Generator/ emergency power skills and information

[melensdad]

Share what you know, need to know, wish you had, or don't do what I just did.

I'm trying to pull ideas together. Post pictures or links, and costs if you dare.

I have a Tri-Fuel Generator. I've used gasoline generators and would NEVER go back to using one of those after having this one hooked up to the NG feed.

My redneck solution to quieting down the noise => https://www.indianagunowners.com/fo...iet_down_that_darn_generator_with_photos.html

One of my experiences with a power outage => https://www.indianagunowners.com/fo...egrees_blowing_and_drifting_power_outage.html

And interesting thread (not by me) of hooking up a generator => https://www.indianagunowners.com/fo...reparedness/110997-generator_and_hook_up.html

 

[dudley0]

+1 for the RoyalTenenbaum.. Great "little" genny..

USED 20 KW 2-71 DETROIT DIESEL GENERATOR | eBay

Decent price but shipping from CO might cost a bit.

+1 for Hornadylnl's battery tender setup. I forgot to mention that cause my genny is a pull start..

Maybe a group buy to save on freight?

 

[Patrolman1981]

All great ideas. But most important, keep it handy and start it bi-monthly to ensure it will start when you need it.

 

[nmcampbe]

If you have a regular gas powered generator, rotating fuel in it is important when they switch between winter and summer blends. I add sea-foam in mine which I have found to be better than sta-bil. I feel more comfortable being able to take apart and clean the carb myself on things like generators because this is usually the problem with engines that sit for any period of time. If you don't have one, get one now, not the day before the ice storm! Watch craigslist, you can find some really good deals on very nice, even new generators.

 

[ralphb72]

GenerLink.com - About GenerLink - The easy way to connect a home generator

 

[Icarry2]

A group buy for some 2-71's? I might be up for that, have a few favors with OTR drivers I might be able to call in..

I might start a thread to see about the interest and costs.. I might reach out to the a few sellers of these and see about a group discount..

+1 ralphb72.. Nice looking little dealio..

 

[Farmritch]

I am trying to figure out a proper solar / alternative / battery solution. One that I can setup for a reasonable price and expand as needed.

Love having a whole house genny setup on my propaine, but also want an alternative so I can have power without running that 24/7

Sorry to tell you but this really is not possible. Reasonable price is the kicker.

 

[bigus_D]

Sorry to tell you but this really is not possible. Reasonable price is the kicker.

How about "practical" price?

I also like the idea of being able to charge manually (bike, crank, etc)

 

[scott delaney]

if your talking about short term use then nat. gas by far is the best way to go, if its going to be a long term thing(SHTF) then we need to think in different ways,no fuel left to run gens. then torn to making your own grain fuel. if its solar then you need to look at nuclear winter from the sun being blocked out....ash or dust...how long will it take to drain your batteries? if we go into a real SHTF type thing we might look at going back to a means of making power from a steam engine to power your generator. we all have tons of things sitting around to burn to make steam....just a ponderance

 

[melensdad]

if your talking about short term use then nat. gas by far is the best way to go, if its going to be a long term thing(SHTF) then we need to think in different ways,no fuel left to run gens. then torn to making your own grain fuel. if its solar then you need to look at nuclear winter from the sun being blocked out....ash or dust...how long will it take to drain your batteries? if we go into a real SHTF type thing we might look at going back to a means of making power from a steam engine to power your generator. we all have tons of things sitting around to burn to make steam....just a ponderance

My thought is that if you have a natural gas generator then its pretty easy to run it off of wood gas that you can make simply on your own. Wood gas is also called producer gas.

 

[jeremy]

If you have a generator that has a Carburetor it is pretty easy to convert it back and forth through NG, Propane, and Gasoline....

 

[melensdad]

If you have a generator that has a Carburetor it is pretty easy to convert it back and forth through NG, Propane, and Gasoline....

True but there are lubricity issues that people need to be aware of. Having a NG or Propane generator pretty much guarantees you also have a pressure regulator that you can feed wood gas through in the event you need/want to switch to that for emergency or long term use.

 

[jeremy]

True but there are lubricity issues that people need to be aware of. Having a NG or Propane generator pretty much guarantees you also have a pressure regulator that you can feed wood gas through in the event you need/want to switch to that for emergency or long term use.

Pretty easy to Mod a Regulator to do that as well...

 

[melensdad]

Pretty easy to Mod a Regulator to do that as well...

Yes, assuming you have a suitable regulator. Most people don't. In a SHTF situation how available will they be?

 

[jeremy]

Yes, assuming you have a regulator. Most people don't. In a SHTF situation how available will they be?

Really?!

You can pick them up at HUNDREDS of places right now new or used. In a SHTF Situation they will be discarded in Thousands of more places... Hospitals, Ambulances, Machine Shops, Garages, Factories, Hardware Stores, Industrial Supplies Stores, Aircraft, Farms, Weld Shops, etc, etc...

 

[melensdad]

Yes, they can be found now. I actually think you are wrong about them being discarded, I think they will become a lot more valuable.

But if you say they will be thrown out, so be it.

 

[jeremy]

Yes, they can be found now. I actually think you are wrong about them being discarded, I think they will become a lot more valuable.

But if you say they will be thrown out, so be it.

Most People will not be worrying about what something can be adapted to do. They have been trained for years to think that everything is disposable and can only be used for whatever Purpose the Item was intended to do. You even see it in 3rdWorld Countries and Countries that have fallen below that do to collapses of various reasons. So why would it not hold true here as well?!

 

[GLOCKMAN23C]

If you're running gas, sta-bil/seafoam will help for several months. However, the ethanol in pump gas is harsh on carb and componets. Be sure to rotate stock. When storing your genny, turn the fuel off and run it until it stops. You don't want to be trying to rebuild a carb when SHTF.

 

[latham17]

here is a link to what i made for a "portable" solution.
Indypreppers.org • View topic - homemade electric box

 

[ThrottleJockey]

Here are some solutions...Building your own generator.