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Online Discussion: Tracking new emerging diseases and the next pandemic

ELECTRICITY
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Guests Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: May 28 2006 at 2:25am
I can't run the central heating without electric (draws 125Watts at most) and we have a lot of food in freezers.  Also our gas fire has a fan that requires 35 Watts.  So the inverter is for an hours heating and 2 hours freezer running per day.  I am assuming that the gas is less likely to go off and if it does we just wrap up.
I am hoping that here in the UK the power outages will be less than a day at a time and that I can charge my batteries in between.  I forsee many short power outages rather than any prolonger one (beacuse the country would be totally stuffed otherwise)
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Points: 533 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote 2ifbyC Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: May 28 2006 at 7:34am
Web Ferret,
 
Have you checked the wattage of your freezer? Most power charts put them at 600-1000 watts. The start-up surge will be closer to the top end.
Survival does have an 'I'!

Dodging 'canes on Florida's central Gulf Coast
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Guests Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: May 28 2006 at 10:27am
If your outages are less than a day at a time why worry? If its cold  the freezer will last for days. Just buy a couple extra blankets.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Guests Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: May 28 2006 at 11:33am
The freezer runs at 80 watts - the start-up surge is 1000W.  Its a very efficient and well insulated Bosch. I have a power meter that measures this stuff - I know its accurate as I have tested it with 60W and 100W light bulbs. 
I have no idea what BF outages may be - I'm just guessing and preparing as best I can like every one else on here.
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Points: 533 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote 2ifbyC Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: May 28 2006 at 1:10pm
Originally posted by Web Ferret Web Ferret wrote:

the start-up surge is 1000W. 
 
Hopefully the freezer won't spike your 600 watt inverter on start up. If the spike period is short enough you might be OK. Have you tested the freezer/inverter combo out yet?
 
 
 
.
Survival does have an 'I'!

Dodging 'canes on Florida's central Gulf Coast
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Guests Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: May 28 2006 at 1:27pm
Just for kicks, I hooked up two 115 ah (6 volt) golf cart batteries in series, with an inverter. Plugged in a vacuume cleaner running 6 amps (about 660 watts), it lasted 15 minutes before the inverter sounded letting me know the batteries were at half charge.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Guests Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: June 24 2006 at 11:21am

How to build an Iceless Refrigerator (page 1) or a Burlap or Evaporation Cooler (page 2):

http://geocities.com/olstk/refrigerator.pdf
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. 
A storm is coming !
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Instructions for building your own generator:
 
 
 
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Old topic but new question - I am looking for a system to power an air purifier and/or CPAP machine - not long term, only for sick room.    Those are the only two things I haven't been able to cover by other means.  Looking into solar for that but it's too costly right now.
 
Another idea I had is this - we have a propane tank outside - don't they make propane generators?  How do you get the propane to the generator.   I know there are relatively inexpensive standby systems out there but require installation which is costly.  Any thoughts?
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Originally posted by fab4 fab4 wrote:

Old topic but new question - I am looking for a system to power an air purifier and/or CPAP machine - not long term, only for sick room.    Those are the only two things I haven't been able to cover by other means.  Looking into solar for that but it's too costly right now.
 
Another idea I had is this - we have a propane tank outside - don't they make propane generators?  How do you get the propane to the generator.   I know there are relatively inexpensive standby systems out there but require installation which is costly.  Any thoughts?
 
There are many different generators that run on propane. Also, there are companies that make kits to convert gasoline generators to propane. You could use a small generator to charge a few 12 volt batteries and use an inverter to operate the purifier/CPAP machine. That way the generator would not have to run continuously, making your fuel last longer.
"Learning is not compulsory... neither is survival." - W. Edwards Deming
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My propane tank is 300 gallons  sitting in my yard.   Can you hook that kind of tank to a generator?   Or can you fill smaller propane tanks with a big propane tank?  I can just see us creating some big explosion Ouch
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You can do either as long as you have the right equipment. I would consult a professional if you are unsure of the process...that helps avoid the explosions!
"Learning is not compulsory... neither is survival." - W. Edwards Deming
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Question: if I put in a natural gas generator and the BF hits will natural gas keep coming through the pipes?

