The Generator Is Working!

During our January 1st outing we had to work inside the cabin without the aid of electric lights due to the fact that the solar panel had not sufficiently charged the 5 Lucent batteries which provide power for the 750 watt inverter. In winter there is simply not enough sun to keep a full charge, so after about two hours the lights went out. I knew then that I JUST HAD to have a small generator so the batteries could be re-charged. One of our visitors runs a business where he sells and services new and used small engines and he told me he would give me a special break on the price. Therefore on Tuesday I drove over to his shop and purchased a new Snapper, 3500 watt, generator. When we arrived Barry Goodner (owner of the shop) had already filled it with oil, so we filled it with fuel, and there in the shop it cranked on the first pull of the rope.

Putting it into the pick-up required two men. It is a bit heavier than I wished for -- but the work it does is well worth it. Now I'll have to rig up a couple of "two-by's" for a ramp so that I can load and unload it alone.

Somehow between the time I picked it up and the time I arrived home it got turned over and spilled gasoline all over the back of the truck. Arrrgh! However, I was able to straighten it up, re-fill the tank, tie it with a bungee cord so as to prevent tip-over again and get it here to the cabin. Yesterday we tried it for the fist time at the cabin. It cranked on the first pull of the rope. What a sweet sound to my ears. My emotions soared as I plugged in the machine to the electrical system and all three 100 watt lights came on. The small apartment sized refrigerator was handled easily. "Hmmm..." I thought. Now Ican run power tools like skil saw, drill, etc. for making some repairs here and there...and can finally get the floors vacuumed!

Ed, and Rick and I sat inside enjoying the lights, pickin' and grinnin' and tellin' tall tales for the full break-in time on the generator. We also opened cans and heated up some chili and some noodle soup. I did not make coffee -- but drank Postum instead. I've lost my taste for coffee and that's a shame. What's a cabin without the smell of coffee?