When their is a power failure, what to do.

Ok I have a whole house generator......10,000 watts. It basicly runs the whole house in a power failure except the washer dryer and stove. I don't think there is enough juice to run my setup (3 x 1000w digital ballasts and carbon scrubbers and exhaust fans). So I was wondering if can I just run some t5's or some regular flouresents while the power is out? Power failures around here usually don't last more than a couple of hours. Thanks in advance for everyones input!

anyone anyone, Bueller, Bueller, anyone, anyone???

Of course you can.

i wouldnt do anything...sit n burn a doob. seems by the time you make the light switch the power is back on anyways. if its not that often its ok. 2 - 3 times a week then id do something.

I agree. Any light will do for a while.

I also agree that if you don't live in an area where the power is out regularly and for an extended period of time you probably have to take no action.

Switching to T5 of some CFL's will surrely help keep your plants healthy. If it is for less then a day, I wouldn't worry unless it becomes something that happens weekly.

I have power outages here a few times a year. Have had a generator since the first power outage, and run it the second power goes out. I propagate corals, and all my neighbors know it, so running a generator when the power goes off doesn't raise any flags or anything, and it's super handy...

Technically a day or two without light isn't going to be huge, but if you have the generator might as well use it. If you're not taking a lot of juice to run your house then you might be able to keep some HID's running. See what sort of amperage they draw, and what you are using when the power is off... If t5's or CFL's are all you can run, then do it, any light will help.