Even without the SHTF running a Generator anywhere in the Burbs is a bad Idea, because the Druids from planet Dork will want to thieve the thing whether they want or need one or not, I have one but when ever the power goes out I use one of my SoGens, I have a few small ones of about 500Wh+ and I also have a Bluetti/PowerOak EB180 / 1800Wh which is one of the bigger Brothers to the EB150.

With the way Lantern Tech has changed lately there is no need to rely on any form of Generator to power lighting, Where one set of Batteries can power the Bigger Colemans for over 300 hours, I have bought all the LE Branded Lanterns and they can't compete with the likes of the Big Colemans, More to the point A person just does not need a 1000 to 1500 Lumen Lantern, thats all about bragging rights and has little use in the real world useage, Because a 75/100 Lumen Lantern will light up a room that measures 24ft Square and @ 400 Lumins it will Flood Light it,

The most important Issue when it comes to Lanterns is Run Time, Coleman also make one that they claim will run for 200 hours when I tested it using cheap D Cell batteries I ran it for 270 hours and I could of got 300 hours out of it and it worked out that it cost $0.014c per hour to run it @ 270 hours and even on it's low setting it was more than bright enough for In Car Camping or using in a Van,

Another bonus with using these 2 Lanterns is they are not using power from the SoGen so that power can be used to power the fridge or other Important Items.

 

The most important Issue when it comes to Lanterns is Run Time,

$25 - Nitecore LA10 Lantern - 10 lumen on one AA Alkaline battery for 23 hours. Longer on a rechargable. 6 hours at 40 lumen. 10 lumen is more than enough to easily navigate a room, perform basic tasks, and the low lumens doesn't attract outside attention.

$30 - Nitecore MT22A - 1 lumen 180 hours - 45 lumen 18 hours on 2 AA Alkaline batteries. Even 1 lumen is enough at night to help you havigate around the house without tripping over thing.

Both of these will fit in your front pocket. The LA10 will fit in the watch pocket of your jeans and can double as a floody flashlight.

I've been known to have a flashlight or two handy

 

Something I have been telling my fellow prepper friends lately is that when the S does HTF, I don't plan to run my generator for more than a few days max. I am talking about a prolonged grid down situation here for context. I will run it long enough to keep my food in my fridge from going bad, eat that stuff first and then probably shut it down for good and survive off my solar generators for basic needs, such as flashlights, lighting, ham radios, etc. My opinion is that running a generator during a prolonged SHTF situation in an urban setting is a bad idea and will attract tons of attention.

I don't care how quiet your generator is, when the power goes out, people will hear it. I have lived in South America and the power frequently went down for HOURS. During that time, especially at night, it was so quiet out you could hear a fly fart.

Wanted to hear what you guys have to say about my thoughts on this.

I don't disagree, but it probably depends on how much S has HTF.

My advice, if you are going to run a portable generator during any emergency you will probably want to consider a few things:

Security

• Secure it with chains or bolt it to a concrete slab - this makes it a much harder target to grab
• Remove the wheels - again, much more difficult to cart off easily without the wheels depending on the size
• Put it near a motion activated floodlight - Thieves hate being detected and something like a ring camera with motion detection and alarm notification will give you warning of a potential thief
• Put a GPS tracker on it and have your name inscribed on it - More for "normal" times rather than SHTF but you increase your chances significantly of recovering it later with these additions if it ends up in a pawn shop.

Noise

• Build a "quiet box" to house your generator - should bring the noise down signicantly
• Put the generator in a hole in the ground - should make the noise go up rather than out
• Only run the generator when you need AC - charge batteries when running the generator and ensure you are running necessary AC appliances like fridges/freezers. Have DC alternatives available when not running the generator

Operation

• Assume you will only have the fuel you have on hand - In a crisis, you may not be able to get more so keep enough for your intended purposes on-hand
• Keep spare parts - ensure you have plenty of oil, spark plugs, and maybe a spare carburetor

 

Good stuff. Thanks. I really like the idea of digging a hole and a quiet box. I will have to test the quiet box method out one day.

