 IowaCowboyWant to go back to IowaPremium
join:2010-10-16
Springfield, MA
 ·Comcast
 ·Verizon Broadban..
| Ways to prevent generator theft With the impending storm, looks like I'll get to use the generator and my newly installed transfer switch. I put the kitchen GFCI circuit with the fridge, the general household circuits, and a 240 volt 20 amp baseboard heating circuit on the transfer switch. Most importantly, I put the circuit that powers medical equipment on the switch. Loads are balanced and running my usual loads draws about 500 watts each side (1000 total). One of the employees at Home Depot admitted to me that he uses the suicide cord to back feed into the dryer outlet (which is a code violation, and even interlock kits and back feed breakers are not allowed here).
I am looking for ideas to prevent the theft of a portable generator. Power inlet box is on the front of the house (mounted there so it blends in with the other electrical equipment). Transfer switch manufacturer only gave me a 10 foot cord so I am basically limited to placing the unit in front of the garage. I do have a cable and padlock but I am in a moderate to elevated crime area (not too far from a public housing complex, I say this to give insight on crime in the area but please do not turn this into a political discussion or the mods may have an issue with this thread). The area I live in is not the worst part of the city and is one of the better parts of town as it is near the town line with an affluent community (and one of our neighbors is a cop).
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Romney-Ryan and Scott Brown are the Right Choice as they are Hope & Change you can count on. |
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 SwedishRiderRider on the StormPremium
join:2006-01-11
Connecticut
kudos:1 | said by IowaCowboy:..one of our neighbors is a cop...
Offer to let him periodically borrow your generator... theft problem solved!  |
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 panth1The Coyote
join:2000-12-11
Boca Raton, FL | reply to IowaCowboy
Multiple chains, cables, and locks.
If the plugs on the cord are removable, get a longer piece of wire and make a cable so you can put the generator on the side or back. |
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| reply to IowaCowboy
The best insurance company is Smith and Wesson. Jus' sayin' 
I personally just use a thick cable lock. Not a 100% lockdown method but at least it's a deterrent. |
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 alkizmo
join:2007-06-25
Pierrefonds, QC
kudos:1 | reply to IowaCowboy
Ya, inlet is placed at the front to blend with other equipment, BUT it certainly isn't a good location to place a generator.
Obviously, there's the thick chain wrapped around critical parts of the generator (So they can't just cut through a hand rail instead of the chain).
Then there's the "Don't show to the whole world that you have a generator", but that's a bit hard to do when it's in your front yard.
Then I'd work with the layout of the place to physically restrain ease of access, or easy of removal of the generator.
For example, while my generator is deep in the backyard, in a shed, locked down, I can add extra security. My whole backyard is fenced with only ONE access point (That would be possible to exit with the generator), and that's one side of the house where my driveway is located. If I park a car at that gate, nobody can get out without having to jump over a fence. That's nearly insane to try to lift a burning HOT generator over a fence.
Think with that logic (deterrents, delays, physical obstructions) and you'll either have nobody trying to steal it, or time to intercept the thieves. If you can have your cop neighbor be "on board" by either letting him use an extension cord, then he'll also be ready to jump to action to protect that generator. |
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 JeffreyConnoisseur of leisurely thingsPremium
join:2002-12-24
Long Island
kudos:3
 ·Verizon FiOS
 ·Vonage
| reply to IowaCowboy
I don't know if this would work, but it's what I'm thinking of:
Dig a 3 foot hole, small diameter. Pour concrete. In the concrete, set some sort of a hook (link) and then lock the generator to that hook with a quality lock? Just a suggestion, don't know if it's possible. Was thinking of something for my property---don't want to have to keep moving the generator in and out of the [locked] shed.
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He used to say that soul shine, is better than sunshine, better than moonshine, damn sure better than rain.
