California has banned generators.

[berth]

When we lost power before, we went to the store and crammed dry ice into the freezer. That worked really well.

I also plugged the tankless water heater into a UPS from Office Depot. It's only there to power the circuit board to turn the heater on.

Still not sure how long that was going to last.

Everything else was battery powered radios and lights.

Last year, my wife and I listened to the World Series in the dark with a portable radio curled up on the couch. Honestly, it had its charms.

 

[oobus]

In the state of neo-feudalism, we have to provide our own water supply (tanks and rainfall), our own power generation and/or storage, pay a tribute to the governing authority who comes urneasonably down hard on our activities. Deal with an array of currency and/or barter, trade whatever. And of course, to some, arm ourselves for the hordes of desperate serfs and might wish to get our belongings. I wonder what zoning has to say about personal moats.....

Right there with you buddy!

Funny about the moats - I tried that.

Tweakers were always stealing gas so I made a 3 foot trench in front of the place with the backhoe. The county considered it a safety issue. But before I filled it in, someone stole a car, blew out a tire and drove it 5 miles before abandoning it. Rim mark going down the road was right in front of my MOAT.

We pretty much have a "compound" here. Always wanted it to be of the polygamist variety but I'm not Mormon and Mrs. Oobus says no. With my new solar project, our big garden, we just need a large DIESEL generator and we can be self-contained.

 

[Bay Arean]

I joke about it but truly, the achievement of progress is to put public utilities out to a large provider, guaranteeing a degree of reliability and safety. With police power, we were once able to put down our guns, knowing that the combo of a veneer of authority and respect for it meant we would be safe. We had a systems of reservoirs and dams so we didn't have to worry about water. The idea that we now not only have to generate but actually store electricty at the micro level seems just crazy. Because just solar ain't enough. You need batteries. And PGE gets more and more ruthless in closing in on those of you who have taken the trouble to generate your own.

It's nuts. We have circled back.

 

[Eldritch]

You're comparing a portable generator to a fixed solar system.

The solar system doesn't have to be a fixed system:
https://www.homedepot.com/b/Outdoor...wer-Stations-Solar-Generators/N-5yc1vZ2fkoqhp

I mean, look at the size of the 5 Pod system that could probably provide the equivalent of running a gas generator for 6 hours. Aside from the $5k price tag, it is huge and probably heavy, which is hard for women and old people.

I'm just seeing a ton of privilege in here and I guess I'm just not fucking interested in the opinion of anyone who is not living in rental apartment housing in Sonoma County, where ALL the shut offs happen.

I have a lot of friends up there, good people with kids that need access to cheap, portable and reliable solutions for energy when the system fails them. Every year now during the fire season, a bunch of us pull together to help out our friends that are hard up due to infrastructure failures.

What it really comes down to is I am fucking sick of the State Government planning an increase in electricity use through forced systemic changes that are going to result in a increased demand 10 years from now that is 50-100% of current usage with what appears to be zero accountability for the existing failing infrastructure and no reliable plan to produce reliable energy to match the need.

 

[msethhunter]

I mean, look at the size of the 5 Pod system that could probably provide the equivalent of running a gas generator for 6 hours. Aside from the $5k price tag, it is huge and probably heavy, which is hard for women and old people.

I'm just seeing a ton of privilege in here and I guess I'm just not fucking interested in the opinion of anyone who is not living in rental apartment housing in Sonoma County, where ALL the shut offs happen.

I have a lot of friends up there, good people with kids that need access to cheap, portable and reliable solutions for energy when the system fails them. Every year now during the fire season, a bunch of us pull together to help out our friends that are hard up due to infrastructure failures.

What it really comes down to is I am fucking sick of the State Government planning an increase in electricity use through forced systemic changes that are going to result in a increased demand 10 years from now that is 50-100% of current usage with what appears to be zero accountability for the existing failing infrastructure and no reliable plan to produce reliable energy to match the need.

But bro, I can run my house of my electric Ford Lightning! That's fucken sick, right? RIGHT!?

*obvious sarcasm*
*tell me more about my white privilege*
*also obvious sarcasm*

 

[Eldritch]

But bro, I can run my house of my electric Ford Lightning! That's fucken sick, right? RIGHT!?

*obvious sarcasm*
*tell me more about my white privilege*
*also obvious sarcasm*

BRO, DO YOU EVEN BRO, BRO?

 

[buellistic]

I mean, look at the size of the 5 Pod system that could probably provide the equivalent of running a gas generator for 6 hours. Aside from the $5k price tag, it is huge and probably heavy, which is hard for women and old people.

