jumper5836

Just get a small generator, electric heaters with fan, led light strings, electric frying pan, gas bbq, heavy duty power cables, mobile electric cooler, pick a few rooms to heat. Pull out the sweaters, wool socks and sleepbags.

fejjj

I think it is good for all of us who own homes and drive Porsches to be reminded how many people around the world live every day.

TurboS

One from the front yard last night.

JimV8

Awesome. The last time I recall an ice storm of this order was when my brother and I with a bed sheet between us skated the 401 for few miles. Getting back was a bitch though. That was 50 years ago.

Torontoworker

There is an upside to ice storms - it sure is pretty.

wc11

If your not afraid, you pull the breaker off the panel and wire directly to the furnace. Done.
Even 1000 watt inverter & a car battery will run the furnace a few times.
It's only the fan motor that need juice.

City Panic 24 (CP24) would have you running for cover.

Brian 162

It's not that hard. If you want PM me and I can talk you through it. I'm working x-mas day anyway and if I'm not that busy I may be able to help you out. It will be tomorrow evening until I can get back to you.

Jaak Lepson

Very easy to do:

1. Turn off the Main Breakers on the panel. THIS IS A MUST!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2. Look at the panel and locate the furnace breaker. The row it is located on is called a phase. MAKE SURE THE MAIN BREAKERS ARE TURNED OFF!!!!!

3. Find an electrical outlet on the same phase that is close to where your generator is located. Turn off all the other breakers on that phase. Turn off the furnace at the switch by the furnace.

4. Take a 12 gage extension cord and plug one end into the generator. The other end requires a jumper that has two male plugs on both ends. Make sure it is 12 gage wire. This can be made up from parts at any hardware store. MAKE SURE THE MAIN BREAKERS ARE SWITCHED OFF. Take this jumper and plug one end to the extension cord and the other into the electrical socket that is on the same phase as the furnace. To make the jumper follow this code. Black Gold, white silver and green ground. The corresponding wire must be connected to its corresponding coloured terminal.
5. Turn on the furnace and check to see if it is running. It should be running fine if the above is followed. The furnace should run until the house gets up to a nice temp which is usually less than an hour. You only need to run the furnace every once in a while. Same with your fridge and freezer so the generator does not need to be running constantly. This way a tank of gas will go a long way.

I would look for a generator that puts out close to 25 Amps or more to be able to run the furnace which has about 6 amps current draw, a fridge which is less than 6 amps and a few lights and chargers for phones, laptops and your cordless phone. This will keep you going for a while.

Remember:

TURN OFF THE MAIN BREAKERS FIRST

Once hydro is restored, remove the generator and cords first before turning the main breakers back on.

Hope this helps.

Jaak Lepson

I would not do this ... and I have been trained

Oh, for the first time my hydro did NOT go off. They ran a new feed and replaced the first 3 poles that feeds my hood. Everyone else was down and they are slowly coming back up. Tonight they are still out for many blocks.

porsche0nut

A luxury worth having!

Pags993

Definitely going to check into the Nat gas option!

Turbodan

Thanks very much for the advice/offers. It actually is not that cold in the house new around 12 on the main floor 15 in the basement. Running a space heater now off the generator and had the fridge running for a couple hours. My family is at the inlaws nearby they have power. Came down to office to get internet, and watch the end of the football game and it was an awesome finish. I think it would be hard to get the parts at a hardware after midnight (now) but if power is out tomorrow, I will take Jack's advice and get the furnace going...thank you for the instructions, I will print them out now. I will crash on the couch tonight with a -30 sleeping bag.
Thanks again for the help guys.

petee_c

Just a note.

What Jaak is suggesting is illegal in Canada. Even simple lockout switches are illegal up here. You need to get a transfer switch.

In emergencies, maybe...

MAKE SURE the MAIN is OFF.

Another work around is to take the romex out of the electrical panel, and put a male end on that and plug it into an extension cord.

This is assuming you are comfortable with electricity.

P0rsch3F113

Jaak didn't suggest it.

TrackdayRSA.

I'm finally back in my house after 2 days. Spent yesterday afternoon emptying my hot tub one bucket at a time and then managing to borrow a generator for 30 minutes to shop vac all of the jets dry. Hopefully I managed to get all the water out, or I am down one very expensive hot tub