I have been amazed at the number of households battling through the current Cyclone, who have suffered power loss with no quick fix in sight, as is commonplace during cyclonic weather.

Living on a Rural property in Qld, I was faced with a similar set of circumstances, where the mains system power supply would go out at any time without warning. This was in the early stages going out at least three times a day,(not helped by the fact that I was at the end of the
S.W.E.R distribution), consequently I decided to purchase a Generator to help save on the electric/electronic destruction.

I purchased an "Odes 8.5KVA Petrol Powered Generator" for $1500 and allowed $500 to cover the cost of an Electrician to wire in the appropriate Plug socket to the main Power Board. I have a red warning light outside on the side of the power board facing the window, so that I can see when the Mains Power is restored.
This Generator will run my whole house satisfactorily for 14 hours straight, on one tank of fuel (approx 12 litres of ULP)

The only proviso I would have is that the Generator (on it`s wheels
should be located as far away from the house as possible, for reduction in noise and any fuming possibility). Should the noise factor become a nuisance to close neighbors, I would suggest routing the exhaust underground through a 44 Gallon Drum, a trick that is used out at Mintaby, the old Opal mining town in S.A.

Most people do NOT think about the necessity for a Generator, until the situation arises, but for $2000 max investment it is a good insurance in my view, and I hope this message is beneficial to any who may have been considering it!

" I would suggest routing the exhaust underground through a 44 Gallon Drum, a trick that is used out at Mintaby, the old Opal mining town in S.A."

A piece of good advice; that was common practice in army camps that were semi-permanent and with a goodly supply of 44 gallon drums, two are better than one!

The problem I find with small petrol engines is that they need regular runs to stop the petrol from creating gunk in the carby and needle valve problems.

Do you all run dry? Or use a conditioner like Sta-bil in tank and storage?

Leoj I run 5 horse power fire pumps very irregularly, & as you suggest always run the carburettor dry to stop them, then empty the tank. I usually shout them a new sparkplug after a year or 2 rest, & have never had a problem with them starting.

We were flooded in, with no power for 5 days a few years back. My 2 KVA gen set would not start the new fridge/freezer, so we lost the lot.

I bought a 10KVA 3 phase diesel so called quite running gen set, with remote start after that. I had best give it a test run tomorrow morning, the forecast is for 400 to 500mm tomorrow. If it actually eventuates, we won't be going anywhere for a few days, & you can bet the power will go out again.

Of course, if we can't get out, the power line gang can't get in, so it stays out for a while.

Hasbeen,

I reckon you are onto something there with the diesel. Is it auto switched though?

Just wondering what it might cost for an electrician to instal?

My present location is not too bad where power outages are concerned. Where I was previously and may return, outages were common, but usually not for under a day, sometimes two.

The Honda 2000W was fine for camping, but is limited for home use. We run several fridges, want electronics up and safe, and a bit of air-conditioning would be good.

The times are a hanging. Best prepare yourself the best you can. A freezer full can cost a few hundred dollars if left too long. Good chest freezers are good for the best part of a week without opening the lid. You may get a bit thinner in the mean time that's all.
2000' watts will not run a complete house , but if isolated to the freezer alone it will be very happy.. You can not go past solar for savings and backup reliability. One night without power on a freezer means nothing, so a daily bump of solar and alls good for weeks.

Spent the early am hours contacting young relatives, some of whom who live in new unit blocks in Brisbane, to prepare for flash flooding. Move cars to high ground for example.

Presently organising for a car in for service today to be moved for the same reason, the workshop flooded in 2011 and the insurer is still subject to a class action from its clients for not paying up where flood was covered.

The Brisbane City Council is warning residents after the 2011 debacle when the Wivenhoe Dam gates were suddenly opened without warning with a big sea tide (King Tide!) imminent.

Nex minit(sl), expect the slagging off by the OLO forum experts of the unfortunate people who find themselves affected by flash flood or backed up water. A little compassion doesn't go astray. Life bowls up suffering to everyone and your turn could well be next.

doog,

Yes, a Honda 2.0 is easily portable and can hold a fridge/deep freeze plus lights. For the fridge it can be run for some hours then switched to other needs. The equivalent Suzuki is good too.

Solar is ok once weather clears and power is still off.

Auto diesel back-up is the gold standard I'd say. I dislike storing petrol.

Doog we lose power when either the wind has taken out the power, with big branches blown off trees damaging lines, or when it is raining very heavily. Solar is not much use on days like today with 110mm in the last 12 hours. Fortunately this rain, has not had wind with it.

You would never get me putting solar anything, or anything else on my roof in either a cyclone area, or one that gets cyclonic strength thunderstorms. The danger of losing your roof is bad enough without having some clown installer who is not a roofing plumber up there mucking about.

Leoj I do not have mine wired in, as I use it in the shed to occasionally power some 3 phase equipment. We don't have access to 3 phase here, as the existing lines are fully utilised. I have had the place wired so 2 phases can feed 2 different power circuits, & one the lighting. It is just a matter of bringing the generator to the garden shed beside the switch board, & plugging it in.

I omitted to mention that I have set my place up to survive independently
for some time, in case of some disaster etc.

