Is your tank ready for the cold? (1 Viewer)

[gregg]

I think im all set.. at least I hope. Only thing I dont have is some backup RO water.

What about you?

 

[Cody]

I think im all set.. at least I hope. Only thing I dont have is some backup RO water.

What about you?

Can you run an extension chord from your generac up to my house in Spring?

 

[Team Turtle]

Can you run an extension chord from your generac up to my house in Spring?

He had a big battery parked in your driveway a few weeks ago

 

[Team Turtle]

Did water changes yesterday so my ro gone as well. Backups checked and blankets read to go

 

[frankc]

Moved the last coral out of the quarantine tank last night, so one less tank to worry about.

Got a 20 gallon can nearly full of RO water. Once the indoor humidity falls off a cliff due to the constant heater usage (assuming we have power), the tanks will evaporate more quickly.

No idea how long my generator will run on 20 gallons of gas, but at least I have one now and am closer to prepared than I used to be.

 

[gregg]

Once the indoor humidity falls off a cliff due to the constant heater usage (assuming we have power), the tanks will evaporate more quickly.

i didnt realize this was the case...good to know.

 

[Cody]

Did water changes yesterday so my ro gone as well. Backups checked and blankets read to go

Yeah I'm making more RO water right now. I don't think it will matter, but it's always good to have.

 

[Cody]

Moved the last coral out of the quarantine tank last night, so one less tank to worry about.

Got a 20 gallon can nearly full of RO water. Once the indoor humidity falls off a cliff due to the constant heater usage (assuming we have power), the tanks will evaporate more quickly.

No idea how long my generator will run on 20 gallons of gas, but at least I have one now and am closer to prepared than I used to be.

When did you get a genny? How big?

 

[frankc]

When did you get a genny? How big?

It's a portable Generac, 6500 running watts. We got it in 2024, after the hurricane that left us without power for several days. Thankfully we haven't had to use it yet.

 

[Cody]

It's a portable Generac, 6500 running watts. We got it in 2024, after the hurricane that left us without power for several days. Thankfully we haven't had to use it yet.

Are you able to hook it up to your panel? Even if you're running on gas and not natural gas, it's a game changer to be able to hook it up to your panel. For instance, you can easily run your NG furnace and keep the house warm and only have to power the fan.

Like I explained to my neighbor, there's massive value in being able to go to the bathroom, turn on the switch, and a light come on, even if you can't power the whole house. I decided to convert mine to NG and have a panel hookup after the 2021 freeze. Simply not having to run extension chords everywhere is huge, and I've gotten a lot of use out of my genny.

 

[frankc]

Are you able to hook it up to your panel? Even if you're running on gas and not natural gas, it's a game changer to be able to hook it up to your panel. For instance, you can easily run your NG furnace and keep the house warm and only have to power the fan.

Like I explained to my neighbor, there's massive value in being able to go to the bathroom, turn on the switch, and a light come on, even if you can't power the whole house. I decided to convert mine to NG and have a panel hookup after the 2021 freeze. Simply not having to run extension chords everywhere is huge, and I've gotten a lot of use out of my genny.

I do not have it set up yet to hook it up to the panel, just a bunch of extension cords. We keep thinking about getting one of the whole house generators, but haven't been able to bring ourselves to spending that much. What you're doing could be a good compromise.

 

[Cody]

I do not have it set up yet to hook it up to the panel, just a bunch of extension cords. We keep thinking about getting one of the whole house generators, but haven't been able to bring ourselves to spending that much. What you're doing could be a good compromise.

My neighbor got a quote from a guy this summer to hook up a NG quick connect, an inlet into the panel, and an interlock installed for I think $700-800. I told him to jump on it but he didn't and now he's wishing he did. Even if you don't use the NG quick connect right now, it allows you to easily hook up a tri-supply generator in the future.

