Todays weather

[Jim Oaks]

I have my Jackery 500 to keep my phone and laptop charged, a Kerosene heater, and 2-gallons of Kerosene. I worry more about my water lines freezing and breaking than anything. Worst case scenario, turn the water on low and let it run. I'll throw some hand warmers in my sleeping bag and crawl inside if I have to. I also have my camping lanterns and camp stove if I need it.

 

[Jim Oaks]

In 2021 4.5+ million homes lost power in north Texas. Natural gas facilities froze and couldn't supply gas to the plants that make electricity. Growing up, our local power plant was powered by good old American coal. I didn't even know natural gas-powered electric plants existed until I came to Texas.

 

[bobbywalter]

5 years ago, people in Texas were using the generators in Ford F-150's to power their homes after the storm.

that is why i have a powerboost.

it is incredible. runs about a week on a tank running some lights...the kitchen and the furnace.... it only runs to charge the battery bank. and you cant hear it run, or stop, or start... pure awesomeness...

wish i had it out here in west texas right now. not looking forward to this bullshit....the lines for propane yesterday and worse today are telling.

dont even think about going to the walmarts and places like that.

horrible freights ran out of heaters....i might have to rob one out of one of the doghouses to keep the man-camp warm..

back home, i am building the house unit with a tri/fuel and 4 giant lifepo units and a 5k charge controller system that will allow pv as purchased if that seems prudent. after how well the powerboost did i am sold...

my bigger inverter is in ohio...so i wont be able to run this tri split mini at the camp....its 240. i got away with running a similar system on two inverters before. had a 2500 and a 3k and it did better than i hoped for. ran it unbonded and was pretty slick.

with only one battery in this truck thats a no go. last time we were running 2 trucks with dual batts and alternators...this fuggin GM thing i have now wont even jump start a vehicle. so i dont trust it for crafty shenanigans....

hopefully we dont get shit save for some snow and 5 degree weather and the power stays on.

 

[sgtsandman]

Gas companies generate their own electricity from the gas.
Widow friend of my wife has a Generac on her house, her husband put it in before he died.
I'd like one but I can't afford it right now.
I have a small portable generator in my yard barn but it's getting old and a pain in the ass to start. I keep a can of ether out there.
Been wondering to hard wire it to my boiler to get it running for heat. I'll figure it out. I've used it in the past to run the TV or fridge but never for days on end.

I find that running the generators at least 20 minutes every three months helps greatly with getting them started with not too much effort. It is better if you can run them with a load, like some halogen work lights. I also shut the fuel valve off to starve the fuel system of fuel. With me running them at least every three months, the fuel shut is probably not needed but it doesn't take all that much extra time to open the valve and give the fuel system time to prime. I just put them out and open the valves, then get the work lights out of the garage and set them up. By the time that is all done, they are usually ready to start.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

If wishes were fishes I would have one of these:

https://www.northerntool.com/products/northstar-pto-generator-27-500-surge-watts-24-000-rated-watts-48-hp-required-165937

Somehow we didn't get on the propane company's "keep it full" list and we ran out last weekend... that makes for a pretty exciting weekend. I don't envy anyone that loses their heat, it ain't fun.

 

[Jim Oaks]

Did I see that @Curious Hound has solar on his house?

 

[Curious Hound]

Did I see that @Curious Hound has solar on his house?

With a backup battery

 

[bobbywalter]

battery bank is key. big bank and a good 5 k inverter charger setup.

solar is cheapest long term to keep it full, especially if you live down south of mason dixon. from there a natural gas generator or gasoline....most places propane will cost more to run a generator kwhr wise just running it all the time, but just to top up the batteries for an inverter bank your always getting better cost kwhr.

a good controller can be set up to stop and start the generator as needed. definitely cuts cost to run down dramatically.

if you have access to natural gas that is the cheapest option....but as evidenced in texas it is not fool proof in regards to reliable with the right circumstances. weather broke them because they had not been bit like that yet.....because the globe is warmer right?

as mentioned propane and natural gas dont spoil. diesel lasts much longer than modern gasoline...and almost indefinitely with certain additives and polishing.

gasoline is garbage. if you use ethanol shield though its the one thing i know that helps long term.

you should start and run generators once a month for a 1/2 hr or so though for peak operational maintenence. once a week really. a good battery bank and charge controller system can handle that for you.

several, most of the rental/out of state work homes i have lived in have natural gas or propane back up generators with auto start....i learned alot from that because like anything...there will be problems.

 

[JohnnyO]

Most recent forecast here is 8"-10" of snow and little to no ice.
Snow I can deal with but ice is a mother.

 

[bobbywalter]

If wishes were fishes I would have one of these:

https://www.northerntool.com/products/northstar-pto-generator-27-500-surge-watts-24-000-rated-watts-48-hp-required-165937

Somehow we didn't get on the propane company's "keep it full" list and we ran out last weekend... that makes for a pretty exciting weekend. I don't envy anyone that loses their heat, it ain't fun.

if you have to run a farm....that is cheap....

to keep the chickens warm and just the house going....that is high dollar to run. but if you need a 50 hp tractor....you might need a generator that big.

 

[sgtsandman]

Most recent forecast here is 8"-10" of snow and little to no ice.
Snow I can deal with but ice is a mother.

We got the ice this morning because of the misty rain last night. The flight line slick as hell. I almost fell on my last day on the job. The day isn't over yet though. Plenty of time to fall and get hurt.

 

[pacstud]

-25 with wind chill. We good.

 

[superj]

supposed to freeze here saturday night and sunday. corpus will shut down if it snows. nothing will be open and people won't know how to drive.

i have to go wrap the spigots and try and drain the water lines at the shed.

the power will undoubtable go out but i have a 12k generator in the garage that i can plug the house into and run everything for while though i do need to go fill up the spare gas tanks and the vehicles.

hopefully no snow. i am not a snow fan because we just don't have the proper clothes for weather that cold. i don't live in south texas for snow, ha ha ha

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

I’m really glad we built my parents house the way we did. It’s all electric because there’s no natural gas available, but it’s ICF construction (Insulated Concrete Form) which makes for incredible insulation. The boiler went down during a whole week of single digit high temps a couple years ago, we heated the entire house off the fireplace in the living room, mind this is a 2,000 SF ranch house and living room/kitchen/dining room/entry is all open concept with a cathedral ceiling. Coldest room in the house was the master bedroom at a cool 65* and the huge open area was a balmy 78-80*.

Dad has a 5k gas generator and so do I. Run it an hour or two to charge up the fridges and freezers and then off for a couple hours. I would like to have a multi fuel generator at some point though.

 

[bobbywalter]

yeah...the icf is definitely a game changer. my current house and shop are icf.