Your last generator Maintenance Run

[3930dave]

Last night the freezing rain got me to thinking how long it as been since I have even seen my generator.

Thankfully our grid was rebuilt after it totally failed in the 2009 ice storm and since then I think the max outage has been like 3 hours with only 3-4 outages total.

Thankfully we have a three phase part of the grid going past our house. In 2009 we were out of power for 65 hours. Neighbors on the single phase legs that branch off a 1/4 mile down the road where out for more like 14 days. Like they they location, location and location counts. If we ever move I want to be on the three phase part of the grid again since they get first attention in a outage.

That's a good location for sure Gale....... will be a priority for local outage restoration work.

I think you have a few gen options about (RV ?)...... your comments had me thinking about the last BIG one.....

Northeast blackout of 23 - Wikipedia

Thought it was '06..... but twas '03. 55 Million people affected, 2'nd largest global outage at the time..... Even bigger than the '65 blackout.

Some interesting reading in that wiki listing....... For the Want of a Nail.......

Rgds, D.

 

[Gale Hawkins]

That's a good location for sure Gale....... will be a priority for local outage restoration work.

I think you have a few gen options about (RV ?)...... your comments had me thinking about the last BIG one.....

Northeast blackout of 23 - Wikipedia

Thought it was '06..... but twas '03. 55 Million people affected, 2'nd largest global outage at the time..... Even bigger than the '65 blackout.

Some interesting reading in that wiki listing....... For the Want of a Nail.......

Rgds, D.

I recently told my son before he gets married and moves out he as to help me find and get all our generators serviced and running well.

They are 21 now and can fend for themselves quite well. When they were small and we being as all electric home I would sweat bullets if I let them get cold.

In 2009 they were 12 and we were running out of gas for the generator. There was no cell service or even any news as to where there was places with power so I told the kids I was going south to look for several cans of gas.

My son asked me how far could I go on the gas in the PU and I said about 100 miles then he said after you go 40 miles come back home even without gas. I said why. He said because if we are going to be cold and in the dark we do not want you to be gone.

Then all we had were RWD vehicles but now with the Subaru and F-150 we can get out if need be most likely but thankfully in 2009 it warmed up the next day so the power lines and trees lost most of their ice but it sound like a war zone was the trees started to breaking up. It was really weird.

Last night it stopped raining before lines and trees started breaking.

 

[3930dave]

Spooky and dangerous after a major ice-storm..... stuff, that never should, breaks.....

In '98 up here, we ended up with HV transmission towers that looked like King Kong stepped on 'em..... nothing I ever want to see again......

Post up..... once you unshackle Son from the repair-bench in the garage :laughing:

Rgds, D.

 

[Sawyer Rob]

More than likely since the battery is 5 years old I will just replace it. It looks like maybe a $50 part and that is without me really shopping it yet. I am sure I can get it for less than that.

You can always "boost" it from your car or what ever else you have around there with a batt. in it.

You DO keep a GOOD set of jumper cables around, don't you?

SR

 

[nikdfish]

The whole house unit is getting a little more runtime - power dropped around 4PM. No word yet on restoration time. Letting it support the heat pump for now. If it was colder & the HP unit running a greater percentage of the time I'd turn it off (heat pump) & let the propane furnace run.

ETA: Although they had predicted restoration by 11:45PM, they beat that number & had it back on a bit after 6PM. Still, it was nice to continue making/eating supper with the grand-kids without interruption.

 

[3930dave]

Nice options in place there Nik..... makes for a smooth evening......

Rgds, D.

 

[3930dave]

You DO keep a GOOD set of jumper cables around, don't you?

SR

I keep a decent set in each vehicle...... grew up with carb'd engines and -40 Winters, you don't have to school me twice .

I treated myself to one of these about a year ago.....

https://www.amazon.ca/NOCO-GB40-UltraSafe-Lithium-Starter/dp/B015TKUPIC

....... decent power density, ultra portable.... nice option when something dies in an awkward spot.......

Rgds, D.

 

[Sawyer Rob]

That should take care of any emergency batt. problems you many have with your generator...

SR

 

[4570Man]

Even cheap jumper cables will do the job as long as you are dealing with a battery that will take a charge. It just takes a few minutes since your really just charging the battery. I’ve jumped a stone dead truck with 12 gauge house wire.

 

[Industrial Toys]

I know it sounds a bit unimportant, but I just saw various LED head mounted gear really cheap. I can't say how valuable that might be if you are alone working in the dark trying to get something going. I could never get myself to put a germ infested flashlight in my mouth!