Debunking the 2012 hysteria. | Always looking for a new job | Begging the Wilpons to sell the Mets. |
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nonymousPremium
join:2003-09-08
Glendale, AZ | reply to IowaCowboy
dupe |
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Mr Matt
join:2008-01-29
Eustis, FL
kudos:1 Reviews:
 ·CenturyLink
·Comcast
·Embarq Now Centu..
| reply to IowaCowboy
Re: Ways to prevent generator theft Buy or borrow a vicious dog and chain it to the generator. If you have a loud generator make sure that you get a pair of easily seen hearing protectors for the dog, so potential generator thieves do not snitch on you to the Humane Society. Surrounding the generator with poisonous snakes can also make an effective deterrent. |
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 TA63ST215WPremium,MVM
join:2000-11-23
there
kudos:2
·TekSavvy DSL
·Cogeco Cable
| said by Mr Matt:Buy or borrow a vicious dog and chain it to the generator. If you have a loud generator make sure that you get a pair of easily seen hearing protectors for the dog, so potential generator thieves do not snitch on you to the Humane Society. Surrounding the generator with poisonous snakes can also make an effective deterrent unless Indiana Jones is around.
Corrected for you.
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The talented hawk speaks French. |
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| reply to IowaCowboy
Installed the 450lbs genset on an 8" thick concrete pad. I don't think it's going anywhere... At least not before the Rottweiler pays a visit... |
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bkjohnsonPremium
join:2002-05-22
Birmingham, AL Reviews:
·Charter
| reply to IowaCowboy
Some years ago there was a story about a man who set up a portable generator during a power failure. He and his family went to sleep with the generator running to keep the heat on. During the night, he felt cold. He tried to turn on a light, but it did not come on. However, he thought he heard his generator running. He took his flashlight and went to investigate. He found his generator gone, replaced by an old running lawnmower, which was why he thought he heard his generator. Supposed to be a true story. |
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Beezel
join:2008-12-15
Las Vegas, NV | That sounds plausible. |
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 Zorack
join:2001-12-14
Fayetteville, WV
·Suddenlink
| reply to bkjohnson
said by bkjohnson:Some years ago there was a story about a man who set up a portable generator during a power failure. He and his family went to sleep with the generator running to keep the heat on. During the night, he felt cold. He tried to turn on a light, but it did not come on. However, he thought he heard his generator running. He took his flashlight and went to investigate. He found his generator gone, replaced by an old running lawnmower, which was why he thought he heard his generator. Supposed to be a true story.
Damn.
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Matt Barlow Rules! Bring him back to Iced Earth! \m/ |
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1 edit | reply to IowaCowboy
I run mine in the garage. I know you are not supposed to, but it is not attached to the house. I open the garage door about 3 inches and clamp it so it cannot be opened further. I have a gable vent fan mounted on the back wall to exhaust air out. During the summer I will run a box fan blowing air on the generator. It is pretty safe, and it also helps with the noise. It also helps keep the generator out of the weather. I have a quick disconnect box in the garage that I plug the generator into, which feeds to my main panel. My panel has an interlock. If needed I can be up and running in about 10 minutes.
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Don't let my reality hinder your imagination! |
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 nunyaWho is John Galt?Premium,MVM
join:2000-12-23
O Fallon, MO
kudos:8
1 edit | reply to IowaCowboy
I agree with the simple solution of just chaining it to something heavy.
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If someone refers to herself / himself as a "guru", they probably aren't. |
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Mr Matt
join:2008-01-29
Eustis, FL
kudos:1 Reviews:
·CenturyLink
·Comcast
·Embarq Now Centu..
| reply to IowaCowboy
Check out this motion sensor it has a battery powered sensor and battery backup in the receiver. Chain down generator and mount the sensor in a position where anyone coming near the generator will alert you:
»www.chamberlain.com/CatalogResou···3896.pdf
Available from Amazon here:
»www.amazon.com/Chamberlain-CWA20···or+alarm
Amazon offers motion detectors from other manufactures. Make sure you get one that has a battery powered sensor/Xmitter and receiver. |
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| reply to IowaCowboy
i say a electrfied little area that the gen sits in plus one of those keychain alarms that when you pull the cord or it makes a loud noise untill you put the pin back in it attach it to the gen so it would take a few minutes to remove it
like this »www.womenonguard.com/-strse-238/···tail.bok
attached to the bottom so it cant be seen but if you move the gen it goes off
kinda hard to run down the street with a gen thats flashing and making noise |
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 JonPremium
join:2001-01-20
Lisle, IL | reply to IowaCowboy
Lock the cable around the generator, lay it on the driveway and park your car on it. Unless they bring a jack, they're not likely gonna be able to get it out from under your tire.
That being said. If they want it bad enough, they'll get it. The idea is to just make it difficult enough that they don't want to bother and move on to an easier target. |
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