Save 5% at Vevor and Support Canadian Poncho!
Members Login
Username 
 
Password 
    Remember Me  
Canadian Poncho Homepage -> Canadian Poncho -> The Lounge -> Ready for the next power outage
Post Info TOPIC: Ready for the next power outage
Canadian Poncho


A Poncho Legend!

Status: Offline
Posts: 27455
Date:
Ready for the next power outage
Permalink  

Here in beautiful Ingersoll Ontario it doesn't take much for the power to go out. It seems a good wind or lighting strike is all it takes to shut us down for a few hours. The last outage was last summer and lasted about 15 hours. It's a real pain hooking up the generator with a bunch of extension cords (not to mention not the safest method). With a couple of 80-something year olds living with us we need to have power at all times. So, today I had an auxillary panel installed by my electrician, Tim (who occassionally logs on here). First he installed a 60 amp panel.
Generator 001.jpg

We moved 3 circuits from our main panel to this one.

Generator 002.jpg

The hard part is picking what circuits you wish to run during a power outage. We chose our furnace, fridge circuit, and the circuit that our microwave and kitchen light plugs into. For the rest of the house rechargable lights are fine (we can charge them on one of the generator operated outlets). The final circuit feeds the 60 amp panel to the granny flat.
Outside this outlet box was installed in which we plug in our generator using a HD cable:
Generator 003.jpg

The cable plugs in at the bottom:

Generator 004.jpg

When the power goes out here's what we do:

Turn off all the breakers in the new panel and the granny flat panel.
Turn on the generator and let it run for about 5 minutes.
We flip the top right breaker on the new panel. This breaker it attached to the breaker on the top left. Flipping it connects those circuits to the generator feed and disconnects them from the main feed (this eliminates the risk of line workers getting a shock from the generator back feeding)
Next, we turn on our breakers in the new panel- one at a time, pausing a short while before flipping on the next one (this prevents loading up the generator with excessive surges)
Next, we select 2 or 3 circuits in the granny flat and flip them on-again one at a time.

And that's it.  Our generator has 6500 surge watts and the outlet is only 30amps. We overbuilt our panel and wiring to accept a 60 amp generator in case I upgrade in the future. We fired up the generator and for kicks we had every breaker it fed turned on and we didn't have any problems- two fridges, and electric heater, a bunch of lights etc. Now we won't do this in practice but it is nice to know the system can handle a decent load.
Now all I need is a diesel generator and run it on veggie oil! Ya, I'm a geek.nerd.gif



__________________

Todd
Site Founder

Like us on Facebook. http://www.facebook.com/CanadianPoncho

Canadian Poncho World Headquarters - Prince Edward Island

 
59poncho


Poncho Master!

Status: Offline
Posts: 1921
Date:
Permalink  

thats a great system you have there, really good idea.

__________________
1959 El Poncho!!
Nov 18 to Dec 2 Black Friday UP TO 50% OFF Plus Huge Coupons
Nov 18 to Dec 2 Black Friday UP TO 50% OFF Plus Huge Coupons
unclebernie


Guru

Status: Offline
Posts: 962
Date:
Permalink  

Very nice Todd... you can never be too prepared!!!

__________________

John

1972 Pontiac Lemans (daughter's car) 
2005 Pontiac Grand Am
2004 Ford Explorer Sport Trac
57poncho


Uber Guru

Status: Offline
Posts: 3811
Date:
Permalink  

Good stuff Todd, but when the power goes out how will you get on here so you can remember how to start the system up.

__________________

1957 Pathfinder deluxe 4 door wagon
1961 Pontiac Parisienne bubble top Traded for a Harley sorry guys.

2007 Grand Prix Gxp

2009 Pontiac Montana SV6

Winnipeg MB 
Stephenzone


Canadian Poncho Superstar!

