Time to check out the generator.

[JasperFrank]

The issue I have is banning equipment already owned and many times required.

Case in point is California wildfires and steps property owners must take to be compliant...

One is brush cutting and a info packet shows a homeowner in proper safety gear in not dry conditions reducing fuel with a weed whacker...

This year can't do that unless battery powered...

So the very tools needed can't be used...

Ran it to that very problem this year in Western Central Oregon. Started an intensive project of removing the fuel load out of our wood lot this spring, inspired by a local wild fire, and a public request by the local fire fighting agencies that wood lot owners should bring down their fuel loads left over from a 100 year ice storm event, a few years ago.
I was about 90% done, when our whole area was shut down. Prematurely... in my opinion. Thought I'd have at least another week.
So one agency was saying to get this done, and another then said to stop. And it was the very same fire departments that came up the hill to enforce the ICE and burning ban.
Got 14 burn piles collected, sorted to wood stove rounds, and the rest burned in a controlled manner. Without the chainsaw, all I could do was drag out what I could and make two more burn piles, and wait till the open burn season re-opened.
It will be very weird on this 15th, Oct, cause everyone is going to start their piles at the same time, knowing there will be a ban the next day due to air quality issues.
I can not imagine the frustration of folks in California. Damned if you don't, damned if you do.
At first, I thought this thread was being hijacked. Now, I can see that they are all connected in a way. This has convinced me to get rid of the solar grid inter-tie and go to stand alone with some sort of battery system.
Wish some of the EV people would expand their minds a bit, to make the EV cars/trucks flexible enough to power a house, or at least agree on a defined standard.

 

[JasperFrank]

Try being on a school board if you have no children. People look at you like, "What possible reason would you want to be on a school board?" LOL.

 

[ultrarunner]

At one time generators had to be registered and ad time went on utility acknowledge a need for generators especially if or medical and water systems.

With emissions in play I have no idea what the answer is if you can't burn for heat/cook or use gasoline...

 

[ljjhouser]

I was a part of the ZPG movement in the '70s, since it was obvious that population control was the only way the human race would avoid wrecking the planet. You would not believe the amount of hatred directed at anyone who suggested that the most effective way to reduce your environmental impact was to not reproduce.

Ha You are right. If you enter any state park or wilderness area, they stress - Please lessen the footprint you leave behind." And I agree with that. But that in itself is an admission the EVERY single person cannot exist without leaving an impact. More people, more impact. That should not be so difficult to understand. I live in the city and have a place in the woods. I love the solitude - I guess that is something that many do not get to experience.

 

[ljjhouser]

Try being on a school board if you have no children. People look at you like, "What possible reason would you want to be on a school board?" LOL.

That would be the most thankless opportunity that could turn into a job you asked for but never wanted.

 

[JasperFrank]

That would be the most thankless opportunity that could turn into a job you asked for but never wanted.

I thought I'd be good at it, cause I'm basically a systems analyst by trade. Married, 11 years, but we both didn't want children, yet we pay prop taxes, into this system, and that's fine, cause we have nieces and nephews and want to see their world as good as it can be. Yet if you don't HAVE children, you just are not part of the local society any more. You are Pariah, and un-trusted in society if you don't have kids on the most local of political levels. I still will vote for local school bonds and stuff. Even though, I now know, I can not have a direct influence. But one day, I can see that I will just say, the heck with it, and vote every thing down. And as our population gets older, with less children, I can understand it.

 

[ljjhouser]

I thought I'd be good at it, cause I'm basically a systems analyst by trade. Married, 11 years, but we both didn't want children, yet we pay prop taxes, into this system, and that's fine, cause we have nieces and nephews and want to see their world as good as it can be. Yet if you don't HAVE children, you just are not part of the local society any more. You are Pariah, and un-trusted in society if you don't have kids on the most local of political levels. I still will vote for local school bonds and stuff. Even though, I now know, I can not have a direct influence. But one day, I can see that I will just say, the heck with it, and vote every thing down. And as our population gets older, with less children, I can understand it.