I figure that natural gas is a good way to run a generator because all the government emergency compounds are run on natural gas.

Anyone out there know if natural gas will keep coming or will it get shut off like water?
Always Be Prepared
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Just like all other utilities if Humans are involved in any way it will likely be closed down due to lack of raw material, shipping, supervisors, and workers.  Once this pandemic hits your area, you will notice the stoppage of sewage, water,  gas, and electrical power.
 
Remember we expect a minimum of 30% sick out rate.  That means they have to operate at a 30% + loss rate or every 3rd person at work missing.
"...No man is an island on to himself..." Words to remember

RICHARD-FL
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Originally posted by FluMom FluMom wrote:

Question: if I put in a natural gas generator and the BF hits will natural gas keep coming through the pipes? I figure that natural gas is a good way to run a generator because all the government emergency compounds are run on natural gas.
Anyone out there know if natural gas will keep coming or will it get shut off like water?
FluMom, Richard-FL is correct. Pipeline flow is regulated. Sure alot is computerized but man still controls the operations. We are putting in a propane tank. I have just learned that the natural jets on my gas stove will need to be swapped out (very cheap to do) with a smaller jet opening for the propane bottle. I want to also have a backup when natural gas stops. We are still in the process of building, I want the propane jets in so I KNOW it's up and operational. Not sure what is done for the oven or griddle deck.
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fab4 - Tri-Fuel Carburetor, Gasoline, Natural gas, Propane.
 
 
Hope it helped,  Lone Wolf.
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Oldish thread but FluMom raised a good point concerning natural gas. It's anybody's guess which utility would go off first, but I read somewhere that natural gas would present a major problem when it came to turning it back on again. Any pilot lights left on when the gas ran out would represent an explosion hazard when it was restored, so the companies would be forced to go door to door and ensure every pilot light was shut off before they could begin pumping to any neighborhoods fed by a common main pipe. That in itself could represent a huge delay, and it would conceivably happen every time the flow of gas was interrupted. Just a thought.
"Buy it cheap. Stack it deep"
"Any community that fails to prepare, with the expectation that the federal government will come to the rescue, will be tragically wrong." Michael Leavitt, HHS Secretary.
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Just remember that the life of the generator in a coleman stove will be shortened if you use unleaded fuel. It says so in the instructions near the end.  If you have to use unleaded fuel anyway in an emergency, just remember it has toxic additives.  Cover the pot and avoid breathing any fumes.
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Originally posted by jacksdad jacksdad wrote:

Oldish thread but FluMom raised a good point concerning natural gas. It's anybody's guess which utility would go off first, but I read somewhere that natural gas would present a major problem when it came to turning it back on again. Any pilot lights left on when the gas ran out would represent an explosion hazard when it was restored, so the companies would be forced to go door to door and ensure every pilot light was shut off before they could begin pumping to any neighborhoods fed by a common main pipe. That in itself could represent a huge delay, and it would conceivably happen every time the flow of gas was interrupted. Just a thought.
 
Most natural gas appliances have automatic cutoff systems in place when ever the gas goes out or the appliance stops working for some reason, the gas automatically stops flowing to the appliance. We have central heat and air, but the heat part runs off natural gas, if something goes wrong with the heating system the pilot light automatically shuts itself off, the gas stops flowing when it cuts itself off.  Our hot water heater is the same way, when our hot water heater went bad and had to be replaced, the pilot automatically cut itself off.  The gas wall heater we bought for backup heat is also the same way, anything wrong with the heater the gas automatically cuts itself off, they have some type of sensors in them nowadays. The gas doesn't just free flow to pilot lights, you have to actually turn knobs to turn the gas flow on to light the pilots.  Now maybe if you had a REALLY old appliance it would keep flowing, like our bathroom wall heater does not cutoff automatically (house built in 1930) but we only use that in an emergency and I actually remove the handle and keep it in a drawer so it can't be turned on unless it is an emergency.
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