Posted: 12/31/2013 3:29:51 PM EDT
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For Christmas I bought a 1400/1800 watt Champion generator for my mom.
I have left my generator there before during power outages. Before that, a few times she lost all the food in her fridge/freezer and basement freezer. I have also done the generator taxi thing between our houses. I moved about a half hour away and maybe next time the power is out, I may not be able to get there quick. When she unwrapped it, she actually knew what it was. I put the rubber feet on it and put the oil in the motor. It is sitting on the kitchen floor. "Now I can run this in my basement?" me - No Mom, but you can run it in the garage. (detached, very well ventilated) "Does it run on gas?" me - Yes Mom. "Is it running now?" me - No Mom me - Mom, Please read the manual! As we are leaving she says, "Thank You for the generator, it will keep me nice and warm!" me - Mom, Please read the manual! Today I am over there and I go into the garage to get her gas can so I can go fill it with fresh gas. I cannot find the gas can. I ask my mom where it is and she tells me the nephew used it, this summer. So looks like I better buy a gas can for her soon. Back in the house I get a few more questions "Now, where do I plug it in?" me - Right in the front Mom and I show her the picture of the outlet on the box. "What do I plug it into?" me - The fridge Mom "No, the other end?" me - Mom, Please read the manual! Run the lead from this outlet on the gen to the fridge plug. I should have just bought her jewelry. My other fear is that my sister will borrow it and it will be at a friend of hers house and never gets returned. (Traded for a tattoo or a carton of cigs, or worse, etc) I think I am actually going to chain it to something in the garage. Or my nephew decides to fix it and breaks something on it. Maybe he will just stick a fork in the outlet. |
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Most Women are pretty helpless. They rely on men for everything. I just had to light the propane fireplace again. My wife still can't figure it out after living here for over 2 years. She will neglect to get the oil changed in her car if I don't tell her to. Se waits to get gas until the light comes on half the time.
But she is pretty, smells good, a nice person, and pretty smart. But completely helpless on most basic mechanical things. I say this, and I'm not exactly McGuyver either. Women that can fend for themselves typically have always had to, because they are usually ugly. 
I bet she figures it out if the power goes out, and you don't come running to save her. Just make sure the manual is also chained to the generator. |
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Your better off keeping it at your house and the Taking it to her house when needed.
You don't want her shocking herself or breathing carbon monoxide. And also that nephew or other kin person that takes your moms gen and does not return it, That would piss me off. Good luck, sounds like you got your hands full. |
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Quoted: Your better off keeping it at your house and the Taking it to her house when needed. You don't want her shocking herself or breathing carbon monoxide. And also that nephew or other kin person that takes your moms gen and does not return it, That would piss me off. Good luck, sounds like you got your hands full. If you want something done right, do it yourself. |
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Delegate everything you can, to everyone you can, to help make them more competent. I've done this since starting a company to the benefit of all. And generated some powerful folks.
A good friend of ours won't do this, tries to handle everything himself. As a result, his wife and grown child are generally incompetent. When he passes, how will they survive? |
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Quoted:
Delegate everything you can, to everyone you can, to help make them more competent. I've done this since starting a company to the benefit of all. And generated some powerful folks. A good friend of ours won't do this, tries to handle everything himself. As a result, his wife and grown child are generally incompetent. When he passes, how will they survive? Absolutely agree 100% |
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Sorry, but she is incapable of using it. Take it back and tell her you'll keep it ready. I agree. Sadly, I think your Mother may forget that she can't run it safely in the basement. I have a friend who's Father-in-law is a wealthy veterinarian. Ran a generator in his basement and nearly killed himself and my friend's Mother. Would have succeeded if my friend hadn't called to check on them. Father-in-law said "they were warm, but had terrible headaches". Friend asks,"where's the generator"? Father-in-law says, "in the basement". 
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You failed horribly.
You know she knows dick about it when she asks if a non-running two stroke engine is on...  
