THIS is exactly why I just purchased the supplies to run my generator directly into my power box. Yes, I have the interlock switch arriving as well.

We once had a week long power outage when I came home from school. I had a waterbed. It was nice for a day or so then it got really really cold.

We had a Coleman camp stove to cook on.

76 hours so far here. I'm hopeful they're getting closer. My little Honda generator is making a nice comforting hum. Only enough to run the bare essentials, but tat'll do fine for another day or so. If we get to mid-week and temps the teens, I'm going to have to get my second furnace up.

Well, that was rough, but could have been rougher. Power is back now. What I learned is that is the outside is hovering around 29 - 34, the piped are probably safe. I've also learned that is you live buried deep in tall older woods, you NEED a generator.

I'll be running a 12 AWG switchable line to each furnace and installing outlets for attachment under my sunporch. Also, I'll be ordering an extended fuel tank. The one pictured below is for sale on eBay. It is vacuum fed via the fuel pump in the generator. It's a homemade deal, so I welcome any comments if that looks unsafe. But 1 gallon is too small, even though in truth we were getting nearly 10 hours using is very conservatively for the furnace, cell phone chargers and one pot of coffee a day.



Next time, this will be WAY easier.

Pro Tip -- need a generator and they're sold out local? Look beyond the border of the disaster and start calling. I think that was the blessing find in all of this mess.

Special shout out to Mark123 who is somewhat local and called to help. It's been said 10,000 times, but SF and the cats here are a quality community. Couldn't agree more.

Glad you got power back.

Might be worth considering a propane powered generator. Propane doesn’t go bad like gasoline can.

I too am now a proud owner of a generator. A 5,000 watt behemoth but beggars could not be choosers at 8:00 on a Sunday morning. I too recognized the benefit of permanently installed wiring and switching to allow for a rapid deployment in the future. Everything is bought and the long weekend is exactly what was needed. It will be done by Monday.

quote:

Originally posted by SHOOTIN BLANKS:
Everything is bought and the long weekend is exactly what was needed. It will be done by Monday.

Daaaayum! I was planning to do it in an ice storm 5 years from now while my family waits in the cold dark house. WTF! You're makin me look bad!