A Week Off the Grid: Lessons learned

Thanks to Hurricane Francis, we recently (involuntarily) spent 7 days
disconnected from the South Florida power grid. Even though we were far more
prepared than our neighbors, it was an uncomfortable experience but we learned a
bunch.

Our Equipment: Coleman Fluorescent lanterns, Cheap battery TV, 90 watt PV
system with 4 batteries and 12 V. yard lights, 3KW Onan CCK with 220# of fuel,
350 watt Honda "lunchbox" genny, 1.5 KW SPS/inverter, Power transfer panel.

What worked:
1) The PV system: The yard lights confused our neighbors who were convinced we
still had juice. I had made a portable 12V. distribution panel which was handy
for running the little TV, one Colman lantern, and for recharging the cell phone
off of the PV system.

2) The Coleman lanterns: I can't say enough good about these things. They will
run off of internal lantern batteries, "D" batteries via supplied adapters, or
12 V. via the available cigarette adapter. If you use it on low, you get
whole-room light that you can read by, and it will last on internal batteries
for 30 hours! It would run off of my PV system forever.

3) The Honda 350 watt genny: I have almost given this thing away several times
because it is too small to run the two things we want most; our 'frig and our
AC. It was the only thing that worked and it sipped fuel! On a couple of
quarts of fuel, it would run a fan in our bedroom all night. We also used it
for very limited whole-house power by running a battery charger to the PV system
and powering the transfer panel with the inverter.

What did not work:

My beloved 30-year-old Onan CCK! First, I was appalled by the fuel
consumption. It only gave me about 3 hours on a 20# tank, which implies that my
220# supply was only good for a couple days. But that mattered little because
the thing quit on the second day. It was ignition trouble, and I can only blame
myself for inadequate maintenance and not having spare points on hand. I have
known that Onan since it was just a baby, and I don't remember the points cover
ever being open.


I have ordered parts for the Onan, but I think it is time to move up to
something like a Honda EU-3000 and perhaps add a dual fuel kit.


Lessons learned:

1) Maintain your genny! Think about dual (or even triple) fuel systems. I
love LP gas because it does not go bad in storage, but you can't expect to
easily buy more after a disaster. Gasoline may be in short supply, but efforts
will be made to make it available within a very few days after a disaster and I
found myself wishing that my CCK was equipped to use it. I also found myself
looking longingly at my Natural gas meter. What size genny could I run on my
little 1/2" gas service? Again, you can't count on the NG system being up after
a disaster, but if it is, you will not run out of fuel.

2) Buy fluorescent lanterns!

3) Get a battery TV. They can be found for less than $20.00 and will run off of
internal batteries, 12 V. or 120 VAC. I don't know how they do it for that
price.

4) We have already bought a 3 cubic foot 'frig that should run off of the
Honda lunchbox.

5) Ice is not available for chest coolers after (or before) a hurricane. We
have two 5-gal water coolers and my plan was to fill them up with ice before the
event, all of the ice disappeared several day before the 'cane and none is yet
to be found. I understand FEMA grabs all of it that is available for free
distribution. "Free" distribution means that you must use your scarce gas to
drive out to the fairgrounds, and stand in line for hours to finally be handed
two bags of ice. Gotta be a better way.

6) Freeze gallon water jugs in your freezer several days before the event. It
will give you a couple days of cool and then you can drink the water. Don't
forget to freeze some milk.


Any ideas?
Vaughn

Just what exactly does this have to do with Soaring?


"Vaughn" wrote:

Thanks to Hurricane Francis, we recently (involuntarily) spent 7 days
disconnected from the South Florida power grid. Even though we were far more
prepared than our neighbors, it was an uncomfortable experience but we learned a
bunch.

Our Equipment: Coleman Fluorescent lanterns, Cheap battery TV, 90 watt PV
system with 4 batteries and 12 V. yard lights, 3KW Onan CCK with 220# of fuel,
350 watt Honda "lunchbox" genny, 1.5 KW SPS/inverter, Power transfer panel.

What worked:
1) The PV system: The yard lights confused our neighbors who were convinced we
still had juice. I had made a portable 12V. distribution panel which was handy
for running the little TV, one Colman lantern, and for recharging the cell phone
off of the PV system.

2) The Coleman lanterns: I can't say enough good about these things. They will
run off of internal lantern batteries, "D" batteries via supplied adapters, or
12 V. via the available cigarette adapter. If you use it on low, you get
whole-room light that you can read by, and it will last on internal batteries
for 30 hours! It would run off of my PV system forever.

3) The Honda 350 watt genny: I have almost given this thing away several times
because it is too small to run the two things we want most; our 'frig and our
AC. It was the only thing that worked and it sipped fuel! On a couple of
quarts of fuel, it would run a fan in our bedroom all night. We also used it
for very limited whole-house power by running a battery charger to the PV system
and powering the transfer panel with the inverter.

What did not work:

My beloved 30-year-old Onan CCK! First, I was appalled by the fuel
consumption. It only gave me about 3 hours on a 20# tank, which implies that my
220# supply was only good for a couple days. But that mattered little because
the thing quit on the second day. It was ignition trouble, and I can only blame
myself for inadequate maintenance and not having spare points on hand. I have
known that Onan since it was just a baby, and I don't remember the points cover
ever being open.


I have ordered parts for the Onan, but I think it is time to move up to
something like a Honda EU-3000 and perhaps add a dual fuel kit.


