Revving Up

When you’ve got to have the power, just start your engine.

With the turn of your truck key, the AuraGen mobile generator can power your house, RV, mobile home or work site. It works in nearly any situation, including inclement weather, after an earthquake or other natural disasters.

About the only thing that could keep you powerless is running out of gas.

The 68-pound, 5,000-watt generator--introduced in 1995 by a design team at Aura Systems Inc. of El Segundo--is mounted to the front of your vehicle, unlike conventional ones that take up space in the back. It also doesn’t affect the operation of your engine or throw excessive pollution into the air.

The generator has two 120-volt circuits and one 240-volt circuit. A control panel in the cab of your truck has an on-and-off switch and a meter that indicates how much power is being generated.

An emergency power kit lets you have electricity during a power outage--enough power to run an average home.

The AuraGen is quieter than most generators and will run at any engine RPM. If you buy another vehicle, the generator can be removed and mounted in the new truck.

The AuraGen (about $1,500 installed) will be on the market next month, and mounting kits are currently available only for Ford F Series pickups, the Ford Expedition, Chevy K Series pickups, the Chevy Suburban and Tahoe (and other General Motors equivalents) and Dodge Ram pickups. Mounting kits for other truck and sport utility models will be introduced soon.

The generator should be mounted at a dealership. To locate the nearest dealer, call (310) 643-5300, Ext. 213.

At Your Service

Put a different slant on your morning cup of coffee with the Brasserie coffee service.

The glazed stoneware’s bold, asymmetrical shape and hand-painted stripes are sure to perk you up. The oversized stems make it easy to keep a handle on things.

The coffeepot ($20) is 8 inches high and holds 34 ounces of joe. The pot, mugs ($25 for a set of four, 4 3/4 inches high) and sugar and creamer ($15 for the two pieces, 4 inches high) are available only in the Pottery Barn catalog.

Call (800) 922-5507.

Emergency Rations

You don’t need to be caught unprepared in an emergency, because the Red Cross store has several ways to be ready in the event of a disaster.

A basic survival fanny pack ($20) comes equipped with a three-day supply of food and water, an emergency blanket, 12-hour light stick and mini first-aid kit.

An outdoor kit ($35) contains a three-day supply of food, six water pouches, a rain poncho, an emergency blanket, survival compass, 12-hour light stick, knife, first-aid kit, flashlight and batteries.

The home survival kit ($65) has rations for two that include a three-day supply of food and 18 water pouches, emergency blankets, 12-hour light sticks, flashlight, batteries, sanitation and first-aid kits, a knife, an AM radio with batteries and a tube tent.

For more information, call (714) 835-5381 or visit the store at the Red Cross headquarters, 601 N. Golden Circle Drive, Santa Ana.