[Rhodes22-list] And now for something completely different-Power outages

Thu Jul 27 15:52:11 EDT 2006

Glad I could help, Willard.  I'm curious if anyone uses a Honda on board the Rhodes or any sailboat, if so how to avoid the dangers of CO.  
Art

-----Original Message-----
>From: "Downs, Willard" <Willard at missouri.edu>
>Sent: Jul 27, 2006 2:13 PM
>To: The Rhodes 22 mail list <rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org>
>Subject: RE: [Rhodes22-list] And now for something completely	different-Power	outages
>
>Art, thanks for the great suggestion and reference.  That will pretty
>much solve my fuel problem!  I haven't been on the Honda site for a long
>time, so hadn't noticed that before.  That's really nice to know.  I
>appreciate it!
>
>Willard
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: rhodes22-list-bounces at rhodes22.org
>[mailto:rhodes22-list-bounces at rhodes22.org] On Behalf Of Arthur H.
>Czerwonky
>Sent: Thursday, July 27, 2006 1:03 PM
>To: The Rhodes 22 mail list
>Subject: RE: [Rhodes22-list] And now for something completely
>different-Power outages
>
>Willard,
>FYI, the Honda generators can be coupled to an extended operation fuel
>tank available on the web.  Their buzzword is 'Extended Duration' fuel
>tank, either 6 or 12 gallons.  Speedwaysales.com sells the 6 for 69.99,
>and the 12 for 119.99.  They are really a TEMPO VALU6 tank, but with
>special fittings and hose you attach to the cap of the generator - the
>suction inside the generator tank sucks fuel from the bottom of the
>external tank.
>Art
>
>-----Original Message-----
>>From: "Downs, Willard" <Willard at missouri.edu>
>>Sent: Jul 27, 2006 11:10 AM
>>To: The Rhodes 22 mail list <rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org>
>>Subject: RE: [Rhodes22-list] And now for something completely different
>-Power	outages
>>
>>Bill --
>>
>>>From Willard Downs here in Missouri.........
>>
>>I have owned one of the EU1000 Hondas for three more than 4 years now,
>>and have been very pleased with it.  I have used it for all sorts of
>>things, including running a 5500 BTU AC on our older 30' powerboat, and
>>even charging 12 volt batteries without having to use an inverter and
>AC
>>to DC charger.  The Eco throttle feature is very nice, helps to keep
>>fuel consumption and noise down.  It's light enough that it's really
>>easy to carry around, most anywhere you go.  Vibration is minimal, and
>>it doesn't walk around while running, even at load.  There are a couple
>>of things that I've noticed in using it though:
>>
>>*  The particular unit I have does not vent properly through the gas
>cap
>>(has a manual on-off), and will die unless the cap is slightly loose (a
>>bigger problem when the tank is full/nearly full.  Maybe I haven't
>spent
>>enough time figuring out what is wrong with the cap....I'm sure this is
>>unique to my Unit.  Actually the on-off vent is a nice feature if it
>>really worked!  Mine is apparently just "off" all the time.
>>
>>*  Even though it's not really noisy, if it's running close to you for
>>several hours it eventually begins to wear on you a bit.  I think it
>has
>>more to do with the frequency and "beat" of the sound, than it does the
>>decibels.  Also, as the Eco-throttle opens up, the sounds really
>>increases, so if your load will require the generator to run at full
>>throttle most of the time, it can be pretty noisy.  Of course at its
>>worst, it's better than the competition.
>>
>>*  I wish it had a larger gas tank, my run times are at the low end of
>>the range they give, even less, and it can be annoying to shut it down
>>to re-fuel it, especially at night.  
>>
>>*  Though it will run most of the loads I'd like to use it for, it's
>>right at the limit for many of them, and won't run a few.
>>
>>*  If I were buying again, or replacing it, I'd probably opt for the
>>2000.  With the nearly double fuel capacity, I think that would give me
>>the longer run-times I want (if I didn't load it up more than the one I
>>have), and should also help to minimize that noise effect I mentioned
>>above.  The extra 1000 watts would also be nice to have in reserve.
>The
>>additional cost is not much.  The biggest down-side I can see is the
>>increase in weight and size.  The 2000 would not fit in some handy
>>places I store my 1000, and the additional weight would make it more
>>cumbersome to handle.  While that sounds like a little thing, the
>almost
>>"brief-case" like size and weight has been one of the features I've
>>really enjoyed.   
>>
>>I'm sure you'll enjoy whichever one you get.  
>>
>>Willard Downs, Missouri
>>
>>
>>-----Original Message-----
>>From: rhodes22-list-bounces at rhodes22.org
>>[mailto:rhodes22-list-bounces at rhodes22.org] On Behalf Of Bill Effros
>>Sent: Thursday, July 27, 2006 9:13 AM
>>To: The Rhodes 22 mail list
>>Subject: Re: [Rhodes22-list] And now for something completely different
>>-Power outages
>>
>>Brad,
>>
>>I've come round on this one.  I hadn't looked at portable generators
>for
>>
>>20 years, and am just about to buy a $700 Honda 1K because of the gas 
>>sipping qualities and extremely low noise.  The only reason I looked 
>>this time was because of you and ...Wally? talking about the 
>>practicality of bringing one on board.  I may even try that.
