2020 tropical storm / hurricane thread

[birdmove]

All quiet in HPP near Kaloli and 23rd. No wind or rain.

[eightfingers2.0]

Quiet and dry here on Kaloli point.

[randomq]

Just a nice breezy day. Guess I'll open the storm shutters.

[My 2 cents]

"Ecstatically  surprised that was able to get it easily started with a few pulls of the manual rope starter.
Try that with one that was run on gasoline."
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Yesterday, with the same fear as everyone else, I decided to pull out my 4000w gas generator to see what it might take to get it going again.  It hadn't been started in close to 2 years.

It still had a full tank of stabilized non-ethanol gas. 

I turned on the gas, ignition and choke, then pulled the cord gently to see if it would turn over freely and to check the condition of the pull cord.

To my surprise (and delight!) it fired up on the first compression stroke. 

What did I do right that made my gas generator defy all the logic and wisdom that has been shared here?

[terracore]

What brand?

[My 2 cents]

Powerhorse. I had never heard of it. Bought it used a couple of years ago, but to be fair I think it was just an emergency backup and not used much at all. I only used it the one time when I wired in a 220v outlet and a double male cord and checked it to see if it would handle the full load of the homestead. It's actually 4000w surge and 3100w continuous. It handled all the basic necessities, (2 freezers, 2 fridges, water pump) but I knew better than to try to add any bigger loads without turning other things off.

Apparently this was one purchase I got right.

[kalakoa]

It's worth noting that gas engines are highly variable. Lifespan differs even between units the same make/model with similar care/maintenance.

My generator is a Troy-Bilt 7500W, I've had it over 5 years, always ethanol-free, never any additives, and it's stored with gas in the tank. Never changed the oil. It saw lots of hours during construction. Pull string broke so I have to use the electric start. Only thing "wrong" with it? When I use it for backup, the PV system complains that generator power is barely holding above 55Hz.

[birdmove]

It's worth noting that gas engines are highly variable. Lifespan differs even between units the same make/model with similar care/maintenance.

My generator is a Troy-Bilt 7500W, I've had it over 5 years, always ethanol-free, never any additives, and it's stored with gas in the tank. Never changed the oil. It saw lots of hours during construction. Pull string broke so I have to use the electric start. Only thing "wrong" with it? When I use it for backup, the PV system complains that generator power is barely holding above 55Hz.

I

    Generators should have an easy way to drain the gas tank. And a fuel petcock. Never owned one, so I don't know. Ethanol free gas is so superior for mowers etc, etc. But, I bet most generators are used what, once in 2-3 years? That's awful long even for greater or ethanol free gas.

[SBH]

The entire state of Hawaii just dodged a bullet, amazing how it tracked just offshore right along the windward coasts of all the islands. Must be those Shield Volcanoes, ha, ha.

Kind of strange how close it was to have so little effect, we got no rain, very little wind and no thunderstorms. A best case scenario for all of us.

[randomq]

Being off-grid, my generator is run at least once a month or so, topping up or equalizing batteries after stormy weather...