Are you ready, for possible power outages lasting extended periods?

[MoiraView]

I'm installing a 6500kw this winter for back up pwr. It has a 30 amp 220 feed cable that will run the well pump and some 15 amp breakers. Should give me what I need for back-up for a day or two till I run out of gas.

A hick-up is in doing a whole house set-up is the legal requirements as set out by Hydro. You have to use a CSA approved Transfer Switch to mechanically isolate the gen input feed from the Hydro feed. And most of them max out at 30 amp, but I understand some come in 40 amp.

A 30 amp restricts you to one 220v cct and x4 120v ccts.

I looked into the GenerLink setup which can be bought for around $1k and another $400 to have it installed professionally. AND even they still limit you to 30/40amps..so you have to throw a few CCT in the panel.

I didn't look into a truly 'whole' house back up system (200 amp), I imagine they're available at some horrendous cost.

I should have bought that 35KW Diesel gen I saw at an auction a few yrs back HaHa.

You might be better off just getting an electrician to install a switch and hookup at your meter and feed your existing breaker panel if you get a big enough generator. My meter is at the bottom of the transformer pole, they just put a switch box at the top of the pole with a handle and a plug in at the bottom. It was around $500 4 years ago for a 1000 amp service

[73hunter]

Mark, that’s an impressive setup, but wow that’s a big thirsty generator to have for long outages? I chose to have a smaller generator (3000W) and in a long outage plan on rotating appliances/furnace so that I use all the power it is making, but to each their own. I keep around 80L of SeaFoam treated gas and in March I also purchased a Briggs 2000W inverter. I always figure that re-filling gas cans at the same time as everyone else is going to be a problem, so I am only planning on running a genny off and on.

Last fall I was able to run a space heater (1200-1500W), our fridge and furnace, and a few lights with my cheapie $300 Champion.

Good week to post this - some people in our area just got power back last night after being out since Sunday.

[73hunter]

A few people I know need power to run sewage lift pumps, for the whole house not just basement bathrooms, and don’t have generators or a care in the world....“can’t afford one, but I’m off to Cuba next month......”

Makes ya wonder

[Fisherman]

A few people I know need power to run sewage lift pumps, for the whole house not just basement bathrooms, and don’t have generators or a care in the world....“can’t afford one, but I’m off to Cuba next month......”

Makes ya wonder

Yup, priority problem and then they cry when the bowls full and I don't mean cherioos.