Ergo, you should have fired it up right there. Run a cable from garage, unplugged fridge from wall and plugged it in to generator. Show her how to use it, don't just say "read a manual." Christ. |
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Quoted:
This, x1000 If you want something done right, do it yourself. Quoted:
Quoted:
Your better off keeping it at your house and the Taking it to her house when needed. You don't want her shocking herself or breathing carbon monoxide. And also that nephew or other kin person that takes your moms gen and does not return it, That would piss me off. Good luck, sounds like you got your hands full. If you want something done right, do it yourself. |
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Quoted:
Your better off keeping it at your house and the Taking it to her house when needed. You don't want her shocking herself or breathing carbon monoxide. And also that nephew or other kin person that takes your moms gen and does not return it, That would piss me off. Good luck, sounds like you got your hands full. +1 |
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Quoted: You failed horribly. You know she knows dick about it when she asks if a non-running two stroke engine is on... Ergo, you should have fired it up right there. Run a cable from garage, unplugged fridge from wall and plugged it in to generator. Show her how to use it, don't just say "read a manual." Christ. If she sees the process, then does it with you there, then she writes notes on the process, all will be good. If you put it in the garage, no way she will carry it into the basement. |
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Quoted:
Your better off keeping it at your house and the Taking it to her house when needed. Yep - Assuming you live within reasonable driving distance. It's going to need to be run for 5-10 hours anyway, just to get the engine broken in. You'll probably want to connect an electrical load and keep an eye on it during the break-in period. Many generator problems become apparent during the first few hours of their lifespan (i.e., "infant mortality"). If so, you'll want to be there to notice any problems and arrange for a warranty return/replacement. Then, there's the whole issue of exercising it occasionally, keeping fresh gasoline in it, and preventing varnish from forming in the carb. Those aren't details that your mom is likely to concern herself with - which means that it may not be usable the next time she attempts to run it. There is a certain minimum level of competence and diligence necessary to keep a portable generator in a constant state of readiness. Not everyone is capable of rising to that level. |
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Quoted:
For Christmas I bought a 1400/1800 watt Champion generator for my mom. I have left my generator there before during power outages. Before that, a few times she lost all the food in her fridge/freezer and basement freezer. I have also done the generator taxi thing between our houses. I moved about a half hour away and maybe next time the power is out, I may not be able to get there quick. When she unwrapped it, she actually knew what it was. I put the rubber feet on it and put the oil in the motor. It is sitting on the kitchen floor. "Now I can run this in my basement?" me - No Mom, but you can run it in the garage. (detached, very well ventilated) "Does it run on gas?" me - Yes Mom. "Is it running now?" me - No Mom me - Mom, Please read the manual! As we are leaving she says, "Thank You for the generator, it will keep me nice and warm!" me - Mom, Please read the manual! Today I am over there and I go into the garage to get her gas can so I can go fill it with fresh gas. I cannot find the gas can. I ask my mom where it is and she tells me the nephew used it, this summer. So looks like I better buy a gas can for her soon. Back in the house I get a few more questions "Now, where do I plug it in?" me - Right in the front Mom and I show her the picture of the outlet on the box. "What do I plug it into?" me - The fridge Mom "No, the other end?" me - Mom, Please read the manual! Run the lead from this outlet on the gen to the fridge plug. I should have just bought her jewelry. My other fear is that my sister will borrow it and it will be at a friend of hers house and never gets returned. (Traded for a tattoo or a carton of cigs, or worse, etc) I think I am actually going to chain it to something in the garage. Or my nephew decides to fix it and breaks something on it. Maybe he will just stick a fork in the outlet. this good luck Op |
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Quoted:
For Christmas I bought a 1400/1800 watt Champion generator for my mom. me - Mom, Please read the manual! wut? the Champion manuals are OK-ish but leaving your mom with a generator and telling her to read the manual isn't going to end well -- for you, your mom, or the generator. ar-jedi |
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Jumping on the bandwagon:
It was very nice to buy your mom a generator! You are a good son with a great heart and I really mean that. Take it home with you and when she needs it, bring it and the gasoline and keep it running for her. THAT WOULD BE AN AWESOME GIFT THAT SHE WILL NEVER FORGET! Make a cheat sheet in case your mom needs to re-fuel and restart. Plus, keep the gas cans in mom-manageable sizes, like a gallon. Now, call your mom and ask her to go out and get a nice New Year's Day dinner, give her a nice wrapped present that she will like. Mom's love their sons and even a if you give her a turd in a shoebox. I gave my mom a motion detector spot light for her security and was even thoughtful enough to give her two 100 w bulbs. She LOVED it! We were cleaning up her home after she died in 2005. I found the box and bulbs in her garage and it still had remnants of the Christmas wrapping paper that I carefully and lovingly wrapped it in. George Carlin was wrong; Hell is full of Dad's and son's. |
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Quoted: Jumping on the bandwagon: It was very nice to buy your mom a generator! You are a good son with a great heart and I really mean that. Take it home with you and when she needs it, bring it and the gasoline and keep it running for her. THAT WOULD BE AN AWESOME GIFT THAT SHE WILL NEVER FORGET! Make a cheat sheet in case your mom needs to re-fuel and restart. Plus, keep the gas cans in mom-manageable sizes, like a gallon. Now, call your mom and ask her to go out and get a nice New Year's Day dinner, give her a nice wrapped present that she will like. Mom's love their sons and even a if you give her a turd in a shoebox. I gave my mom a motion detector spot light for her security and was even thoughtful enough to give her two 100 w bulbs. She LOVED it! We were cleaning up her home after she died in 2005. I found the box and bulbs in her garage and it still had remnants of the Christmas wrapping paper that I carefully and lovingly wrapped it in. George Carlin was wrong; Hell is full of Dad's and son's. |
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I think you made a very bad choice for a Christmas present for this particular person.
