passed the air cleaner having the air cleaner off and air cleaner cover. And run enough propane with the generator wide-open the motor is not stumbling. He won't the motor to smooth out when the motor is kicked in wide open. Even propane conversion companies say you won't your propane on the lean side not too rich.. One disadvantage about this if the motor would happen to cut off propane will still be on and running. But if it's outside with a something over it you'll be fine. I burned up a generator once I was lucky it was under warranty and they traded out for a better model. Do not get the head of the generator wet the motor gasoline powered motor it doesn't matter as much they can take some water. But the generator head can not it will stop working like mine did no power but the motor will still be running. In the pouring down rain is when mine burned up. I had a generator in a service truck and it started raining and I was in the service truck the lights went out I looked outside it was pouring rain and the head of the generator sucked the water up in it. but the motor was still running fine just no power. Also another thought you can make your own cord from the 30 or 50 amp plug off your generator make a cord and run a wire to your stove or your dryer cord. First before plugging anything in cut the Main fuse to your fuse box off. And cut off the fuses that you will not be using. And now you have power and everything has a fuse running through it even the dryer or the stove cord you're running back through. Once you're done shut the generator off unhook your cord going to the dryer or the stove and unhook it at your generator and assuming the power company is back on you. turn your main breaker back on and you're done. The only thing about this when you do it yourself you don't know when your power comes back on unless you have a street light that's out and it comes back on later or see your neighbor's home light up. Also if you convert to propane remember on the hundred pound propane tank they just have internal threads. the little propane bottles have internal or external threads. Converting to internal threads will run all propane bottles if you don't already have internal threads on your hookup..
Outstanding video! So first I want to thank you. I have been wanting to do this for years, and now YOU gave me the know how to get it done. I have watched many videos on how to do things, several have worked but many have FAILED! Like you, I'm not a "dooms day prepper" I just like to be prepared for natural disasters. They are becoming more unpredictable. Again thank you and keep up the good work.
Used 13000 watt Duromax. We have a 3300 sq ft home with two 4 ton heatpump/AC units with airhandlers, and well pump, and were able to run ONE of the AC's unit along with the well pump, refrigerator and a freezer with no problem. The AC units were made in 2015 so not really new. We ran all of this on just propane so it would be even better if we ran gas. Used 50 circuit to 50 amp inlet box on side of house
Great video Doc, we have many power outages on Russell Island Queensland Australia. Asked the local sparky to hard wire my generator into the house power box (not expensive) so all that is needed to be done during an outage, is plug my generator into the house power box. No need for long extension leads or double adaptors, just use the normal house power points. The generator can still be a stand alone power source.
Thank you Doc for the tips! Very useful with your insights on the generator. I just purchase my first generator and I am learning how to use it. The tips were excellent and I will use your suggestions. Thanks again!
Excellent presentation! Caused me to qualify appliances that are "must run" (with initial surge wattage) and then appliances that are elective and may be used when "must run" are temporarily turned off. I like the incremental turn on of appliances to get past the initial surge demand. Converted my generator to tri-fuel using natural gas as a primary unlimited source of fuel, followed by large tank propane, and then gasoline for storage safety.
super, super tips, I prepare myself now buying everithing 2 months before winter and soon 100% prepare. I our responsability to preserve life and our things.
Hey doc, thank you for the info. I just went though hurricane sally. We had multiple tornadoes here in daphne alabama. They're saying 30 days with no power. I dont have a generator. So i needed the info. I guess ill save my money and buy one if i can
Big tip! Get at least one window ac unit. 150 bucks. I have two. I put them in two bedrooms. You'll have a cool place to sleep at night..and if you leave the windows in the house shut...the two units will keep the house comfortable during the day. I run two fridges, two ac units and all the lights I need, off a Honda 3500 watt generator. Also...Make sure you have a few quarts of oil for your generator. Also...fit your entire house with LED bulbs...They use a lot less power. Also...Get a killawatt device to check your generators voltage and hertz. Check that and adjust way before the storm.
Have same generator, purchased a year ago. Info on shutting off fuel line helpful. option of having that 240 30 amp line is a plus for future installation. Not always necessary if your area only has short term outages. We all tend to wait until last minute to prep which is a fault. I'm guilty of having done that in past. Video was very helpful and explanation on loads and surges are things we don't always consider. Don't forget to use heavy duty cords to run power from generator to house.
John Russo "Don't forget to use heavy duty cords to run power from generator to house." I'm no expert, but may I add to your great suggestion of using 10 AWG(the best, the heaviest duty cord) , 12AWG(the 2nd best for use) and 14AWG(the 3rd best for use)? It is better not to use extension cords smaller in gauge than 14AWG, like the extension cords found for small appliances, Christmas tree light etc.
Xlnt analysis. Living in a very remote area three miles from a town of six hundred people .. living on forty acres with my nearest neighbor about a mile away .. our well is 540 feet deep .. our power lines serving the farm were installed in the 1930's on a 40% grade slope so steep that they used mules to pull them into place nearly 100 years ago. So, with these slightly tenuous services .. that could temporarily fail in any storm or basically any time ..my plan is "leaning" off-grid. In other words .. preparing for temporary times when I will be involuntarily off grid such as when the pump needs to be pulled or when a couple of those old power poles drop and need replacing. My little pure sine wave whisper quiet inverter generators GP2200i and Ryobi 2300 bluetooth which will power the fridge that runs at 99 watts and has 700 watt surge .. led lights, any electronics and fan .. are ready. They can barely be heard running at fifty feet. Fifteen to twenty gallons of ethanol free stabilized fuel is available and will power things carefully, frugally .. if I take care.. for about a week .. my two 55 gal poly blue water barrels are full and my five pallets of bottled drinking water, ready to eat food .. stacked with two year shelf life. My 10 gauge 100 ft, yes Yellow Jacket cord almost as thick as a garden hose .. power cord and splitters and 14 gauge feeder lines are ready .. my little 600 watt microwave and 900 watt induction hotplate that can fry two perfect eggs in just over one minute and soups in two or three minutes .. ready .. I have camp lanterns that will run for almost 30 days on several D cell batteries. A month on four D cells .. giving off plenty of light .. it's amazing. A critical item I've recently found during an extended outage is my headlamp that will run 39 hours on two AAA cells. Leaves hands free for cooking, working or just plain tending to generator. I recently bought two more headlamps that use regular AAA batteries .. just in case. As a refuge of last resort when central air is down during a heatwave, I have a little Chigo portable 6000btu AC floor unit stored away in closet .. that will cool and de-humidify one room venting through window .. it'll keep one bedroom comfortable .. about 150 sq ft and easily run off either Generac or Ryobi inverters with a starting surge of just over 1000 watts. .. and last but not least .. my two 42,000mah power banks which I can recharge on generator or with 100 watt fold-out solar and rotate in and out of service are ready .. giving me a few hours to run items on pure sine wave when the power first fails and it's raining and windy and cold and I need to decide if I should set up generator for long term use .. the main purpose of these power banks is to run router and modem so I can check current out map online and determine what kind of power interruption this will be ... estimated restoration time ... they will also run a regular table lamp with LED light .. my little 26 watt TV/DVD player and a small if needed .. for several hours .. if it's going to be a long outage as determined by checking the outage map on utility website .. I'll start setting up generator and related apparatus for that scenario. If it's estimated under four hours .. I'll just monitor fridge temp with my wireless thermometer .. it sets off alarm at 40 degrees so I re-start cooling cycle .. keeping things safe .. and just sit back and use the Power Banks enjoying the temporary peace and quiet of having no power for a few hours .. watching a movie or surfing the web once again, superb video .. hava grt day .. Cheers ~b
Great preparations. Just keep in mind that if the commercial power lines come down, your internet likely will too. Three additional items to think about are a NOAA weather reciever, vhf ham radio, and household am fm radio. Yes the ham radio requires a license, but its an easy test and it will open up another world of information both incoming and outgoing and will give you a lifeline for emegencies. Dont count on a mobile phone working for very long either. Most but not all cell towers have battery backup for probably less than a day and will be swamped with calls during an emergency situation. Only some towers have generators also with a finite fuel supply.
