I am contemplating purchasing a power generator for those occasions when the electricity goes out. My main reason was to keep the cell phones going and be able to use at least one fan, because it gets mighty hot in here in the summer.
Tuesday Morning had a radio with a 2 outlet power storer for $60, but it was more radio (and large) than anything else. The info on the box said it would keep a radio going for up to 12 hours at 75% power. Seems to me that won't charge a cell phone. I don't even know if it would keep a fan going. Do you have any suggestions? Any basic guidelines?
Eddie Bauer (and others) has a battery operated radio for about $50 which can be recharged by cracking the handle. It is also a weather radio, this might be your best bet if you don't need a generator to run appliances in an emergency.
Northern Tool has a battery for use inside that can power 1500 watts. YOu can only order it online it is not available in the stores. Black and Decker makes a unit that has 400 watts plus is a battery charger and tire inflator. I have both for emergencys. Generators are loud, messy and stinky.
I live in Louisville and after the Hurricane force winds left most of the community without power (expected to be out 10-14 dys!) an article in todays paper about GASOLINE powered generators states "find the wattage of the appliance you want to run by checking the name plate. Horsepower must be converted to watts. Motors require 4x as much power to start as they do to run" in the Cjourier Journal today and credited Virginia Cooperative Extension, THe kingfischer science encyclopedia
Be sure extension cords are adequately sized tohadnle the electricity safely Use outdoors because generators produce carbon monoxide
A radio doesn't use much current, but how many watts is the generator? That's what you go by. If you buy ex: 2500 watt generator; that will light up twenty-five 100 watt bulbs; thus, 25x100=2500.
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