Now I Really Need a Power Conditioner? ?

I agree with Bob, your main concerns should be backup power for heat, food and water if via pump. Everything else is a luxury.

Another idea in addition to the above is too see if there are any "in production" residential hydrogen fuel cells. I know an outfit near me, Plug Power, is currently working on bringing one to market. I am sure they would not be cheap though. Solar energy another idea???

Good luck,

I would like to very strongly agree with those who are suggesting a propane powered generator. It is going to save you a LOT or hassle in regard to storing a sufficient quantity of fuel. (And you have to store enough, because the gas station isn't going to be pumping gas if the power is out.) The longest we have been without power in the past 30 years is 3 days. We are typically without power 3-4 times a year, usually for 2-8 hours. There are many fine generators on the market, but from personal experience I can heartily recommend Honda. Mine runs on gasoline--which is why I suggest you get propane. If I get another one it will definitely be propane. When I bought mine (17 years ago--and it still starts and runs like a champ!!!) I looked very hard at fuel consumption rates. That limits the amound of fuel I need to store and the number of times I need to refill it. It will run over 8 hours on one filling if it isn't working too hard. But you can avoid those concerns with propane (and a large tank). Yes, it runs the stereo just fine, but that is usually the least of my concerns if the power is out. If you live in the country as I do, and the power goes out regularly as mine does, you NEED a generator. It is definitely not a luxury. Figure it into the cost of the new house. Add it to the cost of the mortgage if you have to. But get it. You won't be sorry if you get one, but you might be if you don't. And yes, a power conditioner is a good idea if you use a generator to power your stereo.

Thanks for info so far.

It seems there is a very wide price range on these devices, as well as huges differences in size and complexity.

Could anyone recommend a particular manufacturer, kw output, amperage output etc. for a reasonably sized generator that I can hide away in a boiler room and still keep my ARC tubes and Levinson amp happy?

Whatever you decide on, by law, you must install a transfer switch that takes your home off the grid when using the generator. Back in the mid 1980's when Hurricane Gloria hit Long Island there was a case when a homeowner was using a generator without the transfer switch and a linemen was hurt badly when trying to restore power to the area. If I recall correctly it wound up in a serious lawsuit in which the homeowner lost.

Whatever you decide on, by law, you must install a transfer switch that takes your home off the grid when using the generator

Let's not confuse these two issues. Yes you MUST isolate your load from the distribution-grid, but that is accomplished via a DISCONNECT which is not necessarily a line-transfer switching device. You MUST be isolated; a transfer switch is only one of the ways in which to accomplish that.