Here is what the Costco in Lynnwood is offering. It is a Dual Fuel, which means you can run it with Propane, which is an outstanding option, especially if you are a barbecuer and you have several propane bottles available.
It also has the 30 amp plug needed to feed our recommended Generator Bypass Switch setup.
Home Depot has the Interlock kits for the newer Square D panels, as does Amazon, (that is for the 200 amp indoor panels).
However, not everyone has those panels. Go figure.
So, if you don’t have a Square D panel, go here: GenInterlock.com, I have used them and they are good.
Of course, contact us if you want someone to take care of all this for you.
We are pretty good!
Good Generator Interlock Company
When at Costco, I like to see which Generators they are now selling. Today at the Woodinville Costco, I ran across this:
The Generac GP8000e. They are ‘clearing them out’ for $750. This unit has been discontinued by Generac, but it has good ratings.
Remember, if your house has gas, you can usually get by with 5500 watts. (I say usually ;))
Also, if you buy this generator, give us a call to show you how to hook it up to your house panel.
Costco generators
Recently Instapundit talked about a propane generator his sister used: Propane Generator worth looking at
PS: I love those animated gifs
This Generac iQ2000 Gas Powered Portable Inverter
is getting good reviews at Amazon and Popular Mechanics
Generator review on Popular Mechanics
I would like to see a comparison of this generator v the Honda EU2000I 2000 Watt Super Quiet Inverter Generator
Changing out an old Westinghouse panel to a new square d home line 60 space panel. Because these days, you can never have enough spaces
Here are some basic recommended parts. You can click the links and buy them on Amazon, or try Home Depot. The prices are usually the same. Check with the part number on HomeDepot.com before you go. Usually the interlock kits are hard to find there.
Generator Interlock Kits:
If you have a Square D homeline panel: Model # HOMCGK2C
Square D Generator Interlock Kit
This simple kits is mounted on your electrical panel cover and allows you to safe
An inlet box allows you to safely plug a cord in reversed
ly feed your generator power to you house.
To plug it in you need a power inlet plug, this one works great: 30 Amp reliance power inlet box
The of course a generator is needed.
GENERATORS
Highly recommended:
Best choice generator
Honda EU2000I 2000 Watt Super Quiet Inverter Generator
The beautiful thing about this generator is, it will use about a gallon of gas a day. That is not much. Also, it is quiet. If you want power but don’t want to be kept awake, or don’t want to disturb the neighbors, or draw attention to your cozy home, this is
Special Honda cords
the choice. It is low wattage, but very efficient. It produces the full 2000 Watts while some other that claim to don’t. If you need more wattage, the beauty of this product is you buy another and use one of these cord sets to double your power.
USED WITH SUCCESS:
It just depends on your house and how much load you have.
As a reminder, you need to calculate how much power you will be using regularly when choosing the generator that is best for you. However, with the generator interlock kit, you do have flexibility to move things around.
Also, with most of these solutions some items would usually not be usable at your home, for instance, large HVAC systems if they were not gas, large ovens or clothes dryers. However, even then there are workarounds.
Next I will write a ‘How to” use all these parts together.
This post was turned into a page Generators and Parts
Snow and Powerlines go together like peanut butter and sardines
Some of us love snow days, we get to hang at home, its almost like a vacation. Sometimes however, snow days are accompanied by power outages. Imagine sitting at home on a snow day, without power. It maybe fine for a few hours, or a day but after that, we want some power. That is the appeal of the generator. Backup power on demand.
Unfortunately, today, there are more potential causes of power outages than just weather.
Notice this report from AP: AP Investigation: US power grid vulnerable to foreign hacks
Hackers may be able to take down the grid, doh!
Also this from ABC news. They report the electrical grid may be vulnerable to terrorists.
Then the latest Feds: Cyber-Attack On Ukraine Proves US Power Grid Is Vulnerable
Do we think this will happen, probably not, but there are a lot of reasons to be prepared.
Once again, we recommend you have a back up generator and a means of plugging it into your house. Running extension cords is not safe.
See our backup power page on how to avoid extension cords.
Also our Generators and Parts page for recommended items.
Or, even easier, give us a call
We agree
Our summers in Seattle sure go by fast. Thankfully are winters are usually not that bad, temperature wise. However, with the rain and wind, and occasional snow storm, we usually run out of power once or twice.
Did you know for an affordable price, you can enjoy electricity in your house even when the utility power is out? With the purchase of a small portable generator and the installation of a generator inlet plug as well as a generator interlock kit in your panel it is easy.
This is the way to enjoy a power outage.
