"Frankenstorm" on the way east coast!!!

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I have wires running to my neighbors to keep his fridge cold, and I ran another line to fire up the heat in another neighbors house for a few hours. We're are kind of the local hub since we have x box and tv so the kids have been several times visiting. Neighbors come by with fuel and have happily ponied up. Sorta worried about thieves and the genny, so I lit the bakyrd with christmas lights. Low draw and good light. Looks kinda weird but hey.


Nice to hear you're helping out your neighbors. Don't hear enough of things like this in the news.
 
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These time bring out the best in people and sometimes the worst. We were lucky here in Pa.
 
Ive been without power since 6pm monday, trees and limbs down EVERWHERE!!... the pellet stove has been running nonstop off a 700 watt inverter coming off two (2) marine batteries, coming off jumper cables going to my truck (so essentially (3) battereis total), with a volt meter to monitor. When the batteries get down to 11.9 volts I go start the truck for 20 mins,.. seem to get a 'good' 4 hrs out of a 20 min charge. I have a 4000 watt genny running the well pump, frig, lights, and coffee maker (whoa, that coffee maker draws some juice!!)..... the only thing I dont have is a hot shower!
Pellet stove once it's going uses like under 100 watts, why all the hassle with batteries and charging every 4 hrs when you got power man??, mine uses 75 watts when the auger turns and down to 60 watts from both blowers.
 
Gas supply is becoming an issue but I have over 35 gallons on hand just for the genny. Hopefully that is enough to get through. Every day I go out and refill, ala mad max to make sure I have as much as I can hold. Half the stations I passed today were out of fuel and the ones that did had long lines. I don't have anything better to do, so I wait.
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This is a major problem... I got a call from a friend who is having the same problem... He is considering siphoning his car.. Which is a good idea.. But a better idea is for people to learn from this and during "preparations" is to have a week supply of gasoline for the generator... You can always use the gasoline that you didn't use to dump into your var after the storm, but at least you would be prepared for the lack of gas... We had the same problem after snowtober last year.
 
Generators are like any gas consuming device they burn it while running and there really is no need to run a generator 24/7 during a power outage, those auto timed coffee makers (and a lot of other things) need to be forgotten about when stuff hits the fan.

Running the house here takes a average of 20KwH/day during our prime usage month that is canning season in full swing so on average that means about 4 hrs of running the 5000 watt genny . There is no way we would can during a power outage and cooking goes from the electric range to the gas grill and microwave. Heating if needed goes to the dino juice burnner.

We maintain a full genny tank, and 15 gallons in cans, and top off the car and that gets parked in the garage and is our emergency emergency gas supply from which we would only siphon 10 gallons from for the genny. That keeps all area hospitals and one boatload of gas stations well within remaining gas range.
 
Pellet stove once it's going uses like under 100 watts, why all the hassle with batteries and charging every 4 hrs when you got power man??, mine uses 75 watts when the auger turns and down to 60 watts from both blowers.
Batteries = less hassle and noise from the genny,... I only run the genny for short spurts when I need it,.. the pellet stove can run 24hrs off the batteries with just an occasional start of the truck,,... very simple with no noisy genny blaring away all night.
 
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I'M BAAAAACK! Power finally just came back on at about 10:30 am today (out for 60 hrs total). Installing the whole house generator was one of THE best things I did back in '05. Now I can give it an oil change and adjust the valves.

Internet had been out the whole time though (Time Warner uses local line power to run the system here)......I went through Hearth.com withdrawal symptoms for about a day.....LOL.

Otherwise, everything is OK.....lots of branches down, clean-up work to be done. Pellet stove ran off generator power without a issue the whole time.
 
Curious how you would siphon the gas from the car. All new vehicles have anti-siphon devices in the filler tubes. I have found no easy way of doing it other than taking the filler neck clamps off and removing the rubber hose that attaches my filler tube to the tank (at least on my truck) which gives direct access to the tank.
Generators are like any gas consuming device they burn it while running and there really is no need to run a generator 24/7 during a power outage, those auto timed coffee makers (and a lot of other things) need to be forgotten about when stuff hits the fan.

Running the house here takes a average of 20KwH/day during our prime usage month that is canning season in full swing so on average that means about 4 hrs of running the 5000 watt genny . There is no way we would can during a power outage and cooking goes from the electric range to the gas grill and microwave. Heating if needed goes to the dino juice burnner.

