Gas supply has not been interrupted but Stove has been working hard - we have also been using the central heating to top up a bit. Where I am we had a about a week where the temp didn't really get above 0*C and on Thursday we had about 8inches of snow. This was the first lying snow we have had where I live in over 4 years so my sons (age 3.5 and 5.5, and my wife and I) loved it. We also had some freezing rain which is the first time I have seen this in my 36 years. Temps creeping up now so I'm hoping the wood supply will keep us going until the end of March...
If I ever need a generator regularly again, I'm going to put in an interlock, much cheaper than a transfer switch, and you can use the panel breakers to manage your loads. My parents have a manual transfer switch, talk about a big pain, IMO
Yeah, I was hoping for that, it all isn't a bust though, I did get offered a huge maple tree that the home owner had taken down. It's a tougher spot to get the wood out of, up a steep bank, through a narrow passage to the road. He's had tons of people say they wanted it, but then give up because of the location, wimps! But three cords or so of silver maple is worth it, especially only a mile from the house
Mine is 100% manual. Plug the generator into the recepticle outside, then manually throw the main breaker on sub panel. I can go from generator in the house stored to power back on in about 2 minutes once I'm downstairs.
I hear ya, Chad! We had a 5 hour outage last week with the snow and wind storm we got. That was the first time in the five years of burning that we actually needed the auxiliary heat. I'm going to seriously look for a propane stove now. I've been thinking about it for some time. I did try boiling water on the IS last week. I wasn't sure it would do it, but it did...even with just the coals left after an overnight burn. I was pleasantly surprised. We heated up some leftover chili at lunch time. It was boiling in a short time with a lid to hold heat in.
I've got the generator to put in the back up electric. But it got to cold in December to start drilling holes for the shut offs. I am definitely finishing that this spring!! A few days without power is a headache.. A few weeks will test your marriage. BUT your wife will never question the wood stove again. Luckily, I passed the marriage test.
For me the biggest pain is not having enough generator capacity to power the whole house at once. It is only for emergency use anyway so as long as I have the essentials covered, all is good.
I'm in the same boat. Boiler, refrigerators, microwave, and a handful of lights around the house. More than enough to get us by. I can cook on the grill, or stove if needed to get by in the short term. I can't imagine how much propane I would go through with one of those standby units running for 3-4 days.
Neighbor just gave me a phone number of a fellow he recommends. We want to put in a unit that is automatic. It will be costly but after the problem I had last fall and while I was in the hospital yet it really hit home that I need to make sure my wife is all set should the power go out, or should I say when it goes out as we seem to be out a lot any more. I was extremely close to death and that really got me to thinking so we'll make sure she is set should she need it. Now we just have to determine what size generator we need and who is to set it up.
Sorry to hear about the health issues. But I hear ya loud and clear when it comes to making sure the wife is taken care of. Our genny is elec start (with recoil start also) and I got a battery tender and have a dedicated outlet for ensuring the battery stays charged. I am also planning to get a dual fuel carb for it so that it can handle Propane as well, and will likely have a propane tank installed so that I know I'll have fuel for the genny. Might also look at purchasing a propane stove as well, never was overly partial to elec stoves anyway. I'll have to get some pics.. else it never happened.
Pics of genny, as well as my clutter. Not to worry, the tile grout and flex-bond would be moved in order to put gas in. Let's see, yellow jug-- new hydraulic fluid for splitter this spring, 2 stroke gas can for chainsaw and weedwacker, small gas jug for Jill to use on splitter, more spare gas jugs 1 full, one at about 2 gallons, battery tender, wood (hickory for smoker), archery target, and of course water hose and fire extinguisher. If I ever gave you all the impression that I'm meticulously organized, well.. it ain't so. The gas would be stored in the pumproom if the genny needs to be run, the window I think will still open, and the stormdoor would be open. This year I intend to plumb the exhaust through an insulated port in the wall behind it, making it a more permanent install. Circuit box.. circuit box labeling.
Well, I never promised pretty, but it does indeed work. Kind of like how they say that one should never see how sausage is made, I don't quite get it as I LOVE to see sausage made. As stated, things around here are not always the prettiest, and I have a LOT to do in the 'organization' area. One should remember though.. I have boasted about being a GREAT procrastinator.
