Quote:
Originally Posted by DAVES
You may be right. I looked at a generator. Frankly it was listed on the internet. It was unbelievably inexpensive. First of all the company never shipped it. I did get my money back. My research showed we would need 2000 plus watts to run just our refrigerator. If, I recall our refrigerator draws 600 watt start up. A sure to occur problem. I hear you have a generator. Could I borrow it and run my refrigerator? And so on through the villages.
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If your refrigerator draws 600W at startup then you don't need three times that (2000W) to run it.
I have run three refrigerators and a freezer from a 3500W generator.
*IF* I were to buy one now I would look into a quiet generator like the Honda 2200 or another that has been suggested in this thread. But, given the history of power outages in the Villages I will not likely buy one anytime soon.
Solar-based generator: Be sure to calculate available run time off the battery and charging time. If the panels can't charge the battery quickly enough then you'll eventually reach a point where you will be out of electricity.
Patriot generator: Looks like an as-seen-on-tv product. No technical details given for charging time or battery capacity.
Gas generator: Needs to run outside and your neighbors won't thank you if your loud generator keeps them awake. Storing fuel could be an issue for some but I have a five gallon can for the golf cart that will serve for the generator as well.
EV-based generator: Might work but you're on borrowed time - you are betting that the power to your house will be restored before the battery in the vehicle runs low. Plus, you have to choose between running the refrigerator and running to the store - the vehicle can't be in two places at once. On the other hand, if you already have an EV with the necessary wiring then you're in good shape.
As others have mentioned, $1,000 and up for any of these solutions is probably more than the cost of the food that would be lost in the refrigerator.