Thank you for all the comments, definitely did not think this would get viewed this much. 95% of the comments have been useful, and very civil. I have learned a lot from y'all. From gas storage ideas, when to use the generator to solar additions and maintenance. Thank you for all the advice. I really appreciate it.
Greetings. I hope all is well. There are videos showing how to connect an external gas tank and extend the run time of your Honda Gen. Maybe you would be interested in that?
Personally I would go with a propane generator. The propone fuel can be stored for extremely long periods of time in 20lb.tanks. You can always keep several around filled. Plus you can use them for fueling a grill for cooking and a heater if the power is out. You can also buy propane operated refrigerators and freezers. Just putting my tow cents in.
This is exactly what I felt when I watched this video. Just a normal person navigating a disaster. No "you should have already bought this 20 years ago" energy.
@@frustratedalien666 sometimes i find "preppers" (and I am one, living in a really isolated rural area you have to be prepared for longer periods unable to access power, phone...) have a kinda "crazed" energy and way of thinking about them i find mildly irritating. there is also a somewhat smug "i told you so" that makes me think one of my neighbours is a complete jerk.
@@Scriptorsilentum There's definitely a difference between a "prepper" and "Being without power for a few days is a realistic worry, I should have a plan."
It is a waste of fuel to operate a generator all night. Your Fridge / Freezer will hold its temperature over night, especially with the door being closed and not opened all night. One other thing you can do is to keep some frozen jugs of water in the freezer and place them in the fridge overnight to keep the fridge cooler (essentially turning the fridge into an icebox fridge). In the morning when the generator is restarted, place the melted jugs back in the freezer to "recharge". Source is my experience with the ice storm of 1998 in the Thousand Islands, no power for 28 days!
I agree with your statement somewhat, but as somebody who lives in Florida and dealt with Helene and Milton it’s hard to sleep when it’s 90° plus in the house. We run ours through the night to keep a room cool for our animals and family. Thankfully the weather after Milton has cooled to the 70s.
It's good to see someone thats prepared but not overdoing it and considerate of others. Congratulations and thank you for looking after others as well as yourself.
This is a great advertisement for Honda. Clearly the guy making this video is a wonderful person and quite intelligent. It appears his normal world is NOT power equipment or making everyday things work. Even so, he was able to unbox a generator, operate it safely, and have excellent results for both him and his community. I grew up with a farmer for a dad and have been playing with engines and making things work since I was a small child. It’s interesting to see someone without a similar upbringing getting things done and doing them well. Even though off brand generators can be purchased for cheaper, a Honda is the best generator for emergency power because of their legendary reliability and clean consistent power.
@jacuzzibusguy that’s fair. Small engines are not my specialty. So I’m learning a lot from all the comments. But I camp a lot, so all that gear was useful.
@ I see tons of people on forums talking about how great the return policy is as harbor freight with their Chinese clones that are only half the money. Nobody knows what the Honda return policy is, because nobody ever needs to use it. When I’m dealing with a widespread power outage and nothing is open for miles around due to a storm, it doesn’t matter how great the return policy is on the broken generator. I want a Honda that s gonna work when I need it.
When hurricanes hit home in my experience neighbors are the first line of support. You helped your neighbors and that is what it is all about. Thanks for sharing.
I'm happy you and your family made it through this disaster safely, and I pray for those missing and the families that have been devastated. I'm glad to hear there are people like you who are willing to help their neighbors. Keep up the awesome work and God Bless you and your family.
I would advise to keep 10-15 gals of non-ethanol gas on hand for the generator. Use Sta-Bil, as well, to extend the shelf life of the gas. Rotate the gas, ie use in the car, every 6 months to keep fresh. I rotate mine, 10 gallons at a time, at the year mark.
I have a 14 gal fuel caddy that I stupidly let get low. It had about 4 gallons in it, which was very useful, but it would have been MUCH more useful had it been full. I may get another one. 28 gallons would be even more useful.
Diesel lasts 2x as long, but you can't get small diesels. They just don't really exist under 10kw. Propane will last indefinitely - and more importantly, you can get dual fuel inverter generators in more convenient sizes.
I have lost power for five days and nine days and have a 5500 watt generator. I have learned that after a few days, you are spending more in gas to keep the refrigerator running than what the food is worth. Refrigerators will keep food cold for four hours without power, freezers for 24. To save fuel, maybe run the generator every three hours to get the fridge back down to temp. Charge phones and portable battery packs during that time.
You can also daisy chain them for larger power output. If you invest in another 2200 buy the power cable that plush your old one to it and you’ll double the power output.
Aussie in Thailand here. Well done on donating the generator once you had power restored. That's what all humans should do, look after you and yours first and then help out the local and wider community. Great to see. Those little honda generators (and brush cutters and anything with a little honda engine) cost more than some of the other options, but will rarely let you down....as four years without unboxing showed!!!!!
@@Ulbre it’s amazing how many people have watched this video. Thank you for the kind words. I realize now I took a chance never opening it. I have also learned a lot from the comments
@@jaystusit’s a good idea @gregoryclark3870 has about painting them. those Honda gens are worth every penny and after a big disaster like what you guys have had they suddenly become prime targets.
That’s sad-disaster victims struggling to survive in such disasters have been through enough already! Then they have to concerned about thieves and dangerous people stealing what little they have to survive with? 🤦 😒
I’d run that Honda on eco all the time if I were you. An inverter generator will automatically throttle up and down to adjust to the load applied to it, that is one of the main advantages to an inverter generator, they can maintain 120v at 60 hz at any throttle position while still putting out clean power that is safe for sensitive electronics. The only time you would need to turn the eco throttle off is if you are trying to start a large motor like an air compressor. The eco throttle will save you a lot of fuel, which is a crucial thing in an emergency when fuel is hard to get. We recently lost power for 2 days and I had a full size refrigerator and 2 full size freezers running on our 2000 watt inverter generator on eco throttle. The generator was able to start the compressors and run all three at the same time on eco as long as I plugged them in one at a time so the compressors weren’t all trying to start at the same time. A small generator is a game changer when the power is out for days at a time. Every time we get a major storm I see people out buying the biggest generator they can find and I have to wonder if they have any idea how much fuel it’s gonna take to run that thing for a day. At best it’ll get expensive quick and at worst they’ll be out of fuel quickly and unable to get more.
Thank you, I’m really learning a lot I noticed the eco was very efficient. I ran it on eco almost the whole time. Except when I ran the washing machine
Most electronics run on switching power supplies. They filter the electricity on both sides of the switch so it really doesn't matter if the power is "clean" or not.
The Honda eu3200i is the most fuel efficient generator on the market. However a dual fuel gives you the most options, which the eu3200i is only gasoline.
Also if you buy an expensive ext cord like a 100 foot 10 AMP use electrical tape around it and maybe even have a wire stick out as well, they won't steal a bad extension cord. I just purchased a 175 dollar cord.
Thank you for making this video. You are the first person who demonstrated and explained how to use a generator and I completely appreciate that. Everything you mentioned makes so much sense and I will be able to be better prepared, when our power goes out…AGAIN. 🤔 Thank you!
Thanks for the advice. I appreciate the honesty in the small mistakes that didn’t make a difference this time, but might in the future. Much appreciated!
Well done on this video, Sir! We live in hurricane country, Florida and it was nice to see how you prepared and what you actually used. Your video gave me a few things to think about and confirmed much if what I’ve been thinking.
Just my opinion but putting all your eggs in one basket is foolish, even if the basket says Honda on the side. For the price of a Honda you could get two or three cheaper brands to have as backups. Even Hondas breakdown and then you're boned.
I live in Asheville. The surprise for me was communications. After Food and Water, comm goes to the third spot. We lost power, internet, water, and cellphones. The generac is worth its weight in gold, thank god we didn't lose natural gas too or we would have been SOL. Make sure you maintain your generac, we had a neighbor that was depending on it but wasn't doing enough maintenance, it failed to start. Once we jump started it, it blew oil all over the place from a broken sensor, not the time to find this out. I used a battery powered radio to find emergency status discussions, don't forget to try your radio in your car. Many neighbors had no idea what was going on for several days until temporary cellphone towers were up. I located a Starlink mini and it was a life saver too, highly recommend looking into it, it works (still using it until Spectrum decides to fix stuff) Also I learned next time a major weather event is coming, fill up the bathtubs and fill the car up with gas.
I hope you’re recovering well. I spend so much time camping up there. It’s so hard to see all the damage. I think starlink might be the future of internet after this. We still don’t have much charter working in Greenville. I’ve learned a lot from the comments about maintenance . This has taught me a lot. I saw some of Asheville is starting to now get water again.
@@somethingclever1234 get a baefang UV5R and learn how to use it legally. In an emergency, no-one cares if you have a Ham or GMRS license or what wattage you are broadcasting on. I bought most of my family and friends one and have it programed, with beginner instructions. And for news get a shortwave radio and batteries(dont store batteries in the radio). Learn how to cook in a cast iron dutch oven and buy charcoal. Survival skills are perishing skills, so you have to practice. Its not good enough to have the equipment. Know how to use it.
For anyone else reading this, starlink service is being provided at no charge for hurricane areas until the end of the year. You do need to purchase the equipment though
During Hurricane Michael, I was without electrical service for 27 days. If you only open the refrigerator to remove food once, each morning, running the generator a half hour twice a day will keep things cold, as gasoline was hard to get. Propane refills were out of service. I duct taped the freezer door sealed. Individual solar lights ( I have a Luci) worked well. An inexpensive Harbor freight 55 watt solar system and one deep cycle battery kept communication phones and radios working for several families. The charge controller has 3V, 6V, 9V, 12V, and USB outlets and one 12 volt light bulb. A liquid fuel Coleman stove and a gallon of gasoline kept me cooking, including pressure canning meat. Old time kerosene lamps and lanterns worked well, and modern diesel fuel burns well with acceptable odor, if you run out of K1 kerosene. And I agree with you on this: You can find cheaper generators than a Honda, but none better. I had 2 1/2 gallons of no- alcohol fuel to run at the end before storage, but used ethanol for the most part, due to price and availability.
You can convert a chest freezer into an incredibly efficient refrigerator. Use a temperature controller (a simple plug-in is fine) to force the temperature to 37F or so (35-40) Condensation will be an issue, but chest freezers will have a drain outlet (most aren't frost-free). Just pop it open and put a drain pan underneath When you open the lid from above, all the cold air stays inside
@@sparkywilson1405 I have an upright freezer that has a refrigerator mode setting built in. It is also rated "garage ready" which means it functions efficiently in a wider environmental temperature range than a standard household refrigerator.
Glad you and your family made it through safely! And thank you for sharing your story and tips. Lots of people have ideas, but real world experience teaches valuable lessons. One tip I have - when you're done with the generator, run it until the fuel runs out. Even with stabilizer in the gas, even with non-ethanol gas, it can gum up your carb and you might not be able to start it when you need it. Oh, and a second tip - a good camping cooler half filled with ice will keep milk and meat safe and cool for several days. If you can get ice, that can be a better solution than cycling the fridge with the generator. Great call on using the camping stoves off the 20lb propane tanks. Great call on keeping the generator away from the house!
