I'm in western Mass and suffered the same fate to a lesser degree. We were without power or land line/internet for 36 hours from 3:30am Friday until 3:30pm on Saturday. I feel for you. There are others within a few miles of me that have been told they may not have power until the weekend or next week. On one road they have to replace several miles of poles and re-wire from scratch.

I have a $600.00 5500watt generator wired to a $150 transfer switch that can handle 6 circuits. It's got an 8 or 10hp Briggs and Stratton engine and it's only shortcoming is it's noisy. My water pump (220 volt) takes 2 circuits. My propane hot water heater needs a little juice for a powervent fan. I also power my fridge, kitchen lights and a couple of outlets (coffee maker/microwave), living room lights and outlets (TV, SAT receiver, radio etc.), a light in the basement plugged into the transfer switch, and the squirrel cage blower for my woodstove. I also have a propane fireplace in a basement home theater room and we have a propane kitchen range. I plan to add the range into the mix. We can light burners with a match, but I'd like to be able to use the oven which requires juice for the igniter.

The transfer switch has 2 watt meters, one for each leg and I used that to balance the circuits. I had to switch a couple after first use and testing. The only serious draw is the water pump. When we are going draw water (and we can shower etc.) we shut most other things off.

The generator lives outside the house in a "rabbit hutch" kind of enclosure that is well vented and near the corner of the house where the main panel is located. I have a permanent heavy cable that has a plug at each end, male for the box installed on the generator and female for the plug on the transfer switch.

I've had this setup for nine years and have used it a dozen times, mostly shorter durations.

I do not run it while we are sleeping as the woodstove and gas fireplace heat the house. I ran it for approx twenty four hours and it used about 10 gallons of gas. Worth every penny.

• After 6 days with no power I wanna generator!, Noel, Wed, 17 Dec 2008 09:29:41
  • Re: After 6 days with no power I wanna generator!, jp498, Sun, 21 Dec 2008 19:29:12
  • Glad you have heat .... water?, SeeVTSaab, Fri, 19 Dec 2008 18:48:58
  • Please see my very detailed post below., Saabpilot , Wed, 17 Dec 2008 20:27:23
    • Thanks, got it., Noel, Thu, 18 Dec 2008 08:19:46
      • That would be my ultimate solution, SeeVTSaab, Sat, 20 Dec 2008 04:43:22
        • Re: That would be my ultimate solution, RMinNJ, Fri, 26 Dec 2008 09:51:12
  • Re: After 6 days with no power I wanna generator!, SteveJ, Wed, 17 Dec 2008 18:46:16
  • Ouch, turrbo , Wed, 17 Dec 2008 16:50:01
  • I've got one... longish..., Peter_UMA, Wed, 17 Dec 2008 09:58:55 <-- Viewing This Message
    • Thanks, Peter. That's about what I'll probably be doing, Noel, Thu, 18 Dec 2008 14:00:01
      • I work at UMASS, like several others on the board! n/m, Peter_UMA, Mon, 22 Dec 2008 07:48:39
    • Here are links to the generator and transfer switch.., Peter_UMA, Wed, 17 Dec 2008 10:29:59

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• Prev by Date: After 6 days with no power I wanna generator!, Noel, Wed, 17 Dec 2008 09:29:41
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