Posted on 10/23/2005 2:50:03 PM PDT by backhoe
WE’RE ALL SOLDIERS OF FORTUNE NOW: I’ve written about the mainstreaming of survivalism before. Here’s yet another example. I think that preparing for climate-change apocalypse is just one step shy of getting ready for the zombie hordes, but whatever. Since the disaster you face is usually not the one you prepare for, he’ll still be ready for something.
If you’re more interested in this, you might check out Bill Quick’s survival-prep discussion forum. And here’s a list of recommended disaster-prep gear. Plus, some bug-out bag recommendations.
LIST: Some bug-out bag recommendations.
Related: A bug-in bag. “Basically a bag to get you home should SHTF while you’re away from your house.”
Plus, survival on the cheap. Still more here.
DISASTER PREP AND THE 3G KINDLE: Reader Robert Woodard emails:
Surprised you missed a chance to mention the 3G Kindle in your link to the story on Joplin. One of the reasons I bought the new 3G Kindle is the fact that the Whispernet works in places and at times where/when other forms of communication may not be available. Certainly it’s not the optimal email platform, but in an emergency being able to get in touch with your loved ones through a Kindle when all other forms of communication are unavailable is a huge advantage (I worked in NYC during 9/11 and the blackout two years later, and currently commute to the East Coast from the Midwest during the week (thanks Obama!) so communication capability means a lot to me).
Yes, I recall some people managed to get email through after the Japanese earthquakes by using a 3G Kindle when nothing else was working.
UPDATE: Reader Donald Gately emails:
A month or so ago, you linked to a page that had a bunch of pdf versions of emergency first aid books (“Where There is No Doctor” and “Medical Aid at Sea” were two of them). I downloaded them and put them on my Kindle.
While it would be ideal to also have hard copies, having a selection of emergency first aid books and other disaster/survival manuals on a device that has a multi-week battery life (if the wifi is off), could come in pretty handy. Especially if a disaster strikes when you aren’t at home, or if you have to leave in a hurry.
Maybe Amazon should start working on a ruggedized Kindle with an even longer battery life – or the ability to take AAs.
Or a solar charger.
ANOTHER UPDATE: Reader Steve Bohn writes:
Glenn, regarding your emergency charging options for Kindle post, thanks to a link from you I bought an Emergency hand-cranked powered radio on Amazon and it included a USB charging cable.
Yes, a lot of those devices support USB charging now.
Regarding post #143?
I searched for and downloaded the PDF for Survival, Evasion, and Recovery, and moved it from “download” to “my Kindle content”...
I will be damned- my “free Kindle app for PC’s” ( get it at Amazon ) can read the damned thing... so Kindle can read PDF’s— suddenly, Kindle became a lot more useful.
Yes, a hard copy is more durable- but which are you more likely to have on you when disaster strikes?
Get Kindle...
Get a pile of PDF’s...
Put them where Kindle can see them...
It will give you a better chance...
DISASTER PREPAREDNESS: Reader Brian Durant emails:
Professor Reynolds- I am a long time reader, but have never emailed you. Many times you have mentioned the need to be ready for disaster including having a “bug out” plan with bags ready, etc. Last THURS evening we learned the lesson the hard way. A wildfire forced us to evacuate our house in about 15 minutes- we grabbed a few valuables, a change of clothes, some toiletries, and headed out thinking we’d be gone for a couple of hours. More than 36 hours later were we were allowed to return. Fortunately thanks to God and some great volunteer firefighters, our house was spared. During the time away, I spent a lot of time trying to determine what I should have taken, would need to replace, etc. Please remind us again of the importance of being prepared (and a good list would be helpful, too.)
Happy to. Here are a bunch of my disaster preparedness posts. Here in particular is the one on low-budget preparedness.
Here are some bug-out bag recommendations, and here’s a list on survival preparedness for your car or SUV.
Here’s something from Jed Babbin, and you might also want to spend some time at Bill Quick’s survival discussion board.
And, really, just spend 15 minutes now — when you’re not distracted by having to evacuate and your head is comparatively clear — thinking about what you’d take, and where it is in your house, and then make a list. Then look at the list in a day or two and add what you forgot. Do that a time or two and you’ll be much better off.
A personal note?
