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41 Comments

  2. Thanks for this good article. Here are some thoughts and experiences we have:

    1. Generators: We have an electric start Generac with recoil start as a backup. I have a calendar reminder to top-off the charge of the battery every two weeks, and I do a 15-20 minute maintenance run the 3rd Saturday of every month. We store 10 gallons of gasoline treated with Stabil. Additionally, our vehicles will provide additional fuel, but modern vehicles need a method to get the siphon hose past the anti-siphon point in the filler system. A Gastapper system solves this problem.

    https://www.amazon.com/GasTapper-Portable-Transfer-Gasoline-Case/dp/B00QDC31VO/ref=sr_1_6?s=automotive&ie=UTF8&qid=1521636017&sr=1-6&keywords=gastapper

    2. We have switched most of our small device batteries to Eneloop rechargeables and I top-off the charge on those every three months. For other rechargeable batteries, such as cell phones, a Microstart jump battery

    https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B015T8KN5Y/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o07_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

    will charge cell phones, jump start your vehicle, run laptop computers, etc. A small solar panel is a back-up charging system for the Microstart battery. The Microstart battery is top-offed every 3 months, more often if it is used.

    1. Great suggestions! I have a few devices similar to the Microstart you mention. Those are what we were using in the bedrooms and for general charging. They worked great.

      I also have something similar to the gas transfer system you shared. Great mention and I think that anyone that has a fairly long-term (>1month) outlook should have one squared away (or two).

      Love your suggestions on the maintenance schedule.

    2. I have a similar plan in place but would like add I purchased a dual fuel. It run on gas and propane the nice thing is the propane doesn’t have a shelf life like gas. Very happy with it so far had a 5 day event

  3. You can make ethanol free gasoline. Just add water to gas/ethanol mixture, agitate it well, then let it set for a while to separate. The ethanol will bind with the water and settle to the bottom of the tank. Just like oil and water then. Saves a lot of money over store bought.

  4. In this all electric house in CT, there is a 30,000 BTU vented propane stove in the living room. The thermostat does NOT require electricity, but is wired directly to the stove. We can just “dial” it to the temperature desired and it starts. The fan IS tied to the electrical panel, so that does not run, but the room (which has vaulted ceiling and MANY windows) will stay somewhat comfortable. That stove has three 100 gallon propane tanks. We do have a 15,000 watt propane generator and 2 bedrooms, kitchen and 2 bathrooms wired to it, as well as hot water heater, refrigerators/freezer/lights – anything that is plugged in. We ration use so that the main house and guest house can “share” the generator. the guest house has a ventless propane stove and two 100 gallon tanks, so they turn OFF the baseboard heat, and we take turns using our hot water heaters. We have a schedule for 2 hours early AM, 2 hours Noon, 2 hours PM. In a very long lasting ice storm, we could last about 10 days before needing propane for the generator tank. Scarce propane would go to First Responders/hospitals and the like and home owners would be last on the list. In a true long last grid down situation here in a crowded small New England state, we know that in winter we are “done for”. The other 3 seasons we could last much longer. However, we are elderly and that is just the way it is. We have plenty of long dated food to last a long time, something to leave younger relatives who are still clueless! Were we 40 years younger and other factors NOT being the case, we would have left and moved to a more RED rural state and take up mini-farming as we were both farm kids back in the 40’s and 50’s.

  5. Excellent article, and now for a couple of suggestions.
    One, for communications, you and your family should consider getting your Ham Radio license. A little studying and for local comm’s the Technician license is not that hard to pass and you would have good communications within a 25(?) mile radius. You can do a Goggle search for Ham Radio clubs in your town and see what you can come up with. I also suggest you visit a club close to you and talk to the members and get to know them. You might be surprised at the help you get.
    Two, while Stabil is good and works well, what I use (and a little more expensive) is Pri-G. This will keep gas good for 5 years and I use it in all my gas storage including fuel I run in the lawn mower, chain saw, generator, and tiller.
    Glad you learned from your experience from the storms.

    1. Thanks Randy. You and JohnnyMac both point out something I’ve been intending to do for some time. All that you mention in regards to the local clubs, practice exams, books, etc. is straight on. Just take the darn time to do it, right?!

      1. I’ve had my license [for] several years. The only bad thing is the user hostile programming of Yaesu and other radios with similar chip sets. A smartphone can store contacts easier than programming repeater freqs in a Yaesu.

    2. -Randy-

      Good suggestions. I would add that for those who are not yet into HAM radio, there is an app called Broadcastify which let’s you listen in on transmissions from just about everywhere right on your phone. During the California wildfires this summer, I had access to crucial information in real time, long before it made the local news. I really recommend it.

      I too use PRI-G for my stored gas, but I also use it in my truck every time I fill up. It’s a 2004 Ranger, but she runs like a champ since I started adding it. The gas out here is horrible, but PRI-G cleans it up beautifully.

