The Prepper Way
http://coolprepperstuff.com
 Fridge/Freezer
 Food Preparation Appliances
 Well Pump
 Sump Pump
 Communication
(Ham Radio, Small TV, Cable Modem, Cell Phone)
 Furnace/Water Heater Fan
(Assuming NG or Propane heat.)
 Battery Charging
 Some Lighting
 Air Conditioning
 Will require much larger generator and waste fuel
 55” LCD TV
 Xbox/Playstation
 Washer/Dryer
 VERSATILITY
 Be able to power ONLY what is needed.
 Low Fuel Consumption
 Keep running when there is NO GAS
 Portable
 Long Storage Life
 Convenience
 Reliability
 Quiet
 Security
 Low Price
 Just Big Enough – 2,000 – 3,000 watts
 Inverter Technology (Not just a generator)
 Low Fuel Consumption
 Quiet
 Cleaner Electricity (Smoother AC Voltage)
 Reliable
 Portable
 ~$1000 - $1200+
 Big/Cheap Generators (As lows as $300)
 Big Enough to Power Your Whole House!
 High Fuel Consumption
 Incredibly Loud!
 Less Reliable
 Less Portable
 Whole House Natural Gas Unit ($2000 - $3000+)
 Not Portable
 Very Convenient but Not Versatile
 Size your generator based on needs +30%.
 Assume only half of your appliances are running at the same
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time.
Anything with a motor will draw at least 1.6X normal load
upon startup. (But they won’t all start at the same time.)
 Fridge, Freezer, Furnace Fan, etc…
Most Large Appliances have stickers that indicate their
running Watts.
Watts = Amps X Volts
 US standard outlet is 120V
 Large appliances, AC/Drier use 220V
Use a Kill A Watt meter to measure small appliances
Use a Clamp Meter to measure large appliances.
 GAS
 Only if you have too
 Ethanol eats engines
 Some places sell 100% gas, for a price
 Degrades in 3 months, can be extended to
a year+ with Stabilizer
 2 X Tanks of Propane
 2.44 Times the BTUs/Volume of Natural Gas
 Costs more to run.
 The 2nd is a backup tank for your grill!
 Lasts Forever
 Natural Gas
 Most Convenient
 Lowest Cost
 Short of a Extreme Earthquake we will have fuel.
 Slight loss of power. (~3 amp loss)
 Cannot Store Natural Gas, Required Pressure is too high. (2,800+ psi)
 Diesel
 More energy per gallon than Gas
 Known for being slightly dirtier/smelly but
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modern engines are much better.
Diesel engines are easier to convert to alternative
fuels. (Various biofuels/oils.)
More Cost Efficient than Gas
Last for 2-5 years dependent on
temperature.
Lasts 10+ years? with Stabilizer Diesel Formula
 Kerosene
 Not for Generators
 Included to be thorough
 For kerosene lamps and heaters.
 Less refined fuel, means its extremely stable
 No Stabilizer needed
 Lasts 10+ years
 With relatively small changes most standard
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generators can be made to run of multiple fuels.
If your somewhat mechanically able you can do the
work yourself.
You can buy generators ready for Tri Fuel
More fuel options mean more flexibility and the ability
to run longer.
In a real emergency, fuel is precious and you will only
be running ~4 hours a day, just enough to keep the
fridge cold, anything more is wasting precious fuel.
 Goal is to run off Gas, Propane or Natural Gas (Wood Gas ??)
 Kits and Services are available for a price.
 http://www.propane-generators.com/honda-generators.htm
 Google “Honda Tri Fuel DIY”
 Found a Great Tutorial (Tutorial Files Are Below)
 http://www.ar15.com/forums/t_10_17/631123__ARCHIVED_THREAD__
__Honda_EU2000i_TriFuel_Install.html&page=1
 Have not found any negative reviews about doing a conversion.
 Larger Generators need adapters for the conversion, small
generators just have the carburetor drilled.
 READ MY NOTES, the diameter of the hose from the Carburetor to
KN Regulator is too small! (I found out the hard way.)
 After doing this, I found this site, which was
recommended and does seem to have good kits. Even has
an adapter plate for the Honda 2000 watt to avoid
drilling.
http://propanecarbs.com/
 Also found a security bracket for the Honda 2000 watt. Nothing is
fool proof but at least it helps slow them down.
http://propanecarbs.com/
 Drilling Services Results Will Vary
 DIY Results Can Be Very Clean
 Sourcing individual parts will
save some money.
Drilling Service: Ugly, Brittle and
Sloppy Green Epoxy
Honda 2000 will need drilled,
very limited room.
DIY: Clean and Strong JB Weld
 15 Amp Transfer Switch, they also make large whole
house switches.
 Input Plug and Natural Gas Hookup In Garage
 Simple Chain and Lock
 Stored with Gas Tank Empty.
 No Ethanol Gas destroying the engine.
 Can be stored indoors!
 Still ready to run in minutes.
 Change oil every 6 – 12 months.
 Will last till the gaskets/seals rot away.
 Extension Cords
 Transfer Switch
 Parallel Cable (A great excuse for redundancy!)
Reliance Controls
15 Amp, 4 Circuit
<$200
 T from connection behind Kitchen Stove
 Through wall behind stove into garage wall.
 ¼” Quick Disconnect
 Clean looking cover.
 Convenient hole through the side of garage.
 Can be done on essentially any generator.
 Different “Kits” for different size generators and
high/low pressure propane operation.
 “Kits” for small generators may or may not require
drilling the carburetor, depends on available space.
 For $75 + Shipping, Kit manufactures will drill your
carburetor.
(But why do this? You still do the work
removing it, and a drill press can be
purchased for $125. Another great excuse
to buy more stuff!)
 Make sure you use 3/8 inner diameter hose from Carb to
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KN Regulator, without it the generator will not run
right off of Natural Gas.
Use at least a ¼” OD brass tube. 3/16” OD is too small.
The gas shut off valve can be bought at Auto Zone.
I ended up using http://www.hose-man.com/ to source
a 25 foot Natural Gas hose.
If your careful bending the brass tube you don’t have to
cut off the white support.
Take your time drilling the hole.
 1 Large Person can carry everything.
 Natural Gas Quick Disconnect can be moved from one
house to another in minutes with just two wrenches.
 Electrical and Natural Gas Connections in Garage
 Pass Through Hole in wall is large enough for makeshift
exhaust install.
 Garage provides a level of
separation between fumes
and home living area.
 Would be easier to defend.
 Quiet generator inside garage would be hard to hear from
outside.
This is dangerous! I have not done this and hopefully never will.
Unless people with guns are outside stealing generators, you
should not ever consider this, and even then very carefully.
I assume no responsibility for anything you do.
 Automatic Load Cycling
 Essentially a 4 Zone Thermostat
 Auto Cycle between Furnace,
Water Heater, Fridge and
Freezer based on Temperature
 Remote Override
 Load Sensing to prevent
cutting power while load is
running.
 Dangerous
 Can Kill Electrical Repair Men Miles Away
 Generally Never Consider Doing This
 If truly in a Extreme situation, like after an EMP or Solar
Flare and you know power will not be restored for a
LONG TIME:
 ABSOLUTE MUST TURN YOUR MAIN BREAKER OFF!!!
 Find a way to physically stop the breaker from turning on,
at the very least duck tape it off and write a note.
 If possible remove the main breaker??
 May be convenient, but high load can be a problem.
This is dangerous! I have not done this and hopefully never will.
I assume no responsibility for anything you do.
 Auto Load Switcher Kit
 Running of off Wood Gas