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Hey guys, I really appreciate all of your input and replied. You all have some really interesting outlooks. I did purchase an outback, and am lifting it tomorrow based upon some of your suggestions. An off-road capable vehicle is very important. So thanks for the advice.

With that said I have a question here. My wife and I are now considering a generator purchase. We have 2 kids so will be getting 2400$ with the stimulus money (that we will all pay for later).

I am strongly split between a gas or solar generator. I was able to talk myself into a 150$ discount for the jackery 1000 battery bank and 2 panel combo. Total cost of that kit is 1450$. I'd be able to silently produce a low amount of power completely off grid. It also isn't noisy.

I've seen some Honda generators at sportsman. I probably don't need a badass one so let's say I get one for 1000. Discount brings it to 950$ I would need to keep fuel around for it, and it would make a bunch of ruckus I am sure. With it making noise hungry, horny, thirsty and otherwise desperate other humans could be drawn to my family and I with nefarious intent.

Would you buy a gas or solar generator and why? I cannot make up my mind one way or another.

Start with gas and go multifuel. Your primary should be diesel since it can store as long as ten years and you hopefully won't be using it often. Get an Onan. You can find them inexpensively on the used market and they last forever with maintenance. They may not look as purdy as some you see but they are designed to give long service as opposed to one that gets sold for looks, then when it sits for a few years won't work because something corroded. Get ye to www.survivalmonkey.com and search for posts containing onan by btpost. Bruce lives in Alaska and normally generates his own power. He knows these inside and out and what models fit various needs the most.

Now that you saved a TON of money and bought the generator that won't let you down, you have money left over for enough solar to power the essentials like refrigeration and some minimal lighting, also well pumps if you have them. I'd consider DC emergency LED lights for when you are failed over to solar as they, not needing any conversion to AC, will be far, far, more officient. Again the answers will be found over at www.survivalmonkey.com. MANY of the members there live off grid and a lot of them use solar and know the ins and outs very well. Dozens of excellent threads on the subject to read up on by people who rely on these systems daily. Once you have schooled yourself a bit, join the forum, and ask your question. The members will ask you questions you likely havent considered and will point out the options.
 
Genset: dual fuel (gas & propane/CNG) inverter. If you currently have Natural Gas via pipeline, or you have a propane tank, then with a dual fuel system you can stretch the fuel supply out longer.

Inverter will be quieter and use less fuel. If you are looking for an all house/property setup for long term and have the $$$$$, then a diesel 1800 RPM (not 3600 RPM) setup may be best. It depends on the load you expect. If the load varies and you often have a light load, the inverter sets may be best.

You can use propane injection with a diesel to make the diesel fuel last longer, but mostly propane injection is for diesel vehicles to increase performance.

If you have the $, then an auto startup system with a backup battery system to take the load while the genset gets up to speed is desirable (I have a neighbor with one of these). If you are going that route, you can combine the fueled genset with a off-grid solar setup (which will be costly).

A small solar "generator" is probably not going to be adequate for most needs. If you get a large enough panel and battery, you might be able to keep some things refrigerated in a small DC powered ice chest, but you should test it out before relying on it. You could probably charge a few things like phones and such. But for running household appliances such as a fridge or freezer, you are going to spend $$$$$ and need space for the panels and batteries and charge controller/etc.

If you have a well with a well pump or anything with a significant electric motor load, you will need power for the startup of the motor, which can be 2-3X the running load.

Also, most hot water heaters and clothes driers and cooking stoves are 220V, so for those you will need a genset with sufficient 220V capability.
 
Hmm, repelling the Corvallis masses after their socialist savior does not come thru for them.
I have soap strategically placed around the property, what else is there?

Double down by being prepared to turn on the lawn sprinklers.

You can also throw a case of Doritos on your lefty neighbors front yard. Make sure you also put cannabis stickers on the Prius they park outside to advertise their moral superiority. Doritos + weed = unwanted guests demanding "their fair share". They might not even make it to your place. If they do then simply tell them that you smell tons of skunk weed every day coming from their house and they had bags and bags at the last block party a week ago and you saw them dumping bong water yesterday in their back yard.
 
This reminded me to rotate my generator gas into the car. Thanks!

Even basic prepping means being a quartermaster. I've *got* to get my prev maintenance spreadsheet set up... it's only been a few decades relying on memory... :rolleyes:
 
Masking tape on the cans when rotation is due...

Yup, tags are on our water. Magic marker for food. Batteries are meh, have moved to rechargeables, so if it's in the rack it's good to go. Never marked the cans... dumb.

Probably too seldom but I just run the generator once a year, summer, to test. And when the power goes out of course. I think it's the fact that I don't see the gas cans that often that makes me want to do a spreadsheet thing. That and lists are cool...
 
Double down by being prepared to turn on the lawn sprinklers.

You can also throw a case of Doritos on your lefty neighbors front yard. Make sure you also put cannabis stickers on the Prius they park outside to advertise their moral superiority. Doritos + weed = unwanted guests demanding "their fair share". They might not even make it to your place. If they do then simply tell them that you smell tons of skunk weed every day coming from their house and they had bags and bags at the last block party a week ago and you saw them dumping bong water yesterday in their back yard.

The neighbors across the field from my place do run noticably purple light in their garage.
 
I'm prepping for the waves of wetsiders that think they are going to come over here in case of a tsunami, earthquake or Mt. Rainier eruption They will be in for a BIG surprise.
 
I'm prepping, or officially getting my affairs in order if you like, to get the Hell out of washington state. We moved to Silverdale Wa in 1973. Its the home of USN Bangor Submarine Base and the USN home port for Nuclear Subs on the west coast. It has been a great place to grow up, start a career and a family. Now that my children are getting older and moving so am I. Exactly where is to be determined, I have a child in Arizona, that intrigues me, as does St.George, Utah and Texas.
 

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