[Shop-talk] Standby Generators

[Randall]

> Are there any  other options I
> should consider?

What about installing a heat source that doesn't require electricity?  Like maybe a convection wall furnace, with millivolt pilot
light system; or one of these
http://www.woodstove.com/fireside-franklin

Probably not enough for comfort heating for the whole house, but maybe enough to keep it above freezing inside.  And you could add a
manual generator for when you are home.

Turning a standard manual generator into an automatic backup generator sounds like quite a project.  Logic to start the engine,
electrically operated transfer switch and so on.  And if it's not big enough to carry the entire house, you'll have to run new
circuits to the "essential" items, so the non-essential items can stay on the utility side of the switch.

Randall