Posted: 12/12/2008 4:26:30 PM EDT
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A lot of people bought portable generators (2500 - 5000 watt) down here due to recent hurricanes. Most people I know are keeping them.
How common are they up in the Northeast? |
| I dont know about the norteast but MN is "north" and folks have them but I would say as a whole it is more for portable power then an emergency preperation. I have one I use to top off the batterie bank for the solar system at the cabin and run various power tools up there as there is no electricity. |
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Good thread w/ pics over on Survival about this... http://www.ar15.com/forums/topic.html?b=10&f=17&t=618410
ETA... hotlink |
I have one, also the 300 dolar interface box that lets me connect it to my the Breaker box. I tested it and it works fine. I have never had to use it, as the power has never been off here more than 8 hours. It gets cold up here. It would allow me to run my heat and lights, and frig. I fire it up every spring, to make sure it's up to snuff. Better to have it, and not need it than the other way around.
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We went without power for a week in the winter about ten years ago. I was one of the few in the neighborhood who had heat, but we had no electricity. Had a lot of company, went through a lot of candles. People sleeping all over the house and bringing food from home to share. Trying to drain water pipes before they froze. No gas stations had power...
I didn't have a generator then. I've got one now, and 30 gallons of fuel. I figure I could stretch it a week or so at least. In THIS house, if I want heat, I need electricity. Six hours a day running it would keep me warm. We have more oil lamps and candles now, too.
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| They are fairly common up here (VT). I bought a Champion 3500 series back when I found about the good deal going on for them this spring I think it was. I think I ended up paying like $187 shipped for the generator and wheel kit. Now I'm just waiting for a power outage so I get to use it. That reminds me, I need to fire that baby up to make sure it's going to work! |
