A few years ago I installed a generator panel next to my main panel. I have a 5K watt generator that's enough to power about 3 circuits, the refrigerator and the heater furnace. I drain the tank and clean out the carburetor after each use. Since the carburetor was inexpensive I got an extra one as a spare. If the first one is gunked up, I can swap them out, clean out the old one had put it aside. The downside is that my generator is loud so I can't run it all the time.

Since I put in the generator panel I've had to use it twice. Both during storms that knocked out the power for about 5-6 hours during the early evening. Since I was the only one in the neighborhood with power we had a block party at my house. My neighbors brought the food and drinks and I had lights. <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />