Power Maintenance
With winter well set in, the possibility of power failures becomes not only more probable, but more problematic as well. Whatever your power plan, regular check ups and maintenance is a must.
Generators –
- Check and/or change the oil.
- Rotate stored gasoline with fresh, stabilized fuel.
- Test the unit UNDER LOAD.
- Verify mechanics and functionality.
Small Batteries (AAA to 18650) –
- Recharge all small batteries if they are rechargeable.
- Verify freshness of alkalines.
- Verify that you have enough to rotate through a power failure lasting at least 3 days.
- Verify that you have spares in the sized you need.
Deep Cycle Batteries –
- Verify charge state and recharge as needed.
- Verify charge system (solar power, generators, etc.)
- Consider power needs and upgrade capacity as needed.
- Do regular battery maintenance as per your battery type.
Inverters –
- Test inverters UNDER LOAD.
Misc. –
- Verify that you have enough spare fuses, extension cords, spark plugs for genertors, etc.
Regularly checking your gear is important. Making sure that everything is in working order and helps avoid problems when you need to use it. Have a power plan in place and test it for as long as your plan is anticipated to be in service.