 

the first couple of weeks are going to be mixed bag of confusion - there'll be community unity and comradeship mainly thru SHTF ignorance of the ultimate consequences ....

around Day 10 or so will be the average crunch for food - any optimism is going to be going flat - nothing the GOV has said has proven out - that sense of unity will be flipping to individual survival ....

you should be able to run a generator long enough to both eat out the frig and preserve the freezer food - the generator problem will be that it signals GAS - you'll get raiders coming for the fuel and checking everything else out - food will be getting attention ....

I'd be looking at finding ways to cut the generator noise - re-directing the exhaust goes a long ways - blanketing on the sides also helps - better have it chained down big time ....

 

Put a pipe on the exhaust and dig a hole in the ground, Stick the exhaust pipe down there, Helps a bunch.

 

OP...sounds solid.

 

Something I have been telling my fellow prepper friends lately is that when the S does HTF, I don't plan to run my generator for more than a few days max. I am talking about a prolonged grid down situation here for context. I will run it long enough to keep my food in my fridge from going bad, eat that stuff first and then probably shut it down for good and survive off my solar generators for basic needs, such as flashlights, lighting, ham radios, etc. My opinion is that running a generator during a prolonged SHTF situation in an urban setting is a bad idea and will attract tons of attention.

I don't care how quiet your generator is, when the power goes out, people will hear it. I have lived in South America and the power frequently went down for HOURS. During that time, especially at night, it was so quiet out you could hear a fly fart.

Wanted to hear what you guys have to say about my thoughts on this.

Lay down enough lead in front of the thieves and you can run the generator as you wish.
Average was 30 generators a night being stolen after Katrina, People started staying up all night with the old duck guns and the generators being stolen dropped too almost nothing.
One of my neighbors was watching TV at night when his generator shuts off
He looks outside and 2 dudes are running down the road carrying his generator.
He bails out the front door with a Remington 1100 and gives chase.
He catches one almost to the truck, One with the truck keys keeps on running.
The one he caught by the truck with the generator He tells him
You have 2 choices, Grab the other end of this generator and help bring it back or I'm going to shoot your ***off.
The thief chose wisely.

 

Yep That's how I would be dealing with them too, I would of still waited til they got a fairly safe distance afterwards and peppered their Butts, Just to put Salt on their Tail.

 

My generator is reserved for emergency lighting, freezers and or tools only.

I would run it sparingly for the freezers while we pressure can the best cuts from the freezer. And only during the daylight hours


At least that's the plan. I'll be darned if I'm letting someone run a cord for entertainment. I've seen the thieves and moochers too many times during winter power outages.

We have at least 25 cubic feet of ice chest to slow thaw the meat in, 2 canners and propane burners. Enough jars for 100+ pounds of meat.

I really worry about having to use the generator in town. I hate to see people suffering, but I've learned my lessons 30 years ago when I wasn't prepared for an ice storm that knocked power out for 3 weeks. My daughter was in diapers and my son was in the oven. We suffered hard.


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My generator is reserved for emergency lighting, freezers and or tools only.

I would run it sparingly for the freezers while we pressure can the best cuts from the freezer. And only during the daylight hours


At least that's the plan. I'll be darned if I'm letting someone run a cord for entertainment. I've seen the thieves and moochers too many times during winter power outages.

We have at least 25 cubic feet of ice chest to slow thaw the meat in, 2 canners and propane burners. Enough jars for 100+ pounds of meat.

I really worry about having to use the generator in town. I hate to see people suffering, but I've learned my lessons 30 years ago when I wasn't prepared for an ice storm that knocked power out for 3 weeks. My daughter was in diapers and my son was in the oven. We suffered hard.


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LOL, Yeah I have watched the videos on those Ice storms back then, That was Bad.

 

The problem with running a generator when there is no power is that it will be heard, regardless of what you do. Living on the Ms. Gulf Coast, after a hurricane if there was a generator running anywhere near, it was heard. With no power it is VERY quiet and the sound of a generator will stick out.

Muffling efforts will help, but absolute quiet lets any noise travel a long way.

Forum Watcher

 

The problem with running a generator when there is no power is that it will be heard, regardless of what you do.

