what do you do in a Power cut?

[MackemX]

we just had a power cut this afternoon for a few hours . I was just lazying about listening to music at the time so I wasn't that bothered. The thing is, as you don't expect these things I soon started to get lost in thinking what I should do . Eventually I settled on housework as I knew it was the best time to do it as I didn't have other distractions. I grabbed the shower radio and started blasting some sounds and did housework and paperwork sorting for a few hours but then I got sick

even so while I was cleaning I started on my PC and did the monitor and mouse. I looked at the keyboard and thought it could also do with a clean. I know I shouldn't have but I popped off the back of the keyboard to give it a really good clean as I was in that mood. The plastic keys are locked into the top half of the case and just need a simple push to pop them out. The rubber pads underneath though are all individual . I thought about whether I could be bothered to put them all back and went for it . I took the keyboard into the bathroom and scrubbed it for around 15 minutes as I popped all the keys out also. It took around 10 minutes to put it back together but now my keyboard is super fresh, sparkling and the Enter button isn't as sticky now 8)



so that's what I did and as you will notice my power came on about an hour ago 8)

[BJ_M]

well if it lasts under a day or so ....

nothing - except run the house off the ups .... and go start the generator

[Doramius]

I have a 1000Va UPS. Lasts a LOOOONG time. Got about an hour before I hear the alarm kick in and tell me that it'll shut down my PC automatically in the next 5 min.

I do have a small generator in the garage. Enough to power the refrigerator & a microwave. I wouldn't use the microwave as much, so I could run a few lamps or other items from it when not using the nuker.

Got it about 7 years ago in NY when we had a big snow storm. Haven't used it in about >3 years. No real need in Vegas. Hopefully we'll go camping this year and I'll bring it with me then. Need something to power the DVD player, TV, & electric burner.

[MackemX]

pedal power

[Conquest10]

the Enter button isn't as sticky now 8)

Hmmm, I'll leave it that.

Been a loooooonnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnng time since power went out here (I think 95). But just hang around talking. Usually comes back on within a half hour.

[MackemX]

none of that sticky stuff on my keyboard :P

I also popped in to see the neighbour for an hour for a bit chit chat as I'd setup their video earlier in the day

[MeDiCo_BrUjO]

Once it's hurricane season, lights can go out anytime for unknown periods of time. A friend of mine in Ft. Lauderdale spent one month without power after Wilma.

[Doramius]

In Vegas, we get rolling brown-outs all the time. The longest is usually 10-15 min. and is rare. Most are less than 3 min. Gotta have a UPS and surge protection in this area because of that stupid s**t. We got Hoover dam right near by and several coal plants, and only 20% of all power produced from all those sources got to Vegas.

I hope drop off into the ocean Southern California. It'll boost my property value too.

[bionickaren]

well i had a power cut last year i live in scotland, anyway the lights and street lights went out about 8 o clock..i freaked out i run out the house
leaving door open!!! too my mums house, i was freaking big time!!! me no llike lights out!!! lol

k

[Doramius]

In all honesty, we're all a bunch of friggin liars.

Everyone knows the first thing we're gonna do is squeeze the salami until we see mayonaise.

[MackemX]

In all honesty, we're all a bunch of friggin liars.

Everyone knows the first thing we're gonna do is squeeze the salami until we see mayonaise.

do you also have spreadable cheese with it?

[rallynavvie]

My modem and router are plugged into my main UPS (a 1500VA unit) but unfortunately power to the DSLM is off the same line so I still lose internet during a power outage. I usually just let the PC power off after 15 minutes unless I'm in the middle of something. I also have a 1400VA UPS on my file server so it shuts down properly.

Normally when the power goes out I head out to the pub. I'm so far out in the sticks that normally the local pub still has power. Or I just pour a pint at home and head outside for a cigar in the gazebo.

[Doramius]

What sucks is if you did something stupid to cause the outage, like:

Testing the durability of an old fuse box with pennies.

Shooting squirrels that sit on the transformer of a nearby powerpole.

