[grc] How 'clean' does the power from a back-up/emer generator need to be?

[juice at whidbey.com]

Depending on how long your average commercial power failures last and
how much winter sun exists on your side of the coast range, you may
want to consider the fast dropping price of solar.

Otherwise I have had good LPFM backup power from small 7kw stationery
packaged generators equipped with automatic transfer switches that are
easily convertible from propain to natural gas. 
http://www.lowes.com/Electrical/Generators/Home-Standby-Generators/_/N-1z0x2n8Z1z13shmZ1z12krn/pl?cm_cr=No+Campaign-_-Web+Activity-_-Generators+Top+Flex+2.4-_-SC_Generators_TopFlexible_Area-_-10892063_9_pl#!
[1]

Tom.
 [2]

----- Original Message -----
From: "shhhhh" <shhhhh at sonic.net>
To:"Stubblefield" <stubblefield at lists.prometheusradio.org>,
"GrassrootsRadioConf" <grc at maillist.peak.org>
Cc:
Sent:Fri, 20 Mar 2015 00:50:09 -0700
Subject:[grc] How 'clean' does the power from a back-up/emer generator
need to be?

 Hey tech/elec/engr people!

 Because we live in a rural and somewhat isolated area, and because we

 are working with the local vol fire dept, and because icy storms
happen 
 and big wildfires get going every late Summer, and not everybody here

 has access to The Innerwebs, and because we'll be the only local
radio 
 station, we need to build a resilient radio station with redundant 
 systems-- but, like most of us, we don't wanna spend money if we
don't 
 hafta. So, we need expert advice!

 1) We're thinking of having a single POTS/landline *and*
GSM-to-analog 
 service (or maybe VoIP service, but the only telco ISP here is
somewhat 
 unreliable) and run 'em both into our office and studio, and in the 
 studio, connect both into our brand-new Allen & Heath XB2-14 board,
so 
 we can use either. Too complicated? impossible? doesn't solve
potential 
 problems?

 2) We need back-up power at the studio and txmtr site-- how 'clean'
does 
 the power supply need to be at each place? Do we need a pricey Honda 
 inverter generator in our little txmtr shack? What about
electromagnetic 
 'noise' as well as regular ol' auditory noise there in that tight
space? 
 What about heat buildup in there? (I guess we can always install a
small 
 fan....) How important are the same concerns for the studio backup? 
 We're thinking we'll install it in a separate room, of course, and
vent 
 the exhaust to the outside. We think propane or natural gas is better

 than gasoline or diesel, but "bi-fuel" (e.g., runs on propane or 
 gasoline) might be best?

 We've received differing advice, so we're gathering more opinions-- 
 hopefully, based on experience.

 -- 
 /Keeeth
 interim Station Manager
 KXCJ-LP Cave Junction, OR 105.7FM
 o:(541)512-KXCJ keeeth[at]kxcj.org
 ...community-based radio by, for, and about the Illinois Valley!

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Links:
------
[1]
http://www.lowes.com/Electrical/Generators/Home-Standby-Generators/_/N-1z0x2n8Z1z13shmZ1z12krn/pl?cm_cr=No+Campaign-_-Web+Activity-_-Generators+Top+Flex+2.4-_-SC_Generators_TopFlexible_Area-_-10892063_9_pl#!
[2]
http://www.lowes.com/Electrical/Generators/Home-Standby-Generators/_/N-1z0x2n8Z1z13shmZ1z12krn/pl?cm_cr=No+Campaign-_-Web+Activity-_-Generators+Top+Flex+2.4-_-SC_Generators_TopFlexible_Area-_-10892063_9_pl#!