Lessons learned:

1) Maintain your genny! Think about dual (or even triple) fuel systems. I
love LP gas because it does not go bad in storage, but you can't expect to
easily buy more after a disaster. Gasoline may be in short supply, but efforts
will be made to make it available within a very few days after a disaster and I
found myself wishing that my CCK was equipped to use it. I also found myself
looking longingly at my Natural gas meter. What size genny could I run on my
little 1/2" gas service? Again, you can't count on the NG system being up after
a disaster, but if it is, you will not run out of fuel.

2) Buy fluorescent lanterns!

3) Get a battery TV. They can be found for less than $20.00 and will run off of
internal batteries, 12 V. or 120 VAC. I don't know how they do it for that
price.

4) We have already bought a 3 cubic foot 'frig that should run off of the
Honda lunchbox.

5) Ice is not available for chest coolers after (or before) a hurricane. We
have two 5-gal water coolers and my plan was to fill them up with ice before the
event, all of the ice disappeared several day before the 'cane and none is yet
to be found. I understand FEMA grabs all of it that is available for free
distribution. "Free" distribution means that you must use your scarce gas to
drive out to the fairgrounds, and stand in line for hours to finally be handed
two bags of ice. Gotta be a better way.

6) Freeze gallon water jugs in your freezer several days before the event. It
will give you a couple days of cool and then you can drink the water. Don't
forget to freeze some milk.


Any ideas?
Vaughn

Redtail wrote in message ...
Just what exactly does this have to do with Soaring?

Exactly nothing, accidentally posted to wrong group. Sorry if I ruined
your day Red.

Vaughn

Vaughn,

Glad you made it through! I lived many years in eastern NC and had a
chance to go through several storms. None of them were as strong as
either Charley, Frances, or the looming Ivan.

The soaring community is connected in many ways. RAS is one of them.
I, for one, am happy to here a report that a member of our community
came through the storms OK.

Doug



"Vaughn" wrote in message ...
Redtail wrote in message ...
Just what exactly does this have to do with Soaring?

Exactly nothing, accidentally posted to wrong group. Sorry if I ruined
your day Red.

Vaughn

Vaughn,

Interesting commentary on a tough situation, but what's a PV and a CCK?

Dave

Vaughn wrote:
Thanks to Hurricane Francis, we recently (involuntarily) spent 7 days
disconnected from the South Florida power grid. Even though we were far more
prepared than our neighbors, it was an uncomfortable experience but we learned a
bunch.

Our Equipment: Coleman Fluorescent lanterns, Cheap battery TV, 90 watt PV
system with 4 batteries and 12 V. yard lights, 3KW Onan CCK with 220# of fuel,
350 watt Honda "lunchbox" genny, 1.5 KW SPS/inverter, Power transfer panel.

What worked:
1) The PV system: The yard lights confused our neighbors who were convinced we
still had juice. I had made a portable 12V. distribution panel which was handy
for running the little TV, one Colman lantern, and for recharging the cell phone
off of the PV system.

2) The Coleman lanterns: I can't say enough good about these things. They will
run off of internal lantern batteries, "D" batteries via supplied adapters, or
12 V. via the available cigarette adapter. If you use it on low, you get
whole-room light that you can read by, and it will last on internal batteries
for 30 hours! It would run off of my PV system forever.

3) The Honda 350 watt genny: I have almost given this thing away several times
because it is too small to run the two things we want most; our 'frig and our
AC. It was the only thing that worked and it sipped fuel! On a couple of
quarts of fuel, it would run a fan in our bedroom all night. We also used it
for very limited whole-house power by running a battery charger to the PV system
and powering the transfer panel with the inverter.

What did not work:

My beloved 30-year-old Onan CCK! First, I was appalled by the fuel
consumption. It only gave me about 3 hours on a 20# tank, which implies that my
220# supply was only good for a couple days. But that mattered little because
the thing quit on the second day. It was ignition trouble, and I can only blame
myself for inadequate maintenance and not having spare points on hand. I have
known that Onan since it was just a baby, and I don't remember the points cover
ever being open.


I have ordered parts for the Onan, but I think it is time to move up to
something like a Honda EU-3000 and perhaps add a dual fuel kit.


Lessons learned:

1) Maintain your genny! Think about dual (or even triple) fuel systems. I
love LP gas because it does not go bad in storage, but you can't expect to
easily buy more after a disaster. Gasoline may be in short supply, but efforts
will be made to make it available within a very few days after a disaster and I
found myself wishing that my CCK was equipped to use it. I also found myself
looking longingly at my Natural gas meter. What size genny could I run on my
little 1/2" gas service? Again, you can't count on the NG system being up after
a disaster, but if it is, you will not run out of fuel.

2) Buy fluorescent lanterns!

3) Get a battery TV. They can be found for less than $20.00 and will run off of
internal batteries, 12 V. or 120 VAC. I don't know how they do it for that
price.

4) We have already bought a 3 cubic foot 'frig that should run off of the
Honda lunchbox.

5) Ice is not available for chest coolers after (or before) a hurricane. We
have two 5-gal water coolers and my plan was to fill them up with ice before the
event, all of the ice disappeared several day before the 'cane and none is yet
to be found. I understand FEMA grabs all of it that is available for free
distribution. "Free" distribution means that you must use your scarce gas to
drive out to the fairgrounds, and stand in line for hours to finally be handed
two bags of ice. Gotta be a better way.

6) Freeze gallon water jugs in your freezer several days before the event. It
will give you a couple days of cool and then you can drink the water. Don't
forget to freeze some milk.


Any ideas?
Vaughn

David Walsh wrote in message m...
Vaughn,

Interesting commentary on a tough situation, but what's a PV and a CCK?


i was curious to know if you were useing the "#" character for pound
or gallon of gas. I've never seen that before.

Also what newsgroup did you intend to post that to?

Chris
Currently visiting the beach between Panama City and Destin - target
zone for Ivan.