The Power Outage

[slipkid42]

So Tuesday night we had a big storm come thru my area, the weather people had been talking about it for a few days.  
So the power goes out about 5:30 pm, no problem, it's light enough, keep the fridge closed, cable modem/router is plugged into an old battery backup that's too small for computers now.  I have internet for over an hour, not sure exactly.  Got my Ryobi fan ready.  Look on the electricity distributor outage site and it says estimated power back on 7:00 pm, ok no problem.  Seven pm comes and goes, now it says 9:00 pm.  Now I'm starting to worry about the food in the fridge so go out to the shed get out the generator, hook up the ground and go to pull the rope....  Won't budge - nothing that thing will not turn.  
Prep Fail - it has been a few years since I have even started the generator, it got moved to the back of the shed and neglected.  
My parents live close and they still had power so I loaded up all the fridge food in a cooler and took it to their house.  Today (Wednesday) the power was still out, so about 2:00 pm I did the same with the freezer food.  Just get down there unload, visit a few, zing my power is back on.  

Lesson
I should have known better, and I do know, I just don't practice it, keep the stubborn gasoline powered tools maintained.  I have terrible luck with any gas operated tool. 

[EBuff75]

That's probably the best type of failure - one that doesn't really cost you much other than some time /effort and a minor bit of self-scolding.

I have several non-running gas tools that are on my list of things to fix - an old mower, an old string trimmer / edger, and a chainsaw.  The chainsaw is the only one that I really care about and that just needs to have the carb adjusted (which required me to purchase a tool that could interface with the splined adjustment screw).  I'm hoping to use them as a learning experience, as I've never really done much with small engine repair beyond basic maintenance (replacing spark plugs, air filters, doing oil changes). 

And this thread reminds me that I should probably check my generator too.  I don't think I've started it since last year, or possibly even longer.  It could probably use an oil change too.  *scribbles note on a Post-it*  Thanks for the reminder!

[Raptor]

All generators suffer from "no runitis". Even when routinely exercised. (Perhaps i should say exorcized). My favorite no runitis is when the generator does start up but produces no power.

With any luck it is a simple tripped breaker.

You may want to consider a cheap small 2k generator as a suppliment.

[NT2C]

All generators suffer from "no runitis". Even when routinely exercised. (Perhaps i should say exorcized). My favorite no runitis is when the generator does start up but produces no power.

With any luck it is a simple tripped breaker.

You may want to consider a cheap small 2k generator as a suppliment.

Two is one and one is none.

(we have four)

[slipkid42]

All generators suffer from "no runitis". Even when routinely exercised. (Perhaps i should say exorcized). My favorite no runitis is when the generator does start up but produces no power.

With any luck it is a simple tripped breaker.

You may want to consider a cheap small 2k generator as a suppliment.

Two is one and one is none.

(we have four)

I am working on fixing the gas generator.  But knowing my luck/skill with gas anything, well, let's hold our breath shall we  I also just ordered a "solar generator"

[NT2C]

All generators suffer from "no runitis". Even when routinely exercised. (Perhaps i should say exorcized). My favorite no runitis is when the generator does start up but produces no power.

With any luck it is a simple tripped breaker.

You may want to consider a cheap small 2k generator as a suppliment.

Two is one and one is none.

(we have four)

I am working on fixing the gas generator.  But knowing my luck/skill with gas anything, well, let's hold our breath shall we I also just ordered a "solar generator"

Pair it with appropriately sized solar panels and you're doing good.

[slipkid42]

All generators suffer from "no runitis". Even when routinely exercised. (Perhaps i should say exorcized). My favorite no runitis is when the generator does start up but produces no power.

With any luck it is a simple tripped breaker.

You may want to consider a cheap small 2k generator as a suppliment.

Two is one and one is none.

(we have four)

I am working on fixing the gas generator.  But knowing my luck/skill with gas anything, well, let's hold our breath shall we I also just ordered a "solar generator"

Pair it with appropriately sized solar panels and you're doing good.

Yes, the solar panel(s) will be a later purchase, at least for now I'll have some power for awhile.  
Considering a foldable one so I can use it camping or whatever, and also looking at fixed panels I can mount on the side porch roof, it's an aluminum awning type

[NT2C]

All generators suffer from "no runitis". Even when routinely exercised. (Perhaps i should say exorcized). My favorite no runitis is when the generator does start up but produces no power.

With any luck it is a simple tripped breaker.

You may want to consider a cheap small 2k generator as a suppliment.

Two is one and one is none.

(we have four)

I am working on fixing the gas generator.  But knowing my luck/skill with gas anything, well, let's hold our breath shall we I also just ordered a "solar generator"

Pair it with appropriately sized solar panels and you're doing good.

Yes, the solar panel(s) will be a later purchase, at least for now I'll have some power for awhile. 
Considering a foldable one so I can use it camping or whatever, and also looking at fixed panels I can mount on the side porch roof, it's an aluminum awning type

This is the set of folding panels that I picked up to pair with the Bluetti.

Not quite the max it can handle but enough that I can extend the runtime of it (depending on load and sun) during any extended outage.  It's enough to run our fridge and freezer for a day or two, longer if I carefully cycle the two appliances, not to mention using the three other generators (two gas).

The advantage to the solar units is that I can put the panels on our south-facing roof and run the cables through the attic vent and down into the spare room where the Bluetti is, and from there I can reach either appliances, or both together, as needed.

[DarkAxel]

Had something happen today that immediately made me think of this thread. Severe storms hit us and knocked the power out for hours. I was able to get my genny running in minutes, but I overlooked something that could have been catastrophic. There was a bag of charcoal on the porch, and I didn't realize the exhaust was pointed directly at the bag. I drove out to get a cell signal to report the outage, and when I got home, I had a fire on the front porch.   The exhaust had gotten hot enough to set the charcoal on fire. Thankfully, my wife's Dad is a firefighter, and we had water jugs filled on hand. Another fail. Our fire extinguishers are empty.

The genny survived with minor damage and never shut off, but I lost a box of accessories that came with the genny when we got it. Gotta get a new grip for one of the handles, but things could have been A LOT worse.