AZDesertRat
In Memoriam
An auto transfer switch and electric start generator would be ideal but most of us could not afford that luxury. For what all that would cost I could build another really nice reef system.
For those considering a generator - or Not!
- Thread starter GL
- Start date
conda
New member
I live in NW Chester County and lose power all the time.
What I did was purchase a 5500w generator that I can wheel outside the basement door. Then I have a plug that transfers the power to a sub panel--came with the generator. Then the subpanel is wired into my circuit breaker. This gives me 4 15A circuits and one 30A circuit to power my house when the electric is out.
With this setup, I just start the generator, flip my sub panel switches and get heat, water, fridge, and lights.
What I did was purchase a 5500w generator that I can wheel outside the basement door. Then I have a plug that transfers the power to a sub panel--came with the generator. Then the subpanel is wired into my circuit breaker. This gives me 4 15A circuits and one 30A circuit to power my house when the electric is out.
With this setup, I just start the generator, flip my sub panel switches and get heat, water, fridge, and lights.
davidgottlieb
Premium Member
I've got an 8000 watt Honda generator. This thing is pretty much incredible. It has its own circuit breaker and a 7 gal tank. This thing runs my entire house.
smp
New member
Interesting thread, I love this place. I live in Toronto Canada, cold winters but no hurricanes 
The longest power out we had was during the ice storm, but that was more east of me .. people were out of power for days. Since then, the big power outage in the summer of 2003 that affected much of the states too.
The longest power out we had was during the ice storm, but that was more east of me .. people were out of power for days. Since then, the big power outage in the summer of 2003 that affected much of the states too.
NewSaltyReefer
Member
What about one of those UPS (uninteruptible power supplies) for a computer...has anyone used one of those?
jeffbrig
Premium Member
Check out this thread
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=753266
Yes, I have UPS's in addition to my generator. Different items for different types of power problems. UPS = short term, generator = long outage.
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=753266
Yes, I have UPS's in addition to my generator. Different items for different types of power problems. UPS = short term, generator = long outage.
NewSaltyReefer
Member
Thanks!!
davidgottlieb
Premium Member
Yeah. Before you go giving that kind of advice, please give the warnings as well. MAKE SURE YOU TURN OFF YOUR MAIN before you turn on the switch that goes to your 220 plug.
In other words, if you turn on your generator and your neighbors lights come on, you're probably in deep sh$%. They sell switches now that keep you from messing up. Either your 220 plug switch is on or your main is on. You can't have both on at the same time. That will keep you from killing someone and going to jail.
In other words, if you turn on your generator and your neighbors lights come on, you're probably in deep sh$%. They sell switches now that keep you from messing up. Either your 220 plug switch is on or your main is on. You can't have both on at the same time. That will keep you from killing someone and going to jail.
I have on that runs all three tanks and some of the household stuff and it is the best thing I have purchased. I debated on either a calcium reactor or generator, my husband said generator, and it was the best decision. I live in MN and we have the ice/snow problem too. The one decision I never second guessed
A generator was one of the better investments I've ever made. $500 for 5500W, runs the tank, refrigerator a few lights and an AC unit. All are plugged directly into the generator.
Please DO NOT backfeed directly into your house wiring. I honestly don't believe that someone would offer that advice. It's not only illegal but also very dangerous. You could easily kill someone by doing this improperly or by simply forgetting to throw a switch, is it really worth the risk? If you want power to your whole house have an electrician install a real transfer switch.
Please DO NOT backfeed directly into your house wiring. I honestly don't believe that someone would offer that advice. It's not only illegal but also very dangerous. You could easily kill someone by doing this improperly or by simply forgetting to throw a switch, is it really worth the risk? If you want power to your whole house have an electrician install a real transfer switch.
