[Toymeister]

Originally Posted by C. C. Rider

I have a portable generator that produces 3,650 watts which will take care of the basics pretty well, but it seems that the limiting factor is fuel storage. It runs on either gasoline or propane, but it's hard, or perhaps I should say "inconvenient", to stock up on enough fuel to last more than a couple of days, and even that would be with intermittent usage.

This is why small inverter generators are key. Five gallons of gas and my golf Cart's gas tank will keep me in power for five to seven days. That's not the case with a standard OHV 3,500 watt Genset.

Again, I lived through a mass power outage for a week. I saw the fallacy of large generators in practice when fuel is not readily available.

[westernrider75]

Originally Posted by retiredguy123

The Governor just said that if you are using a generator, it must be used outside of the house, outside of the garage, and at least 20 feet from windows and doors. How would that work in a villa in The Villages?

Driveway, backyard, etx

[Battlebasset]

I've thought about one to run the fridge and a portable AC unit, but have not done it.

The reason is not the cost, $500 or less would get what I need, but I don't want to have to deal with the maintenance and gas storage that would be required. I had one up north, and used it for at least a day each year. We were on a well, and I needed to keep the heat running in the winter. Had a basement with sump pumps. Made sense up there. Makes less sense down here.

I have an outlet built into one car that would help in a pinch. I also have a lithium ion golf cart with USB outlets that would keep my phones/other items charged for weeks. We have natural gas, so no problem cooking or heating up water. And we have never lost power. I would like to figure out how to put a convenience outlet on the golf cart.

So I don't do it.

[Switter]

Originally Posted by Bill14564

I currently don't but I really want to get a Honda 2200W. This would run a refrigerator or two which is really all I need. So far though we have five years with only a few hours of outage.

I was always looking for an excuse to buy one so I picked up the Honda 2200W the other day. Nice little generator. Like you said, perfect for running the refrigerator, some lights, and my Internet router/modem since I am a remote worker. The thing that tipped me over the edge to buy it was the tax holiday. Save me 80 bucks

[bowlingal]

nope

[Andyb]

Underground utilities, generators not needed, except maybe for an EMP event.

[Lindaws]

Originally Posted by jayerose

just wondering.

Nobody I know has one

[Altavia]

Originally Posted by Bilyclub

So you had a buried propane tank installed ?

Natural gas powered.

I have a quick disconnect gas line at my grill that can be used for a portable Genset.

[Altavia]

Originally Posted by Toymeister

This is why small inverter generators are key. Five gallons of gas and my golf Cart's gas tank will keep me in power for five to seven days. That's not the case with a standard OHV 3,500 watt Genset.

Again, I lived through a mass power outage for a week. I saw the fallacy of large generators in practice when fuel is not readily available.

They can run on natural gas if available.

[airstreamingypsy]

I have a 4,000 that runs on gasoline and propane, because of my Airstream.

[kkingston57]

Originally Posted by tophcfa

Had one in our garage for seven years and never needed to use it. Started it up occasionally just to flush fresh gas through the carburetor. Finally brought it to our northern home last year where I am more likely to need it and where storage space is not at a premium.

Same experience but we lived in S. Florida and were struck by hurricanes with winds in the 90+MPH range. Needed generator for 7 days after a storm and 4 days after a storm. Most garages in TV are smaller and had no room for the generator. Typing this as I watch the trees sway in the 20 MPH range. Best thing about TV is 99% or higher underground power.

[Blueblaze]

I have one, but feel like a fool for buying it. I lived through three hurricanes in Houston where I had a generator, and all it ever did was increase the misery, as I attempted to manage my limited fuel supply long enough to last a three-week power outage. I always ended up throwing out hundreds of dollars worth of food anyway, and the first time I tried it, I destroyed a fridge from running it on insufficient power.

But I have to admit, it saved my home during the Big Freeze the year we moved here, when a 10 degree day shut down the nuclear reactor and wind mills that power the "oil capital of the world" and a million Houstonians had their homes flooded from burst pipes. I spent that day running around like a mad man with space heaters and light bulbs to keep my pipes from freezing.

So, fresh from that experience, and discovering that my new Florida home had natural gas, one of my first purchases was a portable generator big enough to run a fridge, a freezer, and a portable room air conditioner -- that could be run on natural gas. Then I never got around to hiring a plumber to install a valve I could use to connect it because I realized that it would almost certainly be a violation of Marion County's insane building codes and I'd never be able to find a plumber who would agree to do it

I also now realize that underground utilities and underground house plumbing makes the odds of a long power outage or my house freezing close to astronomical.

Boy, do I feel like a dummy. I ought to just sell the stupid thing.

[Bilyclub]

Originally Posted by Altavia

Natural gas powered.

I have a quick disconnect gas line at my grill that can be used for a portable Genset.

Considering my post was addressed to the guy with a whole house Generac in Sanibel... Like Tommy Lee Jones said in The Fugitive: I don't care.

[kkingston57]

Originally Posted by Cpecka

Have an RV, so yes stay in garage till used.

Have RV also and minimum of 26 gallons of diesel. Can last 2 full days. Only real concern is if a bad storm struck and it became unusable.

[JMintzer]

Originally Posted by retiredguy123

The house down the street has an outside Generac. It is very noisy. If every house in The Villages had one of those, I think a lot of people would leave town just because of the noise.

It's not like they're running 24/7...

They kick on for a minute or so occasionally to test and then, not again until needed...

If there was a widespread loss of power, you're gonna' wish your next door neighbor had one, so you could "stop by" and cool off...