I'm alive--but do you guys have time for THIS story? PART 1

[TomS]

Hey Madjack,

Thanks for the heads-up.

I would never, ever run a generator or any other gas engine in my basement. I am aware of the dangers of CO poisioning and wouldn't risk it. Not to mention the fire hazards refueling in close proximity to a hot furnace.

My furnace is located right next to the bulkhead entrance to my basement. My idea is to park the generator just outside the bulkhead and run a cord through the bulkhead to my furnace.

I just checked the name plate on my furnace. It's rated for 120V/12A. That's 1440 Watts. A 2,000 watt generator should be up to the task. Something larger would allow me to also run some lights and small appliances.

I was looking at the Honda generators because, they're compact, quiet and put out relatively clean power. I'm thinking that I could also use them for other things like camping in my Cubby way out in the boonies.

We always have propane around here. We use it for hot water and cooking. We also have the 20 Lb bottles for the gas grill. Do they make smaller LP gas powered generators?

[madjack]

Tom, I was just looking at Northern Tool catalog and the cheapest lp gas was $1800 bucks...owwww. Here are some interesting units from sportsmans guide ...I've been looking at the little McCullough and those 2 Buffaloes look pretty good also
madjack

[dmb90260]

No problem there. My wife loves candles. So we always have plenty around the house.

A word of advice on those candles. During one of our many annual firestorms, a friend was stuck in her house because it was cut off by fires in the surrounding area. She, husband, kid and horses were basically safe but lost all power. With all the smoke outside they closed all the windows and lit the house with candles.. those nice "girly" candles, bumbleberry, berryberry, apricot, springtime etc etc. She said it took about an hour and the smells got so bad they opened windows to get smoke inside for short time. After that they cut down the number of candles and searched for those the was not as obnxious in a closed space.

Set aside some beeswax candles you will survive a happier person.

[SmokeyBob]

Ira
Welcome back, glad to hear you and your family are OK.

[TomS]

Tom, I was just looking at Northern Tool catalog and the cheapest lp gas was $1800 bucks...owwww. Here are some interesting units from sportsmans guide ...I've been looking at the little McCullough and those 2 Buffaloes look pretty good also
madjack

I'm not about to drop $1,800 for something I'll probably never have to use. I spoted the Mcullough on the S.G. web site last night. It looks comprarable to the Hondas. At $600, it's still not cheap. But, it will get the job done.

My son might want one for for use at job sites. Maybe, we can share it and split the cost.

[madjack]

...if you want to share it and do some jobsite stuff, the 3500watt buffaloe for about the same money may be the way to go...if ya get one or another give us a report on it, I know I would be interested...
madjack

[cracker39]

We're glad to see you back Ira. and thank goodness, the hurricane didn't change you any...

Hey TomS I was in Myakka State Park this summer (sarasota for a wedding ) did you know there are gators and wide boar in that park?

Shoot, Tom and Kens. Thar's gators all over Florida, and wild boars too, although you don't see them as easily as you do the gators. Last year, I had to chase a small one one back through a hole in the fence just down the block into the orange grove where he came from (a lake is on the other side). When I go fishing in any of the lakes around here, I usually have at least one gator near the boat at some point. One day, I fished only about 20 feet from a 12 footer sleeping on the bank. You don't bother them and they won't bother you...but I wouldn't go in the water near one.

Wilma was my third hurricane in 14 months with three eyes over the house. Although this one was just the north edge of the eye, winds around 80 - 90 MPH, last years' two were direct hits on my area. So I think that gives me a basis for adding my dollar three eighty to the conversation. I'm still without power but hope it will be coming in the next day or so based on line truck activities getting closer. But what I really wanted to address is pre-storm preparations. Its everybodies responsibility to act like responsible adults and protect their family and property as best they can and be ready. I bought a generator about five years ago and have it ready to go with about three to five days of gas on standby. My cars are full of gas before hand. I board up the house and fill up the tub with water and have plenty of food and water in stock. If it gets up to a cat 4 I'm gone, otherwise we ride it out. I am amazed at the number of people who seem to be oblivious to what they should do to get ready. Even if your new to Florida, the news stations tell you what to do and where to get it days before the storm hits. For the house I have insurance but I'M responsible for everything else. Why do people expect the Gov to hold there hand through these things. They're perdictable and you have plenty of time to prepare. So to the general population out there, GROW UP and take care of yourself. Elderly and children excluded. We should be takeing care of them too. Ok I'm done

Lee

I didn't realize how close to the storm center you were until I looked up Jensen Beach on the map. I had very little damage from Wilma, thank goodness. Last year was enough with the big three passing right by or over us. My power was out for 3 days from one of them last year, but one of my wife's daughters lived in a part of town that got power up after a few hours and we spent a few days with them, and put our freezer stuff in theirs. I would like to get a generator hooked up to the house, but maybe next year. I'm not worried about using a noisy one. It would be outside next to the house next door and those neighbors are a pain in the A** who would take advantage of us every chance they get, and do.

[Grandadeo]

I GOT POWER!!!! Late last night. Time to put the generator away for another year, I hope.

Lee

[Boodro]

Welcmoe back RT , hope ya'll made it ok. Hang in there!

[RKH]

My hot water heater and stove are propane.

Are you POSITIVE they'd work without electric? Many gas powered appliances without pilot lights require an electrically-operated solenoid to turn on the gas as well as provide the initial ignition.
You could bypass the ignition with a match but can you keep the gas flowing?

[cracker39]

I had a pickup camper with propane stove with oven, and I had a fridge that worked on either 110VAC or propane. I rarely camped where I had power, and used the fridge a lot. It had a "sparker" ignition to lite the pilot, and then it ran on it's on. It had a thermocouple, so I guess it controlled the operation on propane. It was many years ago, and I don't remember much detail other than that about it's operation. I'd think that they are basically the same today.

[TRAIL-OF-TEARS]

Ira, I am glad to see you and the family are well. at least you saved the cucmber plant.

My hot water heater and stove are propane.

Are you POSITIVE they'd work without electric? Many gas powered appliances without pilot lights require an electrically-operated solenoid to turn on the gas as well as provide the initial ignition.
You could bypass the ignition with a match but can you keep the gas flowing?

RKH it should work just fine we are on propane and when the power goes out we just need a match to light the stove and all is good. The propane is pressurized so there is no electricity needed.

[GeorgeTelford]

Hi

On this "will it work on propane" malarky.

I find it highley unlikely that your Propane devices will work without electricity (of some kind)

The propane heaters and boilers in campers etc require 12v to operate the soleniods to allow gas through.

And on mains boiler at home when we have power cut the gas heating and hot water are shot, no power-no soleniod-no gas-no heat.
My brother in law as an all LPG house but when powers down nothing works.

[asianflava]

I unpluged the range and tested it out. The stove will work without power but the oven will not. The oven requires a heating element to ignite the oven, it won't flow gas until it is hot (the element). I learned this when I had to replace one last Thanksgiving.

My hot water heater does have a pilot light, which is lit with a manual striker. There is no power hooked up to the heater, and the only control is the valve in front.

My house is fairly new, built in 99.

There is a difference between LPG and Natural Gas mine is Natural Gas. Usign the terms interchangably can be dangerous because they have to be jetted differently.

[TomS]

I KNOW my stove and hot water heater don't need power to run. They both use pilot lights. There is no power going to either appliance.


The water heater in particlular is a pain in the a$$ to re-light. It has a thermometer that cuts off the gas if the pilot goes out. to re-light it you have to hold this button down for a couple of minutes until the thermometer get hot again.