He also forgot that is the total wattage of the generator. If he only uses the four 110/120 outlets, then it will be not 6500 watts. It will be considerably less. Also you should only use 80% of your running wattage to account for start-up demand and fudge factor. In his/your storage cabinets it is best to have spare oil on-hand and a receptacle for used oil. Splash lubed generators should have their oil changed every 50 hours source: Briggs & Stratton owner's manual. They also can burn up to 1oz of oil/hour; Source: Briggs and Stratton manual. I have 13 bottles of Mobil 1 synthetic oil for my generator and snow blower which require the same viscosity oil. I also keep spare spark plug and the special wrench to change it with my important gear. I keep a spare pull cord in case either my snowblower or generator needs it. My gen is either battery start or pull start. I have a spare air filter as well. Another piece of advise is to not fill up the generator all the way with gas. You need an air-gap to allow for gas to expand inside the tank when its running and heating up the genset; Source: Briggs and Stratton owner's manual. When stopping my generator I turn off the demand side then turn off the gas flow so that the carb runs dry.
I know this video is a couple years old and maybe someone already said what I’m about to but you should get a transfer switch put in. For $299 on amazon right now you can get a reliance pro/Tran 2 transfer switch model number 306crk. Super easy to install and they have step by step TH-cam videos. You can also spend a little more if you need more circuits. I power everything in my house but a/c (If I had a window unit I know it would run fine) with a 6500 running watt generator. I promise it’s easy and worth it.
I have the same gas cans I bought 4 of them when I was in NC headed back to Fl during Erma! I was there working so when everyone was leaving I was headed to Fl. I’ve never seen so much traffic headed north in my life it was literally 100’s of miles of cars bumper to bumper! Only a few semis and a couple of cars headed towards the storm! I’m ready if Dorian hits!
Nice set up sir, but you shouldn’t keep all that flammable stuff in your garage you need to keep that stuff outside and away from the house. It dangerous to your family and firefighters making entry into your house. I live in Houston and we get our share of bad weather here. Thanks for all of ideas and planning for inclement weather 👍🏼
After this Dorian scare, I ended up getting a Honda EU2200i for home backup here in Florida. I'm just powering a 6000 BTU window AC unit, a mini fridge with a freezer, a box fan, the laptop charger, internet modem and wifi. So the little Honda should perform fine. I also have a deep cycle marine battery which can be charged with the generator. All I need to be prepared is a new grill.
I live in Florida. Went through a cat 5 that wasn’t supposed to hit here. Today I have a 8,500 generator in my shed and a switch box on my house so all I do is shut the main line off and plug into my house. Won’t run the air conditioning or large appliances, but will keep the fridge, freezer and lites on. Oh yes the garage door. For me well worth it peace of mind.
I'm getting ready to buy a generator, just to run my outdoor freezer should there be an outage. It's full of food, and I would truly hate to lose all that stuff I paid good money for. The freezer is outside in my very NOT airtight garage so winter outage may net be a problem. But I do live in hurricane territory where we don't get directs hits usually but we often get the back end or the fringes of the storm with heavy rain and wind. So, I may never have to use it, but I'll have the security of knowing I have it. I'm going to buy a 4500/3500 Sportsman Dual Fuel generator for $299 and I paid $45 for a protection plan. Your video helped me to finalize my choice and the size I needed, so this was much appreciated. Thanks.
Doc, I have solar why would I want a generator? Here's why. My power company installed all the solar equipment on our house at no charge to us, sweet deal. We get huge discounts from the power we produce but we can't store the power so when we have an outage we're out! They say this is to prevent any power from feeding back into the grid, I can understand that but why waste the solar energy? Thanks to your video Doc I can be confident in purchasing the right size for my house. Last month my carbon offset was 7 trees we saved, that's 840 trees in 10 years, that's a small Forrest! I feel like we are really helping the environment.
"my carbon offset was 7 trees we saved.... a small Forrest" Ahhh! No sun, no power, no backup batteries[..that is a bummer. If you live in California, believe it or not, you will join many others, who own and have run generators. Those Californians have the Global Warming environmentalists besides themselves. To me, the use of generators interferes with their ability to manipulate and control Californian society...aka, Social Engineering, Regardless of where you live, in the eyes if eyes of the fanatics, you will be contributing to the Global Warming. [Our] politicians, corporate types, entertainers for example are flying all over the globe in jets, private, chartered and commercial apparently not helping the environment in that fashion. While they all nag us "little people" about "saving the environment", being better caretakers of the world, their actions seem to lend themselves to maybe the world, as we know it, isn't coming to an end or if it is doomed, they and their children will live as well as they please and to hell with it all, if the world is to end soon. Just for a start, why has no one, smarter than us, asked to supply figures on the tonnage output by aviation, cruise ships, container ships, versus the number of trees to be planted. Where is the data on how long it would take carbon offset trees to grow and be effective in offsetting the generated pollution. Where is the data on the amount of tonnage put into the atmosphere by power plants to supply electricity to recharge electric cars or to run electric powered light rail. What is the disposal protocol for batteries used in [solar] homes and electric cars? How come there has been no data or information as to their disposal and how much or how little damage they will do to the earth? While you are being a good caretaker, why is is that our elected and appointed officials, much less the "captains of industry" not leading by example? Wouldn't it be interesting to see how environmentalists live and what means of travel They use? By the way when studying up on generators, acquaint yourself with the difference in inverter generators and open framed generators. When considering the brand or brands note return policies, warranties, local and accessible repair locations, customer service etc. I recently bought two, ..one for my electronic equipment, pcs, tvs, modem and a 2nd one for non smart appliances Refrigerator , microwave, coffee pot, .washer, etc. There are a few that are still made in the U.S. Honda, which other generators are compared to, is more expensive and is no longer, solely a Japenese product. It is assembled in Thailand, India and China. Many of the other generators are manufactured and/or assembled in China. A number of the generators are the same, just different cosmetics, brand name and price. Generally, if you put fuel and oil in the generator it cannot be returned. If you buy it from Sam's Club, even on line, you can return it even after putting fuel and oil in it and running it. Good hunting.
I thank you very much sir. You took time and explain very good I learned a lot. GOD bless you for your efforts and time. One thing I just want to bring to your attention that burning of excess fuel. That’s my practice for long time. One time my STIHL chain saw wouldn’t start at start of season I took back to dealer he ask NOT TO BURN LET IT SATY IN SYSTEM TO KEEP ALL THE PARTS MOIST AND LUBRICATED.
Nice video, good tips. One suggestion, could add a transfer switch and panel for about $1500 if you don’t want to run extensions cords thru the house, it will also let you connect a forced air furnace.
After and during hurricane Florence we were without electrical power for 5.5 days. While experiencing the outage I ran an inverter generator to power a 29 cubic foot refrigerator freezer, a 20 cubic foot freezer and an 18 cubic foot refrigerator freezer. We had a few LED lights as well as a 50" flat screen tv and two fans. No cable, no internet and no cell service. I alternated power cycles between two 1800 run/2300 surge watt Ryobi generators. Power outages were forecast with the possibility of lasting for weeks. I had 25 gallons of fuel on hand not including two full automobile gas tanks but decided to conserve fuel with limited generator operation. Final power on run time between the two generators was 59 hours. Fuel consumption was just under 6 gallons. It should be noted that all of the refrigerators and freezer are energy star rated and that the generators were operated in the economy mode. The only time the generators accelerated to full rpm was when we utilized a microwave oven. I also own a Honda EU7000 inverter but decided the fuel situation and possibility of weeks without power dictated using the smaller generators. I'm convinced the inverter generators are the way to go especially with their drastically reduced sound output and minimal fuel consumption. Even the EU7000 is rated to run for 18 hours on 5.1 gallons of fuel.