The Mountains of Western North Carolina here. I watched your video and enjoyed it, plus, I read a number of comments in the comment section below. There were many good things said. It's great seeing a community of people coming together to share their experiences. We were hit hard by Hurricane Helene. We had numerous trees down on our property, plus our basement flooded. We are up at about 3,000 feet elevation, sitting up, above the Cane River, which is devastated. The river rose 30 feet above it's shoreline, wreaking havoc. The devastation in our area is beyond what photos show. To get out off of our property, we have to drive through a farmer's cow pasture and farm, for which we are so thankful. All of our roads are still washed out, even after 5 weeks, since the hurricane hit. Repairs are being made. There were so many homes and farms washed into the river. The loss of lives is way beyond what is being reported. There were dead bodies stuck up under debris, in trees, in deep mud, etc. They brought in dogs to find bodies, that were tossed and drug throughout our river. One of our friends lost their brother in the storm and they found his dead mangled body 30 miles downstream. At night because it was so quiet, we could hear Coyotes gnawing on dead bodies, along with dead cows, horses, etc. We've been living in an Apocalyptic Movie. We just got our electric power back on. We've learned so much during this test. We still have no TV, no internet, etc. Our phone service is spotty at best. We are still in recovery mode and will be for many months to come. There were complete mountain towns washed away. There are still places up here with no way in or out by road. We harvest rain water, and garden, (canning and preserving our food as a way of life) which saved our lives. We filter our water before we drink it, or boil it. No power, means no running water. Our plans are in the immediate future to hook up a solar system to run our well. Because it takes so much,water to flush a toilet, we set up a portable outhouse, out on our front porch. (Or as you city folks call it a deck) Our neighbor completely lives off the grid, including an old fashioned out house, so he had minimal impact,from this storm. Water was key for us. We distributed water to neighbors, which helped everyone emensley. We all have three to twenty plus acres in our area. Our survival mindset kicked in after a couple of days. We actually began enjoying living in the 1700's. When our power came back on, we were somewhat disappointed. Although it is nice being able to flush a toilet. I could go on and on with how we survived this Apocalypse, but most importantly, I wanted to thank GOD first for HIS guidance and protection. 🙏 Also we want to thank the many people, neighbors helping neighbors, our local and regional churches helping so many people, with supplies, prayer and love, to so many out of state people bringing in supplies (and still are) because the loss was so great. You have to understand that so many farmers 🚜 lost their crops, cattle, etc. A special thanks to Samaritans Purse, out of Boone, to the Cajun Navy from Lousianna, to the thousands of volunteers from all over, to the Electric Companies, the Linemen and Women who are still restoring power, to the Armed National Guard, to folks who came in with Mules to bring supplies to our backcountry mountain folks who were stranded. We still cry daily, because our mountains are in pain. We feel the pain and loss. There is so much devastation. The trees and rocks are crying out. In time we will all heal, but it will be another generation before this will happen. Pray continually for those who lost family members, their homes, their farms and businesses. This storm impacted 25 counties plus 1.5 million people, just in western North Carolina alone. Our neighboring states of Tennessee, West Virginia, Georgia, South Carolina and Florida were also impacted. I even heard there was storm damage all of the way up into Kentucky, Ohio, etc. Thank you for everything. Blessings to all survivors.🙏
I appreciate your comment. Thank you for sharing. I have donated here n there to just a few ppl on Go Fund Me but, because of your comment, I will make a sizeable donation to Samaritan’s Purse🙏🏾👍🏾🤗🇬🇧
Kudos to you for having some basic preparedness. One thing I might suggest - take a look at the propane conversion for the 2200i. I have converted my two 2200s to run on either gasoline or propane and keep ~240lb of propane on hand to run them. A few 100lb tanks and the regular 20lb grill tanks makes for a soundlevel of preparedness, but ultimately it is just a nice to have the ability to run off a fuel source like propane and not have to worry about stabilizing gasoline. Stay safe and glad you and yours were able to ride out the storm and its aftermath. **And I agree - the battery chainsaws are pretty convenient for us folks who don't use them frequently. Out west I appreciate that I don't have to deal with jetting issues since mine is used at altitudes ranging from 4200-10000 feet.
We have a multifuel generator and solar power systems. I prefer propane too for stability. We keep 5 full 20 lb tanks at all times and 2 extra tanks for our grill. We also have a cool little stove that you can charge phones and laptop off of while you cook.
A Duel Fuel Generator is a must have. Growing up in Hurricane Country (South Florida) I learned how difficult and dangerous it can be to Get Gasoline (when everyone is Panicking), and then having to Store the gasoline safely. Having a 5 gal can of gas for vehicles and chain saws is important but you don't want to have to store too much. Propane is EASY and while it is not a good as gas in a generator.....it is Good Enough and you can store ALOT of propane much easier and more safely.
Have a Wen 4000w gas/propane gen, and EcoFlow max 2 solar gen. This got us through Ian in 22, no pwer 9 days, and recently Milton. Just run solar at night, and propane during day,topping off solar before dark. Fridge, lights and coffee is all. As other comments, propane stores better, and no need to continuously run. 2 hours on 4 hours off is fine. Did add Coleman camp stove, and small propane spares. Store water and food. Charge everything ahead of time for no bad surprises. Solar gen now better and cheaper than when I got. Great vid.
I have the previous generation of this generator (actually 2 of them I bought in 2006). A couple of tips for you. When you go to put it back in storage, run the tank dry, dump any residual gas in the tank out, and drain the carburetor. You drain the carburetor by loosening a screw in the bottom of the fuel bowl. The gas will drain through a clear plastic tube that exits the bottom of the generator, just behind that removable panel. Second tip is that generator has a fuel pump. That allows it to be connected to an auxiliary fuel tank using something called the BERGS system from IPI Industries. We have actually set some up using surplus NATO jerry cans using a pickup system from Lexington Container and immersible hose from McMaster Carr.
Thanks for the info, everyone's prep is different and it's nice to hear other people's experiences in these situations. I think I'm pretty well prepared however you video and others like it always touch on a topic or two that I missed.
Coupling your generator with any of the modern "solar generators" is a real force multiplier. Massively shortens the amount of time you need to have the Honda running. Simply run generator when your Ecoflow, Anker, or Bluetti needs recharging. Can also augment with solar panels easily.
My Jackery 1000 plus was a lifesaver during Beryl, as was my cobb flashlights from dollar tree, and my midea window AC (that I could run on the Jackery) as well as box fan. I only ran the Midea u-shaped window unit for 20 minutes to cool down my bedroom so I could go to sleep here near Houston. It is better to run your laptop and your router than to run a tv off your Jackery--uses less power. Turn your fridge to the coldest setting before the storm and to the lowest after the storm, then chill for a few intermittent hours---like one on and 3 off. I am glad I came across this video as it reminds me that I still need to pick up that timer to make it automatic on the fridge. The freezer only uses like 50 watts when it runs which is probably less than 100 watts in a day. I want to add another 1000 watts in second battery for my Jackery as then I could leave the house for a day or two and go where there is power without worry.
Tampa, FL. Lost power for a full 5 days after Milton. Used about 12 gallons of gas running generator for 45 minutes every 3 hours or so. Used a gas camping stove for cooking some things. Used quite a few candles. Used a battery backup that could charge phones about 3x. The generator is most important because of the refrigerator and rechargeables. We liked having bread and meat for home made subs. A portable AC would have been really nice because the heat makes it miserable - that’s the next item I’m getting.
This was fabulous. I appreciate you being thorough and explaining details. I wish more prepping videos would ask guests on who have been through an incident of any level just so we can learn.
Recently lost power for 3 days form Milton. Have the Honda 2000 generator. Best use case is run it for a few hours, have the fridge plugged in during that time so no drain on battery system. Also top off your big battery systems when running. Then run solar throughout the day. Then Honda again at night to top off. With that combo of enough batteries and solar panels can minimize the use of the generator to like maybe 2-3 hours a day total and still run a fridge full time and other items. Have had that Honda for 15-20 years maybe. It's been clutch.
I'm a huge fan of USB power banks, we have the USB fans and lights as well. We purchased a Bluetti for our outages. We have a generator, but if the outage is less than 3 days we don't need it. We also got one for my Mom, the AC180, which has enough power to run a microwave. She lives in a high-rise and appreciates the ability to make warm food. Thanks for sharing your experience, it's good to know what was used.
You found a great solution. A small little inverter-generator is all you usually need to run critical items that make life easier without utility power. Conserving gasoline is important. I have a similar setup but with the addition of a beefy power station (2000Wh of LiFePO4 storage, 2000W inverter), and I have a bit of solar too. So in power outages I charge the power station from the generator and solar, and the power station runs the fridge. That way the generator only needs to run 2-3 hours a day and can be physically turned off the rest of the time... which uses even less gas. The power station's inverter stays on 24x7. -Matt
Having moved from FL recently, I know this drill more than I care for. Longest times without power was 9 and 11 days. Definitely, a midrange battery generator (2kw) is a great upgrade to the plan, with possibly some solar panels(and great for camping). Also, consider a duel fuel generator, such as propane/gas. Propane stores better than gas. I suggest shopping during black Fri.
Thats exactly what we did with Milton. Generator for like 1 to 1.5 hours the morning and evening to top off the batteries quick. Then solar throughout the day to charge and cover everything. Batteries running stuff like 21 hours.
That’s my plan unless I need AC or even worse heat. If I need those the gas generator is likely going to be the go to for heat, if I’m out of propane for the little buddy heater. I have two smaller A-iPower 2000 watt generators that can be run in parallel if needed.
Here in Texas being relatively close to the coast we invested in a whole house generator due to frequent and multi-day outages because of Hurricanes, freezes, and storms. It runs on the natural gas line to our home and it is like you never lost power. It starts up 5 seconds after power goes out and is worth it if you can afford it and have frequent enough multi-day outages. Otherwise if power outages are rare a portable generator is all you need, just make sure take it out and start it once a month or it can lock up and won't work when you need it. This happened to our neighbor during Hurricane Beryl, they had not started it in a year and it did not work.
@@AD-rl4jv definitely worth it. Thankfully this isn’t normal for us, but also what made it bad. I’ve definitely learned a lot from the comments. Thank you.
i wondered about using a machine heavily for a week or two then storing it unused (unmaintained?) for a year or so and what effect it would have. dad has a decent honda and he runs it every thirty days - tops up all the jackeries and the 24 volt tractor-trailer batteries in his "Power House" - well away from his house and anything flammable. so far it hand-cranks perfectly every time and usually runs for about 40 - 50 minutes. everything is topped up. i noticed he checks oil level and cleanliness before pulling it every time. if there's something i learned in my life from him it's never abuse a machine by trying to make it do what it was not designed to do. i figured out on my own after my first car maintenance is a repair BEFORE the fact. maintenance after the fact is usually - what? x dollars to the power of 3 - much more expensive than if i had checked something first before use. motto: check and test, check and test. 😁
@@Scriptorsilentum so a person made a comment that I should sell it and buy a new one. Then I don’t have to worry about any maintainer. Because it might sit for another 4 years. And it didn’t seem like a terrible idea.
I learned that I need to make sure and TEST my generator so It works AND make sure my 375gal propane tank is full. I needed a low pressure part and It took 3 weeks to get it. I had the systems to be just fine not having power for over a week, but I didn't test to make sure they actually worked.
Nice video! I bought my Honda generator after a Derechio that happened up here in NJ right before Hurricane Sandy thank goodness. Funny how we always get things After suffering.
I dont think anyone has mentioned the oil change intervals yet, but you might want to do a 1-2 hr initial oil change ahead of time to get all the metal particles out of the engine before running it long term. I did the 1st change after 1 hour and then another well before the manual recommendation because that oil comes out dirty and full of particals you dont want swimming around your engine for 15 hours. There are always people complaining that their generator didn't last very long, and I'm willing to bet most of the time it's lack of maintenance or understanding how it should be done to extend its life. I think of it like this. Many car manufacturers claim 100,000 mile transmission services and 100,000 spark plugs, but if you follow those guidelines, you're really setting yourself up for premature failure and expensive repairs down the road. Great video. And try to use the shortest length power cord necessary for the job. The other commenters are correct. Voltage drop, heat build up, and potential wear to the items being underpowered is a thing.
Thanks, definitely a lot of good information in the comments, they have been very useful. I did my first oil change after 15 hours. So hopefully it helped.
I agree with you, especially on smaller engines, oil changes, more frequently, are a worth while, nominal expense, compared to the price of the equipment. Less than $20 most of the time
most generators "don't last long" because they leave gas in the tank and carb after using it,water condenses in the tank and rusts it,and the gas in the carb gums up the jets,if the rust doesn't clog the fuel filter. engines don't run very well with water in the gas.
Thanks for the info, and still hoping for the people still suffering effects from these storms to find relief. A nice thing to do when prepping is to consider the likelyhood of events to prep for. You can get stuff for the more likely events (short power outages) first, making your life better/easier, and get stuff for less likely events (space alien invasion, zombie apocalypse) later.
