18,000 BTU A/C...

[Datawiz]

I has it!!! :hurray:

Was in line before the 8:00 am open of Home Depot today and raced to the A/C section. This unit was the ONE AND ONLY unit in the store, and likely skipped over because it's a 20 amp odd 3 prong connector. Spendy...$700 and tax. It will move into my garage when this drama is over.

My race buddy Joe (Red Miata for 2 years that I donated my Miata transmission to) spliced the 4 prong pigtale from my house generator adapter directly onto the A/C unit. Now generator outside my front door. Rest of mission critical household items on extension cords, but A/C blowing COLD in my office. Down from 91 degrees to 75.6 in the last 40 minutes and dropping fast.

Blow up bed in the office tonight for sure. There's a good chance we won't see electric for another 10 days. Patty has secured more gas after a 1.5 hour wait, but we have enough fuel for another 3-4 days.

:datawiz:

[Datawiz]

73.2....pure heaven. Time for another cold beer. :datawiz:

[Norm]

I can sympathize with your predicament, I can only imagine it is no fun. Stay safe.

[Datawiz]

I can sympathize with your predicament, I can only imagine it is no fun. Stay safe.

This "small" little luxury is SO NICE in this predicament. I'm now charging both scooters for my disabled brother in law (neighbor) who has no electric. He can no longer get around, except with a manual wheelchair. Should have him topped off in a few hours.

[Jeff '79]

I have a 220 plug right inside my garage door, wired directly to a 2 pole breaker in the main electrical service panel.
I run my entire house by plugging a 220 cord from the genny to the plug while the garage is shut, (no carbon monoxide wanted).
No extension cords, no bs. Just entire house comfort.
You can buy the wire and plug, run the wire from wherever you want your generator to be, to the electric panel, and just have an electrician connect it, and put the breaker in the box.

13350

13351

13352

[Mike Mercury]

odd 3 prong connector.
like this?


http://image.made-in-china.com/2f0j00TBMQtsWPvqVR/UL-Plug-125V-20A-.jpg

[boracayjohnny]

Great news, Craig!

Also, good on ya for helping out the disabled bro-n-law next door.

[Datawiz]

like this?


http://image.made-in-china.com/2f0j00TBMQtsWPvqVR/UL-Plug-125V-20A-.jpg

That's similar, but the horizontal part was opposite of what the generator would accept. It's gone now and the 4-prong big boy is in place, where it will stay. Will have an outlet put into the garage to accept the 4-prong and then have much colder A/C in the garage than the old 12K btu unit could provide.

[Datawiz]

69.9 :hurray:

Time to leave the office and go cook dinner....and sweat again. :sadangel:

[Norm]

Occasionally I lose power, I want everything to run in the house including the garage. The house is all electric power, and I have a well, so I want no loss of power. I installed this Generac 20kW some years ago, it has been a life saver. Have a 100 gallon propane gas tank that fuels the generator. Usually it needs a fill up about every three years.

[Datawiz]

Occasionally I lose power, I want everything to run in the house including the garage. The house is all electric power, and I have a well, so I want no loss of power. I installed this Generac 20kW some years ago, it has been a life saver. Have a 100 gallon propane gas tank that fuels the generator. Usually it needs a fill up about every three years.

This was on the list for sure, but we're not staying in this house for more than another 1-2 years. I'd rather make that investment in our next house, which will likely be our last. :seasix:

[DAB]

my sister in Katy, TX just got her nat. gas Generac whole house generator installed this week.

i've been emailing with an Aunt about the same topic.

bottom line: if I was going to get a whole house generator like Norm, i'd get a propane one with a dedicated 500 gallon tank. those tanks top off at 400 gallons (80%), and 300 gallons will run that size generator for about 5-6 days at full load.

[Norm]

my sister in Katy, TX just got her nat. gas Generac whole house generator installed this week.

i've been emailing with an Aunt about the same topic.

bottom line: if I was going to get a whole house generator like Norm, i'd get a propane one with a dedicated 500 gallon tank. those tanks top off at 400 gallons (80%), and 300 gallons will run that size generator for about 5-6 days at full load.

