Article: A generator isn't just an option - it's a must to protect your reef

[UkSweeney]

In the uk, most of our power lines are under ground, so the longest "black out" i have had in my hole life, is 2 and half hours, so i know no one with a generator.

http://http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/th...can_power.html

[landlord]

Anthony Calfo made a statement that I keep thinking about in reference to getting a generator. The statement went something like...

< Speaking to a client regarding power outages and generator costs >

"After losing all livestock from a power outage, would you be willing to pay $500.00 to get it all back, how about a thousand dollars?" The typical response to this is always "Well, Yes, of course."

so....

Be prepared (I sure am)

Kurt

[Pescaiolo]

Marc,

I was just thinking that maybe you could vent the exhaust out the side of the garage through a wall and keep the generator in your garage. I have no idea if you have thought about this already and if you have I apologize and please disregard this comment...but I know for a fact from an old Reefcast episode that you are paranoid of someone stealing your generator. Using a dryer duct you can probably fashion something to vent the exhaust out like an old wood burning furnace. If the sound of the motor running is too loud for you you can try sound insulating material on the wall that is shared with the house. This should cut it down to a bearable level. Don't know if you thought about this(probably have), if you have then just ignore me.

[melev]

Running it in the garage and venting out the exhaust seems doable, but what I don't know is if the engine would get enough fresh air on the intake side. It probably does, but I don't know that for a fact.

I've always considering a strong exterior structure like a little brick building that has the inner walls lined with acoustic ceiling tiles to absorb the sound. When I worked in trim carpentry, we had to sound proof a room that was going to be used for band practice, and once all the walls and ceiling were covered with those 2' x 4' panels, it was uncomfortably silent - my ears were rushing due to the lack of sound. I don't see why that couldn't work for a generator housing. I'd like it to have a steel door and deadbolt to keep it safe.

[rEd86]

I think I have the same generator. The cost also depends on when you purchase it. I was lucky in that I purchased mine in the off season - mid-summer when it was on sale for something like $450 at Home Depot. Try to purchase one now and you'll pay full price.

A buddy of mine actually also purchased a high-end spitter that hooked up right before his fuse box, so he just plugs the generator directly to that and switches the power off the grid and to the generator. That way he doesn't have to run power cords all over the place. They turn off all non-essential items and run the house off the generator. When the power comes back on, he just flips the switch off backup and back to the main lines. I'll see if I can get a picture of it.

--Ed

[DRW94]

Instead of getting a splitter for the panel. You can have a heavy duty 220 cord made up with 2 male connections on it. You plug one into the generator and the other into any 220 outlet in the house ie electric dryer or stove outlet. You also have to flip the main circuit breaker as not to feed into the system and electrocuting a lineman.

[Sev]

Running it in the garage and venting out the exhaust seems doable, but what I don't know is if the engine would get enough fresh air on the intake side. It probably does, but I don't know that for a fact.

It definitely would. Not a problem at all unless the room it's in is hermetically sealed or something. PLenty of air would leak around the doors and through the walls to supply the generator, and if you were really paranoid, you could essentially pipe it like a closed loop to the outside with the genny as a pump. I would consult with someone who knows something about this before running either, since I'm not sure what the best materials and engineering requirements would be.

I've always considering a strong exterior structure like a little brick building that has the inner walls lined with acoustic ceiling tiles to absorb the sound. When I worked in trim carpentry, we had to sound proof a room that was going to be used for band practice, and once all the walls and ceiling were covered with those 2' x 4' panels, it was uncomfortably silent - my ears were rushing due to the lack of sound. I don't see why that couldn't work for a generator housing. I'd like it to have a steel door and deadbolt to keep it safe.

That's quite doable so long as you have a remote intake and exhaust.

[BigAl07]

Yes I'm pulling up and older topic but I'm NEW here


I know from experience that if you're willing to look around you can get a heavy duty (may be louder) generator for a good price. My company orders them for contractors and such and I think we have gotten the 10K (not a typo) for less than $1k and that's shipped to our company.


This year several of our local reefers lost EVERYTHING due to some freak snow storms. It was terrible and worse of all avoidable.

[Midnight]

two other options, you can actually get a natural gas generator and hool it up to come on after you lose power for a min.By the way, diesel generators are much quieter than gas ones of the same size.