As normal lol
We had a heavy rain storm move thru when it just about over lightning took out the power.
Pretty sure it got the transformer close to our house by the flash an very loud boom
So we called in the power outage .
I waited a few hours it was about 7:30 pm so while some day light left I dug our our generator And a few tubs of extension cords ( I am sure I have 4x what I need on cords (but 50 years of buying them )
Any way got the fridges all changed over at least one light in several rooms and of course power to the TV aand computer
Did a quick ccheckout great about 5 gallons of Gas well crap , i had put off filling the cans last week after mowing so a trip to the gas station and 100.00 less I came home with a few gas cans full just in case and they will always get used
So now I was All set and good to go that killed about a hhour Ayre two
Sure enought 10:30pm they got our power back on truly a good thing on that part
But now a couple hours tomorrow rolling up cords and putting away everything
Yes I am ggladit was fast I know it could have been so much worse in so many ways .
But a crystal ball on how long the power would be out would be great thing to have . I am more than happy it's ony a few hours compared to days as in the past Just venting on so much effort and it's over about the time I sit down from setting it all up lol
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I bought a Reliance transfer switch and installed it myself (pretty easy to do). No more extension cords or scrambling in the middle of the night.
NOTE: Still need to buy gas though. 😉
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Twenty years ago, an electrician friend put a 220 outlet in our garage and an extra breaker for it in our main box. When the power goes out, all I have to do is turn off the main, turn on the 220 breaker and plug in the generator. No more extension cords running all over the place. One of these days, I'll probably go with a whole house generator, but have been putting it off because I will also need a propane tank installed to run it. Sure would be simpler if I had gas service to the house, but that's what I get for living in the boonies. Bob
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The transfer switch is the way to go. Bobs way works, but is illegal here. For about $75 you can make it legal.
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I also turn OFF the main, then plug my generator into the dedicated 220v receptical that i installed at my meter box. I keep my meter box locked 24/7 too. Prevents some idiot from turning it off, and a bigger idiot from turning it on(when i want it off).
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While building, I had a sub panel put in for circuits I need if the power goes out. The dedicated 220 plug outside is connected to a breaker in that panel. The only way that breaker can be turned on is if the main breaker in that panel is off via a little metal bracket. I don't hook up the generator unless they tell me it will be more then a few hours.
I also turn off some of the breakers in the main panels to protect electronics incase of a surge when the power comes back on. Each of the main panels has a surge protector just incase.
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