We have been plagued with heavy smoke from wildfires from the Okefenokee Swamp area for two bloody months- some of the details are here near the end of the post:
It's been so bad that at times you could not see, clearly, objects 2 blocks away.
Even though it's just me & The Kid, now, I keep a few things in the trunk of "our" car- water, food, tools, and weapons...
You should, too...
A FOLLOWUP ON YESTERDAY’S DISASTER-PREP POST: What to do after the disaster.
H/T Glenn at Insty:
http://pajamasmedia.com/instapundit/
INTERESTED IN DISASTER-PREPAREDNESS? You might want to drop by Bill Quick’s discussion forum. And here’s a list of “must-read” survival books.
http://www.survival-preps.com/
http://www.amazon.com/The-Survival-Twenty/lm/R2W3OI9NF5FKJX/
Check out today’s Dilbert: http://www.dilbert.com/
I hope it’ll be archived somewhere after it’s gone from that site, as it is spot on serious/hilarious (I always love Alice and her “work arounds”).
Thanks for the links, will check them out. Love them hurricane preps!
8 Things the 2011 Tornadoes Taught Us About Surviving a Long-Term Power Outage
Hattip, Insty:
http://pajamasmedia.com/instapundit/
Well, isn’t this cute?
LOOKING EVERYWHERE BUT THE OBVIOUS PLACES? FBI adds ‘preppers’ to potential terrorists list.
Posted at 8:35 am by Glenn Reynolds
Via:
http://pajamasmedia.com/instapundit/
SOME PRE-HURRICANE PREPAREDNESS SUGGESTIONS.
http://meteorologicalmusings.blogspot.com/2011/08/potential-hurricane_21.html
Plus, a hurricane preparedness list.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/richpub/syltguides/fullview/34SB5SE182UBD
And here’s a roundup of hurricane tips from a while back.
http://pajamasmedia.com/instapundit/008339/
My Irene post at our Canadian sister site, plus good stuff from Ace of Spades:
http://www.freedominion.com.pa/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?p=1640431#p1640431
Via:
http://pajamasmedia.com/instapundit/
DISASTER-PREP TIP: How To Keep Your Cellphone Going As Long As Possible.
http://www.technologyreview.com/blog/mimssbits/27116/?p1=blogs
Note this in particular: “Text messages use a tiny fraction of the power required to make an actual phone call. In addition, there are very good selfish and selfless reasons to use SMS instead of calling during a wide-spread crisis: Texting helps keep the network from being overwhelmed, and texts are more likely to get through than voice calls.”
Also: “Need to check Twitter? Don’t forget that your 3G Kindle has a web browser in it.”
Via:
http://pajamasmedia.com/instapundit/page/4/
FASTER, PLEASE: A Wireless Communications System That Works When Cell Phones, Internet Are Down. “LifeNet lets computers and phones talk to each other without an Internet connection, which could come in handy after disasters that knock out communication networks.”
More:
One of the first things to disappear in the wake of a major disaster is reliable communication. Without access to cell phone service or the Internet, it’s difficult for first responders–or anyone who wants to help out–to speak with each other. And while satellite phones work in these situations, they’re too expensive for many first responder organizations to purchase en masse. Now researchers from Georgia Tech College of Computing claim to have developed a cheap, easy solution: LifeNet, a piece of software that allows people to communicate after disasters, even if landlines, cell phone networks, and the Internet are all down.
“It’s just a piece of code that you can have on your laptop or phone. Once you have the software, the computers can communicate with each other, and you don’t need infrastructure,” says Santosh Vempala, the Georgia Tech computer science professor in charge of the project.
Any device that has LifeNet installed acts as both a host and router for the network–meaning the software can route data both to and from any other LifeNet-enabled device. You can read more technical details here.
Cool. Nice work, Georgia Tech folks
http://thelifenetwork.org/about.html
With a hattip to Glenn at Instapundit- which you should read every day:
http://www.survivalblog.com/2011/09/six_letters_re_hurricane_irene.html
Six Letters Re: Hurricane Irene Lessons Learned
By James Wesley, Rawles on September 2, 2011 9:43 PM
Dear Mr. Rawles:
We’ve been without power for 3-1/2 days and Internet even longer, so I’m late in writing, but I wanted to say that the grace of God and deep preps won the day, here as hurricane Irene blew through.
