Posted: 7/22/2012 11:22:51 AM EDT
| I have a 7000/9000 watt champion generator with a Interlock kit to run my house. I was walking through Lowes today getting a couple of things and saw this Cable. I really haven't given much thought to securing the generator,I was going to use a 3/8 inch bicycle cable and a lock to secure it to my chain link post,just inside my rear yard. So I picked it up for about $28 and still will secure it to the metal post. This cable is 5/8 inch. Do you guys think this is enough to stop or slow down somebody with bolt cutters? How hard is it to cut through 5/8 cable? Anything more secure? What would be the cost? Thanks guys. |
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go to a hardware store that sells 5/8 inch cable and ask them to purchase 1 foot of it. you will see how easy it is to cut it with those large bolt cutters. Nobody is gonna walk off with your genny unless they came prepared. Do you have any suggestions? Is chain harder to cut? |
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Quoted: is your genny kept in your garage and rolled out to a spot when used? Quoted: go to a hardware store that sells 5/8 inch cable and ask them to purchase 1 foot of it. you will see how easy it is to cut it with those large bolt cutters. Nobody is gonna walk off with your genny unless they came prepared. Do you have any suggestions? Is chain harder to cut? they cut chain the same way at the store. |
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I dont secure mine in the same way that you need to, because i have detached garage, so i just run mine in there all locked up. you can do a couple of things. build a genny shed and put an alarm on it. there are few designs on ARF to search for. this is what i would do. or Keep your dog outside while the genny is running and use the biggest construction grade chain, lock and eyebolt you can afford. This might cost more than the above shed. |
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You can buy HUGE log chain, I mean really big chain and not only is it hard to cut, it takes some big bolt cutters. But it can still be cut. The problem is your weakest link (no pun intended) will be your lock. I've seen it more than once, a HUGE chain and a normal size lock that any ordinary bolt cutters can cut. Any cable, chain or lock with keep the honest man out. A really big chain and a really big lock will keep out everyone but the crook who is willing to take the time to come back with really big bolt cutters. |
| You have to get chains and locks where the amount of cutting strenth it would take is up around 17,000 psi or higher. I bought a lock and chain like that to hold my trailer. Of course it can be cut but not by the faint of heart and not without 3' long handled heavy duty bolt cutters. Even then you would have to work on it for a while probably making noise and getting caught. |
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The condo commandoes hate it , but I have mine tied with huge chains and a hooded Master lock to the iron bars of my terrace gate http://pufone.org/blog/wp-content/uploads/gipsy_huge_chain_icon_gold_1024x1280.JPG http://pufone.org/blog/wp-content/uploads/gipsy_jesus_cross_792x1056.jpg My Eyes! you were just waiting for somebody to mention a big chain so you could show your pics,huh? 
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| do you have a location with a with a 90degree corner, where you could locate the generator, then pull a vehicle diagonally close enough to provide a third "wall"?... I have concrete stairs outside my house, that in the past have used, and then pulled the car up to block....since then have installed a back feed from a detatched garage, which adds security and cuts down the noise... |
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Quoted:
Quoted:
go to a hardware store that sells 5/8 inch cable and ask them to purchase 1 foot of it. you will see how easy it is to cut it with those large bolt cutters. Nobody is gonna walk off with your genny unless they came prepared. Do you have any suggestions? Is chain harder to cut? Cable is actually harder to cut (and takes longer) than chain. You can "snap" a chain pretty easy with bolt cutters; you have to gnaw away on a cable. A hacksaw will take longer on a chain than a cable. I'm thinking most smash & grab genny thieves would probably be carrying bolt cutters. |
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Quoted:
Quoted:
go to a hardware store that sells 5/8 inch cable and ask them to purchase 1 foot of it. you will see how easy it is to cut it with those large bolt cutters. Nobody is gonna walk off with your genny unless they came prepared. Do you have any suggestions? Is chain harder to cut? I say yes, but large enough bolt cutters or as I have... a cutting torch and it'll take no time. Keeps honest people out. Best bet is chained out of the way where you have easy access and put motion alarms or sound alarms of some sort on it. Maybe keep a large dog around. Such is the nature of the beast. 
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| Those 5/8" "cables" are actually wrapped in that clear rubber to make the cable look bigger. The diameter of the steel cable is usually smaller. And I mean half as thick as it looks. So thats like 1/4"-3/8". We had a generator with a cable just like you said. We used klein plier/wire cutters, regular sized they're just well built to cut them. Took two hard squeezes but took about 15 seconds.... |
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As others have said-a chain or cable won't stop a determined thief, but if you add an early warning capability it may buy you enough time to get outside and deal with him. I use a hardened steel galvanized chain and a disk type padlock to secure my gensets outside. That said, my larger (36" I think) bolt cutters make pretty quick work of the chain.
A power failure alarm is a cost effective way to notify you when your genset is powered down-from running out of gas, a malfunction...or a theft in progress. Here is a good one that I use frequently at work: 
$28.50 @Amazon It sounds a very loud buzzer when the power shuts off. You can plug it into any outlet or extension cord in your home that is being powered by your generator. Recently another member here suggested an IR motion detector/driveway alarm to be set up discreetly around a generator to notify you of someone tampering with it. I just bought the driveway alarm he suggested, but haven't had time to mess around with it yet. Edited with smaller pic. |
| I don't know how smart the thieves are in your area but a battery operated Dremal with a cut off wheel will go through any cable, chain, or lock in nothing flat. It fits in a BDU size pocket and weighs about as much as a bottle of Coke. A lot easier to carry than bolt cutters. Move the generator inside. |
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I don't know how smart the thieves are in your area but a battery operated Dremal with a cut off wheel will go through any cable, chain, or lock in nothing flat. It fits in a BDU size pocket and weighs about as much as a bottle of Coke. A lot easier to carry than bolt cutters. Move the generator inside. Not when it is running. |
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There are a lot of different cable/lock/alarm combos out there. the idea would be to hide the alarm portion from would be thieves so they can't just muffle it before cutting. I plan on ordering this one: http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200521316_200521316?cm_mmc=Google-pla-_-Security%20Equipment-_-Security%20Locks-_-23075&ci_sku=23075&ci_gpa=pla&ci_kw={keyword}  In addition to my dog and the time it would take me to get outside, I figure they'd have to cut and haul it away in under 5 seconds to successfully steal a genny from my side porch  I'm not saying that's impossible, but the alarm and dog barking should at least give them pause if not chase them off before I can point my 1300 at them  Speed |
| Thanks for all of the posts. I do have a storage shed made out of wood with a door hasp lock like This.The shed is about 10x10 without any ventilation. It is about 60 feet from the garage electric panel where i would hook up the genny. I already have a 25' 10/4 cord. Can I connect a 50'10/4 cord to the 25' for a total of 75'? Or,is that too long of a run? I do like the idea of the shed much better for the decrease in sound. Would I have to put any type of ventilation in the shed for when the genny is running? Would it be too hot if it was closed when running? Also,that is where I store my gas(60 gallons),is that a problem? |