Power Equipment Dry Run

[BTFlyer]

Dry run for power cut and earthquake

Champion inverter 2000 fired up lovely and runs Fridge and chest freezer No problems
Jackery 500W ran internet/cable/ TV / led light / laptop/ iPad for almost 5 hours..100W solar charger filled it in 8 hours as well as lights and laptop recharge

Jackery 300 ordered today (just released for 50 rebate on their website to make it $320 delivered)...

Champion dual fuel 4800W is mothballed but tested and works

Any advice on setup appreciated

[hermosabeach]

Volume


We had a power outage... a wire dropped behind where I live. As I was out trying to call to get help blocking a downed line, I realized how quiet it was.... except for a neighbors generator.


I went on a walk and found out that 3 of my immediate neighbors have generac whole home natural gas auto switching generators.



In a disaster, most folks have about 1 day of food they want to eat.

Day 2- they are hungry, phones are dead and they are less rational than a Black Friday shopper at Walmart.

—-
Can they see your lights on at night? WTF- they have power
Can they hear your generator running? WTF- they must have a lot of stored food


Some talk about being the grey man - best camo is to not be scene - blend in and be ignored.


Do your preps make you better or a better target?

Some will run a generator in a garage and use a dryer flex line to vent exhaust up out of a garage roof vent.

Generators need to have air flow to cool so you cannot set it in a small insulated box.



I’d run your set up at 1 am- walk around. Can you keep quiet and dark?

[Enzo rules]

Interesting post as Im looking to purchase a generator. I’m looking at Champion Inverter.

[axhoaxho]

Dry run for power cut and earthquake

Champion inverter 2000 fired up lovely and runs Fridge and chest freezer No problems
Jackery 500W ran internet/cable/ TV / led light / laptop/ iPad for almost 5 hours..100W solar charger filled it in 8 hours as well as lights and laptop recharge

Jackery 300 ordered today (just released for 50 rebate on their website to make it $320 delivered)...

Champion dual fuel 4800W is mothballed but tested and works

Any advice on setup appreciated

I like Jackery.

I guess I just missed the Jackery 300 deal. I checked its website and it's sold out already.

[NATEWA]

Part of being prepared is dependent on your location and needs.

How much fuel do you have for your generator? How long will that last? The sounds attracts attention as do the lights, especially at night. Glow sticks or candles?

You mentioned running the refrigerator and freezer. I’d stock up on foods that don’t require refrigeration. That way you’re not running you’re generator and using up precious fuel. If there is a bad earthquake and you need to leave your area because it’s unsafe due to a collapsed building, fire, looting, ....

The 3 items for survival - water, food and safe shelter.

Water storage - large and small. Filter?
Food - non refrigerated/frozen?
Safety shelter - know your neighbors (?)), communication, firearms, organized? RV and/or camping gear? Know anyone out of the Bay Area you could stay with?

Look to other natural disasters for problems and solutions. Some good info here regarding foods in a refrigerator and freezer. If the power is out for more than 24 hours, do you have a way to prepare frozen foods (bbq, smoker, fire, stove)

https://www.cdc.gov/foodsafety/food-safety-during-a-power-outage.html

[Featureless]

Those Jackery power stations are great. I have a 240 that I use daily for charging a cellphone, running a small fan and a light. Also just bought a 500 with the solar panel that I haven't used yet.

Have a couple inverter generators that I keep filled with Trufuel and run once a month. Also keep backup canned and dry foods and water.

Only 3 neighbors within 500yds. Two are both armed and prepared, the third is a raving prog Trump hater.

Have radios for local communication and scanners for all emergency frequencies in the county.

[twinfin]

Dry run for power cut and earthquake

Champion inverter 2000 fired up lovely and runs Fridge and chest freezer No problems
Jackery 500W ran internet/cable/ TV / led light / laptop/ iPad for almost 5 hours..100W solar charger filled it in 8 hours as well as lights and laptop recharge

Jackery 300 ordered today (just released for 50 rebate on their website to make it $320 delivered)...

Champion dual fuel 4800W is mothballed but tested and works

Any advice on setup appreciated

Good job! It's wise to put your plans through a dry run to see what to expect when you "go live" so to speak. It's good to have a plan. It's better to have a plan that's been tested. It sounds like your setup should get you over the hump of many power outages with minimal disruption.

[BTFlyer]

Interesting post as Im looking to purchase a generator. I’m looking at Champion Inverter.

I’ve got a 2000W Champion inverter generator and it runs like a champ.... kicks up first pull every year for 3 years so far and the economy feature makes them run quiet.

I powered my fridge/freezer and the old lady next door’s fridge without issue

Price is right too

[BCDavis]

Yeah, if power is out for normal reasons, even for a couple days, people won't resort to violence. So I think having a generator is a useful thing to keep your food fresh, keep your lights on, etc.

But yes, if it's a bigger disaster, and you know it's going to last weeks, or months, then it's more of a magnet for people. Even at a distance, in a more rural area, people may still be able to hear it, or see lights.

So yeah, if you plan to use it for long periods of time, in a real, serious disaster, it would be good to build a generator shed. Something with a fan for airflow, exhaust port on the roof, and create air-gap walls. That is the basic concept for soundproofing. Air gaps between walls. So get a pre-built shed kit, then build another interior wall, with an air gap between the interior and exterior wall. That will keep down the majority of the noise.

But yeah, I test my generator every so often.
I plan on probably having to use it this weekend, when temps hit over 100. Power always goes out on weekends with excessive heat.

[BTFlyer]

I like Jackery.

I guess I just missed the Jackery 300 deal. I checked its website and it's sold out already.

The 300 that was just released has the new MPPT solar technology so it recharges 50% faster

[sonofeugene]

Goal Zero 1400 lithium ion setup with all accessories. Also an older Honda generator. During the night, I'd run the Goal Zero as it doesn't make noise. During the day, recharge the Goal Zero with solar and generator.

[axhoaxho]

The 300 that was just released has the new MPPT solar technology so it recharges 50% faster

Nice! I think I will be getting one.

[BTFlyer]

Goal Zero 1400 lithium ion setup with all accessories. Also an older Honda generator. During the night, I'd run the Goal Zero as it doesn't make noise. During the day, recharge the Goal Zero with solar and generator.

Goal Zero and Honda..... great setup ... a bit $$$ but solid reviews

[sonofeugene]

Goal Zero and Honda..... great setup ... a bit $$$ but solid reviews

That's what I'm hoping. I know the generator works and is n good shape, including an oil change. And I've hooked up all the Goal Zero stuff and it all works as well. But it be never actually had to use it.

Also, it seems that where I'm living in the Silicon Valley is immune to blackouts. It's never on a he rolling list and only very rarely has gone out.

[Dutch3]

I don't run my generator at 1 AM.

I run it for a few hours during the day. Well pump for flushing toilets, showers, etc. Keep the fridge/freezer cold. Charge phones, etc.

Then I shut it off and all is quiet and dark. The wife's CPAP runs off the battery/inverter at night.

I have a Champion (non-inverter) 3500W generator I bought at the start of a 5-day power outage 10-12 years ago. I run it a few times per year and keep the oil changed, etc. We had an outage a couple of weeks ago during the lightning storm that started all of these fires. I dragged it out and it started on the first pull. Those Chinese Honda clone engines aren't half bad.