Emergency Generator - Part 1
Getting an emergency generator was one of the first things I considered in regard to my personal preparedness. I am less physically able than some people, and therefore it's more difficult for me to do some of the things that are necessary during a power outage. Also, my business depends upon the use of my computer. During an extended outage, I would want a means to continue with my business.
At first, I was planning to get a gas-powered generator, since they are generally less expensive. But several factors changed my mind about that. 1) I have no place to store the quantity of gasoline that would be required in an outage of a week or more. 2) Gasoline goes bad after a period of time and any unused gas would have to be replaced periodically. 3) During a long power outage, extra gasoline might be scarce - due to a shortage or because, without power, gas can't be pumped at the stations. 4) It would be difficult for me to wheel the generator out of the basement when it was needed.
So, I made the decision to get a propane-powered generator. I already have a large in-ground propane tank, so that part was taken care of.
The smallest propane-powered generator that met my basic requirements was a 7,000-watt Briggs & Stratton. They're only available as units that are installed outside the house and come on automatically when the power goes out. I didn't really need that last feature, but it comes in handy.
Another advantage of this type of generator is that it automatically "exercises" (comes on for about 15 minutes) once a week. This helps to keep the engine running well and also serves as a weekly reminder that it's still in working order.
See also: Emergency Generator - Part 2