WELL DONE, sir! My wife and I have a 600 Watt Solar Array on our storage Shed. That feed our 5 KWH Battery Bank that connects to a 1000 Watt PURE Sine Inverter. This Battery Bank is used to charge all of OUR USB devices, as well as light every room in the house, Charge Our Ham Walkie Talkies, and run our 100 Watt HF Ham Station, AND the Entertainment system and Phones WITHOUT the need for a Gas Generator. Very LITTLE of our food depends on the fridge; most of it is dry goods and canned. I DO NOT agree with having a huge freezer where ALL of that food would be lost without electricity. We have Two One-burner Camp Stoves and just over 100 Fuel Canisters put back for them. We heat with Kerosene and we strive to keep a 100 Gallon Kerosene reserve(Which we have not been able to do this year). We had a windstorm in 2007 that killed our power for six days. By day Two, I had the entire emergency system running at our home. My wife came home from work to a WARM House, Lights on, the TV & DVD had a movie going, and she had a warm dinner waiting for her. On the Evening of day Four, a Line Crew chief stopped by the house and asked me HOW we had lights and heat. All I told him is that we had a Big Battery backing us up. A LOT of folks around here DO have Kerosene Heaters, so he did not ask about our heat. Back then I only had 200 Watts of Solar and just ONE 100 Amp Lithium Battery. Web are MUCH better prepared now! I opted for Solar over a Gas Generator, because I did NOT want that noise drawing unwanted attention. We were VERY comfortable during that event compared to our neighbors. My efforts caught the attention of the Adventist Church we attend which resulted in my now being in Charge of Disaster Response for our Congregation.
I think if I was looking now, a battery version would definitely be considered. They have come a long ways in 4 years. And they have a lot of benefits.
It's probably already been said in the comments below but if you store gas you must place "stabilizer" in it which can be purchased at the auto parts store. Also, may want to purchase a chain to secure it to something solid so it is not stolen. Yes, if you just turn it off and store it, the gas in the system/carb will gum it up, hence running it out of gas to shut it down is the way to go. Have a fire extinguisher available just in case. Thank you
Yes, we’re also in upstate SC, and we were blessed compared to so many others. Generators, with fuel already standing by, were awesome. Refilling gasoline or propane was very difficult or impossible the first few days. We lost public power early on Sept 27, regained it about 10AM on Oct 07, 2024. No problems with water or sewer, and our home itself was undamaged. Cell phones and WiFi were down. No direct 911 for some time. Once the main highways and other roads began being cleared of trees & debris, then repairs began. Radios (9 volt, ham, etc..) were the only source of real-time information. Our local radio station 98.9FM was up & on air, and great. A maintained generator, with fuel, became an important part of life.
@@BoomerMutt55 yup, we had the same experience. Now I’m just collecting fire wood. Natural gas water heater was nice. And thankfully nice weather after.
The Honda generator is always a piece of equipment you can count on. Good choice. A few years ago I got a great deal on a standby generator. It has bailed me out three times when I've lost power. The last time was dead of winter and the neighbors were coming to me for water being that I live in a rural area. The weather is getting more and more aggressive for whatever reason. Get and stay prepared. Be proactive and not reactive. You will thank yourself 10 fold when it hits the fan.
I've used the Ryobi dual power fan during a power outage. Uses Ryobi batteries when you can't use A/C. Lasts a long time and will put out a lot more airflow vs a usb fan.
I HIGHLY recommend everyone look into getting a battery power station like an Ecoflow, Bluetti, Anker or something JUST SO you don't have to run your generator all the time. You can even get some solar panels to help make your gas generator last just a little bit longer per full tank of gas. We have a Delta Pro and it saved our asses down here in Florida for the 3 days we didn't have power. We could have gone much longer too. Also, a lot of these battery stations accept a DC input as well as an AC input at the same time, so you can supercharge them fast if need be.
We're in the SC Midlands, and I used to stay prepared for hurricane season, but got rid of a lot during a move 6 years ago. Thankfully our home didn't receive any significant damage (including extended power outages), but Helene was an eye-opener at how complacent I've gotten and a kick in the pants.
@@ceezer373 for sure. And then I think I will probably never be without power for almost a week again. Maybe a few days here and there. But I admit. Probably the wrong thinking.
IIRC, the manual says to start it in regular mode, not eco. Given that it was probably still warm, I don't think it matters, but that's _my_ method. I'm also keeping my EU2200 fired up monthly for about 10 minutes, whether I need it or not. ;) Thanks for the good video that will be helpful to other folks. Cheers!
We had no power for 8 1/2 day due to the same hurricane. Our small generator was powerful enough to run both our up right freezer and 20' frig. Only needed to run the generator about 16 to 17 hours per day. We used solar powered landscape lights in the house and recharged them outside everyday. My suggestion is to keep at least 10 gallons of fuel for your generator on hand. Just remember to put either fuel stabilizer in the gas can or dump it into your car's gas tank every other month.
We used our huge battery bank to power our refrigerator for the 12 hours we were without power in Hudson, FL. I used my Ryobi One + battery fan for my wife. We did not need to cook because our power came back rather quickly.
I gave a 7KW DuroMax, a 3kw Honda and a 2k Honda. Oil changes and proper oil level are essential. A clean air filter and fresh fuel are a must. Run them dry so no fuel remains in them, best to only use non-ethanol gas. This store put us offline for power 10 days, I ran the 7KW about 70% of the time. Every third night I would shut it off, fill and start it in the morning to keep fans and fridges going. I loaned the smaller Honda to my neighbor. Our internet came back in day 6 or 7. Having a home built TV antenna to pull in over the air stations for news kept us informed and gave us a way to have some entertainment. We used an electric grill, electric fry pan, coffee maker, toaster, etc. used a kids pool warmed by the sun to take baths on the deck. We were in good shape.
@@jaystus I gave a 3500 watt generator to a friend in Bakersville, NC. He has had it first several years now. He waited till Hellene hit to think about hooking it. He is happy to have it but should have been more prepared. He still is without power.
@@dellalderman8011 lol even more crazy I paid 2.3k for a 11kw inverter gen. they paying 1K for 2kw capacity. ( ill concede running vs peak). yea kinds speaks for itself
Glad you've gotten by after that storm and are safe. I've got a couple things for your consideration going forward that would boost your preparedness. 1) You should have fuel on hand, assuming you can store it safely, for things like your VEHICLE, generator, and other power tools that take fuel. With Gasoline, make sure you add in the stabilizer to extend its life and work on a rotation so you always have somewhat fresh gas on hand. I've stored gas for more than the recommended 2 years with no noticeable problems. The harder core group generally recommends things like a 5 gal per month where you're refreshing one container each month, but you have 60 gals on hand for emergency. 2) You might consider a duel-fuel generator/Inverter. Propane can be stored safer than gasoline and has no expiration date. Additionally you can use the propane with a number of other garden/camping devices like a BBQ that would also be useful under such conditions.
Maybe someone has already suggested it, but get an interlock so you can power anything (120v with the Honda) in your house with a single chord. Interlocks are extremely useful!
That’s a great generator. I have two Champions that can be linked together like your Honda. Living in Florida I get a lot of use out of mine. So glad you have that on hand to help you through. And glad you are helping your neighbors. One piece of advice with your generator: Do not plug your things into your generator until AFTER you start the generator. Not sure why…but…your manual will heavily stress that it’s important to start the generator..let it run a few minutes…THEN plug in. Thank you for the video! 💜
Living in Buffalo being prepared for snow storms is a must. Aside from the generator have plenty of water, food and supplies on hand. I'm always prepared so don't need to run out for much if anything before a storm. A generator is a must for sure and most people don't take care of them right. I have a duel fuel 3900 running watt inverter generator that I only run on non ethanol gas. Proper break in is a must as they don't have oil filters. I did 5 hours intervals three times on conventional oil and then run full synthetic. You could see the oil running cleaner with each change. We also have a transfer switch makeing it super easy to power all the essentials in the house. Just plug in one cord, flip a few switches and you are good to go. Run stabilizer in fuel and rotate inventory every six to twelve months. Also run generator 15 minutes or so every month and change oil every yea, whetherr you use it 100 hours or not. Have extra oil on hand as well. In an emergency yey who is prepared with everything on hand is the winner. I carry 25 gallons of fuel which will easily last a full week running non stop as my generator only goes through 3.5 gallons every 15 hours at 50 percent load. Stay safe everyone!!!!
We're on the Texas Gulf Coast, so we get lots of storms. Often, when the power is out, the temperature is in the mid to upper 90s with very high humidity. A fan doesn't really cut it then, especially at night when you want to sleep. A few years back I bought a window AC unit for under $200. I can pop it into our bedroom window in about 15 minutes. It cools the room down very well. When the kids were home, the plan was that we'd drag their mattresses in and put them on the floor so everyone could sleep well. I can run the AC unit on a Harbor Freight Storm Cat generator that cost less than $100. It will run all night on less than a tank of gas, which is 1.1 gallons. I have a 3600/4000 generator, but as you pointed out, large generators burn more fuel. I just picked up a 2000w inverter generator to run our computerized appliances on, and to charge a couple of small ecoflow solar generators. We have natural gas, so cooking on the stove isn't an issue, except for the added heat indoors. But we can cook outside as well on a propane stove. The next step is to have a switch added at our gas furnace blower motor so that I can safely run the 110v heater motor on backup power if it's cold. We buy hurricane lamps at estate and garage sales, and fuel when it goes on sale. Liquid paraffin doesn't smell as bad as kerosene, and it stores almost indefinitely. Lately, we've picked up some rechargeable tabletop lamps that were on sale. They are handy for camping, use on the patio, or when the power goes out. They will run from 18 to 36 hours on one charge. They have 5k MA batteries that will also partially charge another device. I also like the flashlights, or batteries, that are rechargeable off of a USB. I picked up a few portable folding solar panels when they were on sale that will recharge our batteries, lamps, power banks, and fans during the day. I like flashlights that will stand on their tail when you sit them down. On a low to medium setting you can illuminate a room well enough to do most tasks. Also, I'm a huge fan of headlamps. Having a headlamp is so much better than trying to hold a flashlight in your teeth while you try to fix something. Every time we have some kind of incident, I make a list of things that I wish that I had. Then I keep an eye out for good deals on those items later. Also, plan for the kind of emergencies that you are most likely to have in your area first. In my area, when we lose power it's often for only 1 to 5 days. So I try to plan for double that, just in case. We have young adult kids in the area as well, so we also plan that they will probably join us as well.
@@yellowdog762jb thanks! That’s a lot of good advice from from hand experience. I really have learned a lot from all the comments. I do need to get a headlamp, even to use camping
@jaystus Get one with a red light option. It won't attract bugs to your face, among the other many good reasons you may want to use red lights at times. They work well for hunting at night also. You can see animals, but they don't notice the red light. Works very well for rabbit hunting.
That generator is a quality piece of hardware. Eco mode provides enough speed to keep what every you needed powered at the right voltage and amperage. So run it in Eco after you plug everything in. Gas, Plan to stabilize and maintain ~20 gal on hand year around. Then you will never be without power. All the gas can be put through the car, so it is never wasted. Propane, Just have an extra tank on hand. If you go to garage sales/estate sales, sometimes you can pick up one very cheap. Then just fill it and put it away. As for generator storage for the next event, read your manual and pay attention to the long term storage mode so that it can be put away for the next event in a few years.
I purchased a dual fuel Wen generator right after Hurricane Beyrl. I went with Dual fuel because I did not want to keep multiple filled volatile 5-gallon gas containers in the garage. I caught the 20-pound propane tanks on sale and purchased three and had them filled and they are sitting at the ready. In the event of another Hurricane, I will buy a couple of more and at last resort will use gasoline if the propane runs out.