We just got our power back once from a 3 day outage from Michael. We've got a Prius which is basically a huge generator and battery. We plugged in an inverter and ran a fan and lights via cigarette lighter. When the 12 volt battery drained, it charged from the drive battery. When the drive battery drained, the engine turned on automatically ran for a couple of minutes, charged the drive battery, then turned off. I know it used gasoline, but not enough for me to notice. It's quiet. No problem associated with fuel storage, plus a tank of gasoline will get you States away if needed. I've got a generator - it's smelly, noisey, and I always wonder if it'll work I didn't bother with it. Too much trouble. I will add more peanut butter and maybe hard tack to my food storage.
sure you may be able to adjust the rpm some, but its also going to change the hertz. it should be running at 60 hertz . i use a kill a watt meter to check all that stuff. as for my gen power cord i made a extend-a-pannel, same idea as your big cord but i used solid copper 10/3 wire with a pair of 20amp duplex it goes up threw the floor into a cupboard and stays right there so i never have to open a window. then apliance size cords from that. it uses the 3 prong 120v 30amp receptical on my gen, they dont all have that one. my main use for this is my furnace.
Lots of great tips but I believe it's critical that the idle is not adjusted! I believe changing the frequency output would damage electronics and overheat Motors.
Remember to also properly break in a new generator and exercise/run it 15 mins each month to make sure the gasoline isn’t sitting for months/years on end
I built a relatively small battery inverter system, about 460 amps at 12 volts, to power my boiler in winter and my cpap. It can be recharged in 4 or 5 hours from 50% discharge so no need to run a generator at night.
PS. Install a "GENERLINK" by a certified electrician. Uses main 30A cord from generator to electrical house meter. Its automatically switches to generator power when the house loses utility power. Plug your cord in, shut off the breakers in the house, start your gennie and turn the desired breakers back on..... No Transfer Switch, No Input Generator Plug on the house and NO extra wiring... Cost more than transfer switch and input box but lot less labor costs. Uses the original home breakers; simpler and neater to install...
Lost power for 3 days in irma. No generator, lost everything in my fridge, eating canned ravioli. However I removed the car battery from the car and connected it directly to my 400 watt inverter and used it for charging my cell phone. Now we got really super lucky with hurricane dorian, decided though to get generator. Here in florida it is not a matter of if the next hurricane hits but when. It might be next year or several years between but more WILL come eventually. Obviously i wont be able to use my stove/oven on generator but I will be able to run my fridge to keep things fresh, use microwave at least to heat up my ravioli lol, phone chargers lamps, fans and maybe a television or 2.
Simplest answer to how big of a generator do I need? The largest you can handle and afford. Think about it...when was the last time you heard someone say "I wish my generator had less power for my house or tools." Generators are like gun safes....people usually buy a cheap one and then realize later on it is way too small for what they really need.
If I might add... not only is just before an oncoming storm the wrong time to buy a generator, the best time to buy is not long AFTER. The stores will be overloaded with generators that came in after the storm has passed. Or you may luck up on a perfectly good generator that was returned after being used for just a few hours. Yes, people do that. Also, do not use gasohol (aka "E10)... especially if it will be stored. Ask the lawn care guys where to get pure gasoline. The won't use gasohol in their small engines either. At the end of hurricane season, empty the gas from your extra stored cans into your cars. Make sure the cans have no residue in the bottom, and refill them before storm season next year. And use fuel stabilizer, Stabil, Seafoam, etc. And now while you have plenty of time, look up on TH-cam your particular engine and carb, and learn how to clean the carb. There are many videos on this. And if in a hurry, you can buy a whole replacement carb for less than a rebuild kit. Keep a spare spark plug sealed up and ty-wrapped to the generator frame. And a good wide-mouth funnel for fueling.
nice video and advice.need a service plug on outside of house my man!you not a full blown prepper but on your way i think?ii may be just because im from the midwest and dont get a lot of days i have lost power but when i do,all your advice rings true..time to prep is now!
so after power was out several hours I decided to get the generator out and hook it up ,...after about 20 minutes Power came on...( naturally ) so i drained all the gas I could get out with a fuel pump back into the gas can....moved the thing back and forth could only see a tad of fuel in the tank...SO I started it up to run it out......and it ran and ran and ran...so I turned the fuel valve off as you said and it still ran and ran and ran....never did shut off on it's own even after 30+ minutes of running and yet can not see any fuel in the tank...So i just added some sta-bil to the tank in case there was some fuel left in it....BUT it never did shut off on it's own even with the valve shut off......never had that happen before....strange but true...and one other thing it says it is 5500w and 6750w start up , so if it is 6750w start up on the side should that mean that the Start up wattage is covered already in that case ?
One other thing fill your car with gas always keep a full tank when there's a storm coming and find a good way to siphon out the gas cuz you have a lot of gas stored in a car if gas stations go down you're not going to get more fuel but you will have if you siphon it out of your car
Awesome video Doc. Best one I've found on this subject. One to save for future use and sharing with others. I didn't even know you had this channel. I recognize you from your Gold Hog vids. At first I thought I had loaded the wrong video, lol.
Just had an electrician install a transfer switch and connection jack to run my whole house with my 7KW Honda. Connects directlyl at the meter box. That way I don’t need to run any extension cords except the one to the outside of the house. Everything stays plugged to the wall. An electrician will make sure everything is correct so you don’t zap your electronics etc. The only thing it won’t run is the AC’s but I can get by with fans. Cost me $450 but worth it!
you should just make yourself a back feed cable to a dryer plug and skill all those cords. just turn off main braker and connect your generator to your dryer plug it is safe as long as you know what to do.
So I have a question about powering sensitive electronics like your television. Are you concerned with the power surge, that the PC board on your TV might get fried? It happened to me once and fortunately it was under warranty.
Thank you for such a thoughtful and careful explanation offering your experience and expertise. In MA. we have seen few hurricanes with minor damage but climate change has been causing more heavier snow with rain that ices over, bringing down power lines that can last during sub-zero temps. Many people in my area are truly unprepared. You offer many good ideas and intro to great items that are good to have!
Did you run any kind of AC during the Hurricane Irma power outage? The heat was brutal. My 7500 watt Sportsman tri-fuel gen will not run my central AC but it will run the rest of the house, including the refrigerator and two window unit ACs.
Nobody talks about oil change for portable generators,There was an ice storm,we were deprived of electricity for 24 days.My naybor is a machinist and he was fixing generators on a daily basis. The motor were seized.If a gernerator runs all day,oil must be change the oil on a daily basis as well.If you buy a generator to run your house,buy one that has a large oil capacity,an oil pump and an oil filter (Like a car)The are easyer to service as well. Bye. Lucien
I wired an 8k Surg, 6.5k continuous directly to the 220 side of the box, not cords and the whole house runs as normal. If you don't have enough power/amps/watts you can blow your refrig, freezer, TV ...... If you have elect stove, heat, hot water, you will need a high wattage genset or do not use them. Our old home was all elect and we had a 20k, our new home is all gas and the 8k is fine, however we are going to 12k so I can still use my shop.. Do not under buy, it will cost you more.
If you can lock your doors and stay put for 3 to 6 months you are a prepper. You just don't like the negative connotation the media has attached to the word "prepper" but it's okay, being a prepper isn't a bad thing.
Not really... a true prepper plans for 3 months to 3 years. We're simply prepared for 1-6 weeks at anytime. Comes from coastal living. i.e. We actually lived in Wilmington NC which is now flooded out and closed off.
Check out your own words starting at about 1:15 of your video. You said you could lock your doors and stay there for 3 to 6 months so therefore you are a prepper. It only means you are prepared and that's not something to be ashamed of.
Not ashamed at all..... just warding off the LONG list of comments from those that do prep. At the coast... 2-3 months worth of supplies SHOULD be the norm.
Agreed. I have a daughter that lives in Brunswick Co. NC with her husband and 2 children that are surviving quite well without power still because I taught her the importance of being prepared for the known and the unknown. Everybody, regardless of were they live should be prepared to survive independently for a minimum of 3 weeks without help IMHO.