Pandora
Premium Member
Having lost 2 tanks to power outtages (one outtage which lasted over a week, one which lasted only 3 days, but everything was dead by the end), I have to agree on the devastating loss. Not only financially... thousands of dollars worth of livestock; but it's just heartbreaking to see all the love & time invested, all the long hours of careful adjustment of trace elements & pH in the hopes of seeing one more polyp on your frag, go down the drain overnight. I bought a $200 portable generator off of eBay (after trying a portable car battery recharger/jumper, but even a small mag pump would always overload it; and the battery powered air pump doesn't support the tank for that long, and always has problems when I most need it). I guess it just figures... a year goes by and no problems. But it does give peace of mind now. It only takes one of these incidents to change how you think!
Another suggestion for those who can't afford them (or live in buildings that prohibit them... it's covered on my balcony, but technically, I'm not supposed to use these). Join your local reef club. If it's anything like mine, you'll have people who are kind enough to temporarily house your livestock during outtages, until you get back on your feet. Wish I knew that before I had to go day by day watching everything except my damsel die in a putrid soup of decay.... I am sure this fish can live in toilet water now.
But it does give peace of mind now. It only takes one of these incidents to change how you think!Another suggestion for those who can't afford them (or live in buildings that prohibit them... it's covered on my balcony, but technically, I'm not supposed to use these). Join your local reef club. If it's anything like mine, you'll have people who are kind enough to temporarily house your livestock during outtages, until you get back on your feet. Wish I knew that before I had to go day by day watching everything except my damsel die in a putrid soup of decay.... I am sure this fish can live in toilet water now.
davidgottlieb
Premium Member
Backfeeding power into your house is not illegal. If you kill or hurt someone and they catch you, they'll lock you up for man slaughter.
A transfer switch does exactly what you have to do it just does it for you. It can fail just like you can. They do have safety mechanisms now that will keep you from making an oops which I am all for.
A transfer switch does exactly what you have to do it just does it for you. It can fail just like you can. They do have safety mechanisms now that will keep you from making an oops which I am all for.
We just had an ice storm and power went out at 6am this morning. Luckly, I have a Generac 7500/12500watt electric start.
I have a 30amp 220v twist lock outlet right under my outside service box. I flip off the mains, and flip on the generator outlet. Have a special male to male cord that locks into the gen 30amp 220, then to the outside outlet.
You can back feed from a house outlet, just be careful. Only problem, that will only run 50% of your house, sense your 110 outlet is only one leg of the box. You shouldnt worry to much about over running the 15amp outlet, because the genny 110 outlet your running off of should be a 15amp curcuit also. The genny outlet would throw a breaker before you cause fire damage to the house wiring ( unless your in a super old house ). Either way, just dont sleep when your back feeding electricity, and make sure to turn the mains off BEFORE you plug the genny in, and make sure the genny is off and unplugged before you turn your mains back on.
I have a 30amp 220v twist lock outlet right under my outside service box. I flip off the mains, and flip on the generator outlet. Have a special male to male cord that locks into the gen 30amp 220, then to the outside outlet.
You can back feed from a house outlet, just be careful. Only problem, that will only run 50% of your house, sense your 110 outlet is only one leg of the box. You shouldnt worry to much about over running the 15amp outlet, because the genny 110 outlet your running off of should be a 15amp curcuit also. The genny outlet would throw a breaker before you cause fire damage to the house wiring ( unless your in a super old house ). Either way, just dont sleep when your back feeding electricity, and make sure to turn the mains off BEFORE you plug the genny in, and make sure the genny is off and unplugged before you turn your mains back on.
I put in a 12 kw natural gas fired unit in, made by kholler. It automatically switches when it senses the power going down and switches back when the power comes back. Once a week it self tests.
It switches so fast that I don't even have to set the clocks. It powers the whole house and is wired into the main fuse box.
$8,500 installed, sounds like a lot but I feel it is worth it to save my 240 gal reef with all the time and money I have into that, plus it's pretty convenient for the rest of the house.
It switches so fast that I don't even have to set the clocks. It powers the whole house and is wired into the main fuse box.
$8,500 installed, sounds like a lot but I feel it is worth it to save my 240 gal reef with all the time and money I have into that, plus it's pretty convenient for the rest of the house.
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