Good video. Sounds like your situation was very similar to mine. I'm in upstate SC, and lost power for 5.5 days. Didn't have a generator at the beginning. Was able to order one on the day the storm hit, but that didn't get delivered in time to save the contents of the fridge & freezer. I was able to borrow a generator on day 4, but that was too late for the fridge. The #1 most beneficial item for us was a generator and enough fuel to run it for 3 days. Around here, the craziness and panic buying had died down a bit by the end of day 3. Once we got a generator, things improved A LOT. We could at least keep our phones charged, which gave us access to information. We still need to obtain a means of cooking.
@@gearhead366 that’s where I am too upstate sc . Yeah after a few days I calmed down. Just had to wait for power. Thankfully we had natural gas and water. So still had hot water. I hope you’re recovering well.
@@jaystus Things are almost 100% back to normal now. We have power. Never lost water (thank God). There are still some storm cleanup and utility work going on. My wife and I are planning a renovation that will include gas (LNG) heat and water heating. And a whole house generation system that runs on LNG.
Florida man here. We store non ethanol gasoline with stabil in it for hurricane supplies. I have found that as long as the container is sealed air tight, the gas will stay good for years. I label the cans with date and year when I fill them. I then use my hurricane gas to mow the lawn so I am cycling the cans. I used gas from 2018 last year in my mower and weed whacker with no problems. After Milton I used gas from 2022 for four days in my generator. I typically store 30 gallons of gas. Obviously store you gas outside your house. Mine lives in a shed.
@@jaystus as long as you don’t learn some of the negative stuff like getting blind drunk at hurricane parties during the storm. We’re praying for you guys that were affected by hurricane Helene. The damage is just shocking to us having never seen a storm go through mountains like that.
Might want to move that generator away from those dry pine needles. If you get any sparks from the exhaust it will ignite that entire area like a napalm going off, even the green conifer bushes. My experience: Bushman and Arbor for many years.
I’m a small over 50 woman who LOVES the little Dewalt battery powered chainsaw. The large 8ah batteries last forever and the size of the saw is perfect for me.
Good to have a small quiet generator like that. It can run most things. Making use of USB is great. I have USB fans, USB string lights that only use 4 Watts which will run a long time on a battery pack. Also a thing to consider is Dewalt accessories... or knock off ones. I have a Dewalt blower, drill, and weed whacker, so I bought Dewalt battery lights, multiple sized fans, a converter to use USB from the Dewalt battery. This way I can make use of the multiple batteries I already had. I'll have to check out the chain saw, I didn't know they made one of those that runs off the battery packs.
@tempest-523 the chainsaw is really impressive, and no work. That’s smart, having some other dewalt lights is something I should look at even for camping. It ran everything I needed. I doubt I’ll ever be without power for 6 days again. Now I need to learn maintenance.
I have the dewalt battery chainsaw with the 1 foot bar on it. It has served me well over the years that I have had it. One thing I will note is to store it on its side, where the chain bar oil cap is on top; otherwise the oil will leak out of it.
I live in the Cascade range of Central Oregon. Snow can get 3' deep in Winter and -22 degrees. I have 2 generators 2000w and 4000w and 2 ATVs one of which I use to keep the main road open. I keep 35 gals. of gas always. I only buy pure non ethanol gas. Never ever put gas containing ethanol in any small engine. Ethanol gas is what keeps small engine mechanics in business. Thanks for the video.
I have the older version, eu2000i. I got an extended run tank for it. It's a 6 gal marine gas tank with a honda fuel cap that fills the tank using the internal tank vacuum. It will run for days with that. Since the generator is way to small run the central AC I keep a window AC unit take can run off the generator.
One major thing to consider when buying a generator is to buy a dual fuel generator and get a converter to use natural gas instead of propane if you have natural gas at your home. It is safer to store Propane tanks rather than gas cans full of gas that will continue to go bad. If you have natural gas, get a natural gas bbq grill and have a gas line run outside. Once you have that, you can cook all you want, because you have an unlimited source of fuel. With the outside gas line, you can, (with an adapter) also run your dual fuel generator and not worry about running out of fuel. During disasters, (except Earthquakes) the gas lines are not affected, and the plant providing the gas does not depend on the power grid to run the plant, they produce there own power.
Good list. We're in SC too, and were out of power about 1/2 a day. I just have a non-inverter generator that's enough to run the refrigerator and a light or two. Something I learned is that the power they produce depends on the speed the engine runs, so it was putting out about 150 volts until I adjusted the carburetor. But on the positive side it only uses about a gallon of gas a day. I have a power bank that we bought for long airplane trips. I think it's 10,000 mAh. It's really convenient because it's about the size of the phone and has short charging cords and Qi built in, so you can just hold it with the phone. We have a little fan for camping that has a battery built in. It has lights too. That was handy.
@@bob-rogers all the camping stuff definitely comes in handy. We camp with less in the mountains then what we had at home. (can’t wait to go back) with still having water and gas we had hot running water. You are right. Power banks really are useful.
Great video. Almost all generators with name brand engines, are easily and safely convertible to propane. The kits include a manifold that sits on top of the carburator and a regulator. If the generator shuts off, the regulator turns off the propane. Propane can easily and I definately be stored, unlike gasoline. Propane is clean burning and will not gum up the generator's carburator, so the next year, will be ready to go.
Consider a tri-fuel kit. At my house, we have plenty of natural gas and we have never lost gas, even though we've lost power for up to a week. Best of all is that you don't need to store it, which is a bit of a hazard in itself with propane, and especially gasoline.
Another real-world video, very useful, thank you for taking your time to do this. It is a service to the community. I have generators, a 1,600w and 2,800w running on propane. Easier to store fuel for it and propane serves as fuel for multiple devices. Gasoline when needed. Propane stores forever. I also have 1,200w of solar panels. I have two 5200w DIY battery storage, a 2400w DIY system and two EcoFlow solar generators, 700w and 1024w, and finally a Bluetti 1500w unit. I have a single hose portable AC that I can run for 4-5 hours per day, take the edge the hottest part of the day. I am thinking about getting a window unit. I will use it to cool down one room. Uses way less power. Between solar and the generators, I can keep them charged, sun cooperating. I am going to replace my garage upright fridge with a chest freezer. Uses way less power and when you open the door, the cool air does not rush out, it stays within the freezer chest. I have many power banks and I use the older, USB A type power these little light: JacobsParts 10pcs 3 LED USB Portable Night Light Bright Mini Keychain Camping Car Lamp Module Check them out, they are surprisingly bright and can be placed on your key ring if desired. When storms hit and power may be out, I deploy the power banks with one of two of these little lights in each. They will stay lit for up to 3 days when used at night time before the power bank has to be recharged.
@@jaystus Yes, that is how I found your video, I look for these videos from people that have been through "it". I have had power out but only for a few hours, so I have never really been tested.
i have the Honda 1000 it kept our fridge and freezer, a fan and tv going with about 2 gallons of gas a day. I would let fridge and freezer stay off for several hours at night when not opening. I love the generator, light, quiet and easy to use. I also have a little solar power pack, it kept phones and cordless tool batteries charged. I used my drill and electric chainsaw a lot and the solar battery stayed above 80%, we had good sunny days after the storm, in Sarasota we went 5 days no power after Milton. I cooked on the grill, i had 4 tanks of propane only used half a tank. it would have really sucked with no generator and i would have lost a thousand dollars worth of meat in freezer.
@@truthonly7699 sounds like we basically used the same equipment. I could have saved some fuel at night, but it really doesn’t use much like you said. A solar charger might be a future investment for me.
Thank you for all the comments, definitely did not think this would get viewed this much. 95% of the comments have been useful, and very civil. I have learned a lot from y'all. From gas storage ideas, when to use the generator to solar additions and maintenance. Thank you for all the advice. I really appreciate it.
Greetings. I hope all is well. There are videos showing how to connect an external gas tank and extend the run time of your Honda Gen. Maybe you would be interested in that?
Thanks! , I have learned a lot. From all the great comments. Some stuff to look up. Thankfully this is rare for me .
@@jaystus Awesome, stay safe out there
Personally I would go with a propane generator. The propone fuel can be stored for extremely long periods of time in 20lb.tanks. You can always keep several around filled. Plus you can use them for fueling a grill for cooking and a heater if the power is out. You can also buy propane operated refrigerators and freezers. Just putting my tow cents in.
@@robertwilson2007 Duel fuel is ideal but not everyone can afford one.
Nice to see a normal person who is prepared for the abnormal events
@foamyflightmaster9385 I’m going to have to frame this for my wife to remember 😂
abnormal? They get hit every year Whats abnormal about that?
This is exactly what I felt when I watched this video. Just a normal person navigating a disaster. No "you should have already bought this 20 years ago" energy.
@@frustratedalien666 sometimes i find "preppers" (and I am one, living in a really isolated rural area you have to be prepared for longer periods unable to access power, phone...) have a kinda "crazed" energy and way of thinking about them i find mildly irritating. there is also a somewhat smug "i told you so" that makes me think one of my neighbours is a complete jerk.
@@Scriptorsilentum There's definitely a difference between a "prepper" and "Being without power for a few days is a realistic worry, I should have a plan."
It is a waste of fuel to operate a generator all night. Your Fridge / Freezer will hold its temperature over night, especially with the door being closed and not opened all night. One other thing you can do is to keep some frozen jugs of water in the freezer and place them in the fridge overnight to keep the fridge cooler (essentially turning the fridge into an icebox fridge). In the morning when the generator is restarted, place the melted jugs back in the freezer to "recharge". Source is my experience with the ice storm of 1998 in the Thousand Islands, no power for 28 days!
You’re right. I think I’ve learned that from all the comments. Honestly I’ve learned a lot from this
and a good source of emergency water - if it comes to that.......
@@panhandlejake6200 The tub should have already been filled.
I agree with your statement somewhat, but as somebody who lives in Florida and dealt with Helene and Milton it’s hard to sleep when it’s 90° plus in the house. We run ours through the night to keep a room cool for our animals and family. Thankfully the weather after Milton has cooled to the 70s.
@@rotaryracing1982 Agreed. I am from Northern NY, but the summers are still on the high side of 90F
It's good to see someone thats prepared but not overdoing it and considerate of others. Congratulations and thank you for looking after others as well as yourself.
This is a great advertisement for Honda.
Clearly the guy making this video is a wonderful person and quite intelligent. It appears his normal world is NOT power equipment or making everyday things work.
Even so, he was able to unbox a generator, operate it safely, and have excellent results for both him and his community.
I grew up with a farmer for a dad and have been playing with engines and making things work since I was a small child. It’s interesting to see someone without a similar upbringing getting things done and doing them well.
Even though off brand generators can be purchased for cheaper, a Honda is the best generator for emergency power because of their legendary reliability and clean consistent power.
@jacuzzibusguy that’s fair. Small engines are not my specialty. So I’m learning a lot from all the comments. But I camp a lot, so all that gear was useful.
Honda products generally are great advertising for Honda. I’ve never had a Honda anything that didn’t run perfectly as advertised right out of the box
@ I see tons of people on forums talking about how great the return policy is as harbor freight with their Chinese clones that are only half the money. Nobody knows what the Honda return policy is, because nobody ever needs to use it.
When I’m dealing with a widespread power outage and nothing is open for miles around due to a storm, it doesn’t matter how great the return policy is on the broken generator. I want a Honda that s gonna work when I need it.
@ good point, I don’t want to have to return it.
When hurricanes hit home in my experience neighbors are the first line of support. You helped your neighbors and that is what it is all about. Thanks for sharing.
It's great to help your neighbors, but while doing so you need to encourage these neighbors to prepare themselves.
After Beryl on the gulf coast, my neighbor shared his generator power with us in exchange for fuel and mechanical service. Win-win for both of us.
@@mendyviola that’s great.
I'm happy you and your family made it through this disaster safely, and I pray for those missing and the families that have been devastated. I'm glad to hear there are people like you who are willing to help their neighbors. Keep up the awesome work and God Bless you and your family.
What a sweet family you are. Thank you for sharing your experience and your kindness. Be safe.
I would advise to keep 10-15 gals of non-ethanol gas on hand for the generator. Use Sta-Bil, as well, to extend the shelf life of the gas. Rotate the gas, ie use in the car, every 6 months to keep fresh. I rotate mine, 10 gallons at a time, at the year mark.