I would go that route too tank-wise, but my power outages are very short in duration, no more that an hour or two, we have been lucky. Had a power outage when taking a shower, not a storm, truck hit a pole, knocked out our power, it was so nice when in about 4 seconds the generator kicked in, no loss of hot water.:D

[Mike Mercury]

That's similar, but the horizontal part was opposite of what the generator would accept. It's gone now and the 4-prong big boy is in place, where it will stay. Will have an outlet put into the garage to accept the 4-prong and then have much colder A/C in the garage than the old 12K btu unit could provide.

is the AC unit 120v or 240 ?

[DAB]

I would go that route too tank-wise, but my power outages are very short in duration, no more that an hour or two, we have been lucky. Had a power outage when taking a shower, not a storm, truck hit a pole, knocked out our power, it was so nice when in about 4 seconds the generator kicked in, no loss of hot water.:D

you have to evaluate your level of risk. for peeps in hurricane areas, assuming your house is above flood levels, then a generator on a pad at grade works. but be sure to tie down your propane tank. don't want it floating away.

[Norm]

Good advice, no flood plain in my area.

[OddBall]

I has it!!! :hurray:

Was in line before the 8:00 am open of Home Depot today and raced to the A/C section. This unit was the ONE AND ONLY unit in the store, and likely skipped over because it's a 20 amp odd 3 prong connector. Spendy...$700 and tax. It will move into my garage when this drama is over.

My race buddy Joe (Red Miata for 2 years that I donated my Miata transmission to) spliced the 4 prong pigtale from my house generator adapter directly onto the A/C unit. Now generator outside my front door. Rest of mission critical household items on extension cords, but A/C blowing COLD in my office. Down from 91 degrees to 75.6 in the last 40 minutes and dropping fast.

Blow up bed in the office tonight for sure. There's a good chance we won't see electric for another 10 days. Patty has secured more gas after a 1.5 hour wait, but we have enough fuel for another 3-4 days.

:datawiz:


Where ya making the wife sleep?

[DAB]

long, long, long ago i helped spec out a new generator for the Calvert Cliffs Nuclear Plant. so i know something on the topic all these years later.

[boracayjohnny]

you have to evaluate your level of risk. for peeps in hurricane areas, assuming your house is above flood levels, then a generator on a pad at grade works. but be sure to tie down your propane tank. don't want it floating away.

C'mon, an un-tethered mine is fun. :D

[DAB]

I've been considering one of those for my casa as well.

If you don't mind me asking, what was the ballpark for that setup?

I don't know.

From doing some digging for my Aunt, I think 20k all in would be close. I'll ask her.

[Datawiz]

is the AC unit 120v or 240 ?

It expects 20 amps / 240 VAC.

Hence why it's now working with the big-assed 4-pin connector.

[DAB]

I've been considering one of those for my casa as well.

If you don't mind me asking, what was the ballpark for that setup?

Reply from sis: all in, about $11,500. She went with natural gas, as the house already has a line to it. 20kW, whole house deal.

[Datawiz]

Where ya making the wife sleep?

She'll likely sleep in the MBR tonight, and if I'm alive tomorrow, she'll sleep in the office from there on out. She's worried about carbon monoxide poisoning since the generator is about 12' from the window in my office where the A/C unit is installed.

For the record, the generator is vented to the entire world...no blockage whatsoever.

[DAB]

Have a CO monitor?

[Datawiz]

Have a CO monitor?

No...just my nose. :lol:

Yes, I know it's odorless.

[MrPeabody]

I has it!!! :hurray:

Was in line before the 8:00 am open of Home Depot today and raced to the A/C section. This unit was the ONE AND ONLY unit in the store, and likely skipped over because it's a 20 amp odd 3 prong connector. Spendy...$700 and tax. It will move into my garage when this drama is over.

My race buddy Joe (Red Miata for 2 years that I donated my Miata transmission to) spliced the 4 prong pigtale from my house generator adapter directly onto the A/C unit. Now generator outside my front door. Rest of mission critical household items on extension cords, but A/C blowing COLD in my office. Down from 91 degrees to 75.6 in the last 40 minutes and dropping fast.

Blow up bed in the office tonight for sure. There's a good chance we won't see electric for another 10 days. Patty has secured more gas after a 1.5 hour wait, but we have enough fuel for another 3-4 days.

