Posted by Jim on December 10, 2012, 12:40 am
On Sun, 9 Dec 2012 09:11:17 -0500, "Jim Wilkins"
>> My daughter moved to Alaska a few years ago, and they recently
>> moved into a small house belonging to a friend who is now
>> living in Hawaii. ...
>>
>> I'm wondering what size generator they would need to keep the
>> oil furnace working, and maybe a few lights, fridge, freezer,
>> and a few appliances. Would there be a label on the furnace
>> that specifies the power needed to run it?
>>
>> Any ideas how much juice a small oil furnace uses? We live in
>> the deep South and we use natural gas for heat and for running
>> the generator.
>For comparison a 3000W (3750 peak) generator is just barely able to
>start the motor on my washing machine, which draws 800W or less in
>use. The starting surge is over 25 Amps, even with the motor pushed in
>to loosen the drive belt. I think they would have to borrow and try
>gennys, and switch on all the loads sequentially at start-up. Do they
>know what is on each circuit? What do the neighbors use?
Fellows;
Thanks for all the suggestions, and at this time I don't know anything
about the place, they are just moving in. I was mainly thinking about
heat in case of a grid power failure. They know nothing about
electricity
or generators. I'll try to get more info but they are pretty busy
just trying to move in a snowstorm, they can't even get their truck
up the hill to the house, have to use a sled right now. They did tell
me that some of the circuits are messed up (wired wrong I guess), and
they will have to get that sorted out. I'll try to get more details
after the snowstorm blows itself out.
The daughter told me she thinks there is a generator in the garage
under all the junk owners stored there but they can't even get to the
garage
right now. The fellow that owns the house is out at sea off Hawaii
so they can't reach him at this time either. They were under the
impression that everything was working and they just had to move in,
but someone had stolen all the oil from the tank and the furnace did
not work, amnong many other unanticipated repairs needed. They are
having to shovel snow off the roof to keep it from leaking, etc. etc.
JIm
Posted by j on December 9, 2012, 3:00 pm
On 12/8/2012 9:01 PM, Jim wrote:
> My daughter moved to Alaska a few years ago, and they recently
> moved into a small house belonging to a friend who is now
> living in Hawaii. The house had been vacant for some time,
> and they worked a deal with the owner (a good friend) to keep
> the place up and do repairs, etc. They got the oil furnace
> working, but since the cost of fuel oil is so expensive they
> are now using two electric heaters which keep the place warm
> as long as outside temps are above 20 degrees F.
Electricity is usually the most expensive, but electric is great for
spot heating.
> My concern is that if they lose electricity, which is not
> uncommon on their island, they will lose not only their
> electric heaters but the oil furnace too.
This forced air? Then it is the same as it would be if it was gas.
> I'm wondering what size generator they would need to keep the
> oil furnace working, and maybe a few lights, fridge, freezer,
> and a few appliances. Would there be a label on the furnace
> that specifies the power needed to run it?
3-5kW sound about right. You need capacity for motor start surges.
Keeping and getting the gas to run this, should be looked in to. Better
would be a diesel that could run off the fuel oil.
My idea of emergency heat in Alaska is a wood stove, and emergency
refrigeration would be outside.
Catalytic propane heaters are cheap, and even the smallest is more BTUs
than an electric space heater (5K BTU). Kerosene might be an option.
http://www.toyotomi.jp/english/products/kerosene_h/double.html
I guess living in Alaska has grown soft.
Jeff
> Any ideas how much juice a small oil furnace uses? We live in
> the deep South and we use natural gas for heat and for running
> the generator.
Posted by Jim Wilkins on December 9, 2012, 3:54 pm
> My idea of emergency heat in Alaska is a wood stove, and emergency
> refrigeration would be outside.
Wood is my main heat source in NH, and there is a big kettle of stew
outside in the car, safe from animals.
