Power out - stove cranking away

[Madcodger]

Well, looks like the freezing rain found some weak limbs at about 4:00 AM today. This is a good test for my homemade battery bank battery connected to an old server UPS, which I repurposed to supply power to critical systems. The main pellet stove (MVAE) is on that circuit, but I switched it to its own battery by pulling the plug to avoid drawing power with the ignitor. It's performing well, with the only annoying parts being the fact that it takes the convection blower down a notch and sets flame height to one step lower than it was operating at. Both are unnecessary (Quad thinking it knows better than its customers) but the battery backup is a nice feature, and works well.

Now the battery backup is just powering internet, security, basic home automation and the main media center computer. I'm waiting for it to get a bit later before powering up the gennie to make coffee and fire up the other pellet stove, which I haven't yet put on that critical systems circuit. Now I'm trying to figure out how to make a standalone battery backup & inverter (for the next outage) that will power just one pot of coffee, which would allow me to delay gennie startup for at least another hour or two. And it's so quiet outside that about every 5 minutes I can hear a surge from the underground utility transformer at the line between my property and my neighbor's, as PECO tries to fire it up (with no luck).

 

[hyfire]

How long until the GENE runs out of fuel???????would be my worry right now, not about the coffee!

 

[tjnamtiw]

I don't know what kind of batteries you have but don't drag them down too low or you will kill their lifespan. No more than 50% is the rule for deep cycle golf cart batteries. Just because it says deep cycle, it doesn't mean you can pull them down to parade rest. I have 6 six volt batteries in series/parallel with my solar system. I sure wouldn't waste those precious watt-hours on a coffee pot. I'd be downstairs firing up my wood/coal cook stove. Or my camp stove.
I was thinking of repurposing my old APC UPS until I flipped it over and read that it was NOT true sine wave but a very poor chopped wave form. It's molded into the case.

 

[Madcodger]

Appreciate your concerns, folks, but I think I've got this one covered. Gennie can go for 12 - 14 hours on a single fueling, and I keep enough fuel on hand for about 4 of those cycles. Produces more power than I can use in a given day, including enough to use the 80 gallon electric H2O heater at the end of the day so that we can take nice, hot showers in the morning.

As for deep cycle batteries, 50% is certainly the bottom of the pot for solar systems, as the discharge occurs so often (almost daily cycles). For only occasional use (my situation) you can cycle down to about 80% for many cycles (just not a many as with solar) and still be fine. But I think I went down to maybe 80% (20% use) today before switching back to the gennie. Old UPS is verified as true sine wave, and capable of taking modified sine for input (the gennie). So far? Working like a charm... I'm sitting here in a 73 degree room, watching recorded TV on a flat screen, fed by a home theater PC. And a good thing, too... Looks like we could be out for a week...

 

[hyfire]

Good thing your prepared, hope your neighbors down the road have power? Is the stove still running?

 

[stoveguy2esw]

old fashioned "percolator" camp coffee pot on the burner of my gas grill is my "no power java solution" if worse comes to worse, I have a big green egg and I could heat my percolator with it or on the firepit.

java being the 2nd most important step to power outage comfort (behind heat itself)

 

[BrotherBart]

I fire the genny first for that pot of coffee and then bring on the other loads.

 

[Madcodger]

I fire the genny first for that pot of coffee and then bring on the other loads.

So I just "went dark" for the night, turning off the gennie much later than planned because my neighbor had my battery charger almost all day and I couldn't bring my own battery back up for most of my generator usage. And I'm thinking, I don't need to turn that thing back on until about 8:00, except for COFFEE. I really do think I'm going to build a single purpose battery / inverter system just for brewing coffee, or maybe I'll be smart and go get an old percolator as someone else noted, and a single burner Coleman camp stove.

