Generator for home during power outages

[Axxe55]

Since the only things upstairs are bedrooms and bathrooms, and we can only run one HVAC off the gennie, we figured just electrify as much of the first floor as possible.

This way all of the necessities - kitchen, washer/dryer, etc - have power.


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That is a pretty good plan IMO. And makes good sense for a home that is two-story. Most two-story homes, the bedrooms are usually upstairs.

If you are able to heat the downstairs with the generator, heat rises, so at least some residual heat is going to go upstairs from downstairs. And if all that is upstairs are the bedrooms, they are not going to be used a lot anyways.

 

[oldag]

One thing that I kind of thought was rather funny were people worried about their fridge having power during the power outages during the Texas Freeze!

We never lost power, but if we had, I'd have put food outside on shelves in the garage to keep them cold. We had several days that the temperature never got above 20 degrees. Which is way colder than the temperature of 40 that I keep the fridge at.

We put the frozen stuff on the back porch and the fridge stuff in the garage.

 

[Axxe55]

We put the frozen stuff on the back porch and the fridge stuff in the garage.

Just think, many people had root cellars and such long before refridgerators and they kept food from spoiling.

 

[Ranger60]

One thing that I kind of thought was rather funny were people worried about their fridge having power during the power outages during the Texas Freeze!

We never lost power, but if we had, I'd have put food outside on shelves in the garage to keep them cold. We had several days that the temperature never got above 20 degrees. Which is way colder than the temperature of 40 that I keep the fridge at.

That is what my neighbors did. A friend let me come to her house, had an always on gas fireplace, no electricity needed. However, my power was out for over 6 days, So, things warmed up and I lost everything in the fridge. So, yes, you are correct, and that could be done.

 

[Axxe55]

That is what my neighbors did. A friend let me come to her house, had an always on gas fireplace, no electricity needed. However, my power was out for over 6 days, So, things warmed up and I lost everything in the fridge. So, yes, you are correct, and that could be done.

In too many ways, too many people rely upon technology to solve all their problems in life, instead of using the brain that God gave them to solve problems.

Many of our grandparents, and great grandparents dealt with many of these same issues and they never even had electricity in their homes. My own grandparents didn't even own a home with electricity until the early 1950's! No fridge, no TV, no electric washing machine or dryer.

For many people even into the 1940's and 1950's, electricity in rural areas was still a luxury.

 

[Ranger60]

In too many ways, too many people rely upon technology to solve all their problems in life, instead of using the brain that God gave them to solve problems.

Many of our grandparents, and great grandparents dealt with many of these same issues and they never even had electricity in their homes. My own grandparents didn't even own a home with electricity until the early 1950's! No fridge, no TV, no electric washing machine or dryer.

For many people even into the 1940's and 1950's, electricity in rural areas was still a luxury.

I Totally agree. I first moved to Texas in 1980, around 1987 I moved to a house on 11 acres, had an electric co-op that had an annual meeting, I met many people my age, 40's at the time, that remembered the first time they had electricity! Wow, what an awakening for a city guy from the Boston area!

 

[Axxe55]

I Totally agree. I first moved to Texas in 1980, around 1987 I moved to a house on 11 acres, had an electric co-op that had an annual meeting, I met many people my age, 40's at the time, that remembered the first time they had electricity! Wow, what an awakening for a city guy from the Boston area!

It's even possible in some very rural areas, that electricity was still a luxury even into the early 1960's. My great grandmother was still using a wood fired stove to cook with into the 1970's!

 

[diesel1959]

That is what my neighbors did. A friend let me come to her house, had an always on gas fireplace, no electricity needed. However, my power was out for over 6 days, So, things warmed up and I lost everything in the fridge. So, yes, you are correct, and that could be done.

We were running four or five Aladdin lamps throughout the first floor, you best believed they keep things toasty.

 

[no2gates]

Not sure if I’ve posted this in the thread before but figured I’d share it anyway since the subject of transfer switches has come up. This is an alternative method that people can go with. I installed a seperate breaker and manual interlock that prevents the main from being on when the generator is hooked up. It cost me maybe $100 between the two and I have the flexibility to run any breaker id like off the generator as opposed to wiring only certain ones into it. Only other costs are wire and plug inlet.

That is exactly what I plan on doing to my house to have a generator hookup.

 

[sucker76]

An update to my progress. I pulled the trigger on the Generac last month and with the chip shortage and the manufacturing shortage the install won't happen until January-March of 2022. We lucked out with Hurricane Ida missing Texas but there is still more hurricane season to go.

 

[tinplas]

Champion Power Equipment 7850/6250-Watt Gasoline and Propane Powered Dual Fuel Portable Generator with CO Shield 100592 - The Home Depot

The Champion Power Equipment 100592 6250-Watt Dual Fuel Portable Generator with CO Shield is more convenient than ever. Designed with a low oil shut-off sensor, this unit includes 1.2-quarts of 10W-30

www.homedepot.com

Looking into this one. I'm not very handy. Would this be enough to power my house if I hook up using inverter?

 

[ZX9RCAM]

Champion Power Equipment 7850/6250-Watt Gasoline and Propane Powered Dual Fuel Portable Generator with CO Shield 100592 - The Home Depot

The Champion Power Equipment 100592 6250-Watt Dual Fuel Portable Generator with CO Shield is more convenient than ever. Designed with a low oil shut-off sensor, this unit includes 1.2-quarts of 10W-30

www.homedepot.com

Looking into this one. I'm not very handy. Would this be enough to power my house if I hook up using inverter?

Your whole house, no.
But it would power your fridge, coffee maker, a window unit, and some lights.

 

[tinplas]

I guess that's what I meant to ask. Thanks. I'll get it ordered

 

[easy rider]

Your whole house, no.
But it would power your fridge, coffee maker, a window unit, and some lights.

It also powers the fan of a propane heater.

 

[ZX9RCAM]

It also powers the fan of a propane heater.

I also forgot microwave.

 

[easy rider]

I also forgot microwave.

It is a bit noisy, but it beats freezing.

 

[dobarker]

going through the thread I noticed a few transfer switch banks, just wanted to share something I thought of while doing up my system.
I work water/wastewater treatment in my location so, in general, I won’t get any good use of the generator aside from the comfort that my wife is happy.
When I installed the transfer switch, I wanted to ensure load equalization as best as I could, as simply as I could, so, I color coded the switches for whatever the temperature is outside and they are balanced between the two legs in the same fashion.

Just a thought I had. I know having to run a generator in the first place can be a stressful situation, trying to get all the right critical loads for that event switched right without overloading your generator would just add to it.

 

[leVieux]

>
Please recall that in coastal areas, most prolonged electricity outages are during the very hot seasons, so our modern homes are extremely uncomfortable w/o AC.
leVieux

 

[tinplas]

Generator ordered. Apparently I need a heavy gauge extension cord for the refrigerator. Suggestions? Im thinking I'll get one specifically for the fridge and another for everything else.

Thanks again

 

[ZX9RCAM]

I would use heavy duty wherever you can.
I presume that the distance from the generator, to inside the house, will be fairly far.