Posted by clare on December 9, 2012, 11:02 pm
>On 12/8/2012 9:01 PM, Jim wrote:
>> My daughter moved to Alaska a few years ago, and they recently
>> moved into a small house belonging to a friend who is now
>> living in Hawaii. The house had been vacant for some time,
>> and they worked a deal with the owner (a good friend) to keep
>> the place up and do repairs, etc. They got the oil furnace
>> working, but since the cost of fuel oil is so expensive they
>> are now using two electric heaters which keep the place warm
>> as long as outside temps are above 20 degrees F.
>Electricity is usually the most expensive, but electric is great for
>spot heating.
>>
>> My concern is that if they lose electricity, which is not
>> uncommon on their island, they will lose not only their
>> electric heaters but the oil furnace too.
>This forced air? Then it is the same as it would be if it was gas.
Not true. Gas does not require a high pressure injection pump, or a
constant spark ignitor. The blower will LIKELY be either 1/6, 1/4, 1/3
or 1/2HP. The pump will be less than 1/6 and the ignitor will be less
than 2 amps -. The difference between gas and oil will likely be
relatively minor - but it WILL be a difference.
>>
>> I'm wondering what size generator they would need to keep the
>> oil furnace working, and maybe a few lights, fridge, freezer,
>> and a few appliances. Would there be a label on the furnace
>> that specifies the power needed to run it?
>3-5kW sound about right. You need capacity for motor start surges.
>Keeping and getting the gas to run this, should be looked in to. Better
>would be a diesel that could run off the fuel oil.
>My idea of emergency heat in Alaska is a wood stove, and emergency
>refrigeration would be outside.
>Catalytic propane heaters are cheap, and even the smallest is more BTUs
>than an electric space heater (5K BTU). Kerosene might be an option.
>http://www.toyotomi.jp/english/products/kerosene_h/double.html
>I guess living in Alaska has grown soft.
> Jeff
>>
>> Any ideas how much juice a small oil furnace uses? We live in
>> the deep South and we use natural gas for heat and for running
>> the generator.
>>
>>
Posted by Pete C. on December 9, 2012, 9:32 pm
Jim wrote:
>
> My daughter moved to Alaska a few years ago, and they recently
> moved into a small house belonging to a friend who is now
> living in Hawaii. The house had been vacant for some time,
> and they worked a deal with the owner (a good friend) to keep
> the place up and do repairs, etc. They got the oil furnace
> working, but since the cost of fuel oil is so expensive they
> are now using two electric heaters which keep the place warm
> as long as outside temps are above 20 degrees F.
>
> My concern is that if they lose electricity, which is not
> uncommon on their island, they will lose not only their
> electric heaters but the oil furnace too.
>
> I'm wondering what size generator they would need to keep the
> oil furnace working, and maybe a few lights, fridge, freezer,
> and a few appliances. Would there be a label on the furnace
> that specifies the power needed to run it?
>
> Any ideas how much juice a small oil furnace uses? We live in
> the deep South and we use natural gas for heat and for running
> the generator.
5KW will do. Find and adapt a construction light tower diesel genset and
you can run off the oil tank for the furnace. More importantly though
get some real numbers on what they are spending on electricity since
unless they are heating only a room or two, the oil furnace is likely
much more economical to operate. Too many people just don't do the math
to figure out the daily fuel consumption and it's cost vs. their little
electric heaters that are costing them a fortune.
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>> moved into a small house belonging to a friend who is now
>> living in Hawaii. ...
>>
>> I'm wondering what size generator they would need to keep the
>> oil furnace working, and maybe a few lights, fridge, freezer,
>> and a few appliances. Would there be a label on the furnace
>> that specifies the power needed to run it?
>>
>> Any ideas how much juice a small oil furnace uses? We live in
>> the deep South and we use natural gas for heat and for running
>> the generator.
>For comparison a 3000W (3750 peak) generator is just barely able to
>start the motor on my washing machine, which draws 800W or less in
>use. The starting surge is over 25 Amps, even with the motor pushed in
>to loosen the drive belt. I think they would have to borrow and try
>gennys, and switch on all the loads sequentially at start-up. Do they
>know what is on each circuit? What do the neighbors use?