Sometimes I think parents (myself included) first see issues from the prospective of our son/daughter. And no further. That is not good. Most of us, as our children grow up, soon learn that we have NO idea what the kid is thinking or how to best represent him/her. Interesting. Best Wishes. Oh, by the way, thank you for serving and making the attempt to help. There are many of us who realize it is a devoted contribution to education and you deserve our thanks. (from an old teacher). Thank You

 

[JasperFrank]

Sometimes I think parents (myself included) first see issues from the prospective of our son/daughter. And no further. That is not good. Most of us, as our children grow up, soon learn that we have NO idea what the kid is thinking or how to best represent him/her. Interesting. Best Wishes. Oh, by the way, thank you for serving and making the attempt to help. There are many of us who realize it is a devoted contribution to education and you deserve our thanks. (from an old teacher). Thank You

All I needed was that "Thank You." Thank You.. Next Bond Measure gets a "Yes."

 

[Ken45101]

You folks will have so much fun, charging your battery powered generators when the power is out and you need them! Duh! What's in the water out there? On second thought, I really don't want to know!

 

[JasperFrank]

What did you guys pay for your transfer switch?

 

[metalbender]

A little late for the get well wishes, thanks. Have spent the last two weeks sleeping on a rocker/ recliner. Pressure on the left side ribcage still makes it impossible to sleep in the bed. Dr said four to six weeks to heal. On a positive note, my son convinced me to purchase an Apple watch. Bought a series 6. The fall sensor being able to call for medical help as well as any contacts I choose to enter is a great feature. Works similar to the Life Line type systems but at no extra cost for monitoring. Currently I'm in information overload watching all the vids posted on the watch. At this age, money isn't as important as health, a clone just wasn't in the cards.

 

[masscity]

I have a Champion 3500/4000 120v/240v generator that I run every 3 months on a 1500 watt space heater for at least a half hour.

My friend wired a 240v plug on the wall (same one that I have on the generator), then hooked up a long wire from the pump controller with a 240v male plug
that I can plug into the wall or the generator when needed.

 

[PILOON]

Last year I counted 16 mini outages over 3 days.
Delicate electronics sure don't like those surges.
Power lines in this area go thru the woods and high winds make branches contact live wires 'til they ignite and burn off.
I had logged that sequence and complained to the utility.
Well this AM a crew finally showed up and they are cutting non stop so hopefully we'll have a winter free of outages.
Since there is a supervisor along with the crews I suspect the clearing job will be well done.

Might be that the squeaky wheel is getting oiled.

 

[TMGT]

Last year I counted 16 mini outages over 3 days.
Delicate electronics sure don't like those surges.
Power lines in this area go thru the woods and high winds make branches contact live wires 'til they ignite and burn off.
I had logged that sequence and complained to the utility.
Well this AM a crew finally showed up and they are cutting non stop so hopefully we'll have a winter free of outages.
Since there is a supervisor along with the crews I suspect the clearing job will be well done.

Might be that the squeaky wheel is getting oiled.

Guess I'm lucky, our power company is very proactive and keeps the lines clear. If you see a tree that might potentially cause a problem, even if its not that close, all you have to do i call them and they'll have a crew out to trim or cut the tree down.

 

[grsthegreat]

I have a Champion 3500/4000 120v/240v generator that I run every 3 months on a 1500 watt space heater for at least a half hour.

My friend wired a 240v plug on the wall (same one that I have on the generator), then hooked up a long wire from the pump controller with a 240v male plug
that I can plug into the wall or the generator when needed.

the famous suicide cord

 

[orezok]

the famous suicide cord

Not necessarily. When he said it was the same as on the generator, it might be a matching female plug in a box wired to a male plug for the generator.

 

[TheMan419]

Thanks for the reminder to run a generator test this weekend. I appreciate it.

 

[grsthegreat]

Not necessarily. When he said it was the same as on the generator, it might be a matching female plug in a box wired to a male plug for the generator.

IF Its the same as on the generator, than its a female recepticle. therefore the cord has male ends on both side. ergo Suicide plug.

 

[orezok]

IF Its the same as on the generator, than its a female recepticle. therefore the cord has male ends on both side. ergo Suicide plug.

Yup

 

[bigtiller]

I hired an electrical contractor in the big city to come to my place to wire is a single circuit transfer switch so I could open the overhead door when the power went out. The motor for the opener is 16 feet away from the floor and my feet don't go over 4 feet high!

He had a cheaper way to go and ended up using a suicide cord. I was surprised when the company sent me a bill. I didn't think they would want any paper trail to that dangerous thing.

I have since put up signs and instructions just incase I forget how it works.