86 hours on generator, with no shutdown. Now, since I’m using gasoline, the question comes – “Aren’t you supposed to shut it down to add gas?” “Yes” is the simple answer, but why should they be shut down? You see gasoline vapors are ignitable, even though gasoline isn’t (the liquid). It evaporates into vapor quickly, so what’s the danger? The flash point – that’s the point where the heat source can ignite a gas vapor without a spark. For gas it’s around 280 degrees (F). Generator exhaust can run 700-1500 degrees.
Enter the Sceptre Tool 14 gallon Flow-n-Go tank. It has a gas-pump style spout on it that can feed off gravity – so just place the task above my generator (and at a distance), stand it up, open the air inlet, and pump gas into the tank with little to no spillage (the drops on the tank top evaporate quickly) – allowing for safer gas refills.
Also, on this use, I was able to rewire my 30-amp off my transfer switch (ganged position A and B) to my 2 1/2 ton upstairs AC system. The furnaces were already wired. I have one circuit to my formal living room that I think i’ll move to the upstairs bedroom, so at least 2 of the room will have lights (and can watch TV).
With the upstairs running, I would get 7 hours of runtime on gas during the day (fighting the sun-fueled daytime heat) – about 9 hours at night. That kept the whole house reasonably cool, so everyone was comfortable.
My lovely wife even complemented me on my configuration – how the generator just ran part of the house but the house was still very manageable. And when we got power back Thursday night after the storm, I showed them how to flip back to line power.
Next steps? See if I can hookup a long natural gas line from the other side of the house so no more running around to get gas every 2 days.