Bob,
The winter of 1999 was a terrible one for us in Virginia.
Almost the whole week between Christmas and New Year we were without power.
I had an 1100 watt generator that could power one room. It could run a TV, lights, even the fan for the wood stove. If we turned off the fan, and TV, it could also run a coffee maker or a toaster.
I was the only house in the neighborhood with Christmas lights on.
I had the TV on one morning and my wife decided she wanted to vaccum. It handled it. She finished vaccuming and decided she wanted some coffee. She then decided she wanted some toast.
POOF.
Since I had the breaker open to the grid so the circuit I was using would not backfeed, she decided that circuit should be closed. I must have reset the breaker on the generator a dozen times before I found the problem.
After the WHY2K debacle, I bought a 5K generator and hooked it up for more ice storms. This spring I will have to drain the gas from the tank and replace it. It has only been started once since I have owned it and only for test purposes.
If you don't have it you need it, and if you have it you don't need it.
Ain't life a bitch?
Oh well, better than the alternative.
Have fun,
Phil