I have a 14 gal fuel caddy that I stupidly let get low. It had about 4 gallons in it, which was very useful, but it would have been MUCH more useful had it been full. I may get another one. 28 gallons would be even more useful.
Diesel lasts 2x as long, but you can't get small diesels. They just don't really exist under 10kw.
Propane will last indefinitely - and more importantly, you can get dual fuel inverter generators in more convenient sizes.
@@sparkywilson1405 I think the conversion to propane is a way to go, or at least having that option. Will be looking a kit for my larger generator.
I have lost power for five days and nine days and have a 5500 watt generator. I have learned that after a few days, you are spending more in gas to keep the refrigerator running than what the food is worth. Refrigerators will keep food cold for four hours without power, freezers for 24. To save fuel, maybe run the generator every three hours to get the fridge back down to temp. Charge phones and portable battery packs during that time.
@loud2449 having food to eat is worth the cost of fuel in some cases
The Honda 2000 is very easy to covert to propane. I have several #20 tanks. Stores indefinitely. No fumes. Safer.
Good to know! Thanks.
You can also daisy chain them for larger power output. If you invest in another 2200 buy the power cable that plush your old one to it and you’ll double the power output.
Aussie in Thailand here.
Well done on donating the generator once you had power restored. That's what all humans should do, look after you and yours first and then help out the local and wider community. Great to see.
Those little honda generators (and brush cutters and anything with a little honda engine) cost more than some of the other options, but will rarely let you down....as four years without unboxing showed!!!!!
@@Ulbre it’s amazing how many people have watched this video. Thank you for the kind words. I realize now I took a chance never opening it. I have also learned a lot from the comments
@@jaystus Genuine you are, thats why I subbed 3 mins into video!!
@ thanks, I’m still learning all this, but it’s been a lot of fun.
Love the Honda generator
I paint mine flat black to make it less appealing to potential thieves
that’s kinda cool. I like that. I heard of some stolen after the storm. So it definite happens
@@jaystusit’s a good idea @gregoryclark3870 has about painting them. those Honda gens are worth every penny and after a big disaster like what you guys have had they suddenly become prime targets.
That’s sad-disaster victims struggling to survive in such disasters have been through enough already! Then they have to concerned about thieves and dangerous people stealing what little they have to survive with? 🤦 😒
@@Nunya9876 you’re right. It’s so sad.
I have a sticker on my generator that reads “ the parties of smith and Wesson are watching.”
I’d run that Honda on eco all the time if I were you. An inverter generator will automatically throttle up and down to adjust to the load applied to it, that is one of the main advantages to an inverter generator, they can maintain 120v at 60 hz at any throttle position while still putting out clean power that is safe for sensitive electronics. The only time you would need to turn the eco throttle off is if you are trying to start a large motor like an air compressor. The eco throttle will save you a lot of fuel, which is a crucial thing in an emergency when fuel is hard to get. We recently lost power for 2 days and I had a full size refrigerator and 2 full size freezers running on our 2000 watt inverter generator on eco throttle. The generator was able to start the compressors and run all three at the same time on eco as long as I plugged them in one at a time so the compressors weren’t all trying to start at the same time. A small generator is a game changer when the power is out for days at a time. Every time we get a major storm I see people out buying the biggest generator they can find and I have to wonder if they have any idea how much fuel it’s gonna take to run that thing for a day. At best it’ll get expensive quick and at worst they’ll be out of fuel quickly and unable to get more.
Thank you, I’m really learning a lot I noticed the eco was very efficient. I ran it on eco almost the whole time. Except when I ran the washing machine
Most electronics run on switching power supplies. They filter the electricity on both sides of the switch so it really doesn't matter if the power is "clean" or not.
Propane
The Honda eu3200i is the most fuel efficient generator on the market. However a dual fuel gives you the most options, which the eu3200i is only gasoline.
I STRONGLY recommend you get a heavy chain and lock to secure it.
That sound will draw thieves
@@JohnHamesTN I have definitely added that to my list. I heard of a few stolen too
Also if you buy an expensive ext cord like a 100 foot 10 AMP use electrical tape around it and maybe even have a wire stick out as well, they won't steal a bad extension cord. I just purchased a 175 dollar cord.
@@Moondoggy1941 I’ve heard that. Make it look terrible 🤣
What would you reccomend securing it to?
@@kawaiisenshi2401 a porch post? Trailer tow connector, safety chains, heavy pick nick table?
But I do know they will get stolen if they aren't.
Thank you for making this video. You are the first person who demonstrated and explained how to use a generator and I completely appreciate that. Everything you mentioned makes so much sense and I will be able to be better prepared, when our power goes out…AGAIN. 🤔 Thank you!
@@daylenestaneart775 thank you. I’ve been surprised by all the wonderful comments. I have learned a lot too.
Thanks for the advice. I appreciate the honesty in the small mistakes that didn’t make a difference this time, but might in the future. Much appreciated!
@@mabolzitch7743 thank you. I have learned a lot from all the comments too
Well done on this video, Sir! We live in hurricane country, Florida and it was nice to see how you prepared and what you actually used. Your video gave me a few things to think about and confirmed much if what I’ve been thinking.
That little Honda may have been expensive, but its like gold in an emergency. They are super reliable. 👍
You’re right. Sure felt like it for a few years when it was not opened. But for the last week it was everything my family needed.
Just my opinion but putting all your eggs in one basket is foolish, even if the basket says Honda on the side. For the price of a Honda you could get two or three cheaper brands to have as backups. Even Hondas breakdown and then you're boned.
@@nodak81 that’s one way to look at it. I can understand that.
Love my Honda you will too
You buy one for 1200 dollars use it for 10 years sell if tor 800 and then buy another one, repeat.
I live in Asheville. The surprise for me was communications. After Food and Water, comm goes to the third spot. We lost power, internet, water, and cellphones. The generac is worth its weight in gold, thank god we didn't lose natural gas too or we would have been SOL. Make sure you maintain your generac, we had a neighbor that was depending on it but wasn't doing enough maintenance, it failed to start. Once we jump started it, it blew oil all over the place from a broken sensor, not the time to find this out. I used a battery powered radio to find emergency status discussions, don't forget to try your radio in your car. Many neighbors had no idea what was going on for several days until temporary cellphone towers were up. I located a Starlink mini and it was a life saver too, highly recommend looking into it, it works (still using it until Spectrum decides to fix stuff) Also I learned next time a major weather event is coming, fill up the bathtubs and fill the car up with gas.
I hope you’re recovering well. I spend so much time camping up there. It’s so hard to see all the damage. I think starlink might be the future of internet after this. We still don’t have much charter working in Greenville. I’ve learned a lot from the comments about maintenance . This has taught me a lot. I saw some of Asheville is starting to now get water again.
@@jaystus we had power 5 days ago but just got water back this morning
@@somethingclever1234 get a baefang UV5R and learn how to use it legally. In an emergency, no-one cares if you have a Ham or GMRS license or what wattage you are broadcasting on. I bought most of my family and friends one and have it programed, with beginner instructions. And for news get a shortwave radio and batteries(dont store batteries in the radio). Learn how to cook in a cast iron dutch oven and buy charcoal.
Survival skills are perishing skills, so you have to practice. Its not good enough to have the equipment. Know how to use it.
For anyone else reading this, starlink service is being provided at no charge for hurricane areas until the end of the year. You do need to purchase the equipment though
Have you find the bathtub bags for emergency water storage to be useful?
During Hurricane Michael, I was without electrical service for 27 days. If you only open the refrigerator to remove food once, each morning, running the generator a half hour twice a day will keep things cold, as gasoline was hard to get. Propane refills were out of service. I duct taped the freezer door sealed. Individual solar lights ( I have a Luci) worked well. An inexpensive Harbor freight 55 watt solar system and one deep cycle battery kept communication phones and radios working for several families. The charge controller has 3V, 6V, 9V, 12V, and USB outlets and one 12 volt light bulb. A liquid fuel Coleman stove and a gallon of gasoline kept me cooking, including pressure canning meat. Old time kerosene lamps and lanterns worked well, and modern diesel fuel burns well with acceptable odor, if you run out of K1 kerosene. And I agree with you on this: You can find cheaper generators than a Honda, but none better. I had 2 1/2 gallons of no- alcohol fuel to run at the end before storage, but used ethanol for the most part, due to price and availability.
@@tomjeffersonwasright2288 I’m really learning a lot from all these comments
You can convert a chest freezer into an incredibly efficient refrigerator. Use a temperature controller (a simple plug-in is fine) to force the temperature to 37F or so (35-40)
Condensation will be an issue, but chest freezers will have a drain outlet (most aren't frost-free). Just pop it open and put a drain pan underneath
When you open the lid from above, all the cold air stays inside
@@sparkywilson1405 I have an upright freezer that has a refrigerator mode setting built in. It is also rated "garage ready" which means it functions efficiently in a wider environmental temperature range than a standard household refrigerator.
I'm glad to see there's still people who care about their neighbors this is what makes America strong thank you sir
@@tobyalsip9403 thank you. I’ve learned a lot from the comments too.
“WE, the People…”
Glad you and your family made it through safely! And thank you for sharing your story and tips. Lots of people have ideas, but real world experience teaches valuable lessons. One tip I have - when you're done with the generator, run it until the fuel runs out. Even with stabilizer in the gas, even with non-ethanol gas, it can gum up your carb and you might not be able to start it when you need it. Oh, and a second tip - a good camping cooler half filled with ice will keep milk and meat safe and cool for several days. If you can get ice, that can be a better solution than cycling the fridge with the generator. Great call on using the camping stoves off the 20lb propane tanks. Great call on keeping the generator away from the house!
@@tomsmith3045 thanks definitely have also learned a lot from the comments. a lot of good people commenting.
The Mountains of Western North Carolina here. I watched your video and enjoyed it, plus, I read a number of comments in the comment section below. There were many good things said. It's great seeing a community of people coming together to share their experiences. We were hit hard by Hurricane Helene. We had numerous trees down on our property, plus our basement flooded. We are up at about 3,000 feet elevation, sitting up, above the Cane River, which is devastated. The river rose 30 feet above it's shoreline, wreaking havoc. The devastation in our area is beyond what photos show. To get out off of our property, we have to drive through a farmer's cow pasture and farm, for which we are so thankful. All of our roads are still washed out, even after 5 weeks, since the hurricane hit. Repairs are being made. There were so many homes and farms washed into the river. The loss of lives is way beyond what is being reported. There were dead bodies stuck up under debris, in trees, in deep mud, etc. They brought in dogs to find bodies, that were tossed and drug throughout our river. One of our friends lost their brother in the storm and they found his dead mangled body 30 miles downstream. At night because it was so quiet, we could hear Coyotes gnawing on dead bodies, along with dead cows, horses, etc. We've been living in an Apocalyptic Movie. We just got our electric power back on. We've learned so much during this test. We still have no TV, no internet, etc. Our phone service is spotty at best. We are still in recovery mode and will be for many months to come. There were complete mountain towns washed away. There are still places up here with no way in or out by road. We harvest rain water, and garden, (canning and preserving our food as a way of life) which saved our lives. We filter our water before we drink it, or boil it. No power, means no running water. Our plans are in the immediate future to hook up a solar system to run our well. Because it takes so much,water to flush a toilet, we set up a portable outhouse, out on our front porch. (Or as you city folks call it a deck) Our neighbor completely lives off the grid, including an old fashioned out house, so he had minimal impact,from this storm. Water was key for us. We distributed water to neighbors, which helped everyone emensley. We all have three to twenty plus acres in our area. Our survival mindset kicked in after a couple of days. We actually began enjoying living in the 1700's. When our power came back on, we were somewhat disappointed. Although it is nice being able to flush a toilet. I could go on and on with how we survived this Apocalypse, but most importantly, I wanted to thank GOD first for HIS guidance and protection. 🙏 Also we want to thank the many people, neighbors helping neighbors, our local and regional churches helping so many people, with supplies, prayer and love, to so many out of state people bringing in supplies (and still are) because the loss was so great. You have to understand that so many farmers 🚜 lost their crops, cattle, etc. A special thanks to Samaritans Purse, out of Boone, to the Cajun Navy from Lousianna, to the thousands of volunteers from all over, to the Electric Companies, the Linemen and Women who are still restoring power, to the Armed National Guard, to folks who came in with Mules to bring supplies to our backcountry mountain folks who were stranded. We still cry daily, because our mountains are in pain. We feel the pain and loss. There is so much devastation. The trees and rocks are crying out. In time we will all heal, but it will be another generation before this will happen. Pray continually for those who lost family members, their homes, their farms and businesses. This storm impacted 25 counties plus 1.5 million people, just in western North Carolina alone. Our neighboring states of Tennessee, West Virginia, Georgia, South Carolina and Florida were also impacted. I even heard there was storm damage all of the way up into Kentucky, Ohio, etc. Thank you for everything. Blessings to all survivors.🙏
I appreciate your comment. Thank you for sharing. I have donated here n there to just a few ppl on Go Fund Me but, because of your comment, I will make a sizeable donation to Samaritan’s Purse🙏🏾👍🏾🤗🇬🇧
@flowers1, You are gracious to do so. They were everywhere, lending a helping hand. Your donation will be appreciated. They deserve a lot of credit.
