[Elecraft] OT GENERAC generators

[Edward R Cole]

From: K8JHR <jrichards at k8jhr.com>
To: elecraft at mailman.qth.net
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] OT GENERAC generators
Message-ID: <53D1A78D.9050207 at k8jhr.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed

How much fuel do all you guys with whole house generators keep on hand?

How much fuel does one need to, say, go for 10 days?  Does everyone have
that on hand?

What next, if you run out of fuel...


[--Note - not an argument, a serious question.  I know lots of guys with
generators, but I bet they have only one or two days of fuel on hand.
What does it really take?  Does one need a submarine-size tank, like we
see in rural areas, to go the distance? ]

---------------------- K8JHR ------------------------

I keep three 5-gallon plastic gas cans with fuel.  That is for 
running the lawn tractor (mows and snowblows) and the generator (also 
very occasional use a chainsaw and brush cutter).

That is sufficient for most power outages.  Fuel consumption in the 
econo-run mode is 0.2 gal/hour so 24 hours continuous use would use 
just over 5 gallons.  But we usually shut down the generator when 
sleeping unless it is during the cold of winter and we need to be 
concerned about freezing the water lines.

Longest power outage has been about three days.  We live only two 
miles from one of the power company generator sites so not likely to 
be out long-term.

When we run thru 15 gallons of fuel (might stretch five days 
intermittent running) then we drive to a gas station and 
refuel.  Unlike the lower-48 many gas stations have their own backup 
generators in case of power loss.  Here in AK we try to keep the cars 
fueled with at least half a tank so we could drive quite a distance 
if we needed to find an open station.  In a major disaster we would 
not have enough fuel to last two weeks (unless we siphon from one of the cars).

House heats on natural gas but we opted to stay with a gasoline 
powered generator.  Less dependent on gas supply that way.

Here's a question for the rest of you:  How much emergency food and 
water to you have?  One winter an avalanche cut off truck deliveries 
for three weeks and we almost ran out of dog food (had six sled dogs, 
then).  We had power thru that period.

A small town about 100 miles from here lost their electric and phones 
for that period and also all road deliveries (only one gas station in 
town).  National Guard air-lifted them a large gen-set and relief 
food (local grocery freezers thawed and there as no resupply for a long time).

73, Ed - KL7UW
http://www.kl7uw.com
     "Kits made by KL7UW"
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