:datawiz:

So you've got like what, 12 screens in there for porn?

[Datawiz]

So you've got like what, 12 screens in there for porn?

11 of the 12 screens are down. I pulled that monster computer and 1 monitor to pull a 340 GB virtual machine that's now on my notebook computer so I can continue to "attempt" to do my job.

My company just donated $4 million to Harvey/Irma, and they have about 8 of us in Irma's path. I'm on a mission critical timeline on my project, and having spotty internet is killing me.

Fending for myself for now.

[DAB]

Reply from sis: all in, about $11,500. She went with natural gas, as the house already has a line to it. 20kW, whole house deal.

20K? Wow!

RIF.

[Bill]

long, long, long ago i helped spec out a new generator for the Calvert Cliffs Nuclear Plant. so i know something on the topic all these years later.

How long was the pull cord to start it?



:dance:

[DAB]

How long was the pull cord to start it?



:dance:

:faint:

[Mike Mercury]

It expects 20 amps / 240 VAC.

Hence why it's now working with the big-assed 4-pin connector.

okay, that explains it. The plug I pictured is a 20 amp 120v.

[SubZero]

I ran my furnace last week :shots::leaving:

[Aerovette]

No...just my nose. :lol:

Yes, I know it's odorless.

Got a canary? :lol:

[OddBall]

Got a canary? :lol:

I think his wife is using him as the canary. :Jeff '79:

[VITE1]

Great news Craig. How did you sleep last night?

[Datawiz]

Great news Craig. How did you sleep last night?

It was heaven! It's currently 65 degrees in my office. :hurray:

[DAB]

Need a parka? :leaving:

[Mike Mercury]

Need a parka? :leaving:






https://img.memecdn.com/THIS-IS-A-PARKA_o_80937.jpg

[erickpl]

I have a 220 plug right inside my garage door, wired directly to a 2 pole breaker in the main electrical service panel.
I run my entire house by plugging a 220 cord from the genny to the plug while the garage is shut, (no carbon monoxide wanted).
No extension cords, no bs. Just entire house comfort.
You can buy the wire and plug, run the wire from wherever you want your generator to be, to the electric panel, and just have an electrician connect it, and put the breaker in the box.

13350

13351

13352

We've been looking to do something like this as well, as an option until we go with a natural gas generator (we have gas furnace, water heater, stove, etc already in the house).

With that size generator, can you run the entire house or just select things? Or do you run a combo of some things while leaving other things off?

[Jeff '79]

We've been looking to do something like this as well, as an option until we go with a natural gas generator (we have gas furnace, water heater, stove, etc already in the house).

With that size generator, can you run the entire house or just select things? Or do you run a combo of some things while leaving other things off?

Yes, this generator is sufficient with the 6250 surge to run:

Forced air furnace
Boiler for heated floors and wall radiator heat
Or a/c, depending on the season
Any and all lights in the house, (that was prior to me switching to all led too)
2 TV's, the satellite boxes, and computers
a fridge
a freezer

I have been down for 5 days and used 15 gallons of gas, with that constantly running, in 0 degree weather, after blizzards.
It will go all night w/o refilling so I can sleep peacefully.
It runs everything NO PROBLEM.
Obviously, when you're in that situation you conserve by shutting off lights as you leave the room but for the main systems, the surge capacity is sufficient for everything mentioned.

You can pay $6k for a natural gas Generac or pay $800 for this set-up.
I'd prefer a Generac, but I prefer spending my money elsewhere.:cert:

[Mike Mercury]

I have a 220 plug right inside my garage door, wired directly to a 2 pole breaker in the main electrical service panel.
I run my entire house by plugging a 220 cord from the genny to the plug


this the method is common.

but you really should invest in a manual switchover box: negates the chance you might ever feedback into the power company:

http://i.ebayimg.com/00/s/NTAwWDUwMA==/z/V7EAAOxyVLNSs-8F/$_3.JPG?set_id=2



http://www.m37auction.com/9335/P1010079%20(2).JPG


you still have a receptacle for your generator to plug into, but you then manually switch individual circuits away from the power company... and over to the generator. You can never accidentally anything.