When the power went out, we went to our generator, so we had water for ourselves and less prepared neighbors. Those votive lights, the ones in the tall glass containers that often have saints’ picture on them were perfect for our windowless bathrooms, and they’re fairly cheap. They burned safely almost the whole time and there’s still a day left, I’d say, in each one. That was a SurvivalBlog idea I picked up on - thanks.
When our old stove died, I went through a lot of hassle to get one with pilot lights instead of those newfangled glow plugs. Few companies make them - mine was by ‘Summit’. We had to do part of the installation ourselves because the gas guys weren’t used to dealing with such old-fashioned stoves, although one old-timer did give us some good hints so we were able to set the flames. But...this mean that as long as we had propane we could cook anything, bake whatever we wanted. The Summit stove is very efficient (as is our generator) so it needs no preheat time for the oven. It also has no timers, lights, etc., which is okay by me. I have the old-fashioned wind up timer and find I don’t really need an oven light now that I’m used to not having one.
We froze a lot of water ahead and also got some bagged ice. Running the generator 4 - 6 hours a day kept the freezer at 12F or less during the night, covered with quilts.
It was eerie how the whole thing played out exactly according to the disaster scenarios. Not only were we isolated - a tree blocked one road and floods another, but when people did get out, they found they had to drive a long way to find stores with power (they were lucky there were any). In town there was no gas, of course, because no power, and cash only, because no computers. The local banks were closed, of course, and grocery stores in all directions. Some people were miffed that the power wasn’t restored instantly and didn’t seem to understand that there are no guarantees. Also, the local power companies admitted on the radio that they’ve cut back on crews, partly because of government regulations, trying to ease their bottom lines. There were also people who were just plain in denial there was going to be a hurricane. It read just like a novel.
While we didn’t have any security issues, we were armed, having gotten the permits and the weapons and spent range time when the sun shone. The whole time we were grateful it was ‘only’ a hurricane and not an EMP or nuclear attack, or some other systemic meltdown. Having read the survival literature, we knew this was just a bump, a chance to test our preps.
Thanks so much for your site, and for those who write in. - An old farmer in Connecticut
Dear James,
Hurricane Irene taught me a valuable lesson. At 4 a.m. on Sunday morning, the alarm on my septic tank went off. The storm was raging outside and the rainwater had filled the septic tank. I went down to the basement to check things out. The laundry tub has a pump that sends the water up to the soil pipe. Water was running down to the pump from the overfull septic tank and soil pipe, and the pump would dutifully pump it back up to the soil pipe. Up, back down, up, back down. I realized that if the tank got any fuller, the pump would run continuously. If the electricity went down and the pump stopped working, the waste would have started backing up into the house. I prayed that the situation would not worsen. Eventually the rain tapered off, the tank drained off some, and at 8 am the alarm went off.
Up until now, I figured I needed backup power for the well pump and lighting. It never crossed my mind that the laundry tub pump was a weak point in my preps. I am looking at ways to solve this problem. I thank the Lord that we did not have a hurricane and a power outage. - L.C. in Pennsylvania
Dear Rawles Family,
I started reading your blog about six years ago (shortly after the birth of my first child, motherhood will do that to you) and am grateful everyday because you confirmed the mindset my Grandma gave me and helped me move forward. I hope this gives some marriages some hope.
Last Tuesday I was shopping with my three children. I got out of our vehicle, and noticed people pouring out of the store. I received a text message from my husband to call him immediately and was unable to. (Gee, those handheld radios I keep trying to get him to buy would have come in handy). People were running around saying this was another 9-11. I asked what was going on and was told “earthquake”. I have actually lived in places where earthquakes were a common occurrence so the hysteria was a bit funny, but it was dangerous because people were freaking. Kind of like when people down south can’t drive when it flurries. Accidents that should never happen do happen. I finally made contact with my husband and was able to assure him that not only were we fine, but if we were unable to make it home I had supplies with me.
This is important because he hated that I am a prepper. He took stuff out of the car that I put in. He removed supplies when I am not looking from bags I have packed and has gotten into heated arguments with me when I try to get him to buy one extra can of meat at the store. He will not, under any circumstances allow me to store water. He would rather sock money away, I would rather sock supplies away. For the first time, he was glad I was a prepper. I warned him that if he took anything out of our vehicle without telling me and we needed it on the way home that I was going to kill him. We were fine.