>>
>>Bill Effros
>>
>>Brad Haslett wrote:
>>> Some of you that have been here for awhile may remember the rather 
>>> spirited
>>> discussion we had on generators a few years back.  With the power 
>>> outages in
>>> the NYC area and other cities, now may be a good time to review the 
>>> issue.
>>> During Hurricane Elvis (strong line of thunderstorms that knocked out
>
>>> power
>>> in Memphis for up to three weeks) my neighbors ran big Y2K generators
>>for
>>> ONE day until they ran out of gas, then went looking for filling
>>stations
>>> with power.  We're putting the finishing touches on our MS Gulf Coast
>>> evacuation plan and hurricane preparedness skills.  Here's my
>>experience
>>> from Elvis.  Small is better.  You need to run one window A/C unit 
>>> during the
>>> day (available for $60 if you buy before the crisis) and a fridge at
>>> night.  One 1000 watt genset  will run on 5 gallons of gas for a
>week.
>>> Someone on this list will go for days without power this summer for
>>one
>>> reason or another.  Don't say you weren't warned!
>>>
>>> Brad
>>>
>>> ----------------
>>>
>>> JULY 21, 2006Posted 5 days and 0 hours ago on July 21, 2006 Blackout
>>> Survival Guide
>>>
>><http://www.popularmechanics.com/blog/home/3391786.html?c=y&imageID=133
>8
>>716&caption=%3Cb%3EBatteries+Included%3A%3C%2Fb%3E+Prepare+your+blackou
>t
>>+kit+now%2C+not+in+the+dark.> 
>>>
>>>
>><http://www.popularmechanics.com/blog/home/3391786.html?c=y&imageID=133
>8
>>716&caption=%3Cb%3EBatteries+Included%3A%3C%2Fb%3E+Prepare+your+blackou
>t
>>+kit+now%2C+not+in+the+dark.> 
>>>
>>> *Batteries Included:* Prepare your blackout kit now, not in the dark.
>>> When it's as hot and humid outside as it is right now in the 
>>> northeast, air
>>> conditioning feels like a miracle. Until the lights flicker, dim, and
>>go
>>> out. With air conditioning creating massive spikes power consumption,
>>> occasionally the grid calls it quits. That's just what happened on 
>>> Tuesday
>>> evening, when more than 200,000 homes in the New York region lost
>>their
>>> power. Many people are still waiting for the power to come back.
>>>
>>> Before you're sweating it out in candlelight, take a look at our
>>blackout
>>> survival guide.
>>>
>>> Download the blackout survival podcast
>>>
>>here<http://media.popularmechanics.com/audio/Popular+Mechanics+PodcastB
>l
>>ackoutSurvival1.mp3> 
>>>
>>> .
>>>
>>> Have a Flashlight: If you haven't done so already, go out and buy at 
>>> least
>>> one small, inexpensive flashlight-one that takes 2 D cell or 2 AA 
>>> batteries.
>>> If you already have a flashlight, swap in new batteries. Leave it 
>>> standing
>>> on a book shelf, or on an easy-to-reach countertop so that you can
>get
>>to
>>> quickly and safely in the dark.
>>>
>>> Be Prepared to Empty the Fridge: A freezer packed with dry ice will
>>stay
>>> cold for days, but it's tough to find dry ice at the local corner 
>>> store. So
>>> if you've been without power for more than four hours, start emptying
>>the
>>> fridge now. Even if the power does come back soon, chances are your
>>food
>>> won't, and you don't want to let food melt in the freezer or, even
>>worse,
>>> rot in the appliance. Cleaning that up is not a mess you want to deal
>
>>> with.
>>>
>>> Shut Down Your Appliances: If your power goes out, make sure you turn
>>off
>>> your air conditioner or reset the thermostat so the air conditioner 
>>> will not
>>> turn back on until you turn it on manually. When the power does turn
>>back
>>> on, the combined load of thousands of air conditioner spooling up
>>> simultaneously can be enough to trip the grid again, starting another
>>> blackout. However, if everybody turned on their air conditioners
>>> individually, it would stagger the power demand on the grid. Every 
>>> small bit
>>> of help counts during an emergency.
>>>
>>> (Also, now's a good time to unplug that circular saw you were using 
>>> when the
>>> power went out.)
>>>
>>> Don't Overdue AC: When you do turn an air conditioner back on, don't 
>>> set the
>>> thermostat lower than 78 F. This is good practice in general:
>Although
>>it
>>> doesn't seem very cool, the dehumidifying effect of air conditioning
>>will
>>> make your house much more bearable, even at 78 F.
>>>
>>> Use Passive Cooling: If the power goes out, open as many windows as
>>> possible, especially windows and vents in the attic and the upper
>>floors.
>>> However, use shades on the sunny side of the house (south and west)
>to
>>> minimize solar heating. This is a good practice in warm months, even
>>when
>>> you've got your AC cranking like a Pratt and Whitney turbofan.
>>>
>>> If you really got caught off guard, take this opportunity to learn 
>>> from the
>>> mistake and assemble an emergency preparedness
>>>
>>kit<http://www.popularmechanics.com/home_improvement/home_owner_clinic/
>2
>>076037.html?page=4&c=y>consisting 
>>>
>>> of lighting, food, water, a first aid kit, tools and anything
>>> else you'll need. -Roy Berendsohn
>>> __________________________________________________
>>> Use Rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org, Help? www.rhodes22.org/list
>>>
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>
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