Forget generators--buy a Prius!

[markbhall]

One thing folks in the Houston area are thinking about a lot these days is getting a generator to prepare for the next hurricane. Since the electrical service for Brokedown Palace is going to all be new, we're adding a disconnect switch and generator connection

Comments

[eviljohn]

I've been thinking about that for my Prius for a long time. I love the idea, but don't think it's as straightforward as plugging a radio shack inverter into the cigarette plug. Inverters are notoriously inefficient, and only rated for so much wattage. I think you'd have to run the power off the main 480v batteries in the trunk and have a specialized inverter in order to supply enough wattage for the entire house. Plus the usual switch circuitry to switch from the energy company's power to the car (or generator).

IMO it's feasible, just not as simple as they make it out to be.

My garage is quite far from my house, so it's no practical for me, plus (knock on wood) we haven't had many major power outages in the 5 years I've lived here.

[kgkofmel]

Though if you had a major power outage, and your car/house was set up for it, I would be surprised if the community did not allow for temporarily moving your car closer to your house. Or to the common house, for that matter. It would be better for the community to have a bunch of Prius cars parked on the pathways than a bunch of generators, and that's based on recent experience. Generators are loud, smelly, obnoxious, polluting gas hogs.

One should never run a generator inside a garage or a house anyway; that's the fast route to CO poisoning, and I expect it would be the same using a Prius.

[ziactrice]

As a number of families unfortunately learned the hard way, yes, a generator MUST be outside. If the Hurricane Ike aftermath was any indication, a supply of stabilized gasoline, and an EXTREMELY stout, solid-steel welded cage to prevent the generator being stolen might also be a good idea. Some sound proofing, or at least baffling walls around it might also reduce the annoyance factor of the continous roar.

[markbhall]

Yeah, we wouldn't be trying to run the whole house.

We found that post-Ike, the biggest issues were no refrigerator (therefore the need to acquire ice on a regular basis), no lights and no fans. The lack of fans was not an issue after the first night, because we got some cool weather--something that can't be counted on during hurricane season.

But if we could find a way to get the full 3KW out of the batteries, we could maybe run a small air conditioner, like the one we're getting for the shop/studio. We could sleep there in air conditioned comfort...aaahh.

[ziactrice]

Gad. If I had a permanent dwelling, I would SO look into that. Nothing like making your single-use tools multi-use, and a pretty darn good survival use, at that. Perhaps one could at least hook up an attic vent fan to it, instead, to draft the hot air out to cool the place at night

[markbhall]

We found that having lots of ice and a propane grille saved our bacon--and other refrigerated items. ;-)

And if we had had the refrigerator, fans and lights, it really would have been almost normal.

So if we get all set up before the next emergency, you can stay with us. We'll need the help anyway if it turns out to be a widespread zombie apocalypse. Bring your LP's if you've got 'em.

[kgkofmel]

And cricket bat.

[ziactrice]

Say, where is your Brokedown Palace? When you're ready for nickel tours, I'll give you the traditional house-warming gift: a loaf of good bread and some salt. I always try to have several emergency bugout plans in place, so if you're serious, I wouldn't mind setting it up - living in an apartment can be frightening - even without zombies involved. I was one of 2 units in my 500 unit complex that didn't have internal water penetration, window breakage, or other serious hurricane problems. If a Cat 4 comes in, I'm gonna have to bug out. Or maybe even another large Cat 3