MH> Sounds like you have a nice generator/power setup.  Your generator   
    MH> holds 25+ gallons or is that just how much you keep on hand?   
      
   that's only how much we keep on hand... we have only a small 5000 watt unit   
   like you have... we've just designed one 220 cable for the AC and one 110 unit   
   for that plug box i talked about...   
      
    MH> Your switchbox just makes sure you can't accidentally backfeed the   
    MH> utility, and I do know it is required to be legal.  We don't lose   
    MH> power that often here, thankfully.  I have my (4) double ended male   
    MH> extension cords ready to backfeed the house if it happens again.     
      
   exactly... kinda like also having an extra washing machine hose so you can run   
   a waterhose to the well house when the pipes in the ground get frozen or break   
   and there's no water in the house... just connect to the spighot at the   
   wellhead and then to a spighot at the house and you're back in the water   
   business ;)   
      
    MH> I plug each one into different circuits in the basement, so none   
    MH> are overloaded. Gives me a full 30-40 amps for the house.    
      
   our "basement" is all on the same circuit... we just branch at the main power   
   panel for our "special" circuits...   
      
    MH> I was very surprised as to how much would run on the 5000 watt   
    MH> generater.  Just making sure not to turn on all the heavy hitters   
    MH> on at once.  We did have a hairdryer, toaster over, (2) fridges,   
    MH> microwave, open the garage door, and furnace + 10 computers all on   
    MH> at the same time, with lights, etc.  It takes 6.5 gallons and was   
    MH> lasting around 10 or so hours on average.     
      
   exactly...   
      
    MH> I was very happy to have heat, etc while the power was out for 24   
    MH> hours.    
      
   you should have seen us when fran came thru here... it was 3 days later before   
   we got the generator and then another week i think before commercial power   
   came back on... we were very glad to have that generator... at that time, one   
   only needed to pull the cord once or twice to get it going... now it takes a   
   lot more pulling to get it going... i'm pretty winded and down after 40 pulls   
   with no fire :/   
      
    MH> BTW, we are also gas heat and gas hot water.  We also have a gas   
    MH> fireplace.    
      
   we used to have a great wood stove for heat on a real concrete and slate   
   hearth but the insurance forced us to take it out... we never had any problems   
   of any type with it at all...   
      
   )\/(ark   
      
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