Post-earthquake power

[Maltese Falcon]

Here is a link to my city's "Solar Connection Agreement". It has a schematic at the end. Looks like they allow it far as I can tell.

http://www.glendalewaterandpower.com/pdf/Photovoltaic_Interconnection_Agreement_Nov2010.pdf

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[Chatterbox]

Here is a link to my city's "Solar Connection Agreement". It has a schematic at the end. Looks like they allow it far as I can tell.

http://www.glendalewaterandpower.com/pdf/Photovoltaic_Interconnection_Agreement_Nov2010.pdf

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Yeah, this seems like a LADWP-only hangup.

[hnoppenberger]

silly. get a resonable sized gas generator, and forget about keeping the fridge cold. survival mode, because thats what its gonna be after the real "big one".

[thunderbolt]

First off how big an EQ are you willing to prep for? A few days without power or a few weeks? That's gonna tell you how much you're going to have to spend.

As far as loads, it's a large house - AC, fridge, TV, computers, lighting...

AC's suck down huge, as in unsustainable, amounts of power and in any power outage should be a very low priority.

TV's? If the EQ is big enough there won't be any info worth watching that you can't get on an emergency radio at a fraction of the power requirements. Unless you just HAVE to catch the results of last nights Dancing with the Stars that is.

Computers are more useful than TV but if the internet is out whatta ya gonna do?

Lighting just tells everyone else you still have power...

Are your appliances electric or NG? The fridge is a good thing to have as is a freezer if you have one.

If you only expect a day or two without power just think of it as camping and get an RV solar panel and a small genny. If you're expecting more than break out the wallet...

[ExAcHog]

8 to 10KW ???
Are you planning to have a huge dance party with a disco ball? All kidding aside, I think that if the "Big One"/SHTF/Zombie Apocalypse/ hits, the best bet will be to have a smaller unit (or two) that sips gas and is QUIET.

Sips gas because gas will disappear fast, so you MAY only have what you have stored.
Quiet because a loud genny SCREAMS "I got crap to steal"

After thinking this thru literally for years, I think that for me, (this is in the event of a SERIOUS/LONGTERM SHTF sit) I want a genny that could keep a smaller type fridge cold by running for about 20 min, four times a day. Beyond that, it would be for minor lighting and the occasional use of power tools.

Its not like you will be surfing YouTube for hilarious videos of a fat kid freaking out when he doesent get the latest video-game for his birthday.

Just my thoughts...

[Chatterbox]

No generator is as quiet as a solar panel. But in general, I think it's 95% likely that "The Big One" would involve less of the "Mad Max" and more of a complete power/water/gas outage for a week or two, followed by weeks or months of prolonged brownouts/outages and limited service. I'm just going by what Katrina folks had to deal with - most of them really didn't have to defend their houses from hordes of ravenous looters, but they did have to deal with several days with no power at the very least, and there were problems with natural gas lines several years after the hurricane. The thing I like about solar that it's more of a sustainment solution versus a crisis solution.