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> you need to have somewhere safe to operate it, store clean fuel safely, test it regularly, have your electrical system modified to allow a switchover, make s
by tzs 3y ago
> you need to have somewhere safe to operate it, store clean fuel safely, test it regularly, have your electrical system modified to allow a switchover, make sure to winterize in most of the country, etc.
It's bad, but not quite that bad. The person who suggested a generator was talking about the case of people who have some life threatening condition that they need electricity to survive.
In most cases that will mean they only have to use the generator to power a small number of things. In that case they don't need to modify their electrical system. They can power their things from the generator's normal household outlets. They just need long enough extension cords to get from wherever they have to put the generator to their life saving devices.
They'd probably only need a small generator, maybe a couple thousand watts. Those are light enough (20ish kg) and small enough (small suitcase sized) that it should be easy to store indoors when not actually in use. That should get rid of most of the hassle of winterizing.
Go for a propane generator instead of a gasoline generator. They produce much less dangerous emissions than gasoline generators so should be easier to find someplace safe to operate. Also stored propane does not go bad over time, like stored gasoline, so you don't need to rotate your fuel. Propane tanks are also safer than gasoline tanks so propane is easier to store safely.
- galleywest200 3y agoThis is great and all but what if you live in an apartment? You cannot use one of these.
- polski-g 3y agoYou can do anything and everything you want to do -- if the alternative is death.
- acdha 3y agoYeah, it’s definitely not impossible but my point was that the people most a risk during a power outage also are least likely to be able to deal with that. If you’re a senior citizen living on a tight income, it’s one more thing to pay someone else to help with.
- s1artibartfast 3y agoOr have friends and community, it isn't that hard.
- acdha 3y agoSure, that works for many people. There were still hundreds of Texans who that fatally did not work for just the 2021 failure alone. Public policy generally works best if you focus on the people who don’t have the reserves & support network to absorb a failure.
- paulmd 3y agoYeah, it’s kinda like healthcare, just put out the hat when you get sick and all your friends and family kick in, right? There are actually a lot of people who think that’s a viable solution. But wait, it’s not a viable solution for everyone. So we build organizations which formalize this commitment in the form of a monthly payment. After a while this becomes predatory and sharp, and the need emerges for this to be formally socialized as a part of living in society.