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Health & Fitness

Architext #1303: Portable Generators. Do it Right!

You've thought about it...but STILL haven't done it! In this primer about planning for a portable generator, Architect Dom Narducci uses his own simple system to offer some basic advice.

As we anticipate today’s snowfall, I decided to re-publish this Blog that I first presented in Dec 2011 after the dramatic Halloween Storm that left 800,000 households without power in CT. Since then many generators have been installed throughout the region, and I’ve received many comments and questions on this piece.  If you’re still thinking about a generator, this is for you! Due to its length, I can’t fit it all in here, so if you want to read more use the link provided below.  Here’s the start of the original Blog:

We just came off of 9 days without power after CT was hit with a freakish, pre-Halloween snowstorm that brought 12″ of snow to our area.  Trees, many still full of leaves, couldn’t handle the weight of a foot of wet heavy snow.   Downed trees and snapped branches ended up also bringing down power lines on a huge scale.

While almost all of our neighbors fled to hotels and friends’ houses, we survived the ordeal (rather easily) because of our portable generator system.  The generator, a 12 years-old Makita (Model G6100R, 4.8 kW) performed admirably for all 9 days.  We enjoyed power for heat (oil-fired furnace), water (240 volt well water pump), hot water (oil-fired), refrigerator, basement chest freezer, kitchen stove (propane), kitchen counter outlets, kitchen lights and other minimal lights.   The generator (which we ran for about 9 hours over 3 intervals between 7am and 11pm daily) not only kept us warm, but also let us prepare typical meals in our lighted kitchen and enjoy them in our lighted dining room.

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Needless to say, there has been a real buzz about generators since the storm hit.  Many have been sold as fast as retailers could get them and you couldn’t find an extension cord or gas container anywhere.  Unfortunately, many folks don’t understand the limitations of portable generators and the right way to plan and install them. TO READ MORE GO TO http://freestoneplans.com/2011/11/07/

Dom Narducci is a practicing architect in Southbury, CT.  He provides complete architectural design and construction management services (Freestone-inc.com) and offers a line of stock house plans (FreestonePlans.com). Additionally, Narducci teaches and writes on design and construction issues. Comments are welcome. You can also contact Dom at: dnarducci@freestone-inc.com.

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