We maintain a full genny tank, and 15 gallons in cans, and top off the car and that gets parked in the garage and is our emergency emergency gas supply from which we would only siphon 10 gallons from for the genny. That keeps all area hospitals and one boatload of gas stations well within remaining gas range.
 
I'M BAAAAACK! Power finally just came back on at about 10:30 am today (out for 60 hrs total). Installing the whole house generator was one of THE best things I did back in '05. Now I can give it an oil change and adjust the valves.

Internet had been out the whole time though (Time Warner uses local line power to run the system here)......I went through Hearth.com withdrawal symptoms for about a day.....LOL.

Otherwise, everything is OK.....lots of branches down, clean-up work to be done. Pellet stove ran off generator power without a issue the whole time.

We need one of these so we get our fix!
 

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That happened here in CT last year too. People in lines for hours... only to realize when they got to the pump that they didn't take cards- cash only.

When will people learn?

tank up the day before (or earlier), and take cash out of the bank before too.
 
Curious how you would siphon the gas from the car. All new vehicles have anti-siphon devices in the filler tubes. I have found no easy way of doing it other than taking the filler neck clamps off and removing the rubber hose that attaches my filler tube to the tank (at least on my truck) which gives direct access to the tank.

That is one way, then there is the old it depends upon the the device in the filler, then there is the ever popular fuel pump replacement routine (do not try this unless you are trained and have the facilitates), there is also the install a plug in the system routine (once again do not try this at home), in short you have to take apart part of the system to get the siphon in, that should provide some grist for the mil.

Remember this is a when the stuff hits the fan thing only.

The thing is the gas still has to get into the tank and out of the tank when you use the vehicle so the paths are there and you will have the time instead of worrying about someone catching you like an old fashioned tank drainer had to.
 
That happened here in CT last year too. People in lines for hours... only to realize when they got to the pump that they didn't take cards- cash only.

When will people learn?

tank up the day before (or earlier), and take cash out of the bank before too.

Those cards don't work if the network they are hooked up to is out to lunch, there is something to be said for the old fashioned way. It doesn't need a sat link, or 3 or 4 g service ;)
 
Curious how you would siphon the gas from the car. All new vehicles have anti-siphon devices in the filler tubes. I have found no easy way of doing it other than taking the filler neck clamps off and removing the rubber hose that attaches my filler tube to the tank (at least on my truck) which gives direct access to the tank.
THINK SAFE /FLAMMABLE PROCEDURES FOLLOW:----

Another way to do it If you are a mechanic or good at modern auto/truck work is to disconnect the quick connect fitting before or after your fuel filter (Whatever is easier access )+ having a repair line w/the opposing fitting on hand+ some high pressure hose/line approved for fuel contact make sure all fitting connections are --- Tight & Leak free ---making sure it`s away from any possible ignition sources including static! Ground your fuel can too! :ZZZ insert you hose into your fuel can gripping it tight (high pressure around 100 psi on these newer F.I. vehicles. turn key forward and viola fuel!!! WITHOUT STARTING IT!!! warning they pump out fast ! P.S. 2 people are the ticket to this fuel transfer procedure!!! + if you drain your vehicles tank dry Do Not start it with low or out of fuel as you will burn up your pump!!! Or just punch a hole in the bottom of the fuel tank MAD MAX approved.:eek: Only joking do that to your neighbors car/truck!!!
 
That is one way, then there is the old it depends upon the the device in the filler, then there is the ever popular fuel pump replacement routine (do not try this unless you are trained and have the facilitates), there is also the install a plug in the system routine (once again do not try this at home), in short you have to take apart part of the system to get the siphon in........

Oh come on bear, you don't need no stinkin' siphon.....all's ya gotta do is drill a 1/2" hole in the bottom of the tank. When you get all the gas you want, just use chewing gum to patch it back up.....simple!! ::-)
 
Oh come on bear, you don't need no stinkin' siphon.....all's ya gotta do is drill a 1/2" hole in the bottom of the tank. When you get all the gas you want, just use chewing gum to patch it back up.....simple!! ::-)

Hey , we gotta be safe here .Use a brass punch .;lol We do not want any sparks now.
 
Hellfire, I had seen that method discussed a while back.

imacman, do I need any particular brand of gum to seal the hole with? I'm not sure a drill is the thing to use, something might go boom.
 
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Hellfire, I had seen that method discussed a while back.

imacman, do I need any particular brand of gum to seal the hole with? I'm not sure a drill is the thing to use, something might go boom.

Believe it or not you can seal a hole in a metal fuel tank with soap too. ie: ( Ivory soap bar)
 
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