  6. I in general do not agree with generators. I have a motorhome and they come with a generator. I have to run it every couple of months to assure it’s condition doesn’t deteriorate but I never use it. We do a lot of dry camping or boondocking and still don’t use/need a generator. We do have a solar panel and it is more than enough to charge a couple of computers and our phones and to run lights at night and to keep the battery topped off. I see other campers with generators and wonder why they waste the time and money on them. As for home use, again simply don’t use the major appliances that need electricity. I have somehow survived black outs withoout a generator.

    1. I understand your point about generators, and somewhat agree. The main purpose for our generator is to keep the refrigerator and freezer going until the food can be consumed during a long-term outage. After that we are positioned to operate without electricity.

  7. Generator Muffler:
    I remember reading about an article were the author recommended a (used?) motorcycle muffler for his generator. It was a complete DIY project to mount it but I recall him stating it worked well to keep the noise down. I also recall him saying he pointed/mounted it vertically so the noise went “up.”

  8. Great AAR! We all learn from our missed opportunities and mistakes.

    Compared to most of your neighborhood you seemed pretty well squared away and I am sure will make adjustments as mentioned. The one point I want to emphasize is – Communication.

    I know, I know I/you/us will get around to obtaining our FCC Ham Radio License, or…I will learn how to use UHF/VHF/HF when the grid goes down. I use to think that too until I bit the bullet and got my Technical Ticket.

    Once I got my Technical ticket the real learning started. Building cheap antennas, back-up power supply, and practicing my communicating techniques with other hams were forced upon me. This lead me to obtaining my General Ticket which even more so, opened up my communication world.

    This is what I tell the folks on my internet site.
    1) Buy the ARRL Technicians Text book.
    2) If you have a smartphone, down load the APP with the test questions.
    3) Register with the ARRL.org so you have access to the practice exams.

    Then,
    A) Read a chapter every three days from the ARRL book. Answer the exam test questions in the
    back of the book.
    B) While waiting for the Doctor in the waiting room, waiting in line at the Post Office, sitting at a
    red light, et cetera – Pull out your phone and start answering the exam questions while you
    wait.
    C) Go to the ARRL.org site and take the practice exams. When you consistently pass the exams
    by 80% (28 correct answers out of 35) it is time to find out where the exam will be given
    locally.
    D) Do a search on the internet for the following, “Your closest big town/city amateur radio club”
    e.g. “Philadelphia Amateur Radio Club”. Once you have that contact information, call or
    email the club and ask them, “when are you going to hold the next Technicians Exam day?”

    I have helped a half dozen folks, one of which was a 12-year-old, get their Technicians Ticket using this method. It works well for the General and Extra License too.

    Thanks again for taking the time to write your article.
    73,
    JohnyMac
    unchainedpreppers.com

  9. Make that “second” Chain Saw one of the new Stihl Battery powered Chain Saws. I bought two recently and can vouch that these became the “go- to” Saws by my crew of four experienced chain saw workers on any cuts up to 4 inches….. even thought they also had their choice of two other gasoline Stihl chain saws. We cleared six miles of fallen pine trees from a recent heavy-snow winter storm. Up to 100 cuts on one charge.

    1. I have seen the recent ads on these and was curious. Thanks for the note and sharing your experience. I would assume the batteries could be shared cross-platform of the other Stihl tools (blowers, edgers, trimmers, etc.).

      1. Yes….. the Batteries are the same for the Stihl Blower for sure. I bought one of them for $199. WITH the battery [ … seems like I remember the Battery itself was close to $100.]

  12. run your exhaust through 50 foot of flexible electrical conduct. Attach to the exhaust outlet of your current muffler with the same size hole or next size larger. Fittings can be found at a Lowe’s or Home Depot. Depending on your outlet, it canbe a do it yourself or a local welder can attach it to the muffler system. That 50 will take the noise level down to zero.

  13. I have a 27 KW whole house generator-its noisy with its supplied mufflers. What can I do to quiet it down, please? will adding mufflers cut down on efficiency?

  17. Regarding a noisy generator. Put a rag over the end of the muffler (Note: This is a test only, don’t leave the rag there) If you can quiet the engine by doing so then a better muffler system will work. If not then much of your noise is coming from the generator itself. In that case purchase a unit based not only on wattage but also decibel rating. Keep up the preps!!!

  18. Bigger is not always better. I can run my furnace, freezer, fridge, tv and lights on an old 2550 watt generator and only use a gallon of gas every 4 hours. Also I have never drained the gas tank in any of my engines. All it needs to start them in the spring is a few shots of starting fluid (Stabil is too expensive).

  19. Our generator is electric start and does not offer a pull cord to start. After having to jump start it once, I hooked up a spare solar panel with charge controller to the generator battery. No more dead batteries.

  20. I too have a 8KW Generac with the sub-panel. I use it to backup my retreat solar system. The nice thing about that is the generator charges the battery bank through the inverter in an hour or so and that bank lasts till the next day. The genset is propane powered so fuel not an issue for several months of that kind of use. This system is far superior to the genset direct to house feed.
    As to noise, the best bet is to loosely enclose the generator in a sound fence similar to those on highways. Wood/ foam baffles will work. Avoid messing with additional mufflers or you’ll risk stuffing up the engine. Generacs are real touchy about how they’re used. A lot of the noise if from mechanicals, not exhaust.
    Hide the fence behind shrubbery. My genset is not noticeable after a couple of hundred feet during the day.

