Simple Backup versus Triple Redundancy

[Tom T]

A wide place in the road called Colton. Tom T

[BioHazard]

Wow, I'm surprised there are so many people from the NW here. I was going to make a comment about how mild our weather is, but then it snowed....

I'm in Newberg.

[Tom T]

It is very milld compaird to Hell or the antarctica. Tom T

[SHIPCHIEF]

Wow!!
Kindred spirits all.
I feel like it's already been said. I liked veggies comment: "People look at you funny until the crap hits the fan. Then you're a genius"
with a little twist, I'd say:   People look at you funny until the crap hits the fan. Then you have visitors!
The power finally went out after a couple of years...just as we were going to bed, then it came back on at midnight. I hardly had to reset the digital clocks it was so close. 
Like Biohazard, I just love generators. Maybe because I'm a marine engineer, and run them at work all the time. It just seems right, so I have a few.
The first was a 1000 watt Honda about 1980. They look so quaint now. Then I met George B, and had to have an Ashwamegh 25/2, then a 5Kw Onan CCK was a gift, then a 4Kw CCK from a derelict Dodge motorhome, then a 6.5 Onan NH. Then the big score, a genuine Lister SR2 with LIMA 10KVA 12 wire on a "Long Run" base with 10 gallon oil sump. Being a certified Onan nut, I had to have a 5Kw CCK with 240/120, so I got a 'project' that doesn't run  to enjoy. I'm looking for a natural gas version, or at least the 'High Compression' heads. the CCK gas engine is 5.5:1
The pantry is stuffed with food, chains for all the cars & trucks, spare antifreeze in case one of the kids comes begging at the last minute. Lots of fire wood, plenty of diesel fuel gasoline and propane. Heck, even candles.
I will confess one failing: I only have one chainsaw! Have to do something about that one...

[rl71459]

Tractor Supply is having a black friday Genny sale.... This might be the begining of my Triple Redundancy Syndrome (TRS)

[veggie]

SHIPCHIEF,

Did I count correctly....you have 7 generators ?
That goes way beyond redundancy backup precautions.
When the power goes out in your area and the neighbors come around, you can hand out generators like candy on Halloween 

veggie

[SteveU.]

Ha! Ha! My chirstmas tree joke about just having to have enough chainsaws to have at least ONE that would start Anytime. Anywhere had a serious side: Freezing rain storms!!
Unlike Aliens, Meteors, arial Asian attacks from the air (Japanese balloons, NKorean "get our attention" nuke rockets off of a fishing trawler) freezing rain storms DO happen every single year somewhere here in the PNW.
Been trapped up in hunting camp with ice downed fir trees and ain't noboby 'gonna come and get you soon. Have to cut your way out to get home.
Been trapped at home needing to go to town for medication for a neighbor, or go fetch a caregiver to shift change out for a bed bound person. Had to cut my way there and back.
Been in our own yard with split apple trees limbs down across the grid lead in wires and the power company refusing to refuse and restore power until I cut free the lead wires clear - that's happened twice.
Came home to find these same old apple trees, leaf and fruit weight split down on one of the cars - that happened twice too.
Yes these two "Great Grandma planted" beloved heritage trees are finally gone now and this house's  in lead-in wires are now underground too.

Point is when you live in a land of trees you do need as quick and efficient way to cut yourself to safety OR be very dependent on the kindness of strangers. I much prefer to be the asked than the one having to be doing the asking.

Regards
Wasuington State Steve Unruh

[SHIPCHIEF]

Veggie;
Well, 6.
The ex has the Honda 1000, and she can't get it started. 
I do have the Onan 6.5 NH on an enclosed trailer with a big 50 amp plug on a long lead. I could tow it over to someone's house and power it up for them.
My 82 year old mom didn't want one last time, she rather enjoyed herself, 'camping in' with butane stove, candles etc. I guess the apple don't fall far from the tree. 
My brother in law & his crew came by during that last big power outage with groceries, in trade for nice hot showers and a chance to get comfortable. The storm blew out some windows as well as no electricity, so they had it pretty grim with the snow and all. I can power them up now.
The 4Kw onan CCK is at my property, it powers lights, hand tools and a wire feed welder. I built a cart on casters for it, and is much easier to play with than imbedded in a motorhome. These are not very portable, but do have advantages. I'd say they are 'movable'. The Lister and Listeroid are stationary.
The 5Kw Onan CCKs; the 120 volt one is on an old riding mower chassis. That was my first try at a movable generator. everything was free, but the mower chassis idea is too cludgy. The new (to me) 240/120 5Kw CCK was picked up as a non running, but promising project from a yard sale. I looks good, and low hours but had some accessories removed for some reason. They came with it, but some assembly is required. It came with some kind of story and excuses....so I made a low offer and now it's mine. This one is getting bigger wheels, so it won't sink into gravel or grass like the 4Kw unit's casters do. Maybe th CCK on the mower chassis makes more sense here with it's big tires.
As for chain saws in the Pacific Nothwet, Steve, you are so right. I just have one, a Stihl MS290 Farmboss. I get a call from my brother in Spanaway after each big storm to cut away fallen fir trees. This year it was only one tree, but it's still free firewood of the first order.
I don't need as much fire wood sinse I removed the 1970's vintage fireplace and replaced it with a Quadrafire unit. They are made in Coleville WA and meet our strict emissions regs....and are more efficient too. I use about 1/3 of the wood I previously used with the old firebox.

[mobile_bob]

those motorhome gensets are handy as a pocket on a shirt, usually built very well too.

i bought one a few years ago, that i mentioned earlier in the thread,

it is powered by a 16hp castiron kohler, that is attached to the 4kwatt genhead that has the
double duty of starting motor and generator all in one, it runs at 1800rpm

i couldn't pass it up, it was brand new, never had oil put in it, and the only run time was at the factory
it came with the muffler kit still in the cardboard box, all clamps, hangers and tubing. came with the manuals
everything... 1973 model all for 650bucks

granted it likely is not the most efficient being a flathead gasser, but as far as my experience goes the kohler
cast iron engine's are about the most bullet proof single cylinder gas engine's ever conceived by man.

i see lots of the cck gensets come up with low hours, from 200 bucks up to about 750 on craigslist, as far as i can
tell those too are a steal at these prices.

no "mad max" preparation  scenario is complete without at least one of these units in my opinion.

at least one!



bob g

[SHIPCHIEF]

That's right Bob;
When I put the Onan 4Kw to work, I was pleased how little fuel it used.
With the adjustable main jet, I run it pretty lean for light loads. With the wire feed welder, I have to richen it up until I can smell the exhaust, then it can handle the starting surge of the welder. That's what I meant about not being in a motorhome. I can fiddle with the mixture and the governor, or easily change a plug.
I used to have a 4Kw Kohler single, it powered my old place for 6 days in 1993(?). I gave it away when I moved. The last time I saw it, well it had sat too long. These things need to be used every now and then to keep them in good shape. I would get another if one comes my way. Although I would prefer the electric start version, that 16 HP was a bit tough to start with the recoil starter (probably due to the neglect..that's why it was free to me)
Bob, I mentally Mad Max on the 'Thunderdome' model, with methane, because the producer gas systems seem so difficult to make work. So I keep an eye out for a natural gas fueled Onan or Kohler.

[SteveU.]

Hey Shipchief
You are SO-O-O right about your Quadrafire wood stove endorsement.
Since 1995 in our old farmhouse I've gone through the previous 70's plate steel no-name black box stove, two different sized new certified cast iron Jotuls until I tried my first Quadrafire. Amazing difference in efficiency and controllability. Down from 8-10 cord a year to 8-6 with the Jotuls to 6-4 cord a year now. (Ha! Ha! NOT global warming benifit! Winters here are trending back to colder/wetter/longer.)
My lessons learned was Any visible chimney smoke is just wasted unrealized heating dollars floating away.
Pulled the old 80's cast iron Amity out of the folkes place, now a rental for a Quadrafire two years ago and saw the same savings. Now gone from having to clean that chimney three times a year to just once a year.
Regards
SteveU.