Generators- Choosing, Investing, and Just Those Who Love 'Em

Another alternative to a portable or whole home generator is solar with a battery backup. There are pros and cons to this. The cons are possible damage to the solar panels if something falls on the roof and more expensive to install. The pros would be silent operation, never have to worry about gas shortages or storage, little to no maintanence, no CO worries, and a vastly cheaper electric bill, which would allow for an eventual return on investment.

We're likely going to be grabbing a portable in the near future since we don't plan on staying in this house long term, but I'm going to be looking very closely at getting solar installed at our next home.

Anyone have experience with propane whole house generators? Don’t need top of the line - would be nice for water, lights, ceiling fans and refrigerator.

Otherwise, will look into some other possibilities. 
Thanks.

Propane is a better and more consistent BTU product than NG. Great generator fuel if it is set up for that. You need to have an evaluation of how large your propane storage tank is and the fuel burn per hour etc. Consider a nice propane portable and you’ll save lots of fuel and can still have everything but central AC. Just use 1 or 2 window units. The fuel storage capacity is key. I didn’t calculate my whole house consumption yet but it was about $20-25 per day natural gas. Hope this helps.

We were using a natural gas powered 12,000watt generator my inlaws gave to us about 12 years ago and they had it for years before that. It finally went out, then we used a gasoline powered unit that was 6000watt. If we stay in this house, we'll probably buy at least a 22000 generator. We have a switch that was installed by the previous owner who was an electrician. All I can say is whoever invented the generator should be nominated for sainthood.

Luv u and tequila shortly but:

  A few storm related deaths due to persistent ignorance, although sad, are not a generators fault and I bet any fire was either a “hot” gas fill or some other non code mistake.
  If you are in the medical field, large scale evacuations kill many elderly and and convalescents besides the evacuation car deaths and injuries. Like it or not, COVID is also right 
there in the mix. That’s just a few examples. I didn’t quit driving because people die everyday in cars. MUCH more danger than any generator. It may have changed since I last
read this but every American has a 1 in 80 lifetime chance of being killed in a car wreck over a lifetime.

None of us run a generator during the storm event  until it is safe to go outside and check wiring, water, or any other danger. Everyone of our generator houses have good sized fire extinguishers or I don’t hook u up. We have never had anything close to a safety related generator problem. All connections and startups are done with two people assuring two sets of eyes.

Again, I see NO difference between the gas used to flee and feel safe and comfortable compared to the generator gas used to stay with comfort and safety. That argument to me is a strange
rabbit hole. The perception I get sometimes is those who stay are irresponsible and daring. Grand Isle, lower Jefferson, Terrebone, Lafourche…get the hell out with a storm like Ida unless you live or have access to a known safe place. But you have the right to do whatever regardless of who thinks what. I’m not a fan of exposing young children to these major events though. 
I have more but use 6 five gallon cans for airplane fuel then stored car gas during the season. They were empty and I just never got motivated to fill them. The car and truck were topped off.
So about three days after the storm I get a call from my one of my good friends on the forum. His brother and mid nineties mother had stayed, were hot and exhausted and he had less than a1/2 tank of gas in the car.What???? I could not believe it but one can in the stored row had 5 gallons! They grabbed it and headed west. In a bad situation everybody use as much gas as u need for whatever. How can somebody say I have the right to that five or 100 gallons at the pump and u don’t???

Almost every small generator will run refrigerator , tv, lights, and 1 window unit. Your bigger ones will do all that plus a second window or large rolling indoor unit. The #1 reason anybody in the SE gets generators is for AC. They work perfectly when coupled with an appropriate generator. I’m using my portable in that configuration and less on the whole house as it’s NG cheaper
and we cool what is only necessary.

Again, the reason I learn and have my work done or checked by an electrician. Aluminum wire is a great choice for the longer standby and portable wire runs. It’s way less per foot than the now ridiculous price of copper. It does have some specific requirements though like torque values. A few of us have saved a bunch using aluminum. Totally to code although I do not know much about it or other limitations. Aluminum wiring is a great affordable option in some setups.

Only things I’ve heard of is one persons house burned down when the power was turned on, one person said different outlets were doing weird stuff (like a fan would work on medium but not low or high but when they put it in a different plug all 3 speeds worked) and a few transformer fires when turned on.

Making me think more about the grid coming up besides generators. I wonder how many fires were attributed to reenergizing in affected areas?