> posted by Genroberts on comp.software.year-2000
> May I suggest a 5500 watt surge, 4500 watt continuous "North
> Star"generator from Northern Hydraulics. Honda engine. Good
> quality without 'frills'.
>
> Believe it or not, they are on sale: $999.99 (previously $1899.99)
>
> Call Northern Hydraulics: 1-800-533-5545
> (24 hours)
>
> Reference Item# 165911-C134
>
Dope slap to the forehead. I had that catalog sitting on my desk for a
couple of days and didn't catch that front page ad. If I'm ever in your
neck of the woods I owe ya a dinner. Contact me at appysys@inreach.com if you'd like to collect on that :-) Many thanks Genroberts!
My wife just got off the phone with Northern. The price has already risen $60.00 to $1059.99 and they are on back order (no kidding!). Now, they state that the delivery date is March 1. Give them a credit card number and they will take your order and wait until they receive the units to charge your card. I don't believe the March 1 date AT ALL, probably more like July 1 but at least I'm in line now.
Bob
[No true year 2000 success story can be reported until the year 2000]
-- Bob Benson (appysys@inreach.com), February 05, 1999
Bob,
W.W. Grainger has generators
(w/o attached IC engines) listed in its onlone catalog at that link.
I haven't checked on availability, and you'd have to rig the pulleys,
belts, support frame, etc. but the concept is sound. Your truck
engine would easily drive any of the units offered in their catalog.
Grainger has outlets all over the country and there is a locator on
their website, complete with phone and fax numbers, addresses and even
maps.
-- Hardliner (searcher@internet.com), February 05, 1999.
As has been mentioned in other posts here, it's one thing to
get a generator, it's another thing to use it safely and
efficiently. Things like oil burners and well pumps usually
do not come with plugs; they are "hard wired" to the main
power panel. Also, maintenance of the generator and its
motor, and safe storage and preservation of fuel, especially
if it is gasoline, need attention.
There are many sites on the web that discuss various aspects
of using standby generators, as well as such things as
batteries, inverters, and battery chargers, so that you can
have some electricity available when the generator is not
running.
One site that has some very handy suggestions, as well as many
links to other pertinent sites, is the 'juice page" at:
http://209.52.183.182/agitator/juice_page.htm
As one poster put it, it's not rocket science, but it's also
not a no brainer.
Let me offer a few totally unsubstantiated personal opinions:
The price of the generator will likely be less than half,
possibly much less than half, of the total cost of using it
effectively.
Fuel storage and wiring alterations need serious attention.
For safety's sake, it should not be run indoors (carbon
monoxide kills people). Depending on your neighborhood, if
power in your area is out for protracted periods, running it
outdoors may expose it to some possible problems, such as
theft or vandalism.
Also depending on your neighborhood, if power is out for
protracted periods, it may be prudent, as well as kindly, to
think of ways in which your having a generator can be helpful
to your neighbors.
Unless you have money to spare, plan to use the generator only
for things for which you have no practical alternative, and
for what you do plan to use it, oversize it at least somewhat,
especially if it is not diesel. One the other hand, if it is
diesel, do not oversize it too much (since the motor must run
at a constant rpm, you would at least waste fuel, but there is
more to it than that).
(soapbox mode off)
Jerry B
-- Jerry B (skeptic76@erols.com), February 05, 1999.