And a lot further than anyone thinks. I live nowhere in the middle of a forest. There's a guy probably half mile crow flight away who runs his gen during the day for tools to build his log cabin. I hear it.

 

We lived on an island in Washington where winter winds would take out the power often. Usually 12 hours max but maybe a dozen times per winter. It never failed. About a couple hours after the generators started humming the neighbors without one would start knocking on doors. SHTF is such a broad term on these boards that it is hard to answer definitively but yes, everyone hears them in an urban/suburban setting. I am currently looking at the battery power stations that can run a fridge and a few appliances short term.

 

If you want a fairly large one Take a look at the Bluetti EB240, It's 2400Wh and equal to 2x 100AH Battleborn Lithium Batteries, I have the EB180 which is not sold in the US, They only sell the EB150 and the EB240 models, These are the workhorses of the Bluetti range they also make massive ones as well,

It never seases to amaze me how some people will spend $1500 bucks on the latest Iphone but never think to prepare for the obvious, where they could buy a good setup for under 1k and then they go moochin on peoples front doors to bail them out, where a 2 or 300 dollar Genny from harbour freight would do them more good than the latest Iphone ever could.

 

I had a 10day old ecoflow go stone dead on me. Wouldnt even charge or turn on for about 30hrs. I returned it. These things are just to unreliable right now.

I recently did a test with my generator. I started my mep802 and walked around the neighborhood..it really only takes a small bit of breeze and you cant hear a thing. I'm going to do another test when it's dead calm.

 

Yeah they are not all they are made out to be, Sadly, and their useable power is not as high as their claims, which is a shame because they have some great Ideas,

 

One of the “MAJOR” issues with living near people!

The generator noise will attract those that wish to take what you have…..and I don’t mean just the generator! In a SHTF scenario…..”Stealth” is your friend!

While not inexpensive, and have their limitations…..solar panels offer “quiet” power!

The price of a quality generator will go a long way into your emergency solar system! memtb

 

Something I have been telling my fellow prepper friends lately is that when the S does HTF, I don't plan to run my generator for more than a few days max. I am talking about a prolonged grid down situation here for context. I will run it long enough to keep my food in my fridge from going bad, eat that stuff first and then probably shut it down for good and survive off my solar generators for basic needs, such as flashlights, lighting, ham radios, etc. My opinion is that running a generator during a prolonged SHTF situation in an urban setting is a bad idea and will attract tons of attention.

I don't care how quiet your generator is, when the power goes out, people will hear it. I have lived in South America and the power frequently went down for HOURS. During that time, especially at night, it was so quiet out you could hear a fly fart.

Wanted to hear what you guys have to say about my thoughts on this.

I have a similar plan but different reasoning.

I have enough solar to run a fridge and chest freezer during the day but only enough battery to run one through the night. My plan is to use the generator for the first couple days(before we know it is a major event and things have to change) and in that time eat up the stuff that needs to stay cold but can't freeze. Then we will move everything from the fridge to the freezer and stop using the freezer. We could also thaw things from the freezer in a cooler and use the cooler as a fridge being cooled by whatever we are thawing.

Noise is one reason but cost of gasoline, wear on the generator, and being able to keep my fuel and tools locked up safe at night are other reasons. Any gasoline I have on hand I would rather save for transportation or short runs of the generator for jobs to big for my solar array instead of using it to keep food cold.

 

I also don't think this is just a urban issue. In the evening sounds travel. I can hear my neighbor 2 miles milk their cows in the evening when they turn on the pump. I can hear my other neighbors 1/4 mile away have a quiet conversation on their porch when things are quiet.

 

I have three gensets. My 3.5 kw will run one small ac and a refrigerator, my 1000 watt the other fridge. And my 7.5 kw truck mounted welder/gen I figure to use to power the neigbborhood to the extent possible. My neighbor has a 3.5 kw too. This would only be a week or two, beyond that we are in deep poo-doo.

I kind of hope by being the power plant it solidifies my leadership role and instead of shooting each other we can work together. Or not, we can make other plans too.

I also am considering adding a solar system, but to spend several grand to keep food cold, I don't know...