Status: Offline
Posts: 4770
Date:
Permalink  

after the big power outage a couple of years ago, i did something very similiar. is your panel the same as mine, mine has a double throw, one to take you off the grid and the second throw to connect to the generator. thats so it won't back feed and give someone a charge while they are working down the street. I went with a federal pioneer panel and the feed for the generator is out in the garage. same as yours 30 amp. for critical circuits i went with sump pumps (2 sumps, 2 circuits) well pump, furnace, hot water, big freezer in the basement and of course central air. i didn't worry about cooking because i have a BBQ on the back deck. my generator is also rated to 6500 watts. i have a 12 ft generator extension cord so i can wheel the generator out the back door and plug it into the receptacle and not have it running in the garage. the generator panel is fed off the main panel from a 30 amp breaker and has its own breaker, if anything its over kill but in the last couple of power failure we had no problems. i just think of it as insurance for peace of mind

__________________

sTevE

55 GMC, 70 Pontiac 2+2 rag
4SPEED427


A Poncho Legend!

Status: Offline
Posts: 50241
Date:
Permalink  

I never ever thought about this stuff until we bought our off grid cottage. Now I'm so hooked on solar power, generators etc it's pathetic!

As you guys likely know, we are spoiled here with cheap reliable power. It's seldom we are out so I don't really worry about it but last year during the flood I was all ready here with generators and solar waiting in the wings.

I guess I should do some test runs some time to get the bugs out of it!

Todd, if you lived in Manitoba people would likely laugh at your over preparedness! However, I sat in on a solar seminar for Ontario cottage owners a couple of weeks ago and people talk about Hydro One a lot different than Manitoba Hydro.

__________________

1966 Strato Chief 2 door, 427 4 speed, 45,000 original miles 

1966 Grande Parisienne, 396 1 of 23 factory air cars (now converted to a "factory" 4 speed)
CDN2PLS2


Uber Guru

Status: Offline
Posts: 3157
Date:
Permalink  

80 year olds are probably more used to being without power than we are.

__________________
Nov 18 to Dec 2 Black Friday UP TO 50% OFF Plus Huge Coupons
Nov 18 to Dec 2 Black Friday UP TO 50% OFF Plus Huge Coupons
Canadian Poncho


A Poncho Legend!

Status: Offline
Posts: 27455
Date:
Permalink  

Ya, but it doesn't take long for them to get cold in the winter. Connie's mom is pretty much bed ridden now and we need power to operate the bed.

__________________

Todd
Site Founder

Like us on Facebook. http://www.facebook.com/CanadianPoncho

Canadian Poncho World Headquarters - Prince Edward Island

 
Pontiacanada


A Poncho Legend!

Status: Offline
Posts: 20742
Date:
Permalink  

Stephenzone wrote:

after the big power outage a couple of years ago, i did something very similiar. is your panel the same as mine, mine has a double throw, one to take you off the grid and the second throw to connect to the generator. thats so it won't back feed and give someone a charge while they are working down the street. I went with a federal pioneer panel and the feed for the generator is out in the garage. same as yours 30 amp. for critical circuits i went with sump pumps (2 sumps, 2 circuits) well pump, furnace, hot water, big freezer in the basement and of course central air. i didn't worry about cooking because i have a BBQ on the back deck. my generator is also rated to 6500 watts. i have a 12 ft generator extension cord so i can wheel the generator out the back door and plug it into the receptacle and not have it running in the garage. the generator panel is fed off the main panel from a 30 amp breaker and has its own breaker, if anything its over kill but in the last couple of power failure we had no problems. i just think of it as insurance for peace of mind


I pretty well have the same rig.
We need it here on the Island.
We had (2) 5-day outtages here a couple winters ago.

 



__________________

Prince Edward Island

'64 Parisienne CS "barn find" - last on the road in '86 ... Owner Protection Plan booklet, original paint, original near-mint aqua interior, original aqua GM floor mats, original 283, factory posi, and original rust.

Canadian Poncho


A Poncho Legend!

Status: Offline
Posts: 27455
Date:
Permalink  

I found a site that offeres natural gas and propane conversions for generators. Sounds like the way to go. They have tri fuel kits so you can run between the 3:

propane-generators.com



__________________

Todd
Site Founder

Like us on Facebook. http://www.facebook.com/CanadianPoncho

Canadian Poncho World Headquarters - Prince Edward Island

 
66 Grande guy


Canadian Poncho Superstar!

Status: Offline
Posts: 4900
Date:
Permalink  

Wow you guys are really prepared.  I got a wood stove, a coleman lantern and a couple of cases of KD!



__________________

ken from northern Alberta

38 Willys pickup electric

39 Buick (327 with 700 r4)

66 Beaumont 4 door hardtop

69 Chevy CST pickup

1976 GMC 23'  motorhome

1994 Impala SS 

1968 Citroen Fourgonnette (Yeah Carl!)
87 player bird


Poncho Master!

