Bald Eagle: here are some excellent articles and links re:generators:
hope they help.
<http://www.ci.norfolk.ne.us/March%20Newsletter%20Generator.htm>http://www.
ci.norfolk.ne.us/March%20Newsletter%20Generator.htm
The below is from a web page focused on Carbon Monoxide (CO) dangers. If you
use a ventless heater (kerosene or propane) as a fallback heater in your
house, be sure and have a battery-operated, LED-numeric display CO
detector with fresh batteries (alkaline) in them. Make sure you do not
see CO levels go above the minimum ppm (parts per million) level below.
(An interviewed fire marshall emphasizes that the cheaper CO detectors that
do not show numbers are not as reliable and that many people have become
afflicted with CO problems due to either failed CO detectors or weak
batteries. He also states that ventless heaters are against fire code but
off the record they aren't going to go around citing people for using ventless
heaters in January 2000 if there are outages but he knows that some people
will get sick or die from CO poisoning.
The lowest shown below is:
Domestic, all ages (TWA) - 9 ppm*, 8 hrs World Health
Organization (WHO) -
TWA - Computed by making measurements at intervals over 8 hours,
then adding the sums of the concentrations and the intervals, and
dividing by 8 hours (480 min.).
If you can afford a first class backup plan, I recommend that. Only
go with a cheap, risky fallback plan if your life is at stake and
nothing else is available/affordable.
The link is: 209.52.183.182
Here's what it contains:
Site map
Ok, so the search engine was overkill and it didn't want to work on
the new server anyway Here's a site map (Table of Contents) that
should make things a little bit easier.
Pointers on selecting a generator
What types of generators are out there, what to look for in a good
one, the relative merits of the various fuels, etc.
Safety
Your generator can kill you. Don't skip this page. Find out about it.
Application charts
What are you going to be powering? How much juice do you need? What
about electric motor start current requirements? What about my well
pump?
Transfer switch info
How are you going to power up your stuff? Run 15 extension cords
around your house? Like to lock your doors at night?
Oil/Fuel Treatment & Storage
Gasoline and diesel must be treated for long term storage; here are
the treatment products you need and the drums/tanks to put that fuel
in.
Generator Maintenance & Operations/Storage/Repair
Make sure your generator is going to work the next time you need it,
and then keep working.
Generator Video!
Ok, so I'm not C.B. DeMille but you might want to check these out
anyway!
Engine Manufacturer Links
Seven different engine manufacturers. See also Generator Manufacturer
Links below.
Generator Manufacturer Links
Fourteen different generator manufacturers.
Classifieds - Generators & Power Related Stuff For Sale
If you're having trouble locating a stationary set, some good ads are
already in folks, check out this page
Sales/Service Outlets
A ton of links to generator sales/service outlets and small engine
parts places. Also propane conversion parts. Many of these links
contain notations that they provide a particular bit of important
information or a particular service. Don't skip this page either.
Generator Rental Outlets
Reviews
Looking for more information on alternative energy approaches? I
review the POWER HOUSE video and workbook by Stan Pierchoski.
Really Stupid Generator Tricks
Bona fide geeks only.
Reader's Rigs
Be aware of the below, also the additional advice on pouring
gasoline (avoiding static electricity-caused explosions) at
209.52.183.182.
The local fire marshall said the more reliable carbon monoxide
detectors are those that give a LED readout. The Kidde one I
bought that is battery operated costs $40. Be sure and use new
batteries.
The links I provided yesterday show how to make an outdoor shed
for your generator. Do it, it's not that much money. Also, if
you do use a kerosene heater, be aware that unvented heaters are
against fire code in many cities. If you use one anyway, at least
avoid using it while you are asleep; provide fresh air intake for
it (such as a plastic, accordion tubing that extends the fresh
air intake you already should have for your heater if it is a
natural gas one). If you have a generator and a kerosene heater,
you should be able to operate a vent. Do not leave the room with
the heater in with the heater on--keep your eye on the carbon
monoxide detector. Besides inadequate air intake, another reason
for carbon monoxide is a faulty heating operation. If the heater
is doing complete combustion with adequate fresh air intake,
reportedly you should not have a carbon monoxide problem. I'm
trying to find out more information.
One problem we have with Y2K is that fire marshalls do not want to
talk about an inexpensive option for heat in power outages; they
typically talk about methods that costs a lot of money. The cheapest
advice I've been given by a fire marshall is to operate electric
heaters using a power generator properly installed or a natural gas
fueled fireplace insert or a wood stove or fireplace insert. All of
these options are quite expensive.
If you do go the kerosene heater approach, be advised it is not on my
strict advice. I mention it as a cheap, fallback approach, but only
with a lot of safety restrictions and only after first checking what
the conditions are with your local fire code (that was the change I
made to my handout brochure). I was told by a fire marshall that they
will not be making citations in January 2000 if power outages occur
against people who are using kerosene heaters. But that is only for
one locale. Anyway, read the below article and be safe.
--Roleigh
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209.52.183.182
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Jan. 14: Mainers poisoned by fumes fill ERs
Hospital emergency rooms flooded with Mainers suffering from
carbon monoxide poisoning.
