What have I done today

[lonestarbandit]

As the favorite question in this forum goes. Today I installed 50 amp generator inlet box and interlock kit to my panel and verify I say unto you with my two dual fuel parallel kit if needed 4600 watt each generators I shall have power throughout all of my lands (sans 220 because these generators I also use for power on pop up camper trips are 110 capable only) but I have wired with being future proof in mind vs cheaping out on a 30 amp box and wire should I choose to get a godzilla generator that does do 220 at a later time.

 

[BayouRadioAmplifier]

I never uploaded a video here yet.

and down here in southern Louisiana's hurricane and tornado
country. many people have them Generac stand-by generator
set-ups here.

but here is video from Hurricane Francine Sept. 2024

and a few years earlier after Hurricane Ida I did the same thing.

I do not have a main breaker box, but a branch circuit breaker box outside.

I just pull out some breakers and wire up some jumper wires here and there.
I have a cable with stranded AWG 10 to plug into the generators'
240 VAC at 20 amps output.
I can run the 240 VAC window AC unit in my living room. all
my 120 VAC lights, refrigerator. keep the beer cold!!

I do have a natural gas and propane carburetor kit to put on
this generator. and I have been changing the wiring in my 65
year old house.

I actually live on a semi-rural main road, with a priority main power line
going over the front of my property. They get the power going
on this line before other places out here. So I usually do not have long
electrical power outages. After Hurricane Ida years ago, I had electrical
power, and internet back on in two days! Living out here with the
gators and snakes and feral hogs. While my co-workers out near New Orleans
were without power for weeks.

 

[lonestarbandit]

Hey we do whatever works right? I just got tired of 30amp rv cord to multiple extension cords and unplugging and replugging stuff so decided not this year lol my wires I used were 6ga. Talk about a pain to route lol!

 

[whiteastro]

I did the poor-mans transfer switch. I run my generator in my unattached garage by plugging it into my welder outlet and back feed it to my breaker panel after I shutoff my Main Breaker. Crude,Cheap but it works !

 

[BayouRadioAmplifier]

yes, with this set up, nothing to change in the house.
most of the people I know just run generators outside and
have all these long extension cords all over the place,
running through doors and windows sealed off with towels.
and only power their fridge and a window AC.

and that video uploaded. I got another funny one.

.

 

[BayouRadioAmplifier]

-- and this advice, that everyone here probably already knows,
being this is the Prepper Forum. with like-minded people here.

Us talking about emergency electrical power with a generator.

You must protect your own property, and family first!
You can't save the world and help all the ill-prepared people
out there that make jokes about your emergency stash of food
and water. Some people tell me they will get water and MRE's
from FEMA as they did before.

So what you have done to be prepared for a coming disaster,
stocking up on food, water, beer, etc. Don't let people know!
Keep your stash out of site!

back after Hurricane Ida in 2021, the electrical power grid got
wiped out around here, from New Orleans to Houma, to way
south to the Gulf of Mexico. as well as the gas pumps at gas stations
getting blown away, and the canopies over them crashing down.
So unable to get gas at most gas stations. people fighting for gas.
getting shot, one killed, the term "Gas-Hole" was invented.

at this time, I was working at a Motorola "partner" company on repeaters
used by public service departments. after Ida many repeater sites not working.
no electrical power. These sites short-term battery back-up out, and the
long term generators not working. I went to sites to see
the generators were burned out. low oil. no maintenance done.
the start-up battery dead. etc. even at big newer generators at
a sheriff department, getting funds from the U.S. government,
burned up generator engines. "low oil" "overheat" alarms.

and at the shop I worked out of, there was a stand-by generator
set-up behind the building. I put in a new battery and changed the
oil before Ida hit. also had extra oil on hand there. I would test the generator,
and showed the other guys how to start it. auto-start did not work.
AND TOLD THEM TO CHECK THE ENGINE OIL EACH DAY, AND CHANGE THE OIL
AFTER SEVERAL DAYS OF USE. AND THESE AIR-COOLED ENGINES WILL
RUN HOT IN THIS HOT WEATHER.
some of the guys said they would bring their family to the shop
after the expected power outages,
since it would have electrical power, air conditioning, refrigerator,
watch the big big 90 inch TV screen, etc.

Yep! a few days after Ida I was asked to go see why our shops
generator was not working. Yep! It smelled liked burnt oil.
I pushed the electric start button, and the engine made a weird noise
and barely turned. and the alarm went off with the LED display
blinking "low oil" "engine stopped" "overheat"


at this time, I was making them funny videos, bragging about I have a
generator, air-conditioning, cold cold beer, even frozen pizza if I wanted, etc.
I sent these videos out to co-workers and friends around here,
that were without power for days, and for weeks coming.
Then I got my electrical power back on in two days,
before many. and told people
about that. all is good here. this was a big mistake!!