[Jeff '79]

this the method is common.

but you really should invest in a manual switchover box: negates the chance you might ever feedback into the power company:

http://i.ebayimg.com/00/s/NTAwWDUwMA==/z/V7EAAOxyVLNSs-8F/$_3.JPG?set_id=2


you still have a receptacle for your generator to plug into, but you then manually switch individual circuits away from the power company... and over to the generator. You can never accidentally anything.

You can only use 8 of your breakers with that set-up. I do have that, but never use it. I prefer to juice the entire house up.

[erickpl]

I hear you on that... Thanks for the input! Our portable generator is about that size (need to verify), but I'd LOVE to have this capability vs running extension cords around the house out a window to the generator.

Only drawback, for me, is that I wish I could have the generator in the back yard vs the front by the garage door, but it'd just a matter of running the wiring/conduit under our crawlspace if I wanted an outlet back there instead.

Now having said that, we have a 240 outlet in the back yard for the hot tub. Could I plug my generator into THAT (there is a breaker for that circuit on our main panel)? Or is there special wiring for this specific setup that ties the 'generator' circuit into the main feed lines somehow?

I'm NOT an electrician, so I may blow up my house doing this myself, but if I could use an existing 240 line, that'd be great. But I suspect it is more complex than that. :)

[Jeff '79]

I hear you on that... Thanks for the input! Our portable generator is about that size (need to verify), but I'd LOVE to have this capability vs running extension cords around the house out a window to the generator.

Only drawback, for me, is that I wish I could have the generator in the back yard vs the front by the garage door, but it'd just a matter of running the wiring/conduit under our crawlspace if I wanted an outlet back there instead.

Now having said that, we have a 240 outlet in the back yard for the hot tub. Could I plug my generator into THAT (there is a breaker for that circuit on our main panel)? Or is there special wiring for this specific setup that ties the 'generator' circuit into the main feed lines somehow?

I'm NOT an electrician, so I may blow up my house doing this myself, but if I could use an existing 240 line, that'd be great. But I suspect it is more complex than that. :)

I'll send a pic of my plugs after work.
Ya, you could do that if the plugs were compatible because that runs to a double breaker , consequently both poles are juiced up.

[Jeff '79]

I hear you on that... Thanks for the input! Our portable generator is about that size (need to verify), but I'd LOVE to have this capability vs running extension cords around the house out a window to the generator.

Only drawback, for me, is that I wish I could have the generator in the back yard vs the front by the garage door, but it'd just a matter of running the wiring/conduit under our crawlspace if I wanted an outlet back there instead.

Now having said that, we have a 240 outlet in the back yard for the hot tub. Could I plug my generator into THAT (there is a breaker for that circuit on our main panel)? Or is there special wiring for this specific setup that ties the 'generator' circuit into the main feed lines somehow?

I'm NOT an electrician, so I may blow up my house doing this myself, but if I could use an existing 240 line, that'd be great. But I suspect it is more complex than that. :)

You could actually run a cord from the generator to any outside outlet and that would juice up the side of your panel that it's breaker is on. Only half the panel though.
I don't like that though, because of the thin extension cord and thin wire from that plug to wherever it goes, onto the panel. Using too many systems will get them hot.
With my method, it's all 220 line from the genny to the panel into a double breaker.
I assume your hot tub has a double breaker?

[Mike Mercury]

You can only use 8 of your breakers with that set-up.

larger capacity ones are manufactured.

I prefer to juice the entire house up.

but that generator is not "whole house" sized :confused:



I went from a homemade switchover panel (using relays)... to one of the universal manual units like I pictured, and now to an automatic switchover device made by the generators mfgr.

On the subject of whole-house units...
Many go the nat. gas route. But, if your area is prone to large scale "events" (say... earthquakes) then nat. gas may not be the best choice. The authorities can turn off entire natural gas trunk lines during these situations. This is about the only negative with natural gas.

Gasoline/diesel seem like a good solution; though if the power outage is in a large area, gasoline stations may not be dispencing either. And there's long term storage/spoilage issues of fossil fuels.

Propane is often recommend; has no "shelf life" issues.
A friend of mine has a Generac with dual Propage/natural gas capability. From everything I've read... this seems to be the premier setup.