Cutting down a tall tree on the wrong side, that's near power lines.

Shooting birds that sit on the transformer of a nearby powerpole.

Flying a sturdy mylar kite near power lines.

Backing your car at an extremely high speed into a powerpole.

Shooting the neighbor's cat that sits on the transformer of a nearby powerpole.

Mistakingly cut down a power pole in the middle of thick bushes and short trees.

Trying to rig up free cable.

Trying to rig up free telephone.

Shooting the neighbors dog on the transformer of a nearby powerpole, after you've placed it there.

Chucking long copper piping at powerlines.

Playing with your meter to get free power.

Trying to cut the power to the neighbors house.

Fastening homemade fireworks to a powerpole without realizing you've used way too much.

Getting caught by your neighbor doing this and they call the power company to shut your power off.

[vhelp]

Well, I have one of those jumper batteries, where it comes with an
on board 300watt supply. That's been my servival unit for a few
years now. I know.. its not much. But, in summer months, where we
do have lots of outages, hooking up a 60watt fan can make the difference
in survival (from sweating to death) but that 300watt'er doesn't
really last too long. I think I've been able to get away with an
hour or two, before it would give out - duration not fully tested.

I have some question..

** Does the tiny fan on my unit draw much of the resources ?
** How does one calculate the wattage/hour usage for a given WATT Unit ??
I mean, if I have a 300watt converter, how do I calculate the length
of time it will last before my batter drains ?

nerd allert.. I want to make a "quiet" self generator, hehe..
I've always dreamed of doing that, but haven't put much time into
the idea - that just was it is, an idea

Lets pull our resources together, and make this a fun project.. does
anyone want to help me build a small 2000watt generator, that will
last more than 6 hours or longer ?

-vhelp 3878

[NormaJ]

Ugh! I just walk the house blaming on the electric Company

[lordsmurf]

Take a nap or read.

[Doramius]

vhelp, if you're looking to make a 2000watt generator, you're probably better off buying a unit. They are really cheap.

However, you can make one, but you have to make the magnetic assembly and core properly. If it's not balanced properly, when you turn the motor on it could break itself apart.

Here are some formulas that'll help:

Power [P](watts) = Voltage [E](volts) times the current [I](amps) OR P=IxE

Power = the square of the voltage divided by the resistance/Impedance [R](ohms) OR P=E^2/R

Power = the square of the current times the resistance/impedance OR P=I^2/R

Voltage = current times the resistance/impedance OR E=IxR

Current = voltage divided by the resistance/impedance OR I=E/R

Resistance/impedance = voltage divided by the current OR R=E/I

Also, the amount of copper coils inside of which your core will spin will affect how much energy will be produced.

You're gonna need a s**tload of coppper wire, You could use a working 2 cyl. push mower engine, and a ferrite core (iron is ferrite). You'll may also need something to regular the output voltage.

All-in-all, it'll be a project.

[rallynavvie]

When I built my cabin I had a diesel generator installed in a little underground bunker-like thing. It puts out 15kW, enough to easily power the place and the electronics I've got in there. Generator comes on after a half hour outage and is wired into the alarm system and eventually my home's CPU. With the UPSs attached I'd never actually be down. Too bad it's my cabin (soon to be home) and I don't actually spend much time in front of a computer while there. But when I'm watching a movie I wouldn't want it interrupted by a power outage.

And if you're going to build your own generator and wire it through your home you need to make sure to have a cutout/transfer switch so that there isn't any line feedback lighting up the utility workers when they go to repair your lines.

[Doramius]

In NV you can't have it on the same lines of your home that outside power comes from. The power company here won't pay back energy if you reverse your meter. Other states have no problem, and I think there should be no problem here too, because of all the rolling outages they get here. I found several years back many people started using solar panels and the power company had to hand out checks to the snowbirds that leave during the summer. Their meter would spin backwards all summer. They placed a bill into effect to put a stop to it. Because the power company has a union foothold, it was able to keep the media quiet about it and had very little opposition. After it was implemented they fined all these people for having their meters going backwards. Another lawsuit was brought up, the fines were dropped and people had to remove the solar panels if they were linked to the meter to drive it backwards.