Less then two days later we were told the Mother of all storms was headed directly for us. This is the first time my husband has taken a storm seriously. He ran around clearing the yard of all items and what stopped him cold was when I calmly asked him what he planned to do about the whole week long, at least, power outage. He looked worried for the first time. See, we have wells powered by electricity. My pleas for a generator and solar power were ignored. My attempts for storing water were mocked and forbidden. So I just calmly reminded him of that. He freaked out.
Now I knew I had a Berkey (my Christmas gift one year) and a swimming pool. And that equaled drinking water. I had several large bathtubs and that equaled flushing and washing water. I knew that I had stashed oil lamps (which had precipitated a massive verbal fight in Wal-Mart over me buying “clutter”) and two lanterns. I knew I had three battery powered radios and the batteries to run them. But he didn’t. He rushed out to stores and found...nothing. I let him. I wanted him to see that reality and feel that for once. Then when he got home I calmly took him through my plans. He was then called into work with only an hour to respond.
While he was upstairs dressing to spend an untold period of time away from us while during a massive storm (something he has told me I do not need to prep for—because it would never happen), I calmly pulled together a BOB kit for him. See I had already packed one for him, several times, and he removed them from his vehicle and warned me to never put them in his car again. So I waited for him to get dressed and was able to run down a list in my head and pull from various sources (you see my husband will not prep for an emergency, but he will “prep” for spontaneous hospitality...so we had junk food and drinks, extra bedding and towels, first aid kit et cetera for guests. There are ways to work with reluctant spouses :) and had his car packed in less then the 15 minutes it took for him to get dressed. He was very worried and begging me to prep away. I was praying, calm and had a plan.
I prepped as fast as I could for the storm. I made sleeping quarters in the basement. Put the children to bed after full baths, fully clothed. I was putting batteries in my radio when the power went down and the storm hit. Yes, I could have been really mad because I should have had everything in place if I didn’t have to prep in secret but I have to spread my supplies around so I don’t look like I am doing “that stupid prepping again”, but I had the stuff.
I had ten minutes before tornado warnings started blaring on the radio. I calmly woke the kids up, got them to the basement with the dogs and barricaded them down there while I ran around to all my stashes getting supplies we would need to survive the aftermath. I made it back down with one minute to spare and got us in the closet. Thank God that I had “prepped” for a birthday party with glow in the dark jewlery—which is a great way to lighten the mood for small children locked in a closet during tornados.
My formerly anti-prepper husband then spent the whole time trying to reach us through the cell phone. See he has always refused to install the land line I wanted for emergencies. So we were at the mercy of the cell phones, which didn’t work well or lost power quickly because they are “smart” phones”. He came home to us safe, but the power down for “one week to three weeks” according to the power company.
However, I had talked him into keeping extra gas on hand for all his power tools. He bartered that (because there was no gas to be found) and one of my radios and batteries to hook up to a generator. So we didn’t lose all the food. But we came close.
Needless to say, my husband just purchased our first generator, is calling about a land line and hasn’t said a word about the water bottles I have begun storing since the power came back up.
The most profound thing that happened is that it shook him from his “it will never happen” sleep. Thank God, and not a moment too soon. So for any of you spouses out there dealing with this. Pray and don’t stop. God is much better at waking people up and changing hearts then we are, And being willing to take the heat and prep within the parameters still works. Thanks for all the work you do Mr. Rawles and Family. - Mrs. L.B.
Like I always tell you? “read the comments, use the links”— first comment up?
Dear JWR:
My husband and I read SurvivalBlog regularly and want to share with other readers a way to keep insulin cool during periods without electricity. My husband has been a Type I diabetic for 43 years (44 this coming Thanksgiving) so I am always reading magazines, etc. about diabetes. A couple of years ago I came across an article about Frio insulin cooling wallets. I immediately ordered one but we had not used it until Hurricane Irene came through eastern North Carolina last weekend.
Thankfully our power was restored after 25 hours, but many people in other parts of the region may be without power for up to a week. If this had been the case, my husband’s life-saving insulin would have been available without our worrying about it being denatured by high temperatures.
