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Since it appears that we're going to be smack in middle of the path of TS/Hurricane Isaac, I've been wondering about using a machine with the generator if power is out. Surely not one of the Janomes, but maybe the cheap, little electronic Brother. I was always afraid to try it before and my retreat was cancelled for this coming weekend - I have several things, including siggy blocks, to make/finish for COF in 3 weeks!!! Maybe I could get the belt on the treadle adjusted correctly?!?

Good luck, and stay safe! I say try the treadle.

Ellen, I've been thinking about you. I don't think it'll hurt to use the Brother. You might want to disconnect everything that uses electricity that isn't necessary. You know, all those vampire things, keep lights off if you're not in the room -- that kind of thing. Then the generator ought to be able to handle the necessities, including your machine!!

Stay safe, girlfriend.

Whenever we've had to use the generator, we plug in a lamp or two, a fan, TV, and refrigerator, which I unplug to use the washer. Don't even try to use a hair dryer or toaster - I never dreamed something so small would use so much power to heat! I've got my fingers and toes crossed that Isaac weakens and turns out like TS Lee last Labor day, rain showers, a little wind, and nothing else... after all, it's got to travel almost 100 miles over land from New Orleans.

My thoughts & prayers are with you during this time & to all who are in the path. We were out of elec. & water for 30 days during Hurricane Ike in 2008. We had a little generator that ran 1 A.C. window unit & our refrigerator & a few lights. We had to go to town every other day for fuel for the generator & water (we are on a water well).

I'd try the treadle 1st...certainly is a great question...I don't know. Stay safe....

An iron pulls a huge amount of watts...so you might want to only do "finger pressing" if you sew.

Anything that heats up quickly, like a toaster, hairdryer, etc will pull a load of watts.

Check the tag on the side of your sewing machine and it might tell you the amount of watts it pulls. Looks like mine is pulling 60.

The iron is pulling 1200.

Prayers for everyone in the path...

Our generator will pull everything we have in the winter - including heat because the heat is gas only the blower is electric. In the summer though, we move to the camper before we melt because the generator will run that a/c. Summer outages are rare here, but the do happen during storms while the electric companies clear the downed trees off the lines.

The seven years on the Gulf coast, that generator/camper combo kept me happy!

In our camper, you cannot run the a/c, microwave, hair dryer - two at a time. ONE only. So any time I need the MW or blow dryer, the a/c has to be turned off. And don't run the blow dryer and the MW at the same time either.