Status: Offline
Posts: 2050
Date:
Permalink  

I have all the parts to do mine, now I just gotta get around to doing it! But what about the t.v? Playoffs are still going? Oh yeah....... GO HABS GO!

__________________
Nov 18 to Dec 2 Black Friday UP TO 50% OFF Plus Huge Coupons
Nov 18 to Dec 2 Black Friday UP TO 50% OFF Plus Huge Coupons
davelacourse


Poncho Master!

Status: Offline
Posts: 2249
Date:
Permalink  

Same situation here in SW Florida, during the summer thunderstorm season we have power outages almost every day. Usually less than an hour, so not really bothersome. After Hurricane Charley in 2004 we were without power, in August (hottest most humid time of year) for 4 days, we were fortunate that a friend had his power restored in one day and he lent us his generator, we have 220v well pump so we alternated powering (1) the well so we could have water and (2) refrigerator and microwave so we could eat (supplemented by charcoal grille). Electric lanterns for light. No sense powering the TV because they were off the air too.

Survivable but man it was tough sleeping at night without A/C. Generator could not power A/C and we did not even try to power stove. I keep delaying buying a generator because (1) historically hurricanes in our part of the state are rare (Key West and the eastern coast are much more likely, if they come in the Gulf of Mexico they typically go north and/or west to Mississippi or Texas) and (2) just one more large equipment to store and maintain. But I know a few who have done what you did and they are very happy with the result. Hope yours works well for you!

Dave

__________________

56Pontiac  1956 Pontiac Pathfinder 2dr sedan, 496 - dyno'd 545 hp, stick shift, 4.11 posi - Hot Rod

  1964 Acadian Beaumont SD convert, 283 - factory 195 hp, Powerglide, 3.08 10-bolt - Cruiser

  2012 US-built crew cab truck - Daily Driver and Boat Trailering
Pontiacanada


A Poncho Legend!

Status: Offline
Posts: 20742
Date:
Permalink  

69Laurentian wrote:

I found a site that offeres natural gas and propane conversions for generators. Sounds like the way to go. They have tri fuel kits so you can run between the 3:

propane-generators.com


Bob, 67 Heaven, was talking about these. It kicks in automatically in the case of an outtage.

http://canadianponcho.activeboard.com/index.spark?aBID=118110&p=3&topicID=25307753

 



__________________

Prince Edward Island

'64 Parisienne CS "barn find" - last on the road in '86 ... Owner Protection Plan booklet, original paint, original near-mint aqua interior, original aqua GM floor mats, original 283, factory posi, and original rust.

Canadian Poncho


A Poncho Legend!

Status: Offline
Posts: 27455
Date:
Permalink  

I've seen those- about 5 grand. This website makes carb adapters for your portable gas powered generator. About 200 bucks. Get a quick disconnect and some hose and you plug in during a power outage and away you go. I have heard that engines run hot on natural gas so have to investigate further.

__________________

Todd
Site Founder

Like us on Facebook. http://www.facebook.com/CanadianPoncho

Canadian Poncho World Headquarters - Prince Edward Island

 
427carl


A Poncho Legend!

Status: Offline
Posts: 35601
Date:
Permalink  

We keep the Strato Chief fueled up!    If the hydro goes out,  we just live in it!!  the trunk holds 2 adults..

__________________

 
unclebernie


Guru

Status: Offline
Posts: 962
Date:
Permalink  

TSC carries the GENERAC models.... run on propane or natural gas. All automatic, power goes off it fires and switches automatically, also self tests once a week I believe. We had one installed at work about 3 yrs ago, and it seems ok, although power has never been out during the day long enough to do a long run. I think it is a 4cyl engine in it. Pricey though.....

__________________

John

1972 Pontiac Lemans (daughter's car) 
2005 Pontiac Grand Am
2004 Ford Explorer Sport Trac
Page 1 of 1  sorted by
 
Quick Reply

Please log in to post quick replies.
Canadian Poncho Homepage -> Canadian Poncho -> The Lounge -> Ready for the next power outage
Tweet this page Post to Digg Post to Del.icio.us
.
Support Canadian Poncho!
Select Amount:
<
.
.
.