Battery pack vs generator

[needingu]

Goofproof..I have sent you a couple PM but don't think they made it out of the outbox. I need your expertise re the backup options. Since the power outages are about to increase, I really need to be ready for the storms.
You appear to have the same setup I have and I might say the same length of time ,6 years.

What would you advise me to get, the battery pack or set up a generator.. The battery pack seems less intrusive and probably cheaper. I would like to consider the cost and durability . I could put the pack under my bed,right? A generator outside seems a little heavy for me and more complicated.
Also, my Eucorepro died or something..I still have the SQL server icon on the taskbar but I've lost the Encorepro software.
I have used it for the 6 years and had good result. Thought I could get along without it one day and deleted , thought it would be in the recycle bin. stupid me. ..how's that for foresight. I'm doing fine but feel the need to check the stats from time to time.
Thanks
Needingu

[Pugsy]

If PMs are still in outbox then they haven't been read yet. Once someone opens a PM..then it goes to sent box. Perhaps GoofProof is away from his computer for a while.

I can't help with the generator vs battery question but I can help with the software thing. I sent you a Private Message regarding your software request.

[Linus]

Generator vs battery pack i really a choice between temporary power outages and extended outages. Short outages can allow you to get by with a battery. Since you mentioned storms, let assume extended outages. A generator is needed in that case to power your home and keep food from spoiling. That type of setup is complex and it cn be demanding. You need to consider safety and properly consider power loads for your home. For example, do you have gas heat or electric heat? Gas hot water or electric. These type of answers can greatly affect your choice. Can you handle a large generator and the fueling requirements? If you get a generator, go with Diesel since it stores better and it is less likely to explode. If you use gasoline, you need to rotate your fuel supply by filling your car from the storage tanks on a monthly basis. If none of this is ideal, then stay away from the generator option.

When my power goes out for a long time, I use a diesel generator and use it to power my home during the day. At night I shut it down and run my cpap off of a battery backup. I do this for fuel savings and safety. I keep the generator a safe distance from the home, and use a carbon monoxide detector on at all times. At night I cannot monitor that, so I elect to shut down for the night.

There is a lot to consider. PM me if you have further questions.

[Otter]

If you want to sleep through a major power outage, you might need both. The battery pack can be configured so that it's always there, and your machine will never know the power went out. However, it won't run your machine anywhere near as along, especially with the humidifier cranked up. The generator, OTOH, takes a moment to realize the power is out and start itself, assuming it even has autostart and that it does start, but, if a tank of gas isn't enough to run your CPAP until the power comes back on, you've got worse problems than apnea, and you'll probably have to evacuate anyway.

I'd start with the battery. As you say, it'll be cheaper and easier. It's also more portable, and if you decide you do need a generator later, you may want the battery for short outages anyway.

[azpilgrims]

I would look into the smaller Honda Generators like the EU1000 or EU2000, these are super quiet and can run a long time on a little bit of gas. The EU1000 will run 8.3 Hours on .6 Gal of gas and the EU2000 will run 9.6 Hours on 1 Gal of gas.

I currently have a large 5550 Watt Generator to run a lot of things in case of long term power outages (store 20 gallons of fuel typically). I am planning on buying one of these smaller Honda's just for my APAP Machine since I just started therapy a couple of weeks ago.

Here is a link:
http://powerequipment.honda.com/generators

[greatunclebill]

i guess we're talking about hurricanes. i sat out katrina in a mobile home 6 miles from the gulf in alabama. the actual powerful damaging winds don't last that long, maybe a few hours and i promise you, you will not be asleep at that time. so the generator can be off and inside or under cover during that time and in storage at all other times. the real problem is after the storm when the power is out. you can get a little generator, turn off the main switch to your house so you don't feed the whole overhead electrical system, and plug into any outlet with a wire that has male plugs on both ends. now all you do is turn off most electrical things in the house so the power will only go to the very few things you need on. i'm thinking cpap, freezer and/or refrigerator. while uncomfortable, heat and air is not neccessary. you can always go to the car to warm up or cool down for short periods of time. keep the car full of gas so you can siphon it for the generator. you may have to go for a day to a few days or even weeks without power. a battery pack won't cut it.

[billbolton]

The most important difference between a battery and a generator for fixed backup power is that a properly set up battery will require a lot less care and feeding than any fuel generator.

Fuel generators need to be fired up periodically whether you need to use them or not to ensure that they are in workable state when you really need them. This is particularly important for petrol (gasoline) fuel generators as petrol goes "stale" when left in a can or tank for long periods of time.

Personally, if I was in a situation where mains power was expected to be flakey for a while, I would have a battery for immediate short term power (a night or so) and a fuel generator (preferably using LPG for the fuel) for longer duration outages.

Cheers,

Bill

[billbolton]

wire that has male plugs on both ends

That in itself is an accident waiting to happen.

More generally, trying to power up your household wiring that way is also a good way to end up damaging the generator and the household wiring, as well as nullifying your household insurance cover.

If you want a generator that can power up multiple devices in a household, it very definitely needs to be properly connected into the household electrical system at the main switch panel, by a licensed electrical contractor.

[Goofproof]

If PMs are still in outbox then they haven't been read yet. Once someone opens a PM..then it goes to sent box. Perhaps GoofProof is away from his computer for a while.

I can't help with the generator vs battery question but I can help with the software thing. I sent you a Private Message regarding your software request.

Likewise, Jim