Preparing for Sandy

[Rob-D]

Yea you would think the company installing the solar system would have designed that into the system.:banghead:

You can buy inverters now that run both grid tie and off grid in one inverter so that when the grid goes down you do have back up power. My system was before they were out. I do have 8 Rolls batteries and 4.2Kw of back up power from my panels. It's not really a problem, I never use my back up system as the interities covers my electric bill plus. I got the extra panels to help heat my house in the winter. I could flip the interite over to help with my needs but it was a grant and it would be unfair to the power company who generously gave me the grant for the intertie.
Last year when my area was out for a week I loaned out my generator as I didn't need it.



Rob

 

[riptides]

Well, I turned the news on.

OMG.

Two-three foot storm surge on the potomac RIVER. Yep, river....

Wind gusts to 60MPH.

5-10 inches of rain predicted.

School systems are starting to close. My county Fauquier, closed Monday.

I went out and got more BEER.

This looks to be the monster storm - they have named it "FrankenStorm" in this area.

Good luck to us all.

 

[NY_Yankees_Fan]

Rob,

Looks like you have your bases covered.

Would a disconnect switch for my neighbor system work as murphy1244 suggested???

 

[Rob-D]

Yea you would think the company installing the solar system would have designed that into the system.:banghead:

There are ways to transfer loads when the batteries are fully charged. The inverter senses the full charge and yuo can operate a relay to transfer the load but this is a little different than transfering from an intertie. I'll use it to transfer the load to a heater when the batts are chargned.
Rob

 

[Rob-D]

Rob,

Looks like you have your bases covered.

Would a disconnect switch for my neighbor system work as murphy1244 suggested???

If he paid for his system and it wasn't a grant he can set up an inverter to transfer to a battery charge bank when the grid is down.

Something like this will work:

Off Grid Inverters Capable of Grid Tie

He'll have to add a few things like batteries but it is doable.

Rob

 

[forgeblast]

He would still need batteries wouldnt he? for an off grid system.
I think if anyone needs help should post in the regional sections with the heading
"Sandy-Help needed" that way people in the area if available can help. I would also list the damage and any tools that would be helpful.

 

[ljohnson778]

Here's a thought -- start a tractor-by-net relief network. If there's a bad storm anywhere, then other 'neighbors' nearby could be informed on what could be useful to help with cleanup: chainsaws? tractor & trailer, FEL? wood chipper? 4wd truck + trailer?

I live near Henryville, IN -- last spring's tornado left a huge mess. There were organized cleanup crews. One guy showed up with Branson tractor & trailer -- hauling workers in/out of the clean up area (no car traffic allowed/ utility co. was pulling new power line while we were there). He used that tractor to do some clearing while others sawed up tree limbs, etc...

That's a very cool idea. Of course, if anyone in central NY needs help, I'd be glad to oblige.

 

[pennwalk]

I got up the leaves but it was a waste cause the lawn is covered again. I blew the leaves off the roof and cleaned out the gutters. Once again a lost cause. The roof is covered again. I ran all the laundry. Got the groceries. No bottled water on the shelves since Friday. Made sure nothing was on the floor in the basement. If we get 10" of rain and lose power for a week we will have standing water in the basement. Just filled the bathtub so we can flush. The power company called to warn us to prepare for up to a week without power. Thanks for reminding me to charge the cell phone.

Chris

 

[Bee950]

Reading this reminds me at how unprepared people are. Imagine how things would be if people didnt have several days notice prior to a disaster.


Going to buy gas tomorrow? Hope your plan works out......

 

[newbury]

He would still need batteries wouldnt he? for an off grid system.
I think if anyone needs help should post in the regional sections with the heading
"Sandy-Help needed" that way people in the area if available can help. I would also list the damage and any tools that would be helpful.

A tractor-net volunteer aid type effort has been suggested several times before. Seems to have died down due to liability concerns.

It's a good idea but would need lots of organization.

 

[Carl_NH]

Reading this reminds me at how unprepared people are. Imagine how things would be if people didnt have several days notice prior to a disaster.


Going to buy gas tomorrow? Hope your plan works out......

Bee, sorry dont know who this was pointed at but we all prepare based on experience and ability. I think we all have different methods.

I for one am getting gas tomorrow AM when I head out for a Dr appt. I ran the genny this PM and all is good, just topping off.