My household has 2 main Refrigerators, 2 Deep Freezer Chests
and 2 Bar Fridges, plus pantry full of canned and packaged food.
My electricity consumption is substantially higher than other nearby
residents, so I am quite pleased that my Odes Generator handles it all
(including an LG 4.5 HP Air-conditioner in the lounge)

My Generator is remote switched, which means it can be started
by simply pressing a button on the key switch.
The same procedure allows the convenience of stopping the Generator
when the Mains Power supply is restored (indicated by the red warning
light on the side of the Power Board).

Crackcup,

Thanks for your contributions.

I suppose that like Hasbeen, any delay is short before you restore power and you will be there to knock it off.

There is no way to leave a property without some local trusted and reliable person who can watch and act as needed. Too much mobility and itinerants about now to be sure of that. We are losing our sense of community and belonging.

"Leoj":.....

I would never dream of leaving my property with a Power Outage in play and my Generator running!

There are many options to pick from when selecting a suitable "emergency" power supply, and the cost of purchase and installation
is becoming much more affordable.

Most domestic urban homes usually have a "House and Contents" policy premium of around $2000 annually, so I believe an outlay of around that amount to ensure a reliable power supply in the event of an outage is a good investment, considering that the realistic life-span of the unit would probably between 5 and 10 years, depending upon it`s treatment.

People are funny really,....many consider a standby generator unnecessary, or too expensive, but think nothing of wasting money, smoking, drinking, or gambling, and with some households, exotic and very costly overseas holidays.
The cost of saving in the way of foodstuffs alone in the event of a Power Outage, makes it a worthwhile investment for any household, and
especially in the country areas, where the chance of "outages" is much greater.

I wonder why I waited for so long (15 years) to invest in a Generator, considering the immediate saving in foodstuff loss, and further destruction of my Electrical and Electronic equipment, caused by the Scheme supply dropping in and out during stormy weather.

I forgot to mention in my initial post that it is essential to ensure that the Generator is earthed to the ground via a decent "earthing" spike, once it is positioned for relative permanence!

You will not get me putting solar anywhere!
Why put solar on your roof. It can be on the wall, it can be anywhere you like. You are just plain against anything that does not cause havvoc

Solar installers are registered roofers in Victoria. I don't know about elsewhere.
Remember you are playing with DC power until after the inverter. A magic investment.

You only need a couple of panels to make a 1000 wats now. Less space and less installation, the panels just snap lock together. You can make a 5 kW system in an afternoon. You need to get with it.

The recent cyclone has a way to go yet, or at least its effects have a long way to go.
Three dead now. Probably more to come.
Who cares if it does not effect you.
It's only an oversized rain event in late March.
If you suffer no damage why care.
Just whinge about the insurance increases.
Seems insurance believes in wheather change.

Cyclone still causing havock. Effecting tens of thousands of people. How big is the land mass involved. I suppose Victoria will be collecting donations to help out victims of an extreme weather event. Which will be repeated again and again.

I don't know why I bother, but some physics for the doog of this world.

Climate change theory says the tropics will alter little, the polls will warm most. Weather & climate are fuelled by the heat engine of the planet. The bigger difference in the temperature of the tropics & the polls, the more severe weather required to attempt to equalise the difference.

Thus climate change, if we have it, will reduce the severity of the weather, giving a more benign climate.

Anyone with any physics or math knows this is a fact. The so called climate scientists therefore either have insufficient math & physics to know which way is up, or happy to lie to the general population to keep their gravy train running

It matters not which, they are disgusting rip off merchants either way.

Greenies are either dumb useful idiots, or lying garbage conning anyone they can. Again it matters not, they are equally disgusting either way.

Hasbeen probably, been had definitely.

“Anyone with any physics or math knows this is a fact. The so called climate scientists therefore either have insufficient math & physics to know which way is up, or happy to lie to the general population to keep their gravy train running.“

More delusional political panaophobic paranoia. When you learn how to spell, its poles not polls, you'll have a better chance of fooling us into thinking that you might have the tiniest inkling of what it is that you're talking about.

The poles are warming. Your theory is most likely to happen when all ice on the poles has gone. Until then the poles are releasing gigantic amounts of frigid air into the atmosphere. When it comes up against warmer air nature creates shows of extreme severity.

Put your physics on hold for for some time while the poles melt. In the meantime hang on for a horrific ride.

Ocean currants are warmer now than anytime in the last sixty years. Nawing away at sea ice and glacial ice creating faster glacial flow.
External ice is suffering from a layer of carbon upon the ice increasing temperature. You will never beat nature as it tries to rectify mans disaster.

Hasbeen probably, been had definitely.

“Anyone with any physics or math knows this is a fact. The so called climate scientists therefore either have insufficient math & physics to know which way is up, or happy to lie to the general population to keep their gravy train running.“

More delusional political panaophobic, paranoia. When you learn how to spell, its poles not polls, you'll have a better chance of fooling us into thinking that you might have the tiniest inkling of what it is that you're talking about.

Posted by Anti-Colonial, Sunday, 2 April 2017 5:14:50 PM

How typically green. Avoid any discussion of the actual science involved. If they are actually well enough educated in anything but spelling, they know the science proves them wrong every time.

Spell checker or my spelling, who the hell cares, it is only the science you lot should be interested in, if you have any real interest in global warming that is.