I hate businesses that do that.

[vhelp]

hey, thanks guys, for the replies.

Actually, I dont' want to hook such a project up to my electric panel
in any way. In fact.. I don't want to do any re-wiring or tampering.

MackemX, hope you don't mind my going on here, in your post, but..

I was just looking for something that I could build and that could last
a long time, but provide electricity to some of my survival life-style
habits..

stove; electric shaver; two lamps; (I like the dark) a small 120volt
refridge that hold a few gallons of water/milk; my 20" tv, and last,
my computer and pereferals. I think I got it all.

But, I don't think that I would be using everything all at once. So, that's
why I thought that the 2000w (or, 2kw) would be enough for me, using only one
thing at a time, for instance.

So, say I was preparing breakfast. I would only need:

breakfast:
** coffee machine
** toaster

lunch:
** I'm at work

dinner/night:
** coffee machine
** toaster (my home-made grill cheese)
** computer
** tv set

Obvisouly, such a setup would require trial n error, for efficiency
operations, etc.

But, the problem with this, is how to maintain the horse's energy.
A battery would die, unless I have one of those specially made GM
alternators (found in GM cars, I think) and that keeps my battery
juiced up. I thought about a solar panel, but I'm not sure of the
placement of it, (since I'm in an apt) But, I'm missing something in
this plan.. I know I am

Bottom line.. I would use such a setup for "suplimental purposes". My
whole apt is all electric, and my bill is sky-high.. so i'm looking for
alternatives measures

-vhelp 3880

[MackemX]

MackemX, hope you don't mind my going on here, in your post, but..

where's the report thread? I want to report you for threadjacking and providing some stimulating conversation around here

my electric bill last week was horrendous (£350 ) but that's partially because they had been estimating my consumption for the last 2 bills but this one was based on a reading. The price of gas/electricity has also gone up twice in the last 6 months by a total of around 33%!

the price for a kWh of electricity on the 2nd tariff has risen from 7.64p to 10.11p since November last year!

I hope I have correct spelling and grammar in this post as I'm typing without a monitor as it's too damn expensive

[Doramius]

vhelp, another suggestion if you're looking into using a car alternator......

A car alternator is basically set up for you, However, to make sure you get the right one, check out what it's peak voltage is at whatever RPMs your motor is going to be running at. Let's say you use a Lawnmower motor, like stated above, you need to find out what RPMs it can put out and match an alternator to it. THe alternator is probably only gonna pump out 10-16VDC. However, it's amperage will be high. This is where you would introduce an inverter. An inverter would juice up your voltage and give you your AC cycles.

Again, your expense is gonna be high for this as a 2000W AC inverter alone is not cheap, and somewhat hard to come by. You'll probably need to search the web. Plus trying to match an alternator to your motor will take a bit of research. You'll also have some power loss because you';re running through more equipment this way. There's less power loss if you go straight to an AC voltage transformer from the motor, or basically the motor is spinning your homemade Dynamo. It'll also power more items at a better wattage too. You can also make it to where if you draw more or less power your motor can be adjusted on the throtle to provide it. You won't lose as much gas this way. Just what you need to power what you're using.

There are online manuals you can get to make your own gas powered dynamo. check em out if you're really looking into it.

Again, if you're looking at only 2000W of power, you'll probably only need a 2-4HP engine. Here's a site for you anyway.

http://theepicenter.com/tow123199.html

[Abbadon]

Hi guys,

Down here we suffer several Power Cuts everyday, sometimes blackouts that last all day or night during the week and nothing is gonna change that.

I am one of the lucky ones (sort of) with a Power Inverter and a Suzuki Portable Generator, the inverter supplies energy everytime there is a power cut. After 4 hours the batteries are discharged and then I start the Generator.

When all of the above fails, I just go out to socialize.