 

I have three gensets. My 3.5 kw will run one small ac and a refrigerator, my 1000 watt the other fridge. And my 7.5 kw truck mounted welder/gen I figure to use to power the neigbborhood to the extent possible. My neighbor has a 3.5 kw too. This would only be a week or two, beyond that we are in deep poo-doo.

I kind of hope by being the power plant it solidifies my leadership role and instead of shooting each other we can work together. Or not, we can make other plans too.

I also am considering adding a solar system, but to spend several grand to keep food cold, I don't know...

UT, I also use 3.5kw genny's. On it I ran an 8000watt window A/C, 2- 5 cubic ft chest freezers, 1- 7 cubic foot stand up freezer, kitchen reef/freeze, a couple box fans and a few lights. It handled all of it great. I ran it off a 20# propane tank that lasted 14 hrs. non stop. I did this for 2 weeks straight, just shut down to do oil/ful changes. I staggered the start up of the heavy consumers.

 

After Laura our city was quiet, no power. My neighborhood had a couple whole house gens. running. I ran my genny in my detached garage and powered what I wanted to via extension cords. We never had looters/thieves etc. However Louisiana allows you to start shooting when they tresspass on your property. Attempting to steel someone's generator during a time of crisis would be an act of suicide.

 

What a wonderful place to live, Over here they have the attitude that things can be replaced so you would not get away with it here,

 

Running a gen set attracts people. The attraction is usually for assets, or said generator.

 

Not to go off topic, but most states need new laws allowing lethal defense of property. If someone steals the $40,000 paid off car you worked your whole life to afford, and the insurance gives you ten grand you are wiped out, while some hood rat sells it for 2 grand to a chop shop. These anti-victim laws, made by oligarchs with govt bodyguards are largely what is driving crime. Start putting a few thousand of these crooks (the hoods, not the legislators ) in the ground and crime will largely stop.

I was talking with Robert Pelton (World's Most Dangerous Places author) a few years ago and I remember him saying that Afghanistan under the Taliban was one of the safest places he'd been. Because if you stole something, they cut your arms off!

Anyway, back to the topic - do you guys think these new batteries are better cost wise than the old way of wiring up a bank of golf cart batteries?

 

Anyway, back to the topic - do you guys think these new batteries are better cost wise than the old way of wiring up a bank of golf cart batteries?

Yes these are streets ahead for at leased 3 reason,

1) these are 100% portable so if you have to Bug Out then the whole thing can be picked up and packed in the Vehicle is seconds

2) These are fully self contained without the need for any other parts except a solar panel or two,

3) Then there is the speed of the Charge Times, Some of these can go from flat to 100% in 2 to 5 hours where I can run it flat and charge it 2 or 3 times a day if I had to where a 700Wh unit could supply a total of 2100Wh in a single day, No Lead Acid batteries can come even close to doing that, Where to match that amount of power you would need a Battery that would have to be around 330Ah and weighing in excess of 160-180Lbs.

4) Then there is the light weight and compact size a 700Wh unit weighs around 20Lbs Vs a 330Ah Battery weighing around 180Lbs Plus all the wiring and Charge controllers and Meters etc, And the list goes on,

These units can make a bad situation like a Powerout or SHTF in to a Doable situation and the bigger units are only limited by our own restrictions we put in place.

 

We got the generators to privide convieience during good times and provide emergency service should there be a SHTF. If there is a power outage in the winter, we will run the generator as needed until the fuel is gone. It buys us some time to come up with a better plan. We have a fireplace at home, but not at the cabin, yet. A lot of folks have generators in our community. During a power outage, you can hear them running, at both places. We do have 100 watts of solar at the cabin in the original box. For now it's an emergency prep that has not been tested.

Fortunately we live where there is lots of wooded space between most homes. All homes are on well and septic.

We have a quantity of fuel in each place and the efficiency and performance of each generator are known. Runtime can be calculated with the remaining fuel on hand. Both of our generators are tri-fuel, so we have some options, should the need arise. Both places have a way to lock down the generators.

