Rick and I just
tested the generator in my designed “power loss” configuration, and it
performed beyond my wildest dreams! I was sure it would work to some extent. I
didn’t expect it to work so thoroughly, so easily, and so quickly.
How many pulls
it takes to fire up the generator is a direct function of how long it’s been
since it last ran. In this case, it fired up almost instantly. We plugged in
the cord, put it under a table I had moved into position on the back deck for
that purpose, and ran the cord inside.
One of my
biggest concerns was firing up the TV. This is a CRT, not a flat screen, and
just like its Sony older brother, it literally starts with an audible “bang”.
I didn’t know how much power this start-up process would draw, but apparently,
the answer is almost none. I suspect the TV has an internal capacitor that
buffers this, but I know for sure that it barely increased the power output
from the generator at all to turn it on, and run it.
The next big
test was the electric heater. It’s one of those little units that runs at
either 750 or 1500 watts, but it’s pretty slick, with a rotating fan and
digital thermostat control. I knew I had to limit it to the 750 setting, but
when we plugged it in along with the TV, it still only drove the generator up
to a little over half its full RPM.
Complete,
unqualified success! What this means is that one little device can turn my
family room into an extremely
comfortable “lifeboat”, with climate control, communications, entertainment,
and light, with some power to spare. Food and water conveniently available via
the adjacent kitchen. For those of you who haven’t seen it, my family room is a
medium-sized “great room”, with high ceilings, lots of windows, and a wood
burning fireplace.
My house is
situated near a local elevation maximum in our neighborhood, and the backyard
slopes downward. The next time the power fails, we’ll literally have our own
little shining city on the hill!
J
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