fried1765
Well-known member
Equipment
Kubota L48 TLB, Ford 1920 FEL, Ford 8N, SCAG Liberty Z, Gravely Pro.
We all have different opinions of our generator "needs".Here in Central VA, we lose it for 8 hours or more at least once a year. Trees grow like weeds and are just as stable in a breeze.
I have a 22KW Generac 'portable'. Two manual transfer switches as I have two, 200 amp panels, one supplies the first floor, the other the second. The Generac will suck up 15 gallons of fuel in 16 hours at 1/2 load (guesstimate). Stinks. But.. we do not have natural gas and the genset was very inexpensive (I am cheap) at $1999.99 after tax, delivered. So I have drag it out, cable and fire it up. We were without power for a week last winter, totally suxed. I had to go out and buy gas every day and the house was quite cold, as the genset could not power the aux electric heat strips in the heat pumps. I now have bypass switches oin them so the heat pump will make some heat, even if they have to run non-stop.
In 22 years, we have lost power for a week or more twice. The first time, no generator. Now, we can make do OK. Another 15 years, I'll be in the retirement home and it will be someone elses problem.
IMHO a generator is only necessary to get you through extreme circumstances.
Thus,.....a portable: adequate to provide heat (not electric), water (well), and refrigeration, for a week,...... maybe once every 10 years+.