I also have to say that I am officially annoyed at most of my neighbors, and for the elderly ones, their kids (who should be helping their parents prepare). One had my battery charger almost all day, trying to revive not just one, but TWO abused and dead batteries that he should have replaced a year or more ago. Both are goners, and he apparently somehow destroyed the 12 amp setting on my charger (2 amp still works), so now that will need to be replaced. And the only reason he could even use it is that I fixed his generator - again! - after he failed to take it to the shop for an entire year after two of us who helped him last year told him to get it in there for a tuneup. And I have three neighbors who have been here for over 40 years each, with at least one power outage of more than a day every year we've lived here, and usually more than one. Yet they still don't have even a small gennie to power their well and some form of heat. I really don't want to be rude or inconsiderate, but the inability of some people to prepare for a near certainty is just beyond my comprehension. We get these types of outages here EVERY year, and every year it's the same old song and dance. Like dealing with children, and dull ones at that!

 

[BrotherBart]

When I see one coming I brew a pot of coffee the night before. Reheated coffee is nasty but heats up real fast on the wood stove.

 

[BrotherBart]

I really don't want to be rude or inconsiderate, but the inability of some people to prepare for a near certainty is just beyond my comprehension. We get these types of outages here EVERY year, and every year it's the same old song and dance. Like dealing with children, and dull ones at that!

Was that way here for years. We are on one leg of the power coming into the development and it is the one that goes down when a squirrel farts. We have been down in winter and snowed in for a week several times. Most are on the other leg and don't understand the wood heating thing and seem to be annoyed hearing a generator running a thousand feet away. Then came Snowmageddon and they were all down for a week. Now when the power fails it sounds like a generator factory test sight around here.

 

[PoolGuyinCT]

old fashioned "percolator" camp coffee pot on the burner of my gas grill is my "no power java solution" if worse comes to worse, I have a big green egg and I could heat my percolator with it or on the firepit.

java being the 2nd most important step to power outage comfort (behind heat itself)

Kamado coffee? Never crossed my mind, I thought I've done it all.

Ray

 

[Lake Girl]

Glad to hear you are weathering the outage well... Do the neighbors without generators at least have wood stoves or fireplaces? We still haven't perfected our system but we do have the generators (invertor and a big guy). We also have a ventless kerosene space heater that bridges the gap for short outages or until the others are in place. The only problem we have is storing gas for any length of time - all the gas here has a high ethanol content which destabilizes fairly quick. I like the option you have in the States with the gas that has higher octane for small engines or classic cars.

Hope you're not dark too long...

 

[Madcodger]

Do the neighbors without generators at least have wood stoves or fireplaces?

Amazingly, No! One is all electric (no gen); another has anemic little propane fireplaces with a single, small tank (day two becomes a problem); a third has a fireplace and almost no wood (apparently think it's just a decoration)... And they seem to think nothing bad will ever happen. Yet it does, over and over, and still - no preparation.

Thanks for the good wishes. We think we may be in for a long one. Over 600K without power as of last night.

 

[peirhead]

Here is my Utility On A Cart......Power out? ...I roll it onto the driveway, open the vent on the boat gas tank...squeeze the bulb a few times fire up the genny.....plug in my heavy (10 ga) extension cables feeding fridge, pellet stove, freezer, some CFL and LED lights, and yes my oil boiler if I want!!

I have to watch the amps, and usually don't plug in the freezer and fridge at the same time as if both compressors kick in at the same time the gen will trip off on overload....otherwise with a full tank of gas I can run it for up to 5 days.

Obviously I have unplugged all these devices from the house circuits and run everything off extension cords.....not pretty, but no expensive transfer switch.

 

[velvetfoot]

I like your setup and may copy it.
I have my 2000i on a small movers' dolly that I can roll out the garage door.
I like your extended run time potential and that you can probably put the electric cord on the middle shelf.

 

[tjnamtiw]

I also have to say that I am officially annoyed at most of my neighbors, and for the elderly ones, their kids (who should be helping their parents prepare). One had my battery charger almost all day, trying to revive not just one, but TWO abused and dead batteries that he should have replaced a year or more ago. Both are goners, and he apparently somehow destroyed the 12 amp setting on my charger (2 amp still works), so now that will need to be replaced. And the only reason he could even use it is that I fixed his generator - again! - after he failed to take it to the shop for an entire year after two of us who helped him last year told him to get it in there for a tuneup. And I have three neighbors who have been here for over 40 years each, with at least one power outage of more than a day every year we've lived here, and usually more than one. Yet they still don't have even a small gennie to power their well and some form of heat. I really don't want to be rude or inconsiderate, but the inability of some people to prepare for a near certainty is just beyond my comprehension. We get these types of outages here EVERY year, and every year it's the same old song and dance. Like dealing with children, and dull ones at that!

