Power outage prep

[Ivan the Butcher]

I just powered up after the second power outage in 6 weeks. They were very minor, only 2 or 3 hours in length and the weather was in the mid 50's both times. It is the season! The problem today was it came in the middle of our weekly big breakfast preparation. The disruption in making breakfast was minimal due to the fact, that all out "Storm equipment" was already close at hand. We heat with wood, today; not a problem, so heat is not a large problem. I do have a 18 Volt Ryobi fan to circulate warmed air. Cooking and light seem to be the major consideration. Like many people we have Coleman 2 burner white gas (Coleman fuel) stove (actual three stoves). But some times the pumping of the tank and minor maintenance becomes a pain, so I have aquired a propane adaptor for each stove. These are in the $20-25 area. These are set up to use 1 pound bottles of fuel. I also have a Propane lantern (more like 4 or 5), these come set up for small bottles too. Several years ago, I picked up a "Tree" that sits atop a 20 pound tank. On top of this attaches the lantern. There also to ports to attach additional appliances. These need a hose. I attach the stove to the lantern tree and can cook and see for hours if needed. There are propane heaters that can be attached to the other port if needed also.
That is one of my emergency set ups. what else have you come up with? Ivan

 

[snubbyfan]

Up were we live, losing power for a week or so at a time isn't beyond expectation.
We have a 5000 watt backup generaton and propane and kerosene back up heat. We always have at least a month of food stocked up, a propane, a charcoal grill and a camp stove. I keep one of those little Dollar General led flashlights in every room of the house.

 

[sureshotbob]

Take care !!!! I'd not use the propane inside unless it was a very well ventilated area.
I have a 3 family and use a 8,000 Watt generator that will surge up to 13,500 .
I keep about 55 gallons of stabilized gas in 5 gallon cans that I rotate every 6 months or so . I'm looking at a adapter to convert the generator to tri fuel gasoline ,propane or natural gas as I have and use natural gas for hot water and heat we have city water and sewers so no trouble there.
I also have a propane grill with a burner and a propane 2 burner 30,00 per burner stove I also have a heater that hooks up to a 20 lb. tank that I have and keep 4 of them full. I also keep Extra batteries on hand for the several flash light and lanterns I have. My main concern is power for the 3 furnaces and 3 refridgerators in the house and a few lights in each kitchen and in the stairwell to the 2nd and 3rd floor.
So far I've been lucky and the longest I've lost power was for 1 1/2 days.
Last Saturday we lost power during a snow storm for about 2 hrs.

 

[snubbyfan]

Ours is a propane fireplace in our living room.

 

[Brian41]

We have a generator since we have two freezers and refrigerators. We also have Coleman lantern, stove and candles as back up and plenty of propane cookery items as well.
I strive and make power failures as comfortable as possible and if it comes to it will sleep in the living room if the blower on fireplace insert doesn't work. Of course even then we could use the inverter and a battery to power the small fans on it.

 

[Bozz10mm]

For emergency heat, we have a 23,000 btu kerosene heater. Not really good for extended power outages, but good enough for a couple days. Also, couple of Coleman stoves and lanterns, one of each for propane and gas. Also, a dozen or so flashlights and battery powered lanterns, with enough batteries for several days (nights).

Emergency food consists of 3 cases of MRE's, and some canned meat, stews and soups. I guess water is our shortfall. Only about 20 gallons of tap water in plastic jugs.

 

[Grayfox]

Been a camper my whole life. Lanterns, stoves, got that covered. Bought a generator a few years back and keep an emergency supply of food on hand.
I'll get by.

 

[Mule Packer]

Where we used to live, it was not uncommon to have power outages for up to a week. In fact, in thirty years, I can't think of one winter where we didn't have a power outage.

Some simple things we did:

We had a large woodstove with a good supply of firewood. It easily heated the whole house.

We had several months of food stored and over 100 gallons of water stored.

We had a gas range. During the power outages, we had to light the burners with a match, but that was no problem.

We had a gas water heater, so we always had hot water.

We had several electric lanterns with a good supply of extra batteries on hand.

We also had a 7000-watt generator.​

Where we live now, we still have the occasional power outage, but not as frequently as we did at our old place. We still have the same preparations though. I figure that being prepared just brings peace of mind.

 

[shouldazagged]

Been lucky here. No power outages for a couple of ye

 

[ChattanoogaPhil]

Honda 5k generator and a Honda EU2000.

My idea for electricty is to keep the fridge working and a couple lights. Use the microwave for heating food/water. Operate the TV and computer. The EU2000 does nicely and is a real gas miser.

 

[SweetMK]

This propane stove, and a box of matches to light it.

Cookies optional!!

 

[Iggy]

20 K standby generator fueled by city natrual gas. Power restored within 15 seconds.

 

[LTC]

After a prolonged outage a few years ago, I purchased a 8,000 / 10,000 watt generator. I run it on gasoline, but may have it converted to Tri-fuel as we have natural gas in the house.

I learned the lesson to have several 5 gallon gas cans on hand and to have them filled ahead of bad weather. The generator burns about 3/8 of a gallon per hour running the entire house through a proper transfer switch.

It takes me less than 5 minutes to hook it up.

About a $1,200.00 investment.

LTC

 

[RonJ]

Where do you guys keep your generators for anti theft? I know that no place is 100% secure but I'd like to go out to dinner or a movie once in a while. Currently I don't have a generator for that reason.

 

[sureshotbob]

Where do you guys keep your generators for anti theft? I know that no place is 100% secure but I'd like to go out to dinner or a movie once in a while. Currently I don't have a generator for that reason.

I have a 3 bay detatched garage when the generator is needed I wheel it 10 feet from my bilco doors and plug in the cable. I also have a 3 sided dog house on wheels to cover it from the weather and a heavy chain to secure it.

 

[RonJ]

I have no garage, just an 8x8 garden shed. I may have to build something just to house the generator.

 

[Ivan the Butcher]

I have Powermate generators by Coleman, a 6500 and a 4000. I live in the semi-country and during the last major power outage you could hear the generators running from over a half mile away. I use a log chain and padlock to secure them when not in storage. The neighbors look out for each other, even if we don't talk in between emergencies. During that time, I wired the well pump to a plug and receptacle, during an outage, I hook it up to a extension cord and only plug it in when the water pressure gets low. Since almost all lighting is CFL's now smaller generators can be used. My F-I-L had a whole house generator installed about 8 years ago, but it wasn't enough to run the electric furnace, so this summer he had a propane furnace installed to replace his still good electric furnace. If we ever get a different place I'm thinking of a combo furnace gas and wood/coal, I've seen oil combo stoves, and that might be good for conversion to waste oil. Ivan

 

[ChattanoogaPhil]

Where do you guys keep your generators for anti theft? I know that no place is 100% secure but I'd like to go out to dinner or a movie once in a while. Currently I don't have a generator for that reason.

My EU2000 stays in the laundry room for safe keeping. The 5k is chained to the motorcycle in the garage. Makes em both a bit more difficult to run off with.

 

[RonJ]

I do have a laundry room.

 

[Bat Guano]

14 Kw Generac standby on natural gas. Like Iggy's, about 15 seconds until the unit senses a power outage and the solenoid kicks it over. Installed it about a year ago. It got a bit of a workout a while back when the power kept kicking in and out most of a cold day. Very fuzzy feeling.

Unit cost about 4.5 K. Traded an M1 and Model 10 for the installation. Love it.