Most of us on TBN have a good grasp on these matters and assist others not so fortunate in our areas when this happens.

I like the idea of a TBN "support team" just showing up with a chain saw and my truck to help - just need to figure out who needs what and where to go -do we need a regional bulletin board here on TBN for this?

Carl

 

[riptides]

Bee, sorry dont know who this was pointed at but we all prepare based on experience and ability. I think we all have different methods.

I for one am getting gas tomorrow AM when I head out for a Dr appt. I ran the genny this PM and all is good, just topping off.

Most of us on TBN have a good grasp on these matters and assist others not so fortunate in our areas when this happens.

I like the idea of a TBN "support team" just showing up with a chain saw and my truck to help - just need to figure out who needs what and where to go -do we need a regional bulletin board here on TBN for this?

Carl

Since TBN is internet based, well, I'd say getting the internet working at a great percentage of TBN users is not a high priority after an event like Sandy.

A lot of cable and fiber run above ground.

Communications will be a problem for us.

 

[tmajor]

I haven't heard any hurricane Hazel references yet, but the scenario sounds familiar. Hazel reshaped the islands around here and changed the rules on what we can do with our land.

Yeah, Hazel is the storm, that I recall (1954). I was just relating it to a young friend last night. I can remember my father trying to secure the big sliding barn doors (25' x 15' or so). They were blowing straight out, like a pillow case on the line. That probably wasn't the best idea. Also, Hazel took down the big maple in the front yard, under which, I had spent countless hours, playing "farmer". I looked up the information on Hazel, she was a cat 4 storm.

 

[Dutch445]

best wishes for all in the path of this storm! i have all of my winterization stuff done,
but only due to me having bilateral hip replacement surgery last monday. i had to get
everything done that would need to be done in the next 6-8 weeks. my tractor has
been converted to blower/cab, all patio stuff put away, all other engines ran with treatment
for storage and put away.
but, there is nothing i can do for this storm, it came on after i went into the hospital and
i just got home yesterday. we are in a new home for us that does not have a generator
transfer switch like my prior home, and that house was tucked down low out of most of harm's
way in this kind of weather, so it could be interesting! i'm going to have to rely on outside help
if the power goes out, or if any damage occurs. i may even have to pack up and relocate in worst
case scenario, but we are predicted to have a couple inches of rain, and some wind, with gusts
new 50-60mph, and i'm sure there will be some local damage, but it shouldn't be crippling for us.
my thoughts are with all of you near the coast.

 

[aczlan]

Now I'm hoping to get a 10KW plus diesel generator after the event winds down and somebody realizes they don't want it. Like how I picked up my 12 K Winco PTO generator for about 1/3 price.

^This. Looking at getting a pair of 5-7 KW diesel units once things quiet back down.

Aaron Z

 

[riptides]

The winds are picking up in my area. Most of the leaves on the silver maples are down. This will be a problem for the gutters. My concern is the wind gusts and the DIRECTION of the wind. If some trees do go, I hope they go AWAY from the house.

 

[SPYDERLK]

I have two systems, your neighbor has what's called an interite. When the grid goes down so does his tie, it has to or people on poles would be getting electrocuted. Power companies do testing after systems are in to make sure they power down on grid falures. I have an intertie but I also have an off grid system that is independent of the grid so it will power my house when the grid is down. I just finished adding 12 more panels last week and this morning I put some straps on the panels just in case we get high winds.

Rob

Why cant the intertie be auto switched off line -- just by a solenoid de energizing, and leave panel output to be used on site??

 

[tmajor]

Here's a little note, which some might benefit from: Fill your bath tub with water. In case the power goes off, It will allow you to flush the toilets ... a few times.

 

[Rob-D]

He would still need batteries wouldnt he? for an off grid system.
I think if anyone needs help should post in the regional sections with the heading
"Sandy-Help needed" that way people in the area if available can help. I would also list the damage and any tools that would be helpful.

Yes, batteries are the storage energy for the system, think of it as the grid.
Rob

 

[Rob-D]

Why cant the intertie be auto switched off line -- just by a solenoid de energizing, and leave panel output to be used on site??

You could but the problem is load management. Let's say you're running just on panels into the inverter and you turn on a washing machine that draws more than the panels put out. The system would drop below the required power needed. Batteries are buffers, they can supply large amounts of power and by charging the batteries with the panels you create a reserve.
Rob