Gale Hawkins
Murray, KY
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Joined: 07/22/2007
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selectsplat wrote:I dont' know alot about generators, but I would be concerned trying to run the AC off the generator for a long period of time.
It is the cost of gas that concerns me. Our 8000 watt generator for the house cost $4 per hour and our 800 watt generator $1.50 due to teh mix costing $2 per gallon.
$100 per day for gas and the work to feed it is a consideration.
The 800 watt will do the battery charging and power the frig on AC if required but I would just run it to charge the batteries for about 5 hours a day ($1.50) for fuel but no AC would not be cool. 
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TowHaul
Ontario
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Llaslo wrote:A natural disaster most certainly wasn't the way I had envisioned breaking in my brand new TT, but it's nice to have.
That was a thought that occurred to us just after we bought ours - added value 
As long as you've got running water, your propane should keep you going for the other stuff - just charge your battery with the genset as needed. If looting is a possibility, then it's probably best to stay on site.
Good luck.
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Kennedycamper
Algoa, Texas
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Joined: 05/24/2006
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Yes we use ours as a get away from Hurricanes down here on the coast. Took it to Waco last time a Hurricane went thru. It's nice to have the option of a second home.
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five'er
Canada
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Joined: 09/25/2006
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Sorry about the situation you are in, I hope things work out for you and your neighbors. The answer has already been given. Also note that your water heater should also work on electricity so you can conserve LPG that way too. I would recomend if conservation is key that you turn the hot water on ONLY before you need it (maybe 30 minutes). You can use both electric and gas to heat it together/faster. The fridge will run off a generator as well. In theory the only thing you really need the LPG for would be cooking. That all being said.. you never mentioned what size of the generator and that may be important in regards to what is possible. Anything less than 3000W will not stand a chance in starting your A/C I predict..
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RoyB
King George, VA
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Generally what most folks do if have their trailer beefed up to run everything they need from the batteries. This usually DOES NOT include the air conditioner unit as they draw alot of power. ALot of places including TEXAS just doesnt allow you to run a generator a full 24/7 at most camp sites so everything has to be done with this in mind. Your beef-up allows your battery bank to get re-charged in a short 2-3 hour generator run time each day.
Of course your situation is totally differnt and Im sure no one is going to complain about the noise of a generartor running 24/7.
During our last hurricane we had the same situation of no power for over a week. Since my setup was good for camping off the power grid just using my batteries I was all set to go and only had to run my small 2KW generator about 4 hours aday to keep my batteries charged up enough to run my 120V and 12VDC Appliances. My main goal was to just keep the fridge and freezer going. The rest of was just icing on the cake.
The biggest problem I quickly ran into was finding gasoline. All of the power was off for our little town and I finally found one gas station that was running on generator. He had a long line of cars to deal with as well. SO my main effort was to keep my 5-gallon gasonline at least half full all the time.
We followed your storm real close as my wife's family all live in the Plano and McKinney area and the two bad weather cells sort of split at the US75 road and ended up not too much reported to us anyway damage up that road.
It was sure fun to watch the tractor trailer truck beds flying around like toys on the news. unbeliveable... Glad you all are safe...
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belairbrian
Alabama
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As far as connecting to the generator, you will need a generator (4 prong) to RV adapter. If you use a RV to regular household style adapter you're back to not running the AC.
Can't speak for Texas but here our gas stations have huge generators so they don't close during power outages. Even the groceries stores were open the day after IVAN. Yhey cut back on lighting but the reffrigirator and freezer cases were up.
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tekman741
Gardner, Ma
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We had an ice storm in 07 with no power for 7 days. I used a generator and had 4=5 gallon gas cans. Change the oil about evry 40 to 48 hrs if you run it from the time you wake to bed it will seize ask my brother in law=oops" I don't need to change the stinkin oil, Can i borrow yours." On day three we started having a serious problem with thieves. They see the lights on and well they want lights too, chain it down with at least 2 chains they tend to cut the frame with a battery saws-all. I scared them off with the pump of a shotgun=chuk...chuk. I would not have shot them just their truck fyi=I do live in mass thieves have more rights.
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smkettner
Southern California
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Propane should last several weeks unless you run the furnace.
Generator is good 24/7/365. Check the oil when you shut it down to refuel.
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easttexan
Texas
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We lived in ours for 17 days following Hurricane Rita and never ran out of LPG. Had a Honda 3000 that kept the freezers and refrigerators in the house running during the day and the trailer, including a/c running at night. Keeping gas in the generator was our biggest issue. It took about 5 days to get gasoline in our area, but luckily we had 25 gallons in our boat.
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sh410
Northwest
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Joined: 08/29/2007
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FYI, the propane should last for 2-3 weeks but the 12V from the battery to run the controls for the refer and water heateer will only last for a couple of days. So you will need the generator for recharge the battery(s) anywhay.
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