This is way it is always a bad idea to make gift choices for other people based on criteria that make sense to one's self. You have to look at it from the POV of the person getting the gift. |
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I think it was a nice gift but you need to go a little farther then dropping it off and telling her to read the manual. Make a cheat sheet and demonstrate to her now it works. Let her start it plug, plug stuff in, shut it down, and refuel. This would be great to do for during the initial break-in and then you can change the oil afterwards and everything will be good to go. Before I had an auto standby installed at my mothers house she didn't pay much attention to how to run the portable generator that was there, however by about day 3 of a 15 day power outage she had powering it down, refueling, and restarting down to a science. Once she runs it once or twice you will be surprised how quick she figures it out as long as everything is in place and ready to go. I think chaining it where you want it with an attached cheat sheet and the necessary cords nearby would be the best plan, you could even semi permanently attach the extension cords to the frame of the unit with zip ties or small chain and hose clamps so nephew doesn't take them.
Grove |
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I don't think you made a bad choice for a present. You did make a bad choice by putting her in charge of it's use. It doesn't sound like she has the capacity. Plus, I don't get why someone (your sister) would take it from her. It's not hers, so why would she take it? It sounds like there is too much chaos in the family, with folks going nilly-willy without thinking about other's well being. YOU need to take charge of the situation. This means ALWAYS planning on being there when she needs the genny used. Do not put it on her to learn how to do this. YOU need to be that person. As far as others "borrowing" it, YOU need to lock it down so that cannot happen, or plan on bringing it over whenever it is needed. YOU need to put some order into that chaos. Then, you have a good chance of success, my friend.
Be responsible. Your Mom's life might depend on it. Quoted:
You know she knows dick about it when she asks if a non-running two stroke engine is on...
Oh, BTW, Champion Inverter = 4 cycle engine, not 2 cycle, but the idea is definitely valid. |
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Ever get a gift of a guitar and be told to learn to play it from a book? It can be done, especially by someone with a musical background, but its not the easiest, nor probably best. Now, assuming your mother is ugly enough to possess some brain cells, she can learn to use the generstor..and crap like ugly comment is why I quit coming here except rarely, but I digress.
Go through the process of starting the generator, explaining each step. Explain, in simple terms, what it is powerful enough to run and what it can't. Explain how it takes the place of electricity coming through powerlines and what can happen if they run concurrently. Talk about why you have to use the proper fuel and what that is. Explain what happens when generators are run in confined spaces. Yes..the manual says all this. Talk about it anyway, conversationally, without being condescending. She doesn't know what she doesn't know. So teach her. Next, write out a cheat sheet that lays out each step, one by one. Also add a small chart explaining the wattage requirements for items she would mostl likely want to run and explain that its kind of ala carte.she can use a certain amount of power to start and run items but there are limits to it. Then have her follow the instructions, under your guidance, step by step, and see if any of them need adjusted. Don't get wrappd around the axle about small things..concentrate on making the instructions clear. If she can follow the steps and start the generator, you've done well and she's learned somethng huge..to get out of her comfort zone. Type up the instructions, laminate them and attach a copy to the generator with a zip tie. Plan to do the PMs on the generator the forst few times but use a similar method to get to her doing it herself..you may always need to remind her, though..s human nature not to fix something that doesn't appear broken. |
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Quoted:
Oh, BTW, Champion Inverter = 4 cycle engine, not 2 cycle, but the idea is definitely valid. Quoted:
Quoted:
You know she knows dick about it when she asks if a non-running two stroke engine is on...
Oh, BTW, Champion Inverter = 4 cycle engine, not 2 cycle, but the idea is definitely valid. My Champion is a 4 stroke, not sure why I put 2 in there. I've been saying the opposite of what I mean in the past few days. Point still stands on noise levels though
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