Imagine what happens when AHBL day comes and there no longer exists a power grid! These people will be the dangerous ones willing to do ANYTHING to survive. Lock and load time! Hot coffee will be the least of your worries.

 

[hyfire]

AHBL????????

 

[newf lover]

View attachment 126682 Here is my Utility On A Cart......Power out? ...I roll it onto the driveway, open the vent on the boat gas tank...squeeze the bulb a few times fire up the genny.....plug in my heavy (8 ga) extension cables feeding fridge, pellet stove, freezer, some CFL and LED lights, and yes my oil boiler if I want!!

I have to watch the amps, and usually don't plug in the freezer and fridge at the same time as if both compressors kick in at the same time the gen will trip off on overload....otherwise with a full tank of gas I can run it for up to 5 days.

Obviously I have unplugged all these devices from the house circuits and run everything off extension cords.....not pretty, but no expensive transfer switch.

I've been thinking of that setup; almost have my husband convinced. We very rarely lose power, but as we're getting on in years, we should be better prepared. I bought a portable kerosene heater about 5 years ago; it's never come out of the box. The Honda 2000i would be good to just be able to keep the pellet stove going and a few lights. A couple weeks ago during one of those 5 degree nights we lost power for only an hour. Boy did that temperature drop fast! This thread gave me the push I need to take the plunge.

 

[velvetfoot]

That Honda 2000i can easily power my oil boiler. Not sure about the power requirements of a furnace.

 

[Jags]

Not sure about the power requirements of a furnace.

Most forced air furnaces run on a 115V 15/20 amp circuit (depending on the blower motor). I believe the 2000i can handle those loads.

ETA - That is a 2000 MAX load with 1600W running load. So it probably can, but you will be maxing the little dude out on blower startup.

 

[Jags]

I only run my genny for short bursts (say an hour or two), but I can run everything at once. (battery chargers, House fridge, big fridge in garage, upright freezer, water pump, whatever). I have plenty of alternatives for lighting.

 

[Harmanizer]

AHBL????????

I'm thinking" All Hell Breaks Loose".

 

[tjnamtiw]

I'm thinking" All Hell Breaks Loose".

DING DING DING, we have a winner!

 

[Ctcarl]

So I just "went dark" for the night, turning off the gennie much later than planned because my neighbor had my battery charger almost all day and I couldn't bring my own battery back up for most of my generator usage. And I'm thinking, I don't need to turn that thing back on until about 8:00, except for COFFEE. I really do think I'm going to build a single purpose battery / inverter system just for brewing coffee, or maybe I'll be smart and go get an old percolator as someone else noted, and a single burner Coleman camp stove.

I also have to say that I am officially annoyed at most of my neighbors, and for the elderly ones, their kids (who should be helping their parents prepare). One had my battery charger almost all day, trying to revive not just one, but TWO abused and dead batteries that he should have replaced a year or more ago. Both are goners, and he apparently somehow destroyed the 12 amp setting on my charger (2 amp still works), so now that will need to be replaced. And the only reason he could even use it is that I fixed his generator - again! - after he failed to take it to the shop for an entire year after two of us who helped him last year told him to get it in there for a tuneup. And I have three neighbors who have been here for over 40 years each, with at least one power outage of more than a day every year we've lived here, and usually more than one. Yet they still don't have even a small gennie to power their well and some form of heat. I really don't want to be rude or inconsiderate, but the inability of some people to prepare for a near certainty is just beyond my comprehension. We get these types of outages here EVERY year, and every year it's the same old song and dance. Like dealing with children, and dull ones at that!

I learned that the only relationship I want with my neighbor is hi and by

 

[railfanron]

We have a Generac 8kw stand by power plant that powers 10 circuits which give us heat, some lights, some plugs, water, tv, pellet stove and microwave. Tv and Satellite dish are on a UPS so the Tv doesn't go out for the 45 seconds before the plant takes over. We're getting up in age also and this is one of the best investments we ever made. Runs off Propane and completely automatic on and off.
Ron