My Generac is propane only:
http://www.tim-yvonne.com/generator/generac1.jpg
I do not have nat. gas in our area.

[Jeff '79]

larger capacity ones are manufactured.



but that generator is not "whole house" sized :confused:



I went from a homemade switchover panel (using relays)... to one of the universal manual units like I pictured, and now to an automatic switchover device made by the generators mfgr.

Uh, hu.......
Works for me. Flawlessly.
My wife is quiet as a field mouse once it fires up.
That's all I care about.
The last thing I wanna hear is her bitching about not being able to use her hair straightener, or she's cold, or the food is spoiling, blah, blah, blah !!!
All I hear is oh Jeff... You're my hero.... Then she commences to gab on the phone and use the internet while watching TV....
Then it's, "do we have enough gas? Will we get carbon monoxide poisoning with it outside the barn? It's great....:shots:

[erickpl]

You could actually run a cord from the generator to any outside outlet and that would juice up the side of your panel that it's breaker is on. Only half the panel though.
I don't like that though, because of the thin extension cord and thin wire from that plug to wherever it goes, onto the panel. Using too many systems will get them hot.
With my method, it's all 220 line from the genny to the panel into a double breaker.
I assume your hot tub has a double breaker?

Yes, hot tub is double breaker.

[Mike Mercury]

I installed this Generac 20kW... Have a 100 gallon propane gas tank that fuels the generator.

I just went from the same 100gal "pig" propane tank (also sitting right up against our house) to a 250gal buried version; they will only fill it to 200 gals though. But I also have other propane devices; ceramic log fireplace, shop heater, greenhouse heater.

[Jeff '79]

Yes, hot tub is double breaker.

Well you're in business then.
That can be your plug in point to juice up the entire house.:seasix:

[Mike Mercury]

All I hear is oh Jeff... You're my hero.... Then she commences to gab on the phone and use the internet while watching TV....


that cures 98 of your 99 problems !

:)

[Jeff '79]

that cures 98 of your 99 problems !

:)

:Jeff '79: I hear ya brother..... I hear ya.

[MrPeabody]

larger capacity ones are manufactured.



but that generator is not "whole house" sized :confused:



I went from a homemade switchover panel (using relays)... to one of the universal manual units like I pictured, and now to an automatic switchover device made by the generators mfgr.

On the subject of whole-house units...
Many go the nat. gas route. But, if your area is prone to large scale "events" (say... earthquakes) then nat. gas may not be the best choice. The authorities can turn off entire natural gas trunk lines during these situations. This is about the only negative with natural gas.

Gasoline/diesel seem like a good solution; though if the power outage is in a large area, gasoline stations may not be dispencing either. And there's long term storage/spoilage issues of fossil fuels.

Propane is often recommend; has no "shelf life" issues.
A friend of mine has a Generac with dual Propage/natural gas capability. From everything I've read... this seems to be the premier setup.

My Generac is propane only:
http://www.tim-yvonne.com/generator/generac1.jpg
I do not have nat. gas in our area.

No natural gas in my entire county. If you want gas, it's propane. I wouldn't power a generator with natural gas in my state anyway. I'd be worried that an earthquake would knock out the gas lines or at the very least the utility company would shut it down until it can all be inspected and checked for leaks. Only propane I have at my current place is two five gallon tanks on my BBQ grills. I could cook for weeks on those.

[Mike Mercury]

You can pay $6k for a natural gas Generac or pay $800 for this set-up.
I'd prefer a Generac, but I prefer spending my money elsewhere.

Can't argue with that.