A lot of great info in this video! I'm in NY so I'd love to be able to run my furnace off of a generator but unfortunately it's hard wired in. Have you though about installing a transfer switch to run the whole house?
I enjoyed the video, especially the part suggesting what size generator to get for your home. What about the surge rating of the generator itself? If there is a generator that states it is rated for 10,000W "surge" watts and 7,500 W running wattage, is the 10,000W rating safe to judge when considering what items to hook up to the generator? Thanks very much.
I went through the question again. I have I think 7800 running watt at 9000 peak, so let's use just microwaves. I have 7 microwaves at 1000 watt each but each has a draw or peak or surge of 1300 ad those up. 2100 plus 7000 puts me over the peak at 9100. I can run 6. Hope that helps
Does Running such minimal stuff on tnr generator seem wasteful? If burning the fuel does it make more sense to get every bit of energy from it? Or, does loading more use more fuel?
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Finally! Someone finally explained how to choose the proper generator size. I have been researching for weeks! I ordered mine (literally) just yesterday (tax-free week for FL hurricane season) I chose 11,000/8,300 (duel fuel) generator because I couldn't figure it out and err'd on the side of too much. Too late for choosing the right size, but at least I know how to determine what can be plugged into it. Now I just need to figure out how to keep someone from stealing it when it's in use. Thanks so much!
No matter what you say sir, YOU ARE A PREPPER. Preppers aren't those that just prepare for government collapse. We preppers here in South Florida mostly prepare for Hurricanes and the aftermath. GREAT VIDEO!!! THANK YOU!!!
Nelson Reyes came here to say the same thing. Prepper doesn’t have to be a negative connotation. Let’s call it “casual prepper” if that feels better, lol. That said, if you can lock yourself inside for 6 months, you’re a prepper.
I agree.
Mini prepper
I'm in the Savannah GA area and spent 14 days after David in 1979. An old tip from my mother many years ago, fill your bathtub full of water. The water can be used from drinking to flushing a toilet for days.
Seems like you have things pretty well figured out. The one thing I would change is get rid of the extension cords. I played that game for a long time use the 240 volt plug and tie it into your main breaker box. It is so much better
Lyn do you have to have an electrician do this... is this using a transfer switch?
C McDonald Yes.
Doc. You're the Jack of all trades I've been watching you doing lawns. How ironic I bought a generator to power my house for a storm and I ran into you on this channel.👏👏👌👌
Thanks for sharing! Some great tips and ideas for getting ready to weather the storm. Whether it’s brought on by the weather or something else. Tips that stuck out for me were:
1. Get ready when you have time to not when you don’t.
2. Your garage pantry ( utility cabinet ). Don’t use open shelves. The critters will find your supplies before you need them!
3. Plenty of fuel. Maybe find a way to store outdoors (shed or utility bin).
4. Mag lights. Keep on your person. Never know when you’ll need it.
I would suggest filling the gas cans every 2 weeks until you get all 7 full. Once all are full, every two weeks, dump one an in your vehicle and fill it up at the gas station. Fresh gas at all times, and no need to wast 14 gallons once a year.
Thank you for the tips. This is coming in handy since we have Hurricane Florence heading our way in SC. Bought a CAT rp5500 generator and never used one before. Only using it to power my refrigerator and freezer. Purchased 100% gasoline instead of ethanol mix. Called CAT and they advised its ok to use 10% ethanol or less gas. But since I run my lawn mower with 100%, figured this should be the same concept. Lowes did not advise me that I may need a Generator Cord, so this tip was extremely helpful. Also the running of the line in window helped. Being on my own taking care of my mother with cancer is making this prep a challenge. Long as she is comfortable and her meds are cold in the fridge, I can manage. Thanks again.
Crit Robbins make sure your power provider knows about the medical issues, they can help prioritize restoration in your home. Also make sure to keep a calibrated thermometer in the fridge to know the temp and keep the medication viable
I live in CA - earthquake country. I too am NOT a prepper but I am prepared. Its not a matter of if, but when. The quake will come.
At my house I have a 7,000 watt Generator with 60 gallons gas. 10 twenty pound propane. 100 gallons water. 2 weeks of food and sanitation supplies. Clothing. Tents. All the prep, cooking and dishing supplies we ever used when camping. Lots of LED flashlights with extra batteries galore, White gas cooktop and lanterns with lots of fuel, charcoal BBQ as back up. A small 7 inch TV with a portable (high up) antenna to get the SF signals. Can only get several SJ stations with the built in antenna. AM FM radios, various walkie-talkies, CB radios, etc.
All in sheds away from my 2 story house, so that nothing gets damaged if the house falls.
The propane does not need to be rotated out - it should last "forever". The gasoline is rotated out 10 gallons every 2 months, thus all 60 gallons are within a year of being "fresh". I also use some fuel stabilizer, as recommended by Champion. I run the gen every month for 20 minutes or so, with various power loads ( 1kW to 6 kW) as recommended. When its time to shut it down, I turn off the gas supply and let the carb run dry, also as recommended by Champion. They have been fantastic with the various Qs I had when I first bought it. Water is stored in those 2.5 gallon jugs, which my wife also uses at school - so every time she needs one, I take it from the supply and replenish that. We also have lots of those 8 ounce containers of water from Costco - and I make sure that the emergency supply is never more than 18 months old. Food is mostly cans of meat, veggies, fruit, peanut butter, etc - and I have taken Rice-a-roni and Pasta-roni products and put them into the food saver vacuum type bags to seal them and protect them from weavels and such. I rotate those out at their expiration, using them in the house. I check the food supplies twice a year - June and December. My wife and I also know that at earthquake time, we fill both bath tubs full of water, we have three 32 gallon plastic garbage cans (ONLY for water use) that will need to be filled before any loss of water pressure. We have chlorine to purify the water. We chose not to have a tankless heater, opting to stay with a 75 gallon tank, which as long as it does not topple over, it is another 75 gallons of fresh water.
Also a DP12 and a "few" ARs to protect the household for weeks in case anyone tries to take the stuff for themselves......
Doc, install an interlock plate and a 30a feed plug and quit using all those extension cords. It would take you about an hour total to do. 4 wires from your main breaker panel to the plug and that's it. Then you can just plug the generator directly into your house and run everything from there. Just turn off the breakers you don't want to power and your good to go. It takes me about 5 mins to hook up my generator and there's no mess to deal with running cords and towels in the windows etc.
Thinking about this further... You've probably not gone the extra mile to do this because you're on city water. Out here in the boonies we have to power our wells or we have no toilets, showers, drinking water etc.
Jon Starnes I did the same thing but I used a transfer switch. My panel didn’t have any room left.
But I agree with you. Ditch those extension cords. Also consider converting to nat gas. I added a $150 converter to my generator now it can run on nat gas from my house.
That's fine until you have to deal with floods or actual structure damage. (been through both) Then the ability to MOVE it becomes critical. It's a good option for some... but when in coastal areas or flood prone areas, don't hard wire in. You may be running on the top deck of your home.
How To with Doc you still have all the portability. Having an interlock/transfer switch and a nat gas conversion doesn’t get rid of my generators ability to run on gasoline. If I have to run it somewhere else.
Jon, what you suggest is unsafe and illegal without a transfer assembly of some kind.
Great video man, you may want to look into installing a generator outlet going into your panel... that way you can you can use that 240 outlet on your generator to plug to power your panel. It will eliminate all those extension cord.... thanks for all the ideas
Dont forget to change the oil in the generator! Also very important!