If there is a SHTFantasy and we were under emergency power to survive, then anyone trespassing could be met with potentially lethal defensive measures. This act would be taken as an attack while we were in some form of incapacitation. We will call the authorities, and seek help and make notes in a Log Book to capture events. We are not lawless people and have no plans to go lawless. There are inherent risks to criminals committing crimes during an emergency.

 

Just because you have a genny doesn't mean you have to fire it up and get into trouble if that may be a problem.
On the other hand , you can't fire up a genny if you don't have one.
It's just a tool, up to the user to be smart with it.

 

And when you fire it up, you attract new "friends".

 

Sounds like a plan.
It's not easy being my friend.
And , many of my friends are idiots.
But they're all I got.........

I've often thought about getting a better class of friends , just not sure they'd have me.

 

I had a neighbor years back that built a small shack - about the size of a wellhouse or outhouse with what looked like bookcases on insulated walls - they were baffles to help muffle the sound. He put a vw muffler on his generator and put the generator in the shack. He then vented the shack - no direction connection between the exhaust and outside, only for air intake. In a sense, the shack was a secondary muffler This was out in the countryside. You had to be within 20 feet or so to hear anything. I was younger then and COULD hear a fly fart I don't know how long his generator lasted (lifespan) but it was the quietest genny I have never heard. Also, it seems to me that ic engines run a little quieter on propane? Do other fuels produce different noise when they are used?

 

I had a neighbor years back that built a small shack - about the size of a wellhouse or outhouse with what looked like bookcases on insulated walls - they were baffles to help muffle the sound. He put a vw muffler on his generator and put the generator in the shack. He then vented the shack - no direction connection between the exhaust and outside, only for air intake. In a sense, the shack was a secondary muffler This was out in the countryside.

That's the way to do it. I've seen some rather clever installs in 20' containers with baffling, and exhaust output to the ground. Not only quiets the sound more, but takes care of creatures under the container.

 

I recently installed a dyi house genie, tied to the NG line, its tri fuel too..

I built a little shed for it, modified it as well...

backfeeds home via interlock kit.

i do have a couple 2k super quiet gas sine wave s i can connect too to reduce noise signature and still power what i need powered, mainly fridge/freezer.

I have several other self contain solar generators and panels as well as lots of alternative lighting options.

in a serious grid down setting, i'd not be running at night, way too easy to pin point.

we also upgraded our blinds to full black out shades, that work real well....cant tell they are black out, its the honey comb, with the inside black....

 

Nice job on that, really great setup. I see you have a solar trickle charger for your battery too. If you haven't already, you might want to bolt/chain that generator down.

 

In another group they suggest a Listor engine. I'm not sure that would be a wise choice for a generator motor.

 

Lister engine? Isnt that a hit and miss engine? No I wouldnt use a hit and miss engine for a generator, far better choices than a 100yr old engine.

 

Additionally, with an outside installation there are ways of taming any noise issue. I saw plans for install a genset using a partially buried container which was brilliant. It also doubled as the switching, and breaker/distribution.

 

Couple of things to keep in mind:
1) You can only store so much fuel.
2) Make it as silent as possible.
3) Only use it a few hours a day to cool down the freezer and refrigerator.
4) While it's running charge up batteries, flip on the news, radio, security system (mine has battery backup) etc.
4) Never use it for any kind of lighting, ever!

#4 is especially important. Flip on the lights and you might as well put up a flashing neon sign stating you have food, fuel and other resources.

 

I wouldn't be buying a Diesel Generator if I lived above a 1/4 the way up America's Land mass from the South Coast, Diesel don't like being much colder than -15*c / 5*f because it starts to Gel below that unless it is loaded with additives where Gas Generators are good for around -40*c / -40*f and below as long as you keep the motor covered so the oil don't freeze.

 

That is good to keep in mind. The more I learn about prepping, the more it seems almost necessary to have some kind of underground storage at 10 feet below - that has a constant temperature of about 75 degrees. 20 feet below is about 60 degrees.

 

I had a 7kw on my boat by Northern Lights. It was in a factory sound box and we couldn’t hear 5 feet away. Work on the sound box idea.