My current generator is a 7200w Predator generator from Harbor Freight that I converted to NG. Since NG doesn't burn as hot, I'm only putting out maybe a little over 6000w to the panel. I'm going to upgrade to a Westinghouse 11500TFC in the future, which is a tri-supply. That will put out 9500w running on NG, and with a soft start, will run the home AC as well. I will need to get a 50amp cable and inlet to the panel instead of the 30amp ones I have now though. All and all, it should be about $2000 to upgrade from what I currently have. So, for about $3,200 you could basically run your whole house, but it would have to be a manual transfer. It won't automatically kick on like a generac, but it's a fraction of the cost.

 

[gregg]

if you dont wanna spend the money on a generac you could always consider Base... Texas' Only Energy Provider With Home Backup Power | Base Power

 

[foos]

Anyone considering any type of home backup should really get an Emporia Vue and run it for a few months.

Emporia Vue Home Energy Monitor

The Vue Home Energy Monitor tracks your overall home energy consumption and, with additional sensors, monitors the energy use of specific devices in your home.

www.emporiaenergy.com

You could do whole house only, but really should do all circuits. This way you can see how much power you really use and what uses it. Then you can better decide what backup will work best for you.

 

[Cody]

Anyone considering any type of home backup should really get an Emporia Vue and run it for a few months.

Emporia Vue Home Energy Monitor

The Vue Home Energy Monitor tracks your overall home energy consumption and, with additional sensors, monitors the energy use of specific devices in your home.

www.emporiaenergy.com

You could do whole house only, but really should do all circuits. This way you can see how much power you really use and what uses it. Then you can better decide what backup will work best for you.

That's a fun little tool!

 

[Cody]

if you dont wanna spend the money on a generac you could always consider Base... Texas' Only Energy Provider With Home Backup Power | Base Power

Yeah if I could get one of those then I would. Seems like a great compromise for someone not wanting to do a whole Generac installation.

 

[RR-MAN]

if you dont wanna spend the money on a generac you could always consider Base... Texas' Only Energy Provider With Home Backup Power | Base Power

I don’t think the backup batteries provide that much power. There few companies that installs backup battery for a minimal monthly fee.

 

[Cody]

I don’t think the backup batteries provide that much power. There few companies that installs backup battery for a minimal monthly fee.

Yeah I think there's a monthly subscription associated with them, and I think you have to buy electricity from the provider they tell you to. Not sure though.

 

[foos]

I am not a fan of leasing so have not looked into that company. When looking at batteries you need to look at the power/energy and compare it to what you need. Power would be peak kW it can run at. If your power peaks at 3kW to run tank/fridge/internet and that is all you want, you need a battery system rated higher than 3kW. If you want to run your a.c. you need a battery system that handles the running draw as well as the startup surge. Then if you want to run your 3kW of load for 10 hours, you need 30kWh of battery storage, plus a few % for efficiency losses.

There are also portable battery systems that can be charged from a generator. Benefit of having both is that you can get a smaller battery that is just enough to last the night and only have to run the generator at full load for a few hours a day to charge it back up. Solves the issues of having to keep an eye on the generator to top it off, make sure no fire, pissing off neighbors due to non stop noise, and advertising to desperate passers-by that you have what they need in the middle of the night when you are likely asleep.

 

[Cody]

I am not a fan of leasing so have not looked into that company. When looking at batteries you need to look at the power/energy and compare it to what you need. Power would be peak kW it can run at. If your power peaks at 3kW to run tank/fridge/internet and that is all you want, you need a battery system rated higher than 3kW. If you want to run your a.c. you need a battery system that handles the running draw as well as the startup surge. Then if you want to run your 3kW of load for 10 hours, you need 30kWh of battery storage, plus a few % for efficiency losses.

There are also portable battery systems that can be charged from a generator. Benefit of having both is that you can get a smaller battery that is just enough to last the night and only have to run the generator at full load for a few hours a day to charge it back up. Solves the issues of having to keep an eye on the generator to top it off, make sure no fire, pissing off neighbors due to non stop noise, and advertising to desperate passers-by that you have what they need in the middle of the night when you are likely asleep.

But I'm a big fan of pissing off my neighbor. He's a real piece of crap! haha