Jacksonville NC Doc!! Hurricane is on the way and I’m watching this for a good answer because you are savvy on the matter. Retired military 👍
this is one of the best prep video have see so far...thx a lot
Thanks Doc for pointing out some of the problems you will run into run into (learned the hard way) during a several day power outage. I have lived in Florida for 46 years so, also quite familiar with these problems. I wanted to add a few tips to complement your information. (1) After you total up your expected power requirements, you should buy a generator that is at least 30% larger than your wattage draw to prevent overheating the generator if you live in a hot climate and plan to run the generator 24/7. (2) If you can afford it, purchase an Inverter Generator. They run the engine slower if the load is light which, reduces noise, engine wear, and fuel consumption. (3) If you run your generator 24/7, you will need to change the oil every 2 days. (4) Portable generators all use lawn mower engines and generally run at 3,600 rpm to maintain the 60 Hertz line frequency. The engine lifetime with this operation is only around 1,000 to 2,500 hours. (5) Backup power is notoriously unreliable, it's always good to have a backup generator and other backups, like rechargeable battery power. I use a 7,000 watt generator when I want to run some air conditioners (small window units, which are worth their weight in gold during several day power outages) and fall back to a 1,600 watt generator when power requirements are less. At night, I run the refrigerator and a few lights off of 3 parallel marine batteries and a power inverter. This way I can keep my gas consumption down to around 5 gallons per day. (6) As you mentioned, you will need a husky extension cord to get the power into the house. That cord should have 12 gauge wire and is typically 50 feet in length. (7) When putting the generator away for long term storage, additionally drain the fuel tank, otherwise it will gel up and absorb water, which rusts out metal fuel tanks. I use Ethanol Free fuel (it's a little easier on the fuel system) with the Sta-Bil and Marvel Mystery Oil (and I have learned this the hard way over many years of fuel problems). Ideally, the last fuel you run in the generator before storage is that Engineered Fuel the hardware stores sell. It's very expensive but, should totally eliminate long term fuel deterioration problems.
Great video on being prepared for a grid down situation. You reminded me of a few things I still need to work on. You should install an outlet for your generator....its worth it....no more cords to trip on.
I keep mine in my shed. Windows slightly open during outages. Also ran underground wire from shed to home foundation then up into a dedicated wall outlet then plug in a four gang box and run cords from there. Like you I’m not a prepper but I was a Boy Scout and we all know their motto. Be prepared. We were out 8 days from a freak October snow storm. Neighbors houses were 43 degrees ours was 70. Only house in the neighborhood with lights and heat.
We store a dual fuel lantern and single burner stove for camping and emergencies. Smart choice! White gas can sit for decades. Bought a 60-year-old Coleman lantern still full of fuel. Fired right up.
I don't run stable or seafoam I use Dollar Tree gas treatment 12 oz for $1 and it's worked for me for many of years. Also start your generator up periodically or any small engine or car for that matter periodically. I have had fuel over 20 years old and burn after I put some Dollar Tree gas treatment in it and let it sit for a day I come back and it starts right up. Converting your gasoline generator to propane and gasoline dual fuel is the best thing. Later down the road if you cannot get a carburetor for a generator like me because it's too old you can run propane and it doesn't matter if the carburetor is shot. As long as your motor on your generator has fire off spark plug you can run propane. And Propane is one of the cleanest fuels out there. And no black smoke will ever come out the pipe with the choke on or off on propane. But running propane keep the choke off always . I ran one of my generators without even a carburetor on it off of propane down the intake. Your gas fuels like propane, natural gas, hydrogen and gasification is the cleanest fuels. The motors last longer and they do not come out of tune nor do they need the maintenance as much as a gasoline engine which is a liquid fuel. Here's an emergency way you can run propane if you have the little propane torch set which is MAPP gas and oxygen with the rubber 5 foot cord or I believe it's MAPP gas and propane one pound cylinders each. You just plug off the oxygen fitting and use the torch in the throat of the carburetor of your generator. The torch has a spark arrestor so Fire won't go back in the line and in the tank and explode. Cut the fuel valve off for the gasoline going into the generator. And keep the choke off and put the torch in the intake tract or passed the air cleaner having the air cleaner off and air cleaner cover. And run enough propane with the generator wide-open the motor is not stumbling. He won't the motor to smooth out when the motor is kicked in wide open. Even propane conversion companies say you won't your propane on the lean side not too rich.. One disadvantage about this if the motor would happen to cut off propane will still be on and running. But if it's outside with a something over it you'll be fine. I burned up a generator once I was lucky it was under warranty and they traded out for a better model. Do not get the head of the generator wet the motor gasoline powered motor it doesn't matter as much they can take some water. But the generator head can not it will stop working like mine did no power but the motor will still be running. In the pouring down rain is when mine burned up. I had a generator in a service truck and it started raining and I was in the service truck the lights went out I looked outside it was pouring rain and the head of the generator sucked the water up in it. but the motor was still running fine just no power. Also another thought you can make your own cord from the 30 or 50 amp plug off your generator make a cord and run a wire to your stove or your dryer cord. First before plugging anything in cut the Main fuse to your fuse box off. And cut off the fuses that you will not be using. And now you have power and everything has a fuse running through it even the dryer or the stove cord you're running back through. Once you're done shut the generator off unhook your cord going to the dryer or the stove and unhook it at your generator and assuming the power company is back on you. turn your main breaker back on and you're done. The only thing about this when you do it yourself you don't know when your power comes back on unless you have a street light that's out and it comes back on later or see your neighbor's home light up. Also if you convert to propane remember on the hundred pound propane tank they just have internal threads. the little propane bottles have internal or external threads. Converting to internal threads will run all propane bottles if you don't already have internal threads on your hookup..
Jon, do you have a vid posted on this info? It's great but I need a visual assist. Thanks.
Most comprehensive video on the workings of a generator and how to truly utilize it yet. Thank you so much!
Outstanding video! So first I want to thank you. I have been wanting to do this for years, and now YOU gave me the know how to get it done. I have watched many videos on how to do things, several have worked but many have FAILED! Like you, I'm not a "dooms day prepper" I just like to be prepared for natural disasters. They are becoming more unpredictable. Again thank you and keep up the good work.
Used 13000 watt Duromax. We have a 3300 sq ft home with two 4 ton heatpump/AC units with airhandlers, and well pump, and were able to run ONE of the AC's unit along with the well pump, refrigerator and a freezer with no problem. The AC units were made in 2015 so not really new. We ran all of this on just propane so it would be even better if we ran gas. Used 50 circuit to 50 amp inlet box on side of house
A first film in a storm I've seen. A great review sir
Great video Doc, we have many power outages on Russell Island Queensland Australia. Asked the local sparky to hard wire my generator into the house power box (not expensive) so all that is needed to be done during an outage, is plug my generator into the house power box. No need for long extension leads or double adaptors, just use the normal house power points. The generator can still be a stand alone power source.
Nice, I just bought this exact same generator and had no idea how to use it. Thanks for the in-depth explanation...very helpful.
Thank you Doc for the tips! Very useful with your insights on the generator. I just purchase my first generator and I am learning how to use it. The tips were excellent and I will use your suggestions. Thanks again!
Excellent presentation! Caused me to qualify appliances that are "must run" (with initial surge wattage) and then appliances that are elective and may be used when "must run" are temporarily turned off. I like the incremental turn on of appliances to get past the initial surge demand. Converted my generator to tri-fuel using natural gas as a primary unlimited source of fuel, followed by large tank propane, and then gasoline for storage safety.
super, super tips, I prepare myself now buying everithing 2 months before winter and soon 100% prepare. I our responsability to preserve life and our things.
Hey doc, thank you for the info. I just went though hurricane sally. We had multiple tornadoes here in daphne alabama. They're saying 30 days with no power. I dont have a generator. So i needed the info. I guess ill save my money and buy one if i can
Big tip! Get at least one window ac unit. 150 bucks. I have two. I put them in two bedrooms. You'll have a cool place to sleep at night..and if you leave the windows in the house shut...the two units will keep the house comfortable during the day. I run two fridges, two ac units and all the lights I need, off a Honda 3500 watt generator. Also...Make sure you have a few quarts of oil for your generator. Also...fit your entire house with LED bulbs...They use a lot less power. Also...Get a killawatt device to check your generators voltage and hertz. Check that and adjust way before the storm.
Pelt Down Posse
"Get at least one window ac unit." I like that suggestion. I have a Duro Max 5500w. How many btus are your ac units?