I'm just seeing a ton of privilege in here and I guess I'm just not fucking interested in the opinion of anyone who is not living in rental apartment housing in Sonoma County, where ALL the shut offs happen.

I have a lot of friends up there, good people with kids that need access to cheap, portable and reliable solutions for energy when the system fails them. Every year now during the fire season, a bunch of us pull together to help out our friends that are hard up due to infrastructure failures.

What it really comes down to is I am fucking sick of the State Government planning an increase in electricity use through forced systemic changes that are going to result in a increased demand 10 years from now that is 50-100% of current usage with what appears to be zero accountability for the existing failing infrastructure and no reliable plan to produce reliable energy to match the need.

At least somebody gets it..really!..

 

[littlebeast]

I mean, look at the size of the 5 Pod system that could probably provide the equivalent of running a gas generator for 6 hours. Aside from the $5k price tag, it is huge and probably heavy, which is hard for women and old people.

I'm just seeing a ton of privilege in here and I guess I'm just not fucking interested in the opinion of anyone who is not living in rental apartment housing in Sonoma County, where ALL the shut offs happen.

I have a lot of friends up there, good people with kids that need access to cheap, portable and reliable solutions for energy when the system fails them. Every year now during the fire season, a bunch of us pull together to help out our friends that are hard up due to infrastructure failures.

What it really comes down to is I am fucking sick of the State Government planning an increase in electricity use through forced systemic changes that are going to result in a increased demand 10 years from now that is 50-100% of current usage with what appears to be zero accountability for the existing failing infrastructure and no reliable plan to produce reliable energy to match the need.

come on dude - the shut offs happen all over the place (for us - up in the foothills, since 4am this morning until 6:18pm tonight). and wrt ‘privilege’ - you don’t live in the mountains do you. it’s not a ‘privilege’ to have power - it’s an imperative (zero other resources anywhere nearby or readily available in the aftermath) so you suck it up, and pay to play irrespective of the hardship. do i feel fortunate i have the ability to do that? oh hell yes. feel guilty about that? oh hell no (worked my fucking ass off for that ‘privilege’). we also all pull together (those of us who have power welcome others in the vicinity who don’t into our homes for warmth and food). i sincerely appreciate that you help those in need in sonoma, but also have to wonder how much of that help involves gas generators. while i agree with your tangent on the supply of electricity (and the issues and challenges you mention), while all that gets sorted out, mitigating the fire danger (which no generator of any sort can protect anyone from), i have no choice but to endorse PG&E shutting down vulnerable transmission lines. seems the least they can do until a more robust solution is implemented. it actually comes down to a choice between spending a few days shivering and losing the food in your refrigerator / freezer, and losing your home to a wildfire.

and wrt the cost of gas generators v. solar ones (and batteries) - IMO (and all historical trends suggest this is correct), prices are highest when consumption is low (sunk cost distribution). IMO, when the demand for alternatives to gas generators increases, the cost of solar (and other alternatives) will come down.

 

[mikev]

gatekeeping being poor. like wtf.

 

[Eldritch]

come on dude - the shut offs happen all over the place (for us - up in the foothills, since 4am this morning until 6:18pm tonight). and wrt ‘privilege’ - you don’t live in the mountains do you. it’s not a ‘privilege’ to have power - it’s an imperative (zero other resources anywhere nearby or readily available in the aftermath) so you suck it up, and pay to play irrespective of the hardship. do i feel fortunate i have the ability to do that? oh hell yes. feel guilty about that? oh hell no (worked my fucking ass off for that ‘privilege’). we also all pull together (those of us who have power welcome others in the vicinity who don’t into our homes for warmth and food). i sincerely appreciate that you help those in need in sonoma, but also have to wonder how much of that help involves gas generators. while i agree with your tangent on the supply of electricity (and the issues and challenges you mention), while all that gets sorted out, mitigating the fire danger (which no generator of any sort can protect anyone from), i have no choice but to endorse PG&E shutting down vulnerable transmission lines. seems the least they can do until a more robust solution is implemented. it actually comes down to a choice between spending a few days shivering and losing the food in your refrigerator / freezer, and losing your home to a wildfire.

and wrt the cost of gas generators v. solar ones (and batteries) - IMO (and all historical trends suggest this is correct), prices are highest when consumption is low (sunk cost distribution). IMO, when the demand for alternatives to gas generators increases, the cost of solar (and other alternatives) will come down.

Solar simply is not an option for most people in apartments, but I get it. "Let them eat cake."

