We ran a test this week. My freezer is about 3/4 full. I turned it off for 3 days, opened it and everything was still frozen. Then I plugged it in and listened for the compressor to stop. It was about 5 hours. So, if I only get into the freezer once or twice a week we can keep it frozen by running our generator for 5 hours. I think we will keep the freezer going. While that generator is going, I will get the washer and dryer going, the hot water tank for showers, the bread baked and heat or air condition the house. Since my mother in law is on the same meter, she will be doing the same. Friends from Alaska will be hooked up outside with their 35 ft 5th wheel for the winter,and they too will be doing the same. So that will take lots of pressure off of us. Especially being able to wash and dry clothes. That is damn hard work by hand, especially heavy winter clothes. Chubby Hubby is going to pull our 30 ft travel trailer up outside the kitchen door and I will have that refrigerator/freezer to use and also the furnace if it gets really cold. I will spend days in the trailer when its too cold in the house. It can get down to 20 here, but not every year and it lasts only a couple of days. So...think we are ready. Other than 2 inch thick wooden shutters with gun holes in them, I don't know what else we can do.

Taz...who is planning on setting back and enjoying the rest of the year while she can. I have worked damn hard to get this place! If people think they can prepare with one trip to WalMart, they are sure in for a surprise/shock! Even when you have the money to spend, its WORK!

-- Taz (Tassie@aol.com), August 26, 1999

Answers

Taz

Have you tried your plan with the power off useing the genset?

-- Brian (imager@home.com), August 26, 1999.

Taz,

Keep in mind, the 5 hour period is ONLY how long it took the freezer's temperature to return to the setpoint. It will take MUCH longer for the food's core temperature to come back down.

I would estimate that your food would slowly deteriorate, if you use your planned method.

-- Dennis (djolson@pressenter.com), August 26, 1999.

Taz, you needed to run your genset 5 hours after your freezer was powered down for 3 days. If you lose power, don't wait 3 days to repower your freezer. That way you won't have to run your genset for 5 hours.

-- Ninh Hoa (tech@univ.now), August 26, 1999.

Taz,

If it is freezing outside try this; take a few 1 gallon baggies and fill them with water. Let them freeze outside. Whenever you open your freezer take 2 or 3 baggies out and replace them with 2 or 3 freshly frozen ones. Should help keep things nice and cold.

-TECH32-

-- TECH32 (TECH32@NOMAIL.COM), August 26, 1999.

My freezer is going outside this winter.

But of course I live where it is colder outside than inside.

-- LM (latemarch@usa.net), August 26, 1999.

You're gonna run all that stuff for all those people at the same time?

Do you have a generator powerful enough to do that? It must be a monster!

-- Ron Schwarz (rs@clubvb.com.delete.this), August 27, 1999.

A deep freezer is usually set to 0 degrees F. This will keep food well for 6 to 12 months. Food in a top compartment freezer of a typical fridge set at 20 degrees and will keep for a month or so beore starting its slow decline.

Someone here suggested using what is in the fridge (35 degrees) first, then moving to what's in the freezer and etc. Cold storage is energy intensive to say the least. Its a good idea to have that freezer or even the fridge out doors this january. Make sure you put a hasp lock on it though or you may find the contents gone one morning.

-- ..- (dit@dot.dash), August 27, 1999.

Dear Taz,

But I thought you knew !!

Washing clothes by hand is sooooooo therapeutic.Of course,you could always rig up a gigantic "hamster" wheel & get Jake to run round inside it & work off his lunch whilst the axle turns a washing drum.

OR tie plastic bags full of water,soap & dirty clothes to the donkeys & take them for a long trot.LOL

-- Chris (griffen@globalnet.co.uk), August 27, 1999.