Hey, EVs in Florida

[Major Tom]

How ya doing with yer electric cars now? LOL

[Allen]

How ya doing with yer electric cars now? LOL

+1

But right now they can't buy gasoline/diesel either and won't be able to perhaps for weeks. What little gas they have for their generators was bought before the storm too.

[Vern Humphrey]

Emergencies like this are why I always keep two 5-gallon cans of electricity in my shed.

[Allen]

Emergencies like this are why I always keep two 5-gallon cans of electricity in my shed.

If running a generator though that's only about 2 days worth.

[Art]

If running a generator though that's only about 2 days worth.

Depends on how you're using it. If you run the generator 24/7 or close to it two days is about max, but, if the aim is to keep the freezers cold, watch tv while that's going on you're talking about running the generator 9-12 hours a day. Using it that way I got a bit over a week out of 20 gallons in Hurricane Ike. Our current 5,500 kw generator in that mode will get about 2 hours per gallon hooked up to the house.

[Allen]

Depends on how you're using it. If the aim is to keep the freezers cold, watch tv while that's going on you're talking about running the generator 9-12 hours a day. Using it that way I got a bit over a week out of 20 gallons in Hurricane Ike. Our current generator in that mode will get about 2 hours per gallon hooked up to the house.

Well, 20 gallons a week comes out close to a 3 gals a day so... There's a lot of "if's" and "what if's" when determining fuel consumption including the size of your generator. We've always been very conservative with the gas during hurricanes because you don't know when you are going to be able to find gas again and when you do there will be lines and limited supplies. Plus you have to have/use gas in your car to go find it.

You need to run the freezer 2 or 3 hours then cover with blankets and switch the power to the fridge for a while. Small fans are a necessity and a small window A/C is a luxury.

The newer model generators with the Honda and Chinese engines seem to get better mpg. Best to use a small generator and not expect much than to use a big one and not be able to feed it for very long.

The best systems are the $15K-$25K (and more) nat gas whole house generators that rely on the municipal nat gas piped in gas.

Not the best of times.

[togor]

MT all of those EVs out there are lowering the price you pay for gas. And all those new drivers in India every year are raising it.

[dogtag]

Emergencies like this are why I always keep two 5-gallon cans of electricity in my shed.

Good one.
I hope you use rubber gloves when you pick them up.

[PWC]

I don't have room for a generator or large propane tank.

You might go to th "4 patriots" website and look at their solar generators with 2 foldable 100W solar panels. Depends on sunshine; the storms don't stay and usually sunshine follows.

I live in Phoenix where there is no shortage of sun. My test showed the generator's lithium ion batt, fully charged, ran my freezer full time for 6 hrs and took 3 hrs to recharge. It ran my fridge, normal use opening the door, for 3 hours, with 3 hr recharge. Will run while recharging at same time.

In emergency, usage would drop. Will run fans, microwave, any 115VAC or 12VDC appliance, predicated upon your priority. It won't run fullhouse or AC, but fans are ok. $2500.00

[Merc]

My cousin lives in Ft. Myers and had a lot of shingles torn off by the 150 mph winds. No flooding. He has kept his refrigerator running with a 5 KW generator but no power until last night. No cable yet so no tv - his contact with outside world has been zero. Fox News in Pittsburgh showed FEMA handing out tarps yesterday somewhere in Ft. Myers but did not say where the distribution center was located. There is a huge black mold problem in Florida so it in his best interest to get tarps on his roof as quickly as possible to prevent leaks. Thankfully, the weather in Ft. Myers has been dry since Ian came to visit. My wife found a FEMA sight on the Internet that offers to come and install tarps on damaged roof free of charge. It is called OPERATION BLUE ROOF. I gave my cousin the 800 number which he called right away. They will be out to install the tarps today or tomorrow and said they will place his shed back on its foundation. The wind blew it off. Without cable, not many Florida residents are aware of the FEMA program. It may be several months before a roofing contractor will be available to replace his roof.

[Allen]

You might go to th "4 patriots" website and look at their solar generators with 2 foldable 100W solar panels. Depends on sunshine; the storms don't stay and usually sunshine follows.

Worth looking into and you're right--just after a big storm the sky is usually clear, full of sunshine and very, very hot.

I've said before that I believe all EV vehicles should have solar panels on the top and out of sight. When parked in an open parking lot or yard they could at least partially recharge themselves.

The big deal now with generators is buying one that has an inverter. The inverter converts ac power to dc then back to ac. What this does is stabilizes an even power source to delicate electronics. Freezer, fridge and a/c compressors for instance cut on and off. While on generator power supply this creates a power surge or dip that can damage TV's and computers. Inverter generators provide a level power supply.

[PWC]

I guess I wasn't clear, I'm sorry. I thought everyone knew an inverter was needed to convert stored DC to AC on demand. The inverter and battery with admin controls constitute the "Generator" (44 lbs). Comes with a 25" extension cord for the panels in the sun charging and the gen under cover shade. When I bought mine (a Labor Day deal) it came with a string of 3 LEDs I think, 25" long, I don't know, I haven't tried them yet.

I don't have a battery powered TV, not since the govt forced broadcasters change to HD, but I do have several battery powered radios and flashlights. Thinking about getting rechargeable batts too.


EDIT: clarification

[Allen]

I guess I wasn't clear, I'm sorry. I thought everyone knew an inverter was needed to convert stored DC to AC on demand. I don't have a battery powered TV, but do have several battery powered radios and flashlights. Thinking about getting rechargeable batts too.

I assumed an inverter was needed with the solar panels to convert to ac otherwise you just have charged batteries.

On a gas powered generator an inverter is needed for the purpose listed above. In both cases they convert but for different reasons.

[Mark in Ottawa]

I understand that gasoline starts to degrade after a few months and that it is advisable to rotate your emergency supply. Apparently that is why they ship unrefined oil rather than refined products like gasoline.

[Art]

I understand that gasoline starts to degrade after a few months and that it is advisable to rotate your emergency supply. Apparently that is why they ship unrefined oil rather than refined products like gasoline.

True.

But - the right cans are important, they need to be metal and airtight. Jerry cans are great if they are new and the seals good. I use Eagle safety cans, just as good but not as compact. You want that hiss when you pop them open. With the right can and a good fuel stabilizer even 10% ethanol gasoline will last over a year and I've had it work just fine after two years but that is pushing it. Correct storage can take your turnaround time on fuel from months to a year to a year and a half.

In the past gasoline was cheapest in the winter which was when I rotated. My brother the chemist told me that winter blend gas is also more volatile, more btu to the gallon, don't know how much difference that part makes practically though.

PWC is correct that regular generators can be hard on your sensitive electronics, especially computers and phones.