Mount Vernon residents rush to help each other
By Joshua L. Weinstein and Meredith Goad
Portland Press Herald
As hundreds of Mainers without power resorted to generators* and
kerosene heaters to stay warm, doctors at some of the state's
largest hospitals have been inundated with at least 153 cases of
carbon monoxide poisoning.
And with a cold front expected to drop temperatures into the
single digits this week, doctors fear the number of carbon
monoxide poisonings could rise sharply.
Since last Wednesday, sickened Mainers have flooded emergency
rooms suffering from nausea, light-headedness and confusion - all
signs of exposure to the deadly gas.
The Maine Poison Center has fielded 200 to 300 calls about the
substance, which is odorless, colorless and tasteless.
At Central Maine Medical Center, 41 sickened people have passed
through the emergency room doors since last Wednesday. Today, 11
cases of carbon monoxide poisoning had come in by 10 a.m.
"We have an epidemic on our hands," said Dr. David Stuchiner,
director of emergency medicine at Central Maine Medical Center in
Lewiston. "It's really becoming a health-care crisis."
Maine Medical Center has seen more cases. So have MaineGeneral
Medical Center in Waterville and Augusta and Mercy Hospital in
Portland.
"There's been a very brisk business in carbon monoxide here,"
said Dr. Anthony Tomassoni, director of the poison center at
Maine Medical Center.
The problem, like so many problems the past few days, springs
from the ice storm. Without electricity, people are resorting to
risky methods of keeping warm. Too often, that results in carbon
monoxide poisoning.
With meteorologists warning that today could be the coldest day
of the winter so far, doctors like Stuchiner are particularly
worried.
"Temperatures are going to drop into the single digits. With
people becoming more desperate to stay warm, I have a feeling
we're going to see more of these rather than fewer."
Stuchiner said that during a normal year, he sees two or three
carbon monoxide poisoning cases. He saw between 11 and 15 today.
"One guy was concerned that people were stealing generators, so
he brought his into the basement,*" Stuchiner said. "Another
woman was worried that her infant wouldn't be warm enough, so
they put her in the car and left the car running. Not a good
idea."
Most people are being treated with high-flow oxygen for four or
five hours and then released.
"Usually it clears up pretty well," said Joe Rolland,
physician's assistant at Mercy Hospital's emergency room. "Most
of the folks we send back out with friends and family, and they
do pretty well."
Carbon monoxide poisoning is dangerous and sometimes fatal. It
has killed two Mainers during this ice storm.
Martin McCluskey, 58, died Saturday after running a gas generator
overnight in his Trafton Road home in Waterville. His wife,
Gladys McCluskey, remained in St. Joseph's Hospital in Bangor
today.*
A 73-year-old Newport man, whose name was not released, also died
after his wife found him Saturday near a gas generator in the
basement of their home.
"It's an insidious poison because it's colorless, it's odorless
and yet it causes tremendous damage to memory and peoples'
judgment long-term, even at moderate levels," said Tomassoni.
"I'm very concerned."
Tomassoni said carbon monoxide is the leading cause of poisoning
deaths in the United States, killing as many as 4,000 people each
year.
Another 10,000 people need to seek medical help each year because
of it, he said.
It can be quick.
Depending on how much carbon monoxide is in the air, people can
pass out within minutes.
Symptoms include nausea, headaches, general weakness and
shortness of breath. At higher levels, people develop poor
judgment, confusion and sometimes chest pain.
People who have heart or lung problems are particularly at risk,
as are older people, infants and pregnant women.
Pets with symptoms can provide a warning that the air may be
poisoned, Tomassoni said.
"I've had more than one family come in and tell me, 'Gee, we
were all feeling pretty crummy - even the dog had the flu.'
That's a tip-off because dogs don't get the flu."
He said people should never run generators indoors - even in the
basement, even in the garage, even with a fan running.
Carbon monoxide poisoning is easily treated with oxygen, but
merely going outside will not cure it. People who think they may
have been exposed to carbon monoxide should call the Maine Poison
Center at (800) 442-6305 or go directly to an emergency room.
"It's not the kind of thing you want to call your doctor and let
him get back to you in the morning," Tomassoni said.
The poisoning can cause permanent damage if left untreated.
Seriously ill patients are treated in hyperbaric chambers - which
Maine Medical Center does not have.
St. Joseph's Hospital in Bangor has such a chamber as does
Goodall Hospital in Sanford, which had a line of patients waiting
for treatment over the weekend, Tomassoni said.
Dr. Albert Pollard of Goodall Hospital said that they've seen 11
patients and treated eight in the hyperbaric chamber.
St. Joseph's Hospital in Bangor reported treating five serious
cases of poisoning in the hyperbaric chamber.
[*emphasis (and note below) added by webmaster at
209.52.183.182.]
[Note: Just because these poor folks were foolish enough
to actually run their generators inside their homes doesn't mean
you can't kill yourself by running one in an attached garage -
even with the door left open. Tons of people get killed by
running their cars in their attached garages and an internal
combustion engine is a internal combustion engine. Carbon
monoxide can find a way to seep into your house from the garage
and kill you. Don't become a statistic!] |
