I am preparing for Hurricane Irene ...
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About that Generator (Score:5, Insightful)
Make sure the GEN is grounded, don't want to electrocute yourself
Make sure the oil levels and quality are good (do a quick check every time you refuel, if the oil is black replace it)
Make sure the Gen won't get wet
Assure proper ventilation! Many people die from gassing themselves with the exhaust fumes.
Check spark plugs, use a volt-meter to calibrate output, have extensions ready,
If you have sensitive electronics you want to use with the Gen, plug them first into a voltage regulator and not directly into the gen
Have extra fuel.
Finally, prepare to shake your defiant fist at Zeus with your abundant electricity supply when mother nature comes knocking.
Re:Ran the generator for 20 minutes (Score:3, Insightful)
Running the motor only does not mean that other internals are not seized up, thus will not create electricity...
You need to start it, and put a LOAD on the generator, so it, well, generates. People oftentimes never do this; So while the engine starts right up fine, the sucker still will not make any power. They realize this when they actually lose power, at which point, they are far more 'letdown'.
Just a tip!
Re:Ran the generator for 20 minutes (Score:2, Insightful)
One of the problems with getting smacked hard by a hurricane can be weeks without electricity and keeping the windows open as they hit during the warmer months as a rule. Then you get to hear all of the peoples' generators racket adding to your misery not to mention the cost of keeping one running 24/7. Six years ago we had three weeks with no power due to being smacked by three storms in Florida. The worst part was that every local grocery store had closed down due to water intrusion from their large, flat roofs failing and spoilage due to weeks without electricity. I had to drive 80 miles one way to buy any groceries at all and that was after almost a full week as our roads were not usable due to trees, power lines and other trash blocking almost every road in every direction.
I am very glad I had hand guns at my disposal as people were looking desperate enough that serious trouble could have easily erupted. In a nation where most people have less than one week's pay to keep a roof over their heads imagine all jobs shut down for a month or more. Hurricanes have more dangers than one might think.