Sandy

Richard S. wrote:

NWBuilder wrote:How do you save money on fuel or shall we call it liquid gold. Still just under $4.00 a gallon here. I can go about 10 hours on my generators 5 gallon tank but that is still a $20.00 bill every fill up!!

Do you need to run it constantly? We had 16 gallons of fuel in the generator and gas cans. All the vehicles were full of fule too and I have a siphon pump. If it was really bad I had intentions of firing it up every few hours just enough to keep the fridge/freezer cold, keep some heat in the house and get water. I'm on a well pump.

That's what I care about most is that well pump. After that the fridge/freezer. Everything else is redundant for me. Cookstove and cyl are both handfeds and I don't need a TV (have a nice library) and have alladin lamps with mantles that are nice and bright.

I'm with you Steve. I prioritize my generator powered loads as such:

1. Well pump.
2. Refrigeration.
3. Heat.

Depending on the weather, number 3 may rise to the top. My EFM and one circulator draws a whopping 3.2 amps or so...very manageable. Cookstove is propane and I have a percolator coffee pot to go with it.

Did pretty well overall. At my home power was only off momentarily and like most I was very happy about that. The wind was unreal. In the 8 years I have lived her I have never heard/experienced it as I did Monday evening from about 6 pm til 3 AM. I believe in the County I live we are down to only about 1500 people still out of power.

I work for a telco and out of 182 sites in our coverage area we were down to only 12 without commercial power as of this evening. At any one time we only had 20 sites without commercial power so overall our area was spared somewhat I suppose. Sent our largest Portable Gen (60KW) to NJ to run a CO, where the company I work for didn't fare nearly as well.

I am very thankful for coming out of it like we did. I have envisioned a flooded basement as my home has no rain spouting now either due to some renovations. stone foundation + lots of water = possible issues! Got some water into the basement of course but wasn't near as bad as it could have been.

Thoughts to all those out there still without Power and struggling. I saw a group of 25 Power related trucks headed East on the PA turnpike this afternoon. Hope they get out there quickly to help.

Just a note and certainly not trying to downplay anyones statements but repairing infrastructure is very time consuming and trying to do it safely under these conditions is very difficult. Try to cut those Utility workers a little slack when ya can!

coalnewbie wrote:

I feel for those guys! NYC is the LAST place on earth I'd want to be stuck in during any type of crisis ....

My son is in NYC lower Manhatten 17 floors up, no elevator, no power, no water, no sewer, no garbage removal and four month old twins. His car is under water and no cell reception either. I want him out but I have no idea how to get to him. They all seem to think power is coming back on tomorrow as it always has in the past......... not this time.

Now the trains are down and every luny is trying to get onto the roads and out of town, no traffic lights. Soon the guns come out. Of course the homeless and generally useless will get first priority.

Coalnewbie, Have you heard any more from your son and family?

Coalnewbie, Have you heard any more from your son and family?

Not yet but if I go to ConEd site and look up the transformer I assume is the culprit then they say power is restored Saturday. I am not worried about security as they have a security desk manned by a 97 year old guard wearing an Obama pin. He will be fine.

NWBuilder wrote:How do you save money on fuel or shall we call it liquid gold. Still just under $4.00 a gallon here. I can go about 10 hours on my generators 5 gallon tank but that is still a $20.00 bill every fill up!!

In 2011 I picked up a $90 Harbor Freight 900w 2-stroke generator, then, a week before the storm hit, I grabbed another - couldn't beat the $90 shipped, AND after tax! During the day, once all the cooking and showering is done, I shut the big Yamaha down & hook up the H/F units to the fridge and some other small things I need. Those burned 2 quarts in 3 hours while the Yamaha burns about a quart per hour. At night, after showers, supper,etc is done, I shut all the gens off & don't open the fridge until morning when I fire it back up again.

No power for 3.5 days - over 30 hours of generator run time, and I used about 8 gallons of fuel.

I hope everyone fared well in the storm. I avoided most of it. Might have some pool liner damage as a patio block fell in and might have ripped the liner. Still watching the water level to see if it is going down. I got my fingers crossed.

I lost power Sunday night and got it back on Monday. I am thinking of joining you guys on here with the generators. Just a small one for the Fridge and maybe for some satillite TV to see what the heck is going on. Other than that, I am a camper and have all the stuff needed to rough it. But I still like my Fridge.

Vin.

SMITTY wrote:

NWBuilder wrote:How do you save money on fuel or shall we call it liquid gold. Still just under $4.00 a gallon here. I can go about 10 hours on my generators 5 gallon tank but that is still a $20.00 bill every fill up!!

In 2011 I picked up a $90 Harbor Freight 900w 2-stroke generator, then, a week before the storm hit, I grabbed another - couldn't beat the $90 shipped, AND after tax! During the day, once all the cooking and showering is done, I shut the big Yamaha down & hook up the H/F units to the fridge and some other small things I need. Those burned 2 quarts in 3 hours while the Yamaha burns about a quart per hour. At night, after showers, supper,etc is done, I shut all the gens off & don't open the fridge until morning when I fire it back up again.

No power for 3.5 days - over 30 hours of generator run time, and I used about 8 gallons of fuel.

not bad Smitty! 8 gallons is awesome for 3.5 days. I will look into those small generators you got there.

SMITTY wrote:................... I shut all the gens off & don't open the fridge until morning when I fire it back up again.

I sure hope you are making ice during the day for your nighttime endeavors.......





Rick

Always! Gotta have the priorities straight. My whole reason for buying a gen in the first place was to make ice & keep the beer and shots chilled.

I sailed through four days of no power with flying colors. I had light, heat, music, hot food and hot water thanks to the Glenwood and my lamps.
I am going to get a Kerosene powered refrigerator for the basement as back up. They work just as well as electric ones, but; they are expensive. The idea is to NOT need electric power for anything or be dependent on a gas chugging, noisy generator.
There is no gas in New Jersey. Riots and fights are breaking out all over the state. Your generator won't work without gas. The Kerosene ice box runs on about 3 quarts of Kerosene a week. Not too bad.

Will, not sure what parts of Jersey you are going into to see riots and fights but the parts of Jersey I'm in are civil. The few gas stations that have gas have huge lines but they are organized, people are patient and they wait their turn. If there were fights and riots I'd be hearing about it on the news.

http://www.waff.com/story/19981857/some ... y-recovery

Non-union utility crews from Alabama told Thanks but no thanks in New Jersey. Unbelievable!

Politics are fun. Idiots should've left the politics at the door and allowed the crews in.

coalkirk wrote:http://www.waff.com/story/19981857/some-nonunion-ala-crews-turned-away-from-sandy-recovery

Non-union utility crews from Alabama told Thanks but no thanks in New Jersey. Unbelievable!

UNBELIEVABLE !!!