Have same generator, purchased a year ago. Info on shutting off fuel line helpful. option of having that 240 30 amp line is a plus for future installation. Not always necessary if your area only has short term outages. We all tend to wait until last minute to prep which is a fault. I'm guilty of having done that in past. Video was very helpful and explanation on loads and surges are things we don't always consider. Don't forget to use heavy duty cords to run power from generator to house.
John Russo "Don't forget to use heavy duty cords to run power from generator to house." I'm no expert, but may I add to your great suggestion of using 10 AWG(the best, the heaviest duty cord) , 12AWG(the 2nd best for use) and 14AWG(the 3rd best for use)? It is better not to use extension cords smaller in gauge than 14AWG, like the extension cords found for small appliances, Christmas tree light etc.
Xlnt analysis. Living in a very remote area three miles from a town of six hundred people .. living on forty acres with my nearest neighbor about a mile away .. our well is 540 feet deep .. our power lines serving the farm were installed in the 1930's on a 40% grade slope so steep that they used mules to pull them into place nearly 100 years ago.
So, with these slightly tenuous services .. that could temporarily fail in any storm or basically any time ..my plan is "leaning" off-grid. In other words .. preparing for temporary times when I will be involuntarily off grid such as when the pump needs to be pulled or when a couple of those old power poles drop and need replacing.
My little pure sine wave whisper quiet inverter generators GP2200i and Ryobi 2300 bluetooth which will power the fridge that runs at 99 watts and has 700 watt surge .. led lights, any electronics and fan .. are ready. They can barely be heard running at fifty feet.
Fifteen to twenty gallons of ethanol free stabilized fuel is available and will power things carefully, frugally .. if I take care.. for about a week .. my two 55 gal poly blue water barrels are full and my five pallets of bottled drinking water, ready to eat food .. stacked with two year shelf life.
My 10 gauge 100 ft, yes Yellow Jacket cord almost as thick as a garden hose .. power cord and splitters and 14 gauge feeder lines are ready .. my little 600 watt microwave and 900 watt induction hotplate that can fry two perfect eggs in just over one minute and soups in two or three minutes .. ready .. I have camp lanterns that will run for almost 30 days on several D cell batteries. A month on four D cells .. giving off plenty of light .. it's amazing.
A critical item I've recently found during an extended outage is my headlamp that will run 39 hours on two AAA cells. Leaves hands free for cooking, working or just plain tending to generator. I recently bought two more headlamps that use regular AAA batteries .. just in case.
As a refuge of last resort when central air is down during a heatwave, I have a little Chigo portable 6000btu AC floor unit stored away in closet .. that will cool and de-humidify one room venting through window .. it'll keep one bedroom comfortable .. about 150 sq ft and easily run off either Generac or Ryobi inverters with a starting surge of just over 1000 watts.
.. and last but not least .. my two 42,000mah power banks which I can recharge on generator or with 100 watt fold-out solar and rotate in and out of service are ready .. giving me a few hours to run items on pure sine wave when the power first fails and it's raining and windy and cold and I need to decide if I should set up generator for long term use ..
the main purpose of these power banks is to run router and modem so I can check current out map online and determine what kind of power interruption this will be ... estimated restoration time ... they will also run a regular table lamp with LED light .. my little 26 watt TV/DVD player and a small if needed .. for several hours
.. if it's going to be a long outage as determined by checking the outage map on utility website .. I'll start setting up generator and related apparatus for that scenario. If it's estimated under four hours .. I'll just monitor fridge temp with my wireless thermometer .. it sets off alarm at 40 degrees so I re-start cooling cycle .. keeping things safe .. and just sit back and use the Power Banks
enjoying the temporary peace and quiet of having no power for a few hours .. watching a movie or surfing the web
once again, superb video .. hava grt day .. Cheers ~b
Great preparations. Just keep in mind that if the commercial power lines come down, your internet likely will too. Three additional items to think about are a NOAA weather reciever, vhf ham radio, and household am fm radio. Yes the ham radio requires a license, but its an easy test and it will open up another world of information both incoming and outgoing and will give you a lifeline for emegencies. Dont count on a mobile phone working for very long either. Most but not all cell towers have battery backup for probably less than a day and will be swamped with calls during an emergency situation. Only some towers have generators also with a finite fuel supply.
Very detailed love it
He also forgot that is the total wattage of the generator. If he only uses the four 110/120 outlets, then it will be not 6500 watts. It will be considerably less. Also you should only use 80% of your running wattage to account for start-up demand and fudge factor. In his/your storage cabinets it is best to have spare oil on-hand and a receptacle for used oil. Splash lubed generators should have their oil changed every 50 hours source: Briggs & Stratton owner's manual. They also can burn up to 1oz of oil/hour; Source: Briggs and Stratton manual. I have 13 bottles of Mobil 1 synthetic oil for my generator and snow blower which require the same viscosity oil. I also keep spare spark plug and the special wrench to change it with my important gear. I keep a spare pull cord in case either my snowblower or generator needs it. My gen is either battery start or pull start. I have a spare air filter as well. Another piece of advise is to not fill up the generator all the way with gas. You need an air-gap to allow for gas to expand inside the tank when its running and heating up the genset; Source: Briggs and Stratton owner's manual. When stopping my generator I turn off the demand side then turn off the gas flow so that the carb runs dry.
I know this video is a couple years old and maybe someone already said what I’m about to but you should get a transfer switch put in. For $299 on amazon right now you can get a reliance pro/Tran 2 transfer switch model number 306crk. Super easy to install and they have step by step TH-cam videos. You can also spend a little more if you need more circuits. I power everything in my house but a/c (If I had a window unit I know it would run fine) with a 6500 running watt generator. I promise it’s easy and worth it.
I have the same gas cans I bought 4 of them when I was in NC headed back to Fl during Erma! I was there working so when everyone was leaving I was headed to Fl. I’ve never seen so much traffic headed north in my life it was literally 100’s of miles of cars bumper to bumper! Only a few semis and a couple of cars headed towards the storm! I’m ready if Dorian hits!
Nice set up sir, but you shouldn’t keep all that flammable stuff in your garage you need to keep that stuff outside and away from the house. It dangerous to your family and firefighters making entry into your house. I live in Houston and we get our share of bad weather here. Thanks for all of ideas and planning for inclement weather 👍🏼
Gasoline in the garage??? No good and more dangerous then Dorian!!!
After this Dorian scare, I ended up getting a Honda EU2200i for home backup here in Florida. I'm just powering a 6000 BTU window AC unit, a mini fridge with a freezer, a box fan, the laptop charger, internet modem and wifi. So the little Honda should perform fine. I also have a deep cycle marine battery which can be charged with the generator. All I need to be prepared is a new grill.
Brother, install a interlock and it's much easier for you.
Man this video is gold! Thank you for your time and wisdom
I live in Florida. Went through a cat 5 that wasn’t supposed to hit here. Today I have a 8,500 generator in my shed and a switch box on my house so all I do is shut the main line off and plug into my house. Won’t run the air conditioning or large appliances, but will keep the fridge, freezer and lites on. Oh yes the garage door. For me well worth it peace of mind.
outstanding video - no one that I can find has a video showing practical use of a generator during an event
Thank You VERY MUCH... What a Great Teaching Video for Homeowners... TH-cam GOLD !
I'm getting ready to buy a generator, just to run my outdoor freezer should there be an outage. It's full of food, and I would truly hate to lose all that stuff I paid good money for. The freezer is outside in my very NOT airtight garage so winter outage may net be a problem. But I do live in hurricane territory where we don't get directs hits usually but we often get the back end or the fringes of the storm with heavy rain and wind. So, I may never have to use it, but I'll have the security of knowing I have it. I'm going to buy a 4500/3500 Sportsman Dual Fuel generator for $299 and I paid $45 for a protection plan. Your video helped me to finalize my choice and the size I needed, so this was much appreciated. Thanks.