Thank you for taking the time to share your story.
What is the best way for us to donate now?
Great informative video. That’s was a very kind gesture to donate ur generator. I know some family is grateful for it!
Kudos to you for having some basic preparedness. One thing I might suggest - take a look at the propane conversion for the 2200i. I have converted my two 2200s to run on either gasoline or propane and keep ~240lb of propane on hand to run them. A few 100lb tanks and the regular 20lb grill tanks makes for a soundlevel of preparedness, but ultimately it is just a nice to have the ability to run off a fuel source like propane and not have to worry about stabilizing gasoline. Stay safe and glad you and yours were able to ride out the storm and its aftermath. **And I agree - the battery chainsaws are pretty convenient for us folks who don't use them frequently. Out west I appreciate that I don't have to deal with jetting issues since mine is used at altitudes ranging from 4200-10000 feet.
Thanks, I’ve learned a lot. For my small use. The battery saw is good. I am tempted to try the longer bar. But I know has a few drawbacks too.
We have a multifuel generator and solar power systems. I prefer propane too for stability. We keep 5 full 20 lb tanks at all times and 2 extra tanks for our grill. We also have a cool little stove that you can charge phones and laptop off of while you cook.
Boy Scout motto. Always be prepared 👍 Nice job
As a former Boy Scout, I can attest to that!
A Duel Fuel Generator is a must have. Growing up in Hurricane Country (South Florida) I learned how difficult and dangerous it can be to Get Gasoline (when everyone is Panicking), and then having to Store the gasoline safely. Having a 5 gal can of gas for vehicles and chain saws is important but you don't want to have to store too much. Propane is EASY and while it is not a good as gas in a generator.....it is Good Enough and you can store ALOT of propane much easier and more safely.
Have a Wen 4000w gas/propane gen, and EcoFlow max 2 solar gen. This got us through Ian in 22, no pwer 9 days, and recently Milton. Just run solar at night, and propane during day,topping off solar before dark. Fridge, lights and coffee is all. As other comments, propane stores better, and no need to continuously run. 2 hours on 4 hours off is fine. Did add Coleman camp stove, and small propane spares. Store water and food. Charge everything ahead of time for no bad surprises. Solar gen now better and cheaper than when I got. Great vid.
@@davidellingson1959 thank. Yeah a solar generator would be nice to add. A lot of very helpful people.
You’re a good dude. Thank you for sharing the story and being a great neighbor and American
@@mikez6289 thanks
I have the previous generation of this generator (actually 2 of them I bought in 2006). A couple of tips for you. When you go to put it back in storage, run the tank dry, dump any residual gas in the tank out, and drain the carburetor. You drain the carburetor by loosening a screw in the bottom of the fuel bowl. The gas will drain through a clear plastic tube that exits the bottom of the generator, just behind that removable panel.
Second tip is that generator has a fuel pump. That allows it to be connected to an auxiliary fuel tank using something called the BERGS system from IPI Industries. We have actually set some up using surplus NATO jerry cans using a pickup system from Lexington Container and immersible hose from McMaster Carr.
@@davidgates1122 thanks, that’s the first I was told how to drain it. I have genuinely learned a lot from people.
Thanks for the info, everyone's prep is different and it's nice to hear other people's experiences in these situations. I think I'm pretty well prepared however you video and others like it always touch on a topic or two that I missed.
@@stephen.mcguire thanks, I have also learned a lot from the great people commenting
Coupling your generator with any of the modern "solar generators" is a real force multiplier. Massively shortens the amount of time you need to have the Honda running. Simply run generator when your Ecoflow, Anker, or Bluetti needs recharging. Can also augment with solar panels easily.
My Jackery 1000 plus was a lifesaver during Beryl, as was my cobb flashlights from dollar tree, and my midea window AC (that I could run on the Jackery) as well as box fan. I only ran the Midea u-shaped window unit for 20 minutes to cool down my bedroom so I could go to sleep here near Houston. It is better to run your laptop and your router than to run a tv off your Jackery--uses less power. Turn your fridge to the coldest setting before the storm and to the lowest after the storm, then chill for a few intermittent hours---like one on and 3 off. I am glad I came across this video as it reminds me that I still need to pick up that timer to make it automatic on the fridge. The freezer only uses like 50 watts when it runs which is probably less than 100 watts in a day. I want to add another 1000 watts in second battery for my Jackery as then I could leave the house for a day or two and go where there is power without worry.
@@rusticgardenretreat4892 thanks, I’m learning a lot too.
This is great information -- thanks for being such a good neighbor to your neighbors as well.
Tampa, FL. Lost power for a full 5 days after Milton. Used about 12 gallons of gas running generator for 45 minutes every 3 hours or so. Used a gas camping stove for cooking some things. Used quite a few candles. Used a battery backup that could charge phones about 3x. The generator is most important because of the refrigerator and rechargeables. We liked having bread and meat for home made subs. A portable AC would have been really nice because the heat makes it miserable - that’s the next item I’m getting.
@@Encourageable thanks. I’m glad the weather wasn’t too hot. Ac would definitely be needed in Florida
This was fabulous. I appreciate you being thorough and explaining details. I wish more prepping videos would ask guests on who have been through an incident of any level just so we can learn.
@@garlicgirl3149 thanks, I have definitely learned a lot.
This practical experience is invaluable. Thanks for sharing. The only addition I stock up on is charcoal.
That’s a good idea. Easy to store too
Recently lost power for 3 days form Milton. Have the Honda 2000 generator. Best use case is run it for a few hours, have the fridge plugged in during that time so no drain on battery system. Also top off your big battery systems when running. Then run solar throughout the day. Then Honda again at night to top off. With that combo of enough batteries and solar panels can minimize the use of the generator to like maybe 2-3 hours a day total and still run a fridge full time and other items.
Have had that Honda for 15-20 years maybe. It's been clutch.
@@sonsoflibertyoverland thanks for the advise, I appreciate it.
I'm a huge fan of USB power banks, we have the USB fans and lights as well. We purchased a Bluetti for our outages. We have a generator, but if the outage is less than 3 days we don't need it. We also got one for my Mom, the AC180, which has enough power to run a microwave. She lives in a high-rise and appreciates the ability to make warm food. Thanks for sharing your experience, it's good to know what was used.
@@randomjohn thanks, I really see the benefit of large battery power.
Hey from Germany, thank you for sharing yor experiences. To Watch your and others learnings is the best way to prepare for Events like this…
You found a great solution. A small little inverter-generator is all you usually need to run critical items that make life easier without utility power. Conserving gasoline is important. I have a similar setup but with the addition of a beefy power station (2000Wh of LiFePO4 storage, 2000W inverter), and I have a bit of solar too. So in power outages I charge the power station from the generator and solar, and the power station runs the fridge. That way the generator only needs to run 2-3 hours a day and can be physically turned off the rest of the time... which uses even less gas. The power station's inverter stays on 24x7.
-Matt
Thanks, these comments have all been super helpful.
Yep. They work in tandem. A dynamic duo like Batman and Robin.
Having moved from FL recently, I know this drill more than I care for. Longest times without power was 9 and 11 days. Definitely, a midrange battery generator (2kw) is a great upgrade to the plan, with possibly some solar panels(and great for camping). Also, consider a duel fuel generator, such as propane/gas. Propane stores better than gas. I suggest shopping during black Fri.
Thats exactly what we did with Milton. Generator for like 1 to 1.5 hours the morning and evening to top off the batteries quick. Then solar throughout the day to charge and cover everything. Batteries running stuff like 21 hours.
That’s my plan unless I need AC or even worse heat. If I need those the gas generator is likely going to be the go to for heat, if I’m out of propane for the little buddy heater. I have two smaller A-iPower 2000 watt generators that can be run in parallel if needed.
Here in Texas being relatively close to the coast we invested in a whole house generator due to frequent and multi-day outages because of Hurricanes, freezes, and storms. It runs on the natural gas line to our home and it is like you never lost power. It starts up 5 seconds after power goes out and is worth it if you can afford it and have frequent enough multi-day outages. Otherwise if power outages are rare a portable generator is all you need, just make sure take it out and start it once a month or it can lock up and won't work when you need it. This happened to our neighbor during Hurricane Beryl, they had not started it in a year and it did not work.
@@AD-rl4jv definitely worth it. Thankfully this isn’t normal for us, but also what made it bad. I’ve definitely learned a lot from the comments. Thank you.
i wondered about using a machine heavily for a week or two then storing it unused (unmaintained?) for a year or so and what effect it would have. dad has a decent honda and he runs it every thirty days - tops up all the jackeries and the 24 volt tractor-trailer batteries in his "Power House" - well away from his house and anything flammable. so far it hand-cranks perfectly every time and usually runs for about 40 - 50 minutes. everything is topped up.
i noticed he checks oil level and cleanliness before pulling it every time. if there's something i learned in my life from him it's never abuse a machine by trying to make it do what it was not designed to do. i figured out on my own after my first car maintenance is a repair BEFORE the fact. maintenance after the fact is usually - what? x dollars to the power of 3 - much more expensive than if i had checked something first before use.
motto: check and test, check and test. 😁
@@Scriptorsilentum so a person made a comment that I should sell it and buy a new one. Then I don’t have to worry about any maintainer. Because it might sit for another 4 years. And it didn’t seem like a terrible idea.
Good, useful info. Thanks for taking the time to record and share.
I learned that I need to make sure and TEST my generator so It works AND make sure my 375gal propane tank is full. I needed a low pressure part and It took 3 weeks to get it. I had the systems to be just fine not having power for over a week, but I didn't test to make sure they actually worked.
@@lorib5323 smart, I’m going to have to do that now, that I have used mine.
Very good after action report Sir!
Nice video! I bought my Honda generator after a Derechio that happened up here in NJ right before Hurricane Sandy thank goodness. Funny how we always get things After suffering.
@@SubVet1984 exactly! And now from all the comments I have learned even more.
I dont think anyone has mentioned the oil change intervals yet, but you might want to do a 1-2 hr initial oil change ahead of time to get all the metal particles out of the engine before running it long term. I did the 1st change after 1 hour and then another well before the manual recommendation because that oil comes out dirty and full of particals you dont want swimming around your engine for 15 hours. There are always people complaining that their generator didn't last very long, and I'm willing to bet most of the time it's lack of maintenance or understanding how it should be done to extend its life. I think of it like this. Many car manufacturers claim 100,000 mile transmission services and 100,000 spark plugs, but if you follow those guidelines, you're really setting yourself up for premature failure and expensive repairs down the road.
Great video.
And try to use the shortest length power cord necessary for the job. The other commenters are correct. Voltage drop, heat build up, and potential wear to the items being underpowered is a thing.
Thanks, definitely a lot of good information in the comments, they have been very useful. I did my first oil change after 15 hours. So hopefully it helped.