Via Insty:
http://www.pajamasmedia.com/instapundit/
AT AMAZON, bestsellers in Automotive. Also, power inverters — “the poor man’s generator.”
UPDATE: Reader Bill Rickords emails:
Glenn, your readers should know that there are two kinds of output from these devices. If you have something that is delicate or needs clean current they need to get a PURE SINE WAVE inverter. Otherwise the cheaper ones put out a SQUARE WAVE and it’s a bit noisy and some motors may not run well with it.
I have some medical issues and have to use an oxygen concentrator to provide additional oxygen to help breathing. The device manufacturer said if I use it in the car to get a PURE SINE WAVE version. Anything delicate or electronic controlled will likely need such.
I have a 1000 watt one in my car to power various 110 volt devices while traveling etc. Works great.
Yeah, we’ve discussed that here before but it bears repeating.
Here’s the inverter link:
http://www.amazon.com/s?url=search-alias%3Dautomotive&field-keywords=power+inverters&x=0&y=0
Each of your vehicles should have one, so you can have AC power where you go. Yes, they drain the battery, so run the numbers.
From:
http://pajamasmedia.com/instapundit/
A GENERATOR BLEG: Reader Russell Sayre emails: “Have you posted in the past on home generators? I’m in the market, but the selection on Amazon is fairly bewildering. Do you or your readers have tips or suggestions?” A bit, but I’ve never bought one. They can be dangerous, both electrically and from carbon monoxide. (Storing gas is dangerous, too). And my power’s pretty reliable. So even though my house has a transfer box and a generator inlet, I’ve never gotten the generator to go with it.
That said, you can go with a small inverter-based machine like this Yamaha
http://www.amazon.com/Yamaha-EF2000iS-4-Stroke-Generator-Compliant/dp/B002RWK9N2?s=hi&ie=UTF8&qid=1315789757&sr=1-3?_encoding=UTF8&tag=wwwviolentkicom&linkCode=ur2&camp=1789&creative=9325
for powering electronics, etc. Or you can get a whole-house standby generator.
http://www.amazon.com/Generac-5875-Air-Cooled-Generator-Compliant/dp/B003IT76F2?s=hi&ie=UTF8&qid=1315789757&sr=1-15?_encoding=UTF8&tag=wwwviolentkicom&linkCode=ur2&camp=1789&creative=9325
The key is figuring out what you want it for in advance, and then working backward. As I’ve said before, if I were building a house from scratch I’d put in a big underground propane tank and have a propane-powered backup generator. Then I’d be nearly independent except for getting my tank filled once or twice a year.
UPDATE: Reader Tom Fenton writes: “Please remind folks that they just can’t plug the generator into a convenient plug without an isolation box as power then also flows out into the network. Generators that power the neighborhood slow down restoration as utility crews often go door to door asking to shut off generators before repairing broken power lines.” Yes, that’s why you need a transfer box — or you can just run an extension cord from the generator, of course.
Here’s some generator safety advice.
http://www.popularmechanics.com/video/power-generator-safety-home-survival-how-to-video-1078625732?click=main_sr
And with any kind of backup power or heat, a battery powered carbon monoxide detector is an excellent idea.
http://www.amazon.com/s?url=search-alias%3Dtools&field-keywords=carbon+monoxide+detector&sprefix=carbon+monoxide+detector
ANOTHER UPDATE: Reader Dave Tulka writes:
“We have a 5500 watt Diesel and have yet to install the transfer switch. We have a Coleman dual-fuel camp lantern and two Aladdin kerosene lamps. For winter heat, we have been using our Toyotomi/Kerosun kerosene heaters as an almost primary heat source. Even if the gas stays on, there is no heat without the electric blower fan.
When we updated the kitchen, we converted from an electric stove to gas and have a dual-fuel Coleman camp stove as backup. We purchased the Coleman lantern and stove for family camping when our kids were younger.
The cool thing about Coleman dual-fuel units is they run on Coleman fuel or gasoline. Both fuels are far more energy-dense than propane resulting in less space for each BTU stored.
When we first started using kerosene for winter heat about ten years ago, our friends and families looked at us like we each had a third eye. Now, not so much. We’ve had two friends lose their gas furnaces in the winter that were thrilled to borrow one of our kerosene heaters for a few days until they could get their furnaces repaired or replaced.
