alt.energy.homepower

"no spam" wrote in message
news: $ @ ...
>> Correct, however when you need to refuel during some sort of disaster,
>> getting an LP truck in to fill your tank will be much more of a
>> logistical challenge vs. getting hold of some diesel and pouring it into
>> your tank (simplicity of handling a non pressurized liquid fuel). May
>> not be a big issue, but still something to consider.
>
> Diesel and gasoline tend to go very fast when something happens LP doesn't.
> Loading a couple, or several, 100# LP tanks in the back of a truck is a lot
> easier than a bunch of diesel or gas cans.

This is a really good conversation. It is a really good idea to think
through all of the possibilities. After our latest hurricane, LP was about the
only fuel you could buy for a few days. For some reason, the tanker trucks kept
showing up from out of town. An LP gas dispenser can be made to run an a small
generator, while only a fraction of our gas stations have emergency power. Next
hurricane? The deal could be totally different because there are no guarantees!
So the best plan is a plan with lots of alternatives.

Here is my plan, it has worked so far: I run on NG if available. (through
3 hurricanes, it always has been) If no NG, I switch to LP gas and haul my
three 100# tanks to the Ace hardware for refill as necessary. If no NG gas and
no LP, (or if main genny fails) I use gasoline with my EU2000. When using the
EU, we have to conserve load.

I store a bit of gasoline for the season with Stabil treatment. The main
reason we keep that gas is to facilitate evacuation. If we don't evacuate, we
can use our gas for local transportation and/or the EU2000. That keeps us
self-sufficient for the first few days and leaves a place in the gas station
line for someone else. ;-)

Vaughn