I had people wanting to borrow or rent my generator.
And after the burned-up generator engines I recently have seen, and also
when you loan something out, it does not usually go well, I had to say
No. No. No. people do not take care of your things.
I got into arguments. the few places that were open, already
sold all their generators. later FEMA came in with some.
I told this one overweight guy that he has
lived in Louisiana all his life, and he should have bought a generator
instead of filling his belly with food all these years. and get prepared!
hurricanes happen here! I had to get defensive here. arguments.

so after Hurricane Francine last September,
I only sent my silly generator cell phone videos
bragging that I have cold beer, air conditioning, and all is well here,
party down! to people and family, far away, out in California and
Arizona. I did not answer phone calls or texts from people around here.
I got Texts about electrical power, and if I still have "that generator"

I just had to vent after watching them videos. it brought back bad memories
of defending my preparedness. Almost getting into fights.
So preppers, keep your portable generators out of site also.

 

[Shadetree Mechanic]

I did the poor-mans transfer switch. I run my generator in my unattached garage by plugging it into my welder outlet and back feed it to my breaker panel after I shutoff my Main Breaker. Crude,Cheap but it works !

I do this too, keeps the generator away from the house.

 

[Shockwave]

As the favorite question in this forum goes. Today I installed 50 amp generator inlet box and interlock kit to my panel and verify I say unto you with my two dual fuel parallel kit if needed 4600 watt each generators I shall have power throughout all of my lands (sans 220 because these generators I also use for power on pop up camper trips are 110 capable only) but I have wired with being future proof in mind vs cheaping out on a 30 amp box and wire should I choose to get a godzilla generator that does do 220 at a later time.View attachment 71041View attachment 71042View attachment 71043View attachment 71044View attachment 71045View attachment 71046

I learned something new here. I never knew they made a metal plate to prevent both circuit breakers from being on simultaneously. Thanks for the information.

 

[whiteastro]

I do this too, keeps the generator away from the house.

Also keeps the generator inside out of the element and deadens the noise. And you can open the garage doors to get rid of the exhaust, plus your not muscling the thing on uneven ground. And 220 volt is there for the well pump. 8750 peak watts & 7000 running watts. Don't know if it would run my water heater so I might have to sacrifice. OH POO !

 

[lonestarbandit]

I learned something new here. I never knew they made a metal plate to prevent both circuit breakers from being on simultaneously. Thanks for the information.

Glad Ive finally contributed. Usually its you lot bailing me out lol. It is required by code here for this type of simple DIY setup, naturally transfer switches etc handle that if youre spending big money. It's called an interlock kit and which kit depends on what type of breaker box you have as to what design you need but they all provide the same function. To not allow power to accidentally backfeed into the lines and potentially harm line workers not mention your own home if you flipped the wrong thing concurrently.

 

[Captain Kilowatt]

Also keeps the generator inside out of the element and deadens the noise. And you can open the garage doors to get rid of the exhaust, plus your not muscling the thing on uneven ground. And 220 volt is there for the well pump. 8750 peak watts & 7000 running watts. Don't know if it would run my water heater so I might have to sacrifice. OH POO !

It will run your hot water heater if you do not use much else at the same time. Good time to just watch TV while the water heater is on. My generator is about 1 Kw less than yours and it runs my water heater just fine.

 

[whiteastro]

It will run your hot water heater if you do not use much else at the same time. Good time to just watch TV while the water heater is on. My generator is about 1 Kw less than yours and it runs my water heater just fine.

Thanks for the tip. I thought it might but never had a call to try it. But if the power was out for a few days it might be nice to take a bath and would make others happy too. LOL And nice to have a big 4 burner gas camping stove to go with it also. It's amazing how you get spoiled in your old age!

 

[Shadetree Mechanic]

An electric water heater has two elements, but only runs one at a time. The bottom control switches between the bottom element and the top control. When the kids were younger, I wired the temperature controls in parallel to help with the recovery time. I didn't want to turn the temperature up, in fact I had to turn it down a little. One of our kids would take showers so hot, he looked like a lobster...

 

[Brother DXer]

This was delivered last week and is replacing the Generac generator that has saved our ass on multiple occasions. The worst was the winter storm in February 4 years ago. Temperatures hovering around zero degrees fahrenheit and the grid was down for 3 days. That generator ran for three days straight with the exception of refueling.

The Generac was 14 years old and needed more love than I had time to give, so I gave it to a mechanic friend of mine. I keep things like this to myself with the exception of a friend or two and some local family members. They all know I'm prepared to a certain extent. Food, water, power, plus a multitude of other necessary items.

 

[whiteastro]

This was delivered last week and is replacing the Generac generator that has saved our ass on multiple occasions. The worst was the winter storm in February 4 years ago. Temperatures hovering around zero degrees fahrenheit and the grid was down for 3 days. That generator ran for three days straight with the exception of refueling.

The Generac was 14 years old and needed more love than I had time to give, so I gave it to a mechanic friend of mine. I keep things like this to myself with the exception of a friend or two and some local family members. They all know I'm prepared to a certain extent. Food, water, power, plus a multitude of other necessary items.


View attachment 71138

That is a Dandy & should GET-ER-DONE and looks like electric start like mine. But it will be a heavy sucker so find it a permanent home. ENJOY