Our story is about reducing the absolute need for electricity. The remaining critical-path items are the fridge, washing machine and internet access. Assuming the internet stays up, each machine and the network gear has pretty respectable battery backup in place.”
Kerosene heaters are remarkably good if used properly, and kerosene — like diesel fuel — is comparatively safe to store. Gasoline is somewhat more dangerous.
Emergency Power
Via:
http://pajamasmedia.com/instapundit/
IN RESPONSE TO YESTERDAY’S BACKUP-POWER BLEG, a lengthy email from reader Harry Lenchitz:
“Having enjoyed about one-third of our lives on generator power, we decided to enter the discussion.
I have more than 40 years experience in electric power generation for prime power applications (seagoing vessels, forward operating bases, field hospitals) and critical standby power (healthcare facilities, emergency services, credit card transactions).
My wife has invested a similar amount of time performing research at sea, and in remote locations, on generator power.
We met shortly after 9-11, and we watched the Pentagon smolder for several weeks.
Note to deniers: It really happened!
This e-mail is my contribution to the generator discussion.
First, to all those who want a cheap, convenient way to charge their cell phones and other portable electronics: every motor vehicle includes a one kilowatt (1kw) alternator for battery charging.
Some vehicles are slightly less (a skinny kilowatt) others are quite a bit more (2kw) but all vehicles have a battery charging alternator.
The best way to charge portable electronics is to idle your vehicle and use 12 volt DC chargers.
To charge your cell phone, you do not even need to start your vehicle. Just plug the cell phone charger into your vehicle and let it charge.
To charge larger items, start your vehicle and let it idle.
To operate larger items which require 120 volt AC power, such as your computer UPS, a drip coffee maker, or a small microwave, use a 1200 watt (1.2kw) inverter – available everywhere for less than $100.
Most vehicles today will run a 1200 watt inverter indefinitely while idling, but you may need to turn on the air conditioner (which increases the engine idle) or turn up the idle speed (not legal – do not do this) to make sure the alternator is putting out full power.
Also, the family minivan (or coupe, pickup truck, or SUV) is the best survival pod ever invented – heat, air conditioning, lights, etc. You already own it, and the fuel to run it is negligible compared to buying, maintaining, and feeding a generator.
Even more important, you can drive the vehicle to a fuel point to refuel it, and charge the battery while driving to and from the fuel point.
If you need more power than your vehicle produces, then and only then, consider a generator.
We can discuss how to size a genset for home use, based on how many items you desire to run during a power outage, and how much fuel you are willing to store and consume.
You can use a portable generator, or install a standby generator.
Whatever you do, please follow all safety precautions with respect to electrical hazards, thermal hazards, and fume hazards.
If you use a portable generator, please use extension cords to power your loads – do not energize your home wiring unless you have installed an Underwriters Laboratory (UL) listed transfer switch!
I will discuss transfer switches later in this article.
If you choose to install a standby generator, and you live in an urban, or dense suburban area, a propane (bottle gas) or natural gas (city gas) powered system is the most popular and cost effective way to go. It is also the quietest.
Note well: City gas is often shut off during natural disasters. Propane is stored on your property, and can be stored indefinitely.
If you live in a rural area, you can go with a propane or a diesel unit, or if you have a tractor, a pto-driven genset.
For almost all tractor owners, I recommend a pto-driven genset. If you buy a Winco, Onan, or similar high-quality pto-driven genset, you can pass it on to your grandchildren. It will never wear out.
The beauty of a pto-driven genset is that many tractor owners are already adept at maintaining their tractors. Also, you can always find someone to repair a tractor, or, if you really need to, you can buy another tractor, new or used, almost any time.
It is extremely important to have a generator big enough to start and run your rotating loads, and to hold frequency and voltage as near constant as possible.
All rotating loads – well pump, pool pump, air conditioner/heat pump compressor and fan motor, refrigerator and freezer compressors and fan motors – require 60 hz alternating current (AC) to operate at the correct, constant speed, and require full voltage (120 or 240 depending on the motor) to operate at the correct current under load.
Incorrect voltage, and incorrect or varying frequency, can lead to failure of rotating equipment.