Doc, I have solar why would I want a generator? Here's why. My power company installed all the solar equipment on our house at no charge to us, sweet deal. We get huge discounts from the power we produce but we can't store the power so when we have an outage we're out! They say this is to prevent any power from feeding back into the grid, I can understand that but why waste the solar energy? Thanks to your video Doc I can be confident in purchasing the right size for my house. Last month my carbon offset was 7 trees we saved, that's 840 trees in 10 years, that's a small Forrest! I feel like we are really helping the environment.
"my carbon offset was 7 trees we saved.... a small Forrest" Ahhh! No sun, no power, no backup batteries[..that is a bummer. If you live in California, believe it or not, you will join many others, who own and have run generators. Those Californians have the Global Warming environmentalists besides themselves. To me, the use of generators interferes with their ability to manipulate and control Californian society...aka, Social Engineering, Regardless of where you live, in the eyes if eyes of the fanatics, you will be contributing to the Global Warming.
[Our] politicians, corporate types, entertainers for example are flying all over the globe in jets, private, chartered and commercial apparently not helping the environment in that fashion. While they all nag us "little people" about "saving the environment", being better caretakers of the world, their actions seem to lend themselves to maybe the world, as we know it, isn't coming to an end or if it is doomed, they and their children will live as well as they please and to hell with it all, if the world is to end soon. Just for a start, why has no one, smarter than us, asked to supply figures on the tonnage output by aviation, cruise ships, container ships, versus the number of trees to be planted. Where is the data on how long it would take carbon offset trees to grow and be effective in offsetting the generated pollution. Where is the data on the amount of tonnage put into the atmosphere by power plants to supply electricity to recharge electric cars or to run electric powered light rail. What is the disposal protocol for batteries used in [solar] homes and electric cars? How come there has been no data or information as to their disposal and how much or how little damage they will do to the earth? While you are being a good caretaker, why is is that our elected and appointed officials, much less the "captains of industry" not leading by example? Wouldn't it be interesting to see how environmentalists live and what means of travel They use?
By the way when studying up on generators, acquaint yourself with the difference in inverter generators and open framed generators. When considering the brand or brands note return policies, warranties, local and accessible repair locations, customer service etc. I recently bought two, ..one for my electronic equipment, pcs, tvs, modem and a 2nd one for non smart appliances Refrigerator , microwave, coffee pot, .washer, etc. There are a few that are still made in the U.S. Honda, which other generators are compared to, is more expensive and is no longer, solely a Japenese product. It is assembled in Thailand, India and China. Many of the other generators are manufactured and/or assembled in China. A number of the generators are the same, just different cosmetics, brand name and price. Generally, if you put fuel and oil in the generator it cannot be returned. If you buy it from Sam's Club, even on line, you can return it even after putting fuel and oil in it and running it. Good hunting.
Love Love the video with a lot of wonderful tips. Thank you sir!
I thank you very much sir. You took time and explain very good I learned a lot. GOD bless you for your efforts and time. One thing I just want to bring to your attention that burning of excess fuel. That’s my practice for long time. One time my STIHL chain saw wouldn’t start at start of season I took back to dealer he ask NOT TO BURN LET IT SATY IN SYSTEM TO KEEP ALL THE PARTS MOIST AND LUBRICATED.
I sure enjoyed your video. I am getting ready to use a generator interlock system. You had some great ideas that I will use. Stay safe
Great choice with the Briggs & Stratton I've had one since 2002 and it is a stud
Nice video, good tips. One suggestion, could add a transfer switch and panel for about $1500 if you don’t want to run extensions cords thru the house, it will also let you connect a forced air furnace.
After and during hurricane Florence we were without electrical power for 5.5 days. While experiencing the outage I ran an inverter generator to power a 29 cubic foot refrigerator freezer, a 20 cubic foot freezer and an 18 cubic foot refrigerator freezer. We had a few LED lights as well as a 50" flat screen tv and two fans. No cable, no internet and no cell service. I alternated power cycles between two 1800 run/2300 surge watt Ryobi generators. Power outages were forecast with the possibility of lasting for weeks. I had 25 gallons of fuel on hand not including two full automobile gas tanks but decided to conserve fuel with limited generator operation. Final power on run time between the two generators was 59 hours. Fuel consumption was just under 6 gallons. It should be noted that all of the refrigerators and freezer are energy star rated and that the generators were operated in the economy mode. The only time the generators accelerated to full rpm was when we utilized a microwave oven. I also own a Honda EU7000 inverter but decided the fuel situation and possibility of weeks without power dictated using the smaller generators. I'm convinced the inverter generators are the way to go especially with their drastically reduced sound output and minimal fuel consumption. Even the EU7000 is rated to run for 18 hours on 5.1 gallons of fuel.
We just got our power back once from a 3 day outage from Michael. We've got a Prius which is basically a huge generator and battery. We plugged in an inverter and ran a fan and lights via cigarette lighter. When the 12 volt battery drained, it charged from the drive battery. When the drive battery drained, the engine turned on automatically ran for a couple of minutes, charged the drive battery, then turned off. I know it used gasoline, but not enough for me to notice. It's quiet. No problem associated with fuel storage, plus a tank of gasoline will get you States away if needed. I've got a generator - it's smelly, noisey, and I always wonder if it'll work I didn't bother with it. Too much trouble. I will add more peanut butter and maybe hard tack to my food storage.
What all can you run? Ref, freezer, stove, hot water, AC,? I would love to know more about this!
sure you may be able to adjust the rpm some, but its also going to change the hertz. it should be running at 60 hertz . i use a kill a watt meter to check all that stuff. as for my gen power cord i made a extend-a-pannel, same idea as your big cord but i used solid copper 10/3 wire with a pair of 20amp duplex it goes up threw the floor into a cupboard and stays right there so i never have to open a window. then apliance size cords from that. it uses the 3 prong 120v 30amp receptical on my gen, they dont all have that one. my main use for this is my furnace.
Lots of great tips but I believe it's critical that the idle is not adjusted! I believe changing the frequency output would damage electronics and overheat Motors.
Great explanation. I got a 3500 because I am able to lift and move it. Perhaps two of them would work best for some. Thanks
Remember to also properly break in a new generator and exercise/run it 15 mins each month to make sure the gasoline isn’t sitting for months/years on end
I built a relatively small battery inverter system, about 460 amps at 12 volts, to power my boiler in winter and my cpap. It can be recharged in 4 or 5 hours from 50% discharge so no need to run a generator at night.
Pretty sure you mean 460 WATTS, not amps LOL. 460 amps would melt your panel and house would be toast.
PS. Install a "GENERLINK" by a certified electrician. Uses main 30A cord from generator to electrical house meter. Its automatically switches to generator power when the house loses utility power. Plug your cord in, shut off the breakers in the house, start your gennie and turn the desired breakers back on..... No Transfer Switch, No Input Generator Plug on the house and NO extra wiring... Cost more than transfer switch and input box but lot less labor costs. Uses the original home breakers; simpler and neater to install...
I wish the Generlink was allowed by my electric provider. Oh well.
Lost power for 3 days in irma. No generator, lost everything in my fridge, eating canned ravioli. However I removed the car battery from the car and connected it directly to my 400 watt inverter and used it for charging my cell phone. Now we got really super lucky with hurricane dorian, decided though to get generator. Here in florida it is not a matter of if the next hurricane hits but when. It might be next year or several years between but more WILL come eventually. Obviously i wont be able to use my stove/oven on generator but I will be able to run my fridge to keep things fresh, use microwave at least to heat up my ravioli lol, phone chargers lamps, fans and maybe a television or 2.
Simplest answer to how big of a generator do I need? The largest you can handle and afford. Think about it...when was the last time you heard someone say "I wish my generator had less power for my house or tools." Generators are like gun safes....people usually buy a cheap one and then realize later on it is way too small for what they really need.