I agree with you, especially on smaller engines, oil changes, more frequently, are a worth while, nominal expense, compared to the price of the equipment. Less than $20 most of the time
Make sure all extension cords are 12 Awg or heavier, especially for fridge and freezer
10 Awg would be best, but 12awg will get you by
most generators "don't last long" because they leave gas in the tank and carb after using it,water condenses in the tank and rusts it,and the gas in the carb gums up the jets,if the rust doesn't clog the fuel filter. engines don't run very well with water in the gas.
OR you can use a much Heavier Cord if you have to run longer distances. The heavier the wire, the lower the resistance-Electronics 101.
Small inverter generator is a good idea to have. Westinghouse has a good one for under $500. We kept food cold and lights on with it.
Thanks for the info, and still hoping for the people still suffering effects from these storms to find relief.
A nice thing to do when prepping is to consider the likelyhood of events to prep for. You can get stuff for the more likely events (short power outages) first, making your life better/easier, and get stuff for less likely events (space alien invasion, zombie apocalypse) later.
WELL DONE, sir! My wife and I have a 600 Watt Solar Array on our storage Shed. That feed our 5 KWH Battery Bank that connects to a 1000 Watt PURE Sine Inverter. This Battery Bank is used to charge all of OUR USB devices, as well as light every room in the house, Charge Our Ham Walkie Talkies, and run our 100 Watt HF Ham Station, AND the Entertainment system and Phones WITHOUT the need for a Gas Generator. Very LITTLE of our food depends on the fridge; most of it is dry goods and canned. I DO NOT agree with having a huge freezer where ALL of that food would be lost without electricity. We have Two One-burner Camp Stoves and just over 100 Fuel Canisters put back for them. We heat with Kerosene and we strive to keep a 100 Gallon Kerosene reserve(Which we have not been able to do this year).
We had a windstorm in 2007 that killed our power for six days. By day Two, I had the entire emergency system running at our home. My wife came home from work to a WARM House, Lights on, the TV & DVD had a movie going, and she had a warm dinner waiting for her. On the Evening of day Four, a Line Crew chief stopped by the house and asked me HOW we had lights and heat. All I told him is that we had a Big Battery backing us up. A LOT of folks around here DO have Kerosene Heaters, so he did not ask about our heat. Back then I only had 200 Watts of Solar and just ONE 100 Amp Lithium Battery. Web are MUCH better prepared now!
I opted for Solar over a Gas Generator, because I did NOT want that noise drawing unwanted attention. We were VERY comfortable during that event compared to our neighbors.
My efforts caught the attention of the Adventist Church we attend which resulted in my now being in Charge of Disaster Response for our Congregation.
I think if I was looking now, a battery version would definitely be considered. They have come a long ways in 4 years. And they have a lot of benefits.
It's probably already been said in the comments below but if you store gas you must place "stabilizer" in it which can be purchased at the auto parts store. Also, may want to purchase a chain to secure it to something solid so it is not stolen. Yes, if you just turn it off and store it, the gas in the system/carb will gum it up, hence running it out of gas to shut it down is the way to go. Have a fire extinguisher available just in case. Thank you
@@briancyers6790 thanks! First person to mention a fire extinguisher. I do have one though.
Yes, we’re also in upstate SC, and we were blessed compared to so many others. Generators, with fuel already standing by, were awesome. Refilling gasoline or propane was very difficult or impossible the first few days.
We lost public power early on Sept 27, regained it about 10AM on Oct 07, 2024. No problems with water or sewer, and our home itself was undamaged. Cell phones and WiFi were down. No direct 911 for some time. Once the main highways and other roads began being cleared of trees & debris, then repairs began. Radios (9 volt, ham, etc..) were the only source of real-time information. Our local radio station 98.9FM was up & on air, and great. A maintained generator, with fuel, became an important part of life.
@@BoomerMutt55 yup, we had the same experience. Now I’m just collecting fire wood. Natural gas water heater was nice. And thankfully nice weather after.
The Honda generator is always a piece of equipment you can count on. Good choice. A few years ago I got a great deal on a standby generator. It has bailed me out three times when I've lost power. The last time was dead of winter and the neighbors were coming to me for water being that I live in a rural area. The weather is getting more and more aggressive for whatever reason. Get and stay prepared. Be proactive and not reactive. You will thank yourself 10 fold when it hits the fan.
@@TH-camr-mc2el thank you. I’m learning a lot too.
Awesome video with very useful information. Thank you for posting!
Thank you for doing this. It makes you think.
You’re not at the top of your game but everyone is learning. 👍
@@r.perkins2103 I’ve learned a lot
Thanks for sharing.
I'm in earthquake country, so been thinking about this
@@randomdds earthquakes would be scary
I've used the Ryobi dual power fan during a power outage. Uses Ryobi batteries when you can't use A/C. Lasts a long time and will put out a lot more airflow vs a usb fan.
@@SiXiam you’re right, definitely more powerful. Normally I just use them in a Tent.
Incredibly helpful to hear your firsthand experience. Thank you and good luck.
@@LShapedAmbush thank you
I have an off grid cabin you can get pretty inventive when you need it lol ! Thanks again
@@ericwitt4586 that’s cool!
I HIGHLY recommend everyone look into getting a battery power station like an Ecoflow, Bluetti, Anker or something JUST SO you don't have to run your generator all the time. You can even get some solar panels to help make your gas generator last just a little bit longer per full tank of gas. We have a Delta Pro and it saved our asses down here in Florida for the 3 days we didn't have power. We could have gone much longer too. Also, a lot of these battery stations accept a DC input as well as an AC input at the same time, so you can supercharge them fast if need be.
Seems like this is a good idea. A lot of People Agee with this thank you.
@@jaystus No problem. Happy you and your family are safe! Take care!
We're in the SC Midlands, and I used to stay prepared for hurricane season, but got rid of a lot during a move 6 years ago. Thankfully our home didn't receive any significant damage (including extended power outages), but Helene was an eye-opener at how complacent I've gotten and a kick in the pants.
@@ceezer373 for sure. And then I think I will probably never be without power for almost a week again. Maybe a few days here and there. But I admit. Probably the wrong thinking.
I have been looking for a good battery chain saw and a generator that could sit for years without much worry, thank you so much for sharing!
@@weromontiel the chainsaw for me was great. Because I don’t use it often. And no work
That little Honda is the best generator on the market. As long as you keep oil in them they run forever..
@@MacDa-yy8xn I’ll make sure to keep checking it. I’m learning a lot
Helpful information! We lost power here in Houston during Beryl this summer, I was nowhere near this prepared! 😂
IIRC, the manual says to start it in regular mode, not eco. Given that it was probably still warm, I don't think it matters, but that's _my_ method.
I'm also keeping my EU2200 fired up monthly for about 10 minutes, whether I need it or not. ;)
Thanks for the good video that will be helpful to other folks. Cheers!
@@jkeimel you’re right. I forgot it was in eco mode. Something to pay attention. I have definitely learned a lot from all the comments.
We had no power for 8 1/2 day due to the same hurricane. Our small generator was powerful enough to run both our up right freezer and 20' frig. Only needed to run the generator about 16 to 17 hours per day. We used solar powered landscape lights in the house and recharged them outside everyday. My suggestion is to keep at least 10 gallons of fuel for your generator on hand. Just remember to put either fuel stabilizer in the gas can or dump it into your car's gas tank every other month.
We used our huge battery bank to power our refrigerator for the 12 hours we were without power in Hudson, FL. I used my Ryobi One + battery fan for my wife. We did not need to cook because our power came back rather quickly.
@@tshadow6 thanks for sharing.,huge power banks seem like a great investment.
I gave a 7KW DuroMax, a 3kw Honda and a 2k Honda. Oil changes and proper oil level are essential. A clean air filter and fresh fuel are a must. Run them dry so no fuel remains in them, best to only use non-ethanol gas. This store put us offline for power 10 days, I ran the 7KW about 70% of the time. Every third night I would shut it off, fill and start it in the morning to keep fans and fridges going. I loaned the smaller Honda to my neighbor. Our internet came back in day 6 or 7. Having a home built TV antenna to pull in over the air stations for news kept us informed and gave us a way to have some entertainment. We used an electric grill, electric fry pan, coffee maker, toaster, etc. used a kids pool warmed by the sun to take baths on the deck. We were in good shape.
@@akbychoice thank you so much. I’m really learning a lot from all the comments.
@@jaystus I gave a 3500 watt generator to a friend in Bakersville, NC. He has had it first several years now. He waited till Hellene hit to think about hooking it. He is happy to have it but should have been more prepared. He still is without power.
The fact that y'all are paying $1000 for 2kw Honda hand held gen is baffling.
@@eynkiabout 1200 at Northern Tool.
@@dellalderman8011 lol even more crazy
I paid 2.3k for a 11kw inverter gen. they paying 1K for 2kw capacity. ( ill concede running vs peak). yea kinds speaks for itself
Glad you've gotten by after that storm and are safe.
I've got a couple things for your consideration going forward that would boost your preparedness.
1) You should have fuel on hand, assuming you can store it safely, for things like your VEHICLE, generator, and other power tools that take fuel. With Gasoline, make sure you add in the stabilizer to extend its life and work on a rotation so you always have somewhat fresh gas on hand. I've stored gas for more than the recommended 2 years with no noticeable problems. The harder core group generally recommends things like a 5 gal per month where you're refreshing one container each month, but you have 60 gals on hand for emergency.
2) You might consider a duel-fuel generator/Inverter. Propane can be stored safer than gasoline and has no expiration date. Additionally you can use the propane with a number of other garden/camping devices like a BBQ that would also be useful under such conditions.
@@davidhawkins847 thanks
Maybe someone has already suggested it, but get an interlock so you can power anything (120v with the Honda) in your house with a single chord. Interlocks are extremely useful!
@@adrianb6073 I’ll have to look it up. Thanks!
That’s a great generator. I have two Champions that can be linked together like your Honda. Living in Florida I get a lot of use out of mine. So glad you have that on hand to help you through. And glad you are helping your neighbors. One piece of advice with your generator: Do not plug your things into your generator until AFTER you start the generator. Not sure why…but…your manual will heavily stress that it’s important to start the generator..let it run a few minutes…THEN plug in. Thank you for the video! 💜
@@lizzieb6311 thanks, yeah, I have learned a few mistakes I made. People have been helpful.
Ah great video man!! Keep going!!
Thanks
Always good to hear what did and did not work. Tks for sharing.
@@chuckvoss9344 thanks
Great video and lots of useful advice! Praying for the Tar-Heels from the UK.
Living in Buffalo being prepared for snow storms is a must. Aside from the generator have plenty of water, food and supplies on hand. I'm always prepared so don't need to run out for much if anything before a storm. A generator is a must for sure and most people don't take care of them right. I have a duel fuel 3900 running watt inverter generator that I only run on non ethanol gas. Proper break in is a must as they don't have oil filters. I did 5 hours intervals three times on conventional oil and then run full synthetic. You could see the oil running cleaner with each change. We also have a transfer switch makeing it super easy to power all the essentials in the house. Just plug in one cord, flip a few switches and you are good to go. Run stabilizer in fuel and rotate inventory every six to twelve months. Also run generator 15 minutes or so every month and change oil every yea, whetherr you use it 100 hours or not. Have extra oil on hand as well. In an emergency yey who is prepared with everything on hand is the winner. I carry 25 gallons of fuel which will easily last a full week running non stop as my generator only goes through 3.5 gallons every 15 hours at 50 percent load. Stay safe everyone!!!!
@@jasonsiepierski8487 thanks! I’m definitely learning. I also really miss snow down here.
Nice video! It was good to hear about all the military helicopters delivering goods up into the North Carolina mountains.
@@vivianallen9772 thank you
Solid video my dude.
@@highdesertdrew thank you.
We're on the Texas Gulf Coast, so we get lots of storms. Often, when the power is out, the temperature is in the mid to upper 90s with very high humidity. A fan doesn't really cut it then, especially at night when you want to sleep. A few years back I bought a window AC unit for under $200. I can pop it into our bedroom window in about 15 minutes. It cools the room down very well. When the kids were home, the plan was that we'd drag their mattresses in and put them on the floor so everyone could sleep well. I can run the AC unit on a Harbor Freight Storm Cat generator that cost less than $100. It will run all night on less than a tank of gas, which is 1.1 gallons.
