Page last updated Oct 20, 2021 @ 10:06pm

Personal Stories

Some personal stories written by people who have endured prolonged power outages are posted here.  How did they cope with the inconvenience?  What was it really like with or without a backup power source?  We would like to hear YOUR story too!   Send us yours by email and with your permission we will post it here for others' benefit!


 

Power from pto generator during Florida hurricane, 2004
[Backup power supplied by a Voltmaster PTO47.7-1 PTO Generator mounted on a trailer  and connected to home using a 400A transfer switch all provided by NoOutage.com LLC.]
    The hook up works and the whole house can run on the 30,000KW generated, 2 A/C units, pool heater and pumps, 2 fridges, freezer, 4500sq feet of lights, TV's, PC's, stove, micro oven etc.  The tractor has to idle at 2200 RPM under load to hold 60Hz but that is acceptable and within the PTO speed range.  I have a 25 foot cable and there was no noticeable voltage drop.  Hook up takes about 2 minutes so it is not a problem.  As you can see from the photo I need to alter the trailer hook up to lower the front of the trailer to straighten out the PTO shaft.
    My tractor will need to remain outside when the generator is running and there is a 98% chance it will be raining so I will need to figure out a cover for the generator.  Over all it is a great solution, thanks for your help.  --D.E., Jacksonville Florida, August 2004
voltmaster-pto47install.jpg (89570 bytes)

Click thumbnail image to enlarge



[Update upon arrival of Hurricane Frances]
    Right now I'm running on PTO Generator power we have been out for a few hours.  This storm promises many hours without power but the house is cool, the water warm and lights bright.  I can use EVERYTHING in a 4500 sq foot home without a problem including two AC's, two fridges, one freezer, two hot water tanks, pool pump and spa/pool heaters, computers, TV's oven, microwave, all the lights etc, etc, etc.
    I just walked out and took a couple photos of the new cover I made from 16 gauge stainless.  It protects the generator from rain but allows it to breathe.  It is expected to rain the next 24 to 36 hours so I did not want to be without power because the generator could not be run in open rain.  I did not weld the cover on but bolted it instead so it can come off if I use it for a long time in the hot sun.  
--D.E., Jacksonville Florida, September 4, 2004
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Whole house powered from 12kW genset
    Almost one year ago, I purchased an Onan RS12000 genset, GE ZTX20RM4 automatic transfer switch, and various accessories and service parts from your company. You might recall me; I was the customer that sent you photos of the transfer switch with the revised control panel and optional third pole..
    Well, everything has been in boxes for the better part of a year (long story) and last weekend I finally completed the installation!
    Your website is by far one of the best sources of information out there. I really received quite and education and I cannot thank you enough for your personal assistance and knowledge in suggesting a perfect system for my home. I could not have done with you, and the vast wealth of information learned from your website. You did not oversell or undersell, and I am exceptionally pleased with your company.
    I used Configuration C1, "all circuits backed by generator", and I am pleased to say the genset powered just about everything I could throw at it (I didn't want to overdo it during break-in) without any problem. We ran a 240V 18,000 BTU air conditioner, as well three smaller 120V air conditioners, 5,000 BTU, 6,000 BTU, and 8,000 BTU, not to mention the refrigerator, oil furnace, dehumidifier, attic exhaust fan, three computers, two televisions, and just about every single light in the house, you name it, without any problem whatsoever. At one point, I was reading a total of 49.0 amps (both legs combined) on my Fluke clamp meter, and the lights were steady. And for the first time I read nice strong voltage; approximately 240-242V and 120-121V! With our local utility, I'm lucky to get only around 211-214V volts and 109-113V! (I needed to adjust the jumpers in the transfer switch to 220V.)
    Other vendors told me this (the C1) configuration would not work, and that I would need a dedicated sub-panel, and at least a 20KW genset for an 1,100 square foot home! Thank goodness I found you and your company!  
--J.M, Whitestone, NY, July 29, 2004.


Ice-storm, Southern Maryland 1993
If you had been in Calvert County, Maryland during March or April of 1993 you would have noticed people walking around with metal buttons pinned to their chests which read, "I survived the Ice Storm of '93".  Now, for anyone not living in Calvert County this inscription was meaningless. We were in Calvert County in Feb '93 and we truly did survive the ice storm, but only barely. The ice storm was centered mostly in the northern half of the county.  Trees down across electric and phone lines and you guessed it, no power and no phone.  If you lived on any incline at all, automobile travel was virtually impossible. We were without power for seven days.  We had two fireplaces but no dry wood, apart from household furniture. We had a four wheel drive vehicle which provided us with travel to the real world, the land of heat, electricity, and phone service.  Phone service came online first but no electricity for seven days. That means no heat and in Maryland in February you need heat.  We wore clothes to bed, got up and ate breakfast in the same clothes.  Incidentally, breakfast was over a Coleman Stove.  A few days without a shower one becomes a little smelly but we kept repeating, THAT TOO SHALL PASS.  A couple of months after that incident we went out and bought a generator.  We have used it often since but not to the extent of seven days or even one whole day.  We had the generator wired into the main electrical system of the house, so when we do lose power it's just a matter of wheeling the generator out of the garage and flipping a few switches.  We feel really secure now knowing that we have the means of providing heat and partial electrical power throughout our house during emergency conditions.

--RAF, Chesapeake Beach, Maryland, 1993.

A severe ice storm struck Quebec, Canada and New England in the US in January 1998.  See Outage Archives for news clips.  An excellent and detailed article about living for weeks in the state of Maine without utility power is available by clicking the following link.  Photos are included.
Ice Storm '98 - Living Through the Storm of the Century.

 

 

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