If I might add... not only is just before an oncoming storm the wrong time to buy a generator, the best time to buy is not long AFTER. The stores will be overloaded with generators that came in after the storm has passed. Or you may luck up on a perfectly good generator that was returned after being used for just a few hours. Yes, people do that. Also, do not use gasohol (aka "E10)... especially if it will be stored. Ask the lawn care guys where to get pure gasoline. The won't use gasohol in their small engines either. At the end of hurricane season, empty the gas from your extra stored cans into your cars. Make sure the cans have no residue in the bottom, and refill them before storm season next year. And use fuel stabilizer, Stabil, Seafoam, etc. And now while you have plenty of time, look up on TH-cam your particular engine and carb, and learn how to clean the carb. There are many videos on this. And if in a hurry, you can buy a whole replacement carb for less than a rebuild kit. Keep a spare spark plug sealed up and ty-wrapped to the generator frame. And a good wide-mouth funnel for fueling.
So glad I found you! I instantly went out and bought the alligator clips on Amazon you recommended. That's a great!
We’re are dealing with hurricane laura now , thanks 🙏🏼 for the Vids
Excellent video! Just what I needed! Thank you!
Thank you for all amazing advices, greetings from Canada !
Hey. Do you know by chance if there is some kind of gauge you can purchase to measure how much watts are being used
For someone who says you’re are not a prepper, you sure got your shit together!!!🤪
VERY GOOD JOB on this video👍🏻
Thank you sir for a very well described and detailed video. This was very informative and helpful.
Awesome video thanks for the tips and ideas
Doc thank you for posting this video of your skills, it's a great video in the future.....Peace
You present a good common sense approach for emergency preparation, thanks and real storm footage great job!
nice video and advice.need a service plug on outside of house my man!you not a full blown prepper but on your way i think?ii may be just because im from the midwest and dont get a lot of days i have lost power but when i do,all your advice rings true..time to prep is now!
so after power was out several hours I decided to get the generator out and hook it up ,...after about 20 minutes Power came on...( naturally ) so i drained all the gas I could get out with a fuel pump back into the gas can....moved the thing back and forth could only see a tad of fuel in the tank...SO I started it up to run it out......and it ran and ran and ran...so I turned the fuel valve off as you said and it still ran and ran and ran....never did shut off on it's own even after 30+ minutes of running and yet can not see any fuel in the tank...So i just added some sta-bil to the tank in case there was some fuel left in it....BUT it never did shut off on it's own even with the valve shut off......never had that happen before....strange but true...and one other thing it says it is 5500w and 6750w start up , so if it is 6750w start up on the side should that mean that the Start up wattage is covered already in that case ?
One other thing fill your car with gas always keep a full tank when there's a storm coming and find a good way to siphon out the gas cuz you have a lot of gas stored in a car if gas stations go down you're not going to get more fuel but you will have if you siphon it out of your car
thank you for so valuable information, thank you for taking the time to make this video, God bless you
Thank you for posting this. It will help me in DC...
Awesome video Doc. Best one I've found on this subject. One to save for future use and sharing with others. I didn't even know you had this channel. I recognize you from your Gold Hog vids. At first I thought I had loaded the wrong video, lol.
Just had an electrician install a transfer switch and connection jack to run my whole house with my 7KW Honda. Connects directlyl at the meter box. That way I don’t need to run any extension cords except the one to the outside of the house. Everything stays plugged to the wall. An electrician will make sure everything is correct so you don’t zap your electronics etc. The only thing it won’t run is the AC’s but I can get by with fans. Cost me $450 but worth it!
you should just make yourself a back feed cable to a dryer plug and skill all those cords. just turn off main braker and connect your generator to your dryer plug it is safe as long as you know what to do.
So I have a question about powering sensitive electronics like your television. Are you concerned with the power surge, that the PC board on your TV might get fried? It happened to me once and fortunately it was under warranty.
www.howtowithdoc.com/best-home-generators-hurricane-prep/ conditioner on the page if concerned.
Thank you for such a thoughtful and careful explanation offering your experience and expertise. In MA. we have seen few hurricanes with minor damage but climate change has been causing more heavier snow with rain that ices over, bringing down power lines that can last during sub-zero temps. Many people in my area are truly unprepared. You offer many good ideas and intro to great items that are good to have!
Excellent video..very informative....Thank you for your time.......Kevin
Gotta have coffee!! Number one priority! 😄
Very informative vlog with great tips & tools of the trade. Thanks! 😊
I got a duel fuel generator but I use only propane right now bur I got the gas option if I have a hard time getting propane.
This dude is READY
Did you run any kind of AC during the Hurricane Irma power outage? The heat was brutal. My 7500 watt Sportsman tri-fuel gen will not run my central AC but it will run the rest of the house, including the refrigerator and two window unit ACs.
Nobody talks about oil change for portable generators,There was an ice storm,we were deprived of electricity for 24 days.My naybor is a machinist and he was fixing generators on a daily basis.
The motor were seized.If a gernerator runs all day,oil must be change the oil on a daily basis as well.If you buy a generator to run your house,buy one that has a large oil capacity,an oil pump and an oil filter (Like a car)The are easyer to service as well.
Bye.
Lucien
Thank you, this is the most helpful thing I have seen about generators.
Thank you for these amazing advices ! Greetings from Québec ! 😉
what a luxury all that space. Here in the Netherlands we live in my city with
I wired an 8k Surg, 6.5k continuous directly to the 220 side of the box, not cords and the whole house runs as normal. If you don't have enough power/amps/watts you can blow your refrig, freezer, TV ...... If you have elect stove, heat, hot water, you will need a high wattage genset or do not use them. Our old home was all elect and we had a 20k, our new home is all gas and the 8k is fine, however we are going to 12k so I can still use my shop.. Do not under buy, it will cost you more.
If you can lock your doors and stay put for 3 to 6 months you are a prepper. You just don't like the negative connotation the media has attached to the word "prepper" but it's okay, being a prepper isn't a bad thing.
Not really... a true prepper plans for 3 months to 3 years. We're simply prepared for 1-6 weeks at anytime. Comes from coastal living. i.e. We actually lived in Wilmington NC which is now flooded out and closed off.
Check out your own words starting at about 1:15 of your video. You said you could lock your doors and stay there for 3 to 6 months so therefore you are a prepper. It only means you are prepared and that's not something to be ashamed of.
Not ashamed at all..... just warding off the LONG list of comments from those that do prep. At the coast... 2-3 months worth of supplies SHOULD be the norm.
Agreed. I have a daughter that lives in Brunswick Co. NC with her husband and 2 children that are surviving quite well without power still because I taught her the importance of being prepared for the known and the unknown. Everybody, regardless of were they live should be prepared to survive independently for a minimum of 3 weeks without help IMHO.
Great video with a lot of down to earth information.
Thank you. Absolutely love your video.
A lot of great info in this video! I'm in NY so I'd love to be able to run my furnace off of a generator but unfortunately it's hard wired in. Have you though about installing a transfer switch to run the whole house?
Diff Family Reviews I run a transfer switch with the 220 outlet on my generator. I converted it to nat gas. I will never run out of power.
Nice! That's kind of on my future to do list.
I enjoyed the video, especially the part suggesting what size generator to get for your home. What about the surge rating of the generator itself? If there is a generator that states it is rated for 10,000W "surge" watts and 7,500 W running wattage, is the 10,000W rating safe to judge when considering what items to hook up to the generator?
Thanks very much.
Mine reads 9000 watt peak/surge also known as peak.
I went through the question again.
I have I think 7800 running watt at 9000 peak, so let's use just microwaves. I have 7 microwaves at 1000 watt each but each has a draw or peak or surge of 1300 ad those up. 2100 plus 7000 puts me over the peak at 9100. I can run 6.
Hope that helps
Excellent info! Thank you!
Good tip on the surge watts calculation.
May i please ask if you know how to connect my electric dryer to our 5750 generator. The dryer will start but no heat.
Great video! Very informative!
Does Running such minimal stuff on tnr generator seem wasteful? If burning the fuel does it make more sense to get every bit of energy from it? Or, does loading more use more fuel?