  21. For a small saw, I can easily recommend the still ms170 or ms180 series. I manage a 70acre hardwood Forrest, and have 5 saws. 2 of them are the small 180 and I use them more than the bigger saws. Ask for it with the 12 or 14 inch bar, as it comes with the 16.
    I do not like the easy start system though and most come with it now.
    Stihl says they are light duty homeowner saws, but I use them every 2 weeks or so, for the last 5 plus years with no issues other than I’ve run over one and bashed another with my tractor, now parts saws, but never needed parts from them yet, other than I took the normal starting system off them to replace the easy start system on the new ones. Best of luck
    I’ve even used them to do big oaks when I’m out with the tractor and don’t want to go back to get the big saws.
    Obviously they can’t compete with the big ones doing big bucking duty.

  22. Try what I have for long term fuel storage: 15 gallon barrels from the car wash, treat with PRI-G and. re-treat annually, fill to the top to elminate air, and tighten bungs firmly with bung wrench. Do not let vapors escape- that is the volatile gas fraction needed for good combustion. Steven Harris tested all this over a 10 year period (Prep1234 website).

  23. Here in the Pacific Northwest, living in the suburbs, we don’t do generators, period. Not worth the noise and uninvited guests.

    If anything, as a foundational approach to preparedness, we’re planning for the long haul / multi-generational collapse, in the absence of fossil fuels. We have a wood stove in the living room and if we have to, can use our brick rocket stove in the back yard, that I already use to BBQ with during Spring and Summer. I use a local invention consisting of a pair of circular grills, sandwiching a layer of ceramic briquettes. Normally you can’t BBQ with a rocket stove, unless you have something like this.

    We also have a PowerHub 1800 solar generator to power anything that doesn’t draw heavy wattage. We can run almost everything that uses 120 VAC.

  24. You can save on gas treatment by using and refilling your gas cans weekly or monthly depending on number of cans stored and car/truck gas usage. When you have driven enough to use 5 or more gallons put in a can then go top off vehicle and refill can or cans. This does trade your time to save on treatment chemicals. I do keep the gas treatments in stock for a time when fuel will need to be rationed and stored longer. You will also benefit by checking on your fuel stores when doing your routine fill ups. Having a diesel tractor takes care of diesel rotation . Hindsight reminds me I should have incorporated a diesel fuel car/truck when it was more affordable . Please be safe when working with fuels. Thank you and keep up the good work.

  25. My solution to generator (and Lincoln welder) dead starting motor batteries was to use blue top Optima automotive batteries. The excess current/cranking ability of these batteries easily makes up for long periods without recharge. I’ve tried automotive mufflers on my small horsepower engines (less than 30hp) with disappointing results. The best I seem to do is knock down about half of the racket.
    PR

  26. Outstanding article – good stuff!
    Batteries – Concur with comments about the Eneloop, about the best I’ve tested. Still doing a shoot off between them and the Amazon rechargeables. Encouraging as specs for both are identical, even down to “Made in Japan.”
    Battery rechargers – can’t tell you how many I’ve gone through over the years. Finally have zeroed in on one that works on all the rechargeable AAA – 9V and all Alkaline non-rechargeables AAA – 9V. Been using it over a year now and like it. I just plug it into my off grid solar system (another story) and no problem. Recharger found on Amazon – https://www.amazon.com/Maximal-FC999-Universal-Alkaline-Batteries/dp/B008467K1E/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1521727776&sr=8-4&keywords=maximalpower+charger&dpID=41kAYbT9mfL&preST=_SY300_QL70_&dpSrc=srch

    1. Yes, electricity for our septic is required. A lesson learned is ensure when you build/buy a home that you can have gravity fed drainage. I could go without power to it for some time but at some point it would get messy and smelly. Many builders now are building on lots that have drainage issues and have come up with alternative septic systems so they can still get approval to build on the lot. Good point to know and be aware of when considering a new homestead/retreat property, etc..

  28. As far as ethanol-free gas goes, if there is a small airport close by they will usually have a gas supplier there selling Av-gas. They sell to anybody as long as your money is green! It is ethanol free , much higher quality, and still contains lead which older engines need. I buy it for my old cars and motorcycles which required lead. It is all we use for the small engines ie. generators,saws, etc. which we have at the fire dept. Don’t be afraid of the lead, we all grew up with leaded gas.

  30. By far, the best generators are the older Onan CCK’s and 7.5JB’s. They operate at half of the speed (1800 rpm) of the box store generators, so they are much quieter and live a whole lot longer. The best generator out there is the MEP-803a, which is a tactical quiet military generator. You can find them for three to four thousand dollars on Ebay. These are also 1800 rpm generators.

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