 

[littlebeast]

Solar simply is not an option for most people in apartments, but I get it. "Let them eat cake."

either is calling a landlord to come fix shit on their dime when you’re a homeowner. you own that shit, and pay for every inch of it. there are trade-offs. ‘eat cake’ my ass - the only cake involved in my life is the one i baked, and the only one eating it is me.

and dude - i lived in various rental apartments for many years until i got my feet under me. never considered myself a sad sack while in that situation - or even gave any thought to anyone else who had more resources than i did. was as happy with my life then as i am now. and no, didn’t have a gas generator, or any other modern (for that time) convenience you can think of (but OMG, somehow managed to survive). the difference in current price you mention between energy augmentation options might as well include a trip to mars for all it matters to someone with nothing. hell - it was a splurge to spend money on a jar of mayonnaise at that point in my life. apologies, but IMO you’re conflating the issue out of proportion, and introducing arguments that are emotionally charged, but not particularly helpful or relevant.

 

[Holeshot]

so you really think that most people, let alone most renters have gas powered generators? my point was that there are other options, you know - new fangled technology.

What it sounds like you've installed for a good quality unit is around $4-5K at the low end for a 13KW unit. Eldity is referring to a 9500 KW unit that can use gasoline or propane and is transfer switch ready. It takes a few hundred more to have direct line propane and transfer switched. That would run around $1,500 to do all of that, which is a bit cheaper than the WH units.

Now, the cheapest, CHEAPEST way for good clean power is picking up one of the military trailer mounted units for around $500.

we will be having this debate soon about motorcycles.
I dont think you can come close to power storage from a battery and be in the same price range of a generator

weather, orientation, etc. Solar's great, but far from perfect. Our unit in Lake County does well in summer and not so well in the cool seasons.

They didn't until the public infrastructure started failing and then all of a sudden, yes, the generators all get completely sold out every year during fire season.

Amen. We sell them out every year and keep ordering more the next year...except for this season. Nothing on our order sheet has come in. Covid delays...

Solar simply is not an option for most people in apartments, but I get it. "Let them eat cake."

Or chocolate Frosted Flakes. Cake is just too Bougey.

 

[mean dad]

I'm just seeing a ton of privilege in here and I guess I'm just not fucking interested in the opinion of anyone who is not living in rental apartment housing in Sonoma County, where ALL the shut offs happen.

How many apartment dwellers currently rely on a gas-powered generator for emergency power?
How are the logistics handled if one does not have a balcony? Set it by a window or open door and the first thing that gets plugged in is a fan to blow the exhaust out?

One could just throw a few expansion anchors in the floor wherever one might use it anyway and voila, a fixed generator. Done for the season? Unbolt it and put it away.

 

[Johndicezx9]

Apartment dwellers with gas powered generators are a truly a dying breed...

Most of the 200+ deaths during the Texas Freeze were from hypothermia and... asphyxiation.

 

[mlm]

Curious. How long do they typically shut off power during the PG&E "safety" outages? I was under the impression they generally only lasted a few hours (like less than 12).

 

[Mr. White]

If gas generators are very important to you, you have a few years to continue buying them. Start now and you can buy more generators than you'll need in your lifetime.

 

[2WheelBear]

Curious. How long do they typically shut off power during the PG&E "safety" outages? I was under the impression they generally only lasted a few hours (like less than 12).

It seems to depend on where you are and the wind conditions. I live on Cobb Mountain. Just under 3000'. Sometimes we only lose power for 24 hours. I think the longest that I can remember was 5 days. I really hope we don't lose power due to the storm today. Had a tree fall an hour ago right across the street from me.

 

[mlm]

It seems to depend on where you are and the wind conditions. I live on Cobb Mountain. Just under 3000'. Sometimes we only lose power for 24 hours. I think the longest that I can remember was 5 days. I really hope we don't lose power due to the storm today. Had a tree fall an hour ago right across the street from me.

Guess I’m specifically talking about the safety shutdowns and how they affect people living in towns and cities. My expectation is the power disruptions aren’t as significant there.

FWIW I DO have a portable backup generator to cover any longer term issues, but I’m not bothering to get it out for a couple hours without power. Longest we had recently was 8am to 4pm and we just put ice in the refrigerator

 

[wazzuFreddo]

If gas generators are very important to you, you have a few years to continue buying them. Start now and you can buy more generators than you'll need in your lifetime.

Nevada is also a quick 4 hour drive when the restriction kicks in

 

[Holeshot]

One could just throw a few expansion anchors in the floor wherever one might use it anyway and voila, a fixed generator. Done for the season? Unbolt it and put it away.

I think the enforcement will come @ the sales end, not the user end.

Nevada is also a quick 4 hour drive when the restriction kicks in

Hey, you're the solar guy! Quit giving the gas lover ideas!!!!