Shopping generators yet after a few days ago?

Looks like PG&E is making good on shutting off power when a wildfire is active or high winds. I have a small generator that will power my place except the electric clothes dryer. Electrician hooked it into my system 15 years ago when I had my garage built. Just start the generator and flip the double throw switch so it doesn't feed back into the power lines. Not sure what to do if I am off backpacking for more than a couple days, empty the freezer/fridge of food that will rot I guess or have a neighbor take food out.
Have seen a couple mentions online last day or two about getting a generator or stove for power outages, California mentioned specifically. I'm very set in the stove category, creek thru my property, cattle ranch close by.
You looking for a generator?
Duane

 

Is it an electric start or pull start?

For the most part, if the power is out for a day, it's not a big deal. If it's multi-day, that's when it can be a problem.

 

all of the harbor freight generators are sold out within 60 miles of me because of this. Absolutely ridiculous they can just turn off the power instead of taking the steps to repair and replace poor lines and known issues.

 

I'd also imagine that there are so many damn lines in place that getting this done any time soon would be impossible. I guess it's weighing the value of having another camp fire or no power for a few days during the hottest days of the year endangering elderly, disabled, and the medically complicated.

 

thats what i'd worry most about is the elderly and medical people who need and rely on the power at home.

I get it, they dont want another Paradise happening but it seems short sighted, especially on the days everyone needs their power the most.

 

Yeah, legislatures had 9 months to put together a plan and move toward documenting those who are at risk and provide potential options for them. but helping the public is tricky too. we can't just install standby generators or battery backups for everybody and not everybody will want them installed or might avoid the work.

-- like the legislation for battery backups for garage doors, also not helpful. people should just pull the damn release rope, but they can't see it at night, well use a damn flashlight, they don't have one.

at some point, folks need to take some responsibility over to themselves or the people they're responsible for. but people usually don't like that getting in place of their beer and coachella money.

 

Mine is pull start, Arctic Cat, Kawasaki engine, 3.5kw is all, but it runs what I need, mostly my well pump.
Duane

 

Ok, in your case, I'd consider getting a pure sine ups battery backup. for a few hundred bucks, it might work out for you as long as your fridge isn't too high in power consumption. some units have some extended runtime options available as well.

 

Pure sine ups? Is that speilled write?
Duane

 

Ok, found it on Amazon.
Duane

 

pure sine as in pure sine wave. modified sine wave inverters are hard on electric motors. pure sine gives a less stepped and smoother waveform generating less heat on motors.

 

Shutting off the power is the best option for PG&E unless you want to open up your pocketbook to finance new lines or generators in other people's homes. CA law that hold utilities liable for fire damages even if they aren't negligent in the cause of the fire puts them into a corner

 

we pay enough to PGE to allow them to shut off our power and burn our towns down.

Thanks tho

 

They are suggesting outages may last days
Or weeks. For that, you either want a natural gas or diesel generator. Like a Genrac or other whole house unit. Which is kinda funny since storing that much fuel is probably a bigger hazard to first responders and others in a fire.

For what it’s worth, the state bears as much responsibility as any utility as they define how things are set and how the utility was broken up years ago.

 

I have a propane tank just a few feet away from the man door on my garage, so easy supply to a Generac. Another hazard is my camp fuel, kerosene and propane blend canisters for stoves stored in my garage. I'm ahead of my neighbors, I have my trees trimmed six feet or more above the ground, needles get raked up at least once a year, metal roofing/siding, concrete Hardy siding on the garage. Woodshed a few feet from my mobile home, so a mixed bag of good and bad.
Duane

 

Yeah, outages can last days depending on weather conditions. But a UPS + a couple of 1 gallon ice jugs in the middle of the fridge and on the top of the freezer could last a couple days pretty easily.

I mean our fridges are giant coolers, how long do they last?

As long as the ice does.

@hikerduane's not going to these trips on a whim, they're all planned.

 

Already been backpacking(snow camping too), car camping 12 nights this year. Monday night w/Repo. 9D Coleman stove.
Duane

 

Just installed a Generac for a client. https://www.generac.com/all-product...rators/guardian-series/22kw-7042-wifi-enabled . Should look into a transfer switch and have it automated for you.

 

This, it can be set up to kick in automatically when grid goes down.

Or get solar

 

That's quite a bit of juice.
Duane