My first "whole house" (though it was not quite large enough) was my DIY Harbor Freight 10k peak - 7200 cont:

http://www.tim-yvonne.com/generator/gen1.JPG

details here:
Generator, Harbor Freight, Whole House Generator DIY (http://www.tim-yvonne.com/generator)

only went with a Generac after I got a mega deal on one that was barely used:

https://www.thevettebarn.com/forums/off-topic/30453-scored-deal-got-lucky.html

[Jeff '79]

I would install this plug receptacle near your hot tub plug receptacle , pig tailing off of the hot tub outlet, that is, if the plug is different. It probably is.
Here are pics of what you need.
https://www.amazon.com/Reliance-Controls-Corporation-PB30-Generators/dp/B000BQT47S/ref=sr_1_fkmr0_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1505337282&sr=8-1-fkmr0&keywords=125%2F250v+Reliance+pluc

https://www.amazon.com/Nema-L14-30-Generator-Power-Gauge/dp/B01A7EIIAM/ref=pd_bxgy_86_img_2?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B01A7EIIAM&pd_rd_r=MBJ4D0F6GPN6Z5Y9SN2K&pd_rd_w=Z4v7K&pd_rd_wg=bq4He&psc=1&refRID=MBJ4D0F6GPN6Z5Y9SN2K
They sell shorter cords if you don't need a 20 footer, and obviously the shorter they are, the less expensive they are.

13373
The outdoor receptacle

13374
Plug ends


13375
Use this outlet to run your entire house


13376
Orange 220 wire from the hot tub plug to the new receptacle.
Easy....:seasix:

[Jeff '79]

this the method is common.

but you really should invest in a manual switchover box: negates the chance you might ever feedback into the power company:



You know Mike.... I hear this constantly, but.......
#1 You have to be a total moron to feed back the lines by not turning the generator off before flipping the main breaker back on.
#2 Even if you do flip the main breaker on while the generator is running, the odds of electrocuting a lineman are just about ZERO.

Pro tip.... If the generator is running, THE MAIN BREAKER MUST BE OFF:flasher:

[Mike Mercury]

You know Mike.... I hear this constantly,

Pro tip.... If the generator is running, THE MAIN BREAKER MUST BE OFF:flasher:

you're preaching to the choir on this; I too am one that hates all this extra safety that's probably not needed.

But (and here it comes)... you don't know if it's always going to be you doing the carefully plotted switchover procedure.
A wife could operate one of those generator switches if need be; with no concern as to whether any harm would happen.

And there's a second concern - and it's not shocking a lineman somewhere - but equipment failure inside your own home if both feeds are active at the same time. Since it's AC, then they need to be synched together to not be harmful to electronics.

[Jeff '79]

you're preaching to the choir on this; I too am one that hates all this extra safety that's probably not needed.

But (and here it comes)... you don't know if it's always going to be you doing the carefully plotted switchover procedure.
A wife could operate one of those generator switches if need be; with no concern as to whether any harm would happen.

And there's a second concern - and it's not shocking a lineman somewhere - but equipment failure inside your own home if both feeds are active at the same time. Since it's AC, then they need to be synched together to not be harmful to electronics.
:iagree:
This is why women are paid less than men.
They are stoopit.

[snide]

:iagree:
This is why women are paid less than men.
They are stoopit.

That's a fact, Jack!

[Bill]

:iagree:
This is why women are paid less than men.
They are stoopit.

That's a fact, Jack!

Pics of couches you two will be sleeping on for the next two weeks?

[simpleman68]

Good deal Craig! The hot, humid and sticky air would be the crap icing on the hurricane cake for sure.
Scott

[Datawiz]

Good deal Craig! The hot, humid and sticky air would be the crap icing on the hurricane cake for sure.
Scott

:seasix:

Starting day 5 without power. All traffic lights on Daniels are now operational, EXCEPT the one into my community. Finally got my cell phone to give me reasonable hotspot speeds, so working full days at work now. Bought a 6 foot plastic tube, so I can siphon gas out of the 4 cars in the garage doing nothing. Sure beats 1-2 hour waits in line at a gas station.

[DAB]

In other news, tall Ft. Myer man found frozen solid sitting in front of 12 monitors holding a beer. :dance:

[simpleman68]

In other news, tall Ft. Myer man found frozen solid sitting in front of 12 monitors holding a beer. :dance:

:Jeff '79:

https://i.stack.imgur.com/FxJvk.jpg

[Cybercowboy]

This is sad. Flooded garage in FL.

[snide]

This is sad. Flooded garage in FL. (https://streamable.com/1yvda)

Yes, that is sad. I'm sad that I don't have those cars in my garage... :leaving:


Seriously though, I hope those cars are insured. The only one that I feel bad for is the Ford GT. Hope that can be salvaged.