Let me put that more plainly – a badly regulated generator will burn up expensive motors!
Home electronics (tv, computer, etc.) are not as sensitive to voltage, and are relatively insensitive to frequency (they all have power supplies that convert AC to regulated DC) but they can be damaged by very low or high voltage.
Most important is your transfer switch.
After the transfer switch is installed, and inspected by your county building inspector, send a copy of the electrical inspection to your insurance agent – 2 reasons:
1. Liability – If anyone is ever injured or killed while working to restore power on your distribution grid, you will have proof that there is no way it was a backfeed from your generator.
2. Risk Reduction – If you ever have an electrical fire in your house, you will have proof that the transfer switch was properly installed and inspected.
My advice is to install a 200 amp (or whatever size your home electrical service is) manual transfer switch.
That way you will be able to use any lights, anywhere in your house, including in your basement, regardless of whether you power your house with a 5kw or a 50kw genset.
I do not recommend an automatic transfer switch for home use.
You want to determine that the power really is out, and will be out for more than a few minutes (or hours).
You want to start your genset and make sure it is running right – all engine gauges (oil pressure, battery voltage, coolant or cylinder temperature) and generator gauges (voltage, FREQUENCY, current) registering correctly, and then and only then transfer the load.
If the engine parameters are incorrect, you run the risk of destroying the engine. If the generator parameters are incorrect, you run the risk of destroying expensive items in your home.
Even if you never have a power outage, throw your transfer switch once a year to make sure it moves.
Also, open it once a year and blow out the insects. Leave a piece of no-pest strip or a livestock ear tag with pyrethrins in there to keep it insect free.
I recommend testing a home generator twice each month.
Just connect an electric stove or similar load to it, and run it under load for 30 minutes.
If you can start it and run it every 2 weeks, and it takes a full load, you can depend on it for a power outage when you transfer the house load using your manual transfer switch.
Takeaway – Generating your own power during an outage requires serious investment in time and money, and significant fuel and maintenance expenses.
At present prices, we spend about $90/day for fuel and oil changes during extended power outages.
We can discuss this stuff further if you like.
We have a 200 amp transfer switch to transfer our house between the electric grid and generator power, and a second 100 amp transfer switch to transfer between main generator and auxiliaries. Main generator is a 15kw 1800 rpm diesel. Auxiliaries are 25kw Winco pto unit (more power than either of our tractors can provide, but superior motor starting capability), 8.5kw 3600 rpm gasoline powered welder, 3.5kw 3600 rpm gasoline powered welder, 2kw 1800 rpm continuous rated gasoline powered genset (perfect for overnight refrigeration and entertainment loads, if we don’t need heat or air conditioning).”
Well, that’s going big. The small-scale way is with the inverters. The maintenance load for a generator is why I haven’t bought one. The more expensive ones start themselves every month. But they’re more expensive. . .
Inverters:
http://tinyurl.com/3vfll9n
A personal note from The Heavy Equipment Guy?
When Irene brushed by us, I went through the usual “it won’t hit us but let’s act like it will” drill— gassed truck & car, cranked both generators, made sure I had plenty of water, food, and lights.
Going through my truck and The Dead Miss Emily’s car, I found a 200 Watt inverter under each seat.
Dead Worlds- I bought them years ago so we each could have a little 110VAC power in out vehicles if we needed it. Computers, handhelds, small appliances.
Well, Miss Emily is beyond all that now- but Miss MaryAnn is not- the details are here:
http://www.freedominion.com.pa/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=132803
“Letters to Miss Emily...”
So I bought her a 400 Watt inverter with USB ports- a new thing— and gave it to her. And we sat on her porch and talked a while of dogs & cats & dead spouses. It was a good thing.
The future? What’s that?
-30-
Via:
http://pajamasmedia.com/instapundit/
FOLLOWING UP ON SOME EARLIER POSTS, a Generator Buying Guide.
This link takes you to Amazon- FWIW during the Irene crisis, Glenn reported that people unable to buy generators locally got them next day via Amazon.
Storm related:
http://pjmedia.com/instapundit/
I MENTIONED GENERATORS EARLIER, but if you’re thinking of buying one, read this post. You might also consider going with an inverter.
http://pjmedia.com/instapundit/127766/
http://tinyurl.com/3vfll9n
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