Quote:
Originally Posted by villagetinker
I tend to agree with above comments; however, you can go with a smaller generator. Get the EXACT power requirements for the equipment that you need to operate then look at the available generators. If you can go with inverter based these are very quiet. You will need to make arrangements ahead of time for getting the power into the house. I would suggest a suitable outdoor power receptacle with suitable wiring to a location where you could use temporary extension cords.
Now having stated this, if you are in SECO territory, they have been excellent over the last 9 years with outages that I could count on one hand and most only a few minutes. There were extended outages (during IRMA) in the historic area (lots of overhead lines), and I have heard of some possible problems in the Leesburg area.
Bottom line have not seen the need for a generator in our area of The Villages (just south of 466A) SECO territory.
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Far from an expert. I was thinking about a small generator capable of running our refrigerator. It is capacitor starting so you need a generator considerably larger than the running watts. Most newer refrigerators are electronically controlled. May not work well with a generator.
Solar, obviously for use at night and for stable supply you need batteries. Batteries store DC so you need to convert it to AC. Both batteries and converting to AC have improved dramatically. I just saw an ad on TV for a Generac system. Of course it is an ad. The system looks like it is designed to fit in your garage with the collectors of course on your roof. Is it worth it?
The answer to that changes if your power is out. Gasoline does not store well.
During a hurricane you may be locked in your home unable to buy gasoline.
We do not have gas, so no stove. People with gas barbeques. There are lights like the coleman that will run off those tanks. We were not in Florida, famous for hurricanes. Hurricane Sandy wiped out our power for 4-5 days. Truly an adventure. Better than it would be here, we had a gas stove. I have a bunch of Colman lanterns. You can read by them.
Might be wise to buy one or two NOW and be sure to buy extra mantles. Like generators before or after a hurricane the will be impossible to find