I have a 3600/4000 generator, but as you pointed out, large generators burn more fuel. I just picked up a 2000w inverter generator to run our computerized appliances on, and to charge a couple of small ecoflow solar generators.
We have natural gas, so cooking on the stove isn't an issue, except for the added heat indoors. But we can cook outside as well on a propane stove.
The next step is to have a switch added at our gas furnace blower motor so that I can safely run the 110v heater motor on backup power if it's cold.
We buy hurricane lamps at estate and garage sales, and fuel when it goes on sale. Liquid paraffin doesn't smell as bad as kerosene, and it stores almost indefinitely. Lately, we've picked up some rechargeable tabletop lamps that were on sale. They are handy for camping, use on the patio, or when the power goes out. They will run from 18 to 36 hours on one charge. They have 5k MA batteries that will also partially charge another device.
I also like the flashlights, or batteries, that are rechargeable off of a USB. I picked up a few portable folding solar panels when they were on sale that will recharge our batteries, lamps, power banks, and fans during the day.
I like flashlights that will stand on their tail when you sit them down. On a low to medium setting you can illuminate a room well enough to do most tasks. Also, I'm a huge fan of headlamps. Having a headlamp is so much better than trying to hold a flashlight in your teeth while you try to fix something.
Every time we have some kind of incident, I make a list of things that I wish that I had. Then I keep an eye out for good deals on those items later.
Also, plan for the kind of emergencies that you are most likely to have in your area first. In my area, when we lose power it's often for only 1 to 5 days. So I try to plan for double that, just in case. We have young adult kids in the area as well, so we also plan that they will probably join us as well.
@@yellowdog762jb thanks! That’s a lot of good advice from from hand experience. I really have learned a lot from all the comments. I do need to get a headlamp, even to use camping
@jaystus Get one with a red light option. It won't attract bugs to your face, among the other many good reasons you may want to use red lights at times. They work well for hunting at night also. You can see animals, but they don't notice the red light. Works very well for rabbit hunting.
That generator is a quality piece of hardware. Eco mode provides enough speed to keep what every you needed powered at the right voltage and amperage. So run it in Eco after you plug everything in. Gas, Plan to stabilize and maintain ~20 gal on hand year around. Then you will never be without power. All the gas can be put through the car, so it is never wasted. Propane, Just have an extra tank on hand. If you go to garage sales/estate sales, sometimes you can pick up one very cheap. Then just fill it and put it away. As for generator storage for the next event, read your manual and pay attention to the long term storage mode so that it can be put away for the next event in a few years.
Thank you. I’m getting a lot of good advice
I purchased a dual fuel Wen generator right after Hurricane Beyrl. I went with Dual fuel because I did not want to keep multiple filled volatile 5-gallon gas containers in the garage.
I caught the 20-pound propane tanks on sale and purchased three and had them filled and they are sitting at the ready.
In the event of another Hurricane, I will buy a couple of more and at last resort will use gasoline if the propane runs out.
So Wise , Thank you for the reminder
Good video. Sounds like your situation was very similar to mine. I'm in upstate SC, and lost power for 5.5 days. Didn't have a generator at the beginning. Was able to order one on the day the storm hit, but that didn't get delivered in time to save the contents of the fridge & freezer. I was able to borrow a generator on day 4, but that was too late for the fridge. The #1 most beneficial item for us was a generator and enough fuel to run it for 3 days. Around here, the craziness and panic buying had died down a bit by the end of day 3. Once we got a generator, things improved A LOT. We could at least keep our phones charged, which gave us access to information. We still need to obtain a means of cooking.
@@gearhead366 that’s where I am too upstate sc . Yeah after a few days I calmed down. Just had to wait for power. Thankfully we had natural gas and water. So still had hot water. I hope you’re recovering well.
@@jaystus Things are almost 100% back to normal now. We have power. Never lost water (thank God). There are still some storm cleanup and utility work going on. My wife and I are planning a renovation that will include gas (LNG) heat and water heating. And a whole house generation system that runs on LNG.
@gearhead366 that’s good. I’m just north of Greenville gas water heater was nice to have. Thankfully the weather was not too hot or cold.
Florida man here. We store non ethanol gasoline with stabil in it for hurricane supplies. I have found that as long as the container is sealed air tight, the gas will stay good for years. I label the cans with date and year when I fill them. I then use my hurricane gas to mow the lawn so I am cycling the cans. I used gas from 2018 last year in my mower and weed whacker with no problems. After Milton I used gas from 2022 for four days in my generator. I typically store 30 gallons of gas.
Obviously store you gas outside your house. Mine lives in a shed.
Thank you. I have learned, I can learn a lot from Floridians who go through this a lot more than I ever will.
@@jaystus as long as you don’t learn some of the negative stuff like getting blind drunk at hurricane parties during the storm.
We’re praying for you guys that were affected by hurricane Helene. The damage is just shocking to us having never seen a storm go through mountains like that.
@@Aikibiker1 I’m too old for shenanigans. 😂 though will probably never see anything like this again. But I am more prepared for the next power outage.
I’m also into camping so I do have the items you used. It’s nice to know you had everything you needed 👍
@@MattLitkeRacing was definitely useful
Might want to move that generator away from those dry pine needles. If you get any sparks from the exhaust it will ignite that entire area like a napalm going off, even the green conifer bushes. My experience: Bushman and Arbor for many years.
I’m a small over 50 woman who LOVES the little Dewalt battery powered chainsaw. The large 8ah batteries last forever and the size of the saw is perfect for me.
@@maudiefricker that’s good to hear. We don’t all need a huge powerful one.
good information, thank you.
Thank you for your prayers and support I am from spruce pine Nc and we need all the help we can get keep praying GOD is good
Thank you. This is exceptionally helpful content.
@@jimc386 thank you, I have learned a lot from the comments too.
Good to have a small quiet generator like that. It can run most things. Making use of USB is great. I have USB fans, USB string lights that only use 4 Watts which will run a long time on a battery pack. Also a thing to consider is Dewalt accessories... or knock off ones. I have a Dewalt blower, drill, and weed whacker, so I bought Dewalt battery lights, multiple sized fans, a converter to use USB from the Dewalt battery. This way I can make use of the multiple batteries I already had. I'll have to check out the chain saw, I didn't know they made one of those that runs off the battery packs.
@tempest-523 the chainsaw is really impressive, and no work. That’s smart, having some other dewalt lights is something I should look at even for camping. It ran everything I needed. I doubt I’ll ever be without power for 6 days again. Now I need to learn maintenance.
I have the dewalt battery chainsaw with the 1 foot bar on it. It has served me well over the years that I have had it. One thing I will note is to store it on its side, where the chain bar oil cap is on top; otherwise the oil will leak out of it.
@@nukepuke932 100% right I definitely learned that last summer. 🤣 thankfully it didn’t make too much of a mess.
Glad you are ok. Thanks for the info.
I live in the Cascade range of Central Oregon. Snow can get 3' deep in Winter and -22 degrees. I have 2 generators 2000w and 4000w and 2 ATVs one of which I use to keep the main road open. I keep 35 gals. of gas always. I only buy pure non ethanol gas. Never ever put gas containing ethanol in any small engine. Ethanol gas is what keeps small engine mechanics in business. Thanks for the video.
@@lapinebob thanks, I miss snow.
I have the older version, eu2000i. I got an extended run tank for it. It's a 6 gal marine gas tank with a honda fuel cap that fills the tank using the internal tank vacuum. It will run for days with that. Since the generator is way to small run the central AC I keep a window AC unit take can run off the generator.
@@David-et1qq that’s the second person who mentioned that. I need to look into it. Thanks. I’m really learning a lot
One major thing to consider when buying a generator is to buy a dual fuel generator and get a converter to use natural gas instead of propane if you have natural gas at your home. It is safer to store Propane tanks rather than gas cans full of gas that will continue to go bad. If you have natural gas, get a natural gas bbq grill and have a gas line run outside. Once you have that, you can cook all you want, because you have an unlimited source of fuel. With the outside gas line, you can, (with an adapter) also run your dual fuel generator and not worry about running out of fuel. During disasters, (except Earthquakes) the gas lines are not affected, and the plant providing the gas does not depend on the power grid to run the plant, they produce there own power.
Great video
Good list. We're in SC too, and were out of power about 1/2 a day. I just have a non-inverter generator that's enough to run the refrigerator and a light or two. Something I learned is that the power they produce depends on the speed the engine runs, so it was putting out about 150 volts until I adjusted the carburetor. But on the positive side it only uses about a gallon of gas a day.
I have a power bank that we bought for long airplane trips. I think it's 10,000 mAh. It's really convenient because it's about the size of the phone and has short charging cords and Qi built in, so you can just hold it with the phone.
We have a little fan for camping that has a battery built in. It has lights too. That was handy.
@@bob-rogers all the camping stuff definitely comes in handy. We camp with less in the mountains then what we had at home. (can’t wait to go back) with still having water and gas we had hot running water. You are right. Power banks really are useful.
Upstate sc here
@Ewood1388 hope you’re recovering well too.
Great video. Almost all generators with name brand engines, are easily and safely convertible to propane. The kits include a manifold that sits on top of the carburator and a regulator. If the generator shuts off, the regulator turns off the propane. Propane can easily and I definately be stored, unlike gasoline. Propane is clean burning and will not gum up the generator's carburator, so the next year, will be ready to go.
@@jamiefl definitely seems like I need to check this out. A lot of people are in agreement about this. Thanks.
Consider a tri-fuel kit. At my house, we have plenty of natural gas and we have never lost gas, even though we've lost power for up to a week. Best of all is that you don't need to store it, which is a bit of a hazard in itself with propane, and especially gasoline.
Another real-world video, very useful, thank you for taking your time to do this. It is a service to the community. I have generators, a 1,600w and 2,800w running on propane. Easier to store fuel for it and propane serves as fuel for multiple devices. Gasoline when needed. Propane stores forever. I also have 1,200w of solar panels. I have two 5200w DIY battery storage, a 2400w DIY system and two EcoFlow solar generators, 700w and 1024w, and finally a Bluetti 1500w unit. I have a single hose portable AC that I can run for 4-5 hours per day, take the edge the hottest part of the day. I am thinking about getting a window unit. I will use it to cool down one room. Uses way less power. Between solar and the generators, I can keep them charged, sun cooperating. I am going to replace my garage upright fridge with a chest freezer. Uses way less power and when you open the door, the cool air does not rush out, it stays within the freezer chest. I have many power banks and I use the older, USB A type power these little light:
JacobsParts 10pcs 3 LED USB Portable Night Light Bright Mini Keychain Camping Car Lamp Module
Check them out, they are surprisingly bright and can be placed on your key ring if desired. When storms hit and power may be out, I deploy the power banks with one of two of these little lights in each. They will stay lit for up to 3 days when used at night time before the power bank has to be recharged.
@@winstonsmiths2449 thanks! The comments have been very helpful too. I have Learned a lot from everyone
@@jaystus Yes, that is how I found your video, I look for these videos from people that have been through "it". I have had power out but only for a few hours, so I have never really been tested.
@winstonsmiths2449 I have a day or two. Never this long before
i have the Honda 1000 it kept our fridge and freezer, a fan and tv going with about 2 gallons of gas a day. I would let fridge and freezer stay off for several hours at night when not opening. I love the generator, light, quiet and easy to use. I also have a little solar power pack, it kept phones and cordless tool batteries charged. I used my drill and electric chainsaw a lot and the solar battery stayed above 80%, we had good sunny days after the storm, in Sarasota we went 5 days no power after Milton. I cooked on the grill, i had 4 tanks of propane only used half a tank. it would have really sucked with no generator and i would have lost a thousand dollars worth of meat in freezer.
@@truthonly7699 sounds like we basically used the same equipment. I could have saved some fuel at night, but it really doesn’t use much like you said. A solar charger might be a future investment for me.