[BVARC] A Thank You to John Stratton, ARRL West Gulf Division Director

Tue Apr 6 10:53:04 CDT 2021

 Here you go Mark. 
https://patents.google.com/patent/US20070110208A1/en

Let me know when you finish building it. 
MikeN5VCX

    On Monday, April 5, 2021, 09:40:10 PM CDT, Mark Brantana via BVARC <bvarc at bvarc.org> wrote:  

 It is really hard to keep up with technology these days. I am holding out for an anti-matter reactor.MarkN5PRD

On Apr 5, 2021, at 1:39 PM, Keith Dutson via BVARC <bvarc at bvarc.org> wrote:
 Now THAT is funny! <grin>
    On Monday, April 5, 2021, 10:42:37 AM CDT, Mike Hardwick via BVARC <bvarc at bvarc.org> wrote:  

  All of this gasoline stuff and sizing problems are nothing but a headache when dealing with any generator. Get one of these and it will take care of all of those issues (you can also power the most of your street at well)!
https://www.wired.com/2007/12/toshibas-home-n/

You will have plenty of power for that Alpha amp now!
MikeN5VCX

    On Monday, April 5, 2021, 09:13:50 AM CDT, JP Pritchard via BVARC <bvarc at bvarc.org> wrote:  

   I agree with you Ron about the hassle of a DIY solution, but for those who might feel confident about meeting that challenge, but hesitant to take on a 10 to 20 thousand dollar investment in a "whole house" generator, here's a less expensive plan: Install a single room heat pump style air conditioner, and add a small fridge and microwave. Then power it with a small moveable generator. That set up would keep you warm or cool, keep the lights in your one room going and power for your fridge, microwave and TV. There would be a cost, but not nearly what you'd face with the Generac solution.       JP (Richard) K5JPP  
  On 04/05/2021 8:56 AM k5hm.ron--- via BVARC <bvarc at bvarc.org> wrote:          
Yes, the solution N5PRD describes  was possible. We had a portable generator before we purchased the Generac solution. 

At our age which I am guessing is more advanced, the job of pulling out the generator from the garage, hooking it up, testing it periodically, having some type of feed through connection from the generator to the fan and other things you want to power like the refrigerator and the upright freezer, storing and hunting around for fuel, going outside to refuel the generator in the cold dark night were also considerations

So I opted for the more automated solution. It is permanently installed by licensed plumbers and electricians, self-testing, automatically switches on whenever the utility power goes out. I have a seven year warranty on it and the maintenance plan too.

 And I also have the satisfaction of knowing that my wife and family are also protected from electrical failures after I pass on.   

73,

Ron, K5HM

k5hm.ron at gmail.com

www.qrz.com/db/k5hm

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        Excelsior!

From: BVARC <bvarc-bounces at bvarc.org> On Behalf Of Mark Brantana via BVARC
Sent: Sunday, April 4, 2021 11:35 PM
To: kk5do at arrl.net; BRAZOS VALLEY AMATEUR RADIO CLUB <bvarc at bvarc.org>
Cc: Mark Brantana <n5prd at yahoo.com>
Subject: Re: [BVARC] A Thank You to John Stratton, ARRL West Gulf Division Director

I just have to wonder, how Generac can justify the cost of their generator. That is what does not add up for me.

4kW = $250 at Home Depot

17kW=$10,000 from Generac

Looking at the chart below; from Hiller, if you want A/C included, it is going to take that much power. 

If this is not critical, there another option could be considered:

A whole-house unit would be nice to have, but a Generac would cost about $120+/mo for four years. The small 4kW portable generator I bought would be paid for in about 2 months at that rate. 

If you have gas heat, you can run the fan with the smaller unit. In this option you can buy all the emergency generating power you need for the cost of the 4kW generator I bought at Home Depot for around $250.  Add a SPDT switch to the fan and wiring for around $100 and the total cost is about $350.

It does not have to be Generac or nothing. Even if I had the cash, I don’t know if I could justify the very high $/kW. I would prefer a few more vacations.

I would have been very comfortable if I had just been able to run the heater fan.

Mark

N5PRD

On Apr 4, 2021, at 8:11 PM, Bruce via BVARC <bvarc at bvarc.org> wrote:

We had our Generac whole house generator installed in August, 2020. Our house is all electric. Shortly after, someone cut down a tree about a 1/2 mile from us, it fell on a utility pole knocking out power to our entire street for 8 hours. The generator was great during that summer heat. Then came the cold of February and it worked great for 4 days. The neighbors on both sides of me and behind me all have generators. The $10,000 investment will never be recovered however, having power is wonderful. In fact, it cost me about $1.25 an hour in natural gas to run the generator. Could not be more pleased. 

For those getting a generator, if you go after a Generac, be sure to watch their website for warranty specials. I have a 10-year warranty plus the first year onsite service. Paid my dealer for 5 years of onsite above that. Changing the oil is a piece of cake as I had to do it during the cold. Every 25 hours of run time. I bought 6 filters and a bunch of 5W30 synthetic oil to do it during an emergency when the dealer could not come out. Takes about 10 minutes to change it. 

Enjoy your generator. 

73...bruce

On 4/4/2021 7:57 PM, k5hm.ron--- via BVARC wrote:

For those of you who don’t know John, I met him when he was the Division Vice Director.  He is very active in the ARRL and a great advocate for hams in Texas. He has been a frequent presenter at our Ham Fest and club meetings.   He knows his way around Texas politicians too.   I’ve never had much use for lawyers but John is the exception. Perhaps because like me, he is also an engineer.  

Dear John,

I wanted to thank you for your persistence in guiding the Texas legislature to pass recent legislation regarding HOA’s preventing the installation of standby generators.  

During the recent  Texas freeze my XYL and I were without power for 4 days We existed by camping out in our family room with the cats and the gas fireplace and lots of flashlight batteries.  Fortunately, we have a gas stovetop, so we were able to prepare food.  When it was over, I vowed, we would not have to live without heating and AC winter or summer.  We signed with a local dealer and hopefully we will have the standby system installed before the 2021 hurricane season begins. 

While we were going through the paper work with the company rep, he showed us a suggested letter we could send to our HOA that stated

“I  understand it is my responsibility to obtain all HOA approvals for my whole house generator system. I acknowledge Quality Generators cannot act on my behalf in dealings with my HOA.”

It was then I remembered John talking about his legislation regarding this problem.  So I Googled it.  There it was in black and white. Texas Property Code Section 202.019. I

It reads: Except as provided by this section, a property owners' association may not adopt or enforce a dedicatory instrument provision that prohibits, restricts, or has the effect of prohibiting or restricting an owner from owning, operating, installing, or maintaining a permanently installed standby electric generator.

Thanks again John.  

73,

Ron, K5HM

k5hm.ron at gmail.com

www.qrz.com/db/k5hm

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        Excelsior!

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