Anyone else having problems with their electricity?

[GrayFal Silver Contributor and supermoderator Find all posts View Profile Close GrayFal]

It is REALLY raining now with intense lightening - lights are flickering

I really don't like this weather ....

[T. R. Oglodyte Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close T. R. Oglodyte]

I've found that when it seems like there's problem with the electricity, getting away on a timeshare vacation with your spouse (or Other) can be a great tonic.

[tonyg Goomba & Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close tonyg]

Good idea Steve, but I don't have that many weeks.

[GrayFal Silver Contributor and supermoderator Find all posts View Profile Close GrayFal]

It is REALLY raining now with intense lightening - lights are flickering

I really don't like this weather ....

Seems to be in the distance now....I sure hope so!

[lawren2 Malibu Beach Barbie & A Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close lawren2]

Electricity - Orchestral Manouvers in the Dark
YouTube - OMD - Electricity

[bezerk Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close bezerk]

You should be in Mexico in rainy season we lose our electricity all the time, but not for long....LOL....

[tonyg Goomba & Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close tonyg]

Last night we lost power again for 8 hours and no one seems to know why.

[ArtsieAng Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close ArtsieAng]

Last night we lost power again for 8 hours and no one seems to know why.

Yikes!!!! You need to have a talking to your electric company.

[vintner Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close vintner]

We have underground power lines in my neighborhood. I have heard they have a life expectancy of 15 years. At that point-expect failures. Take a guess how old they are.

I have been looking into a small portable generator, enough to power the freezer, fridge and furnace (for winter blackouts). I should be able to power lights with that size generator too.

When we have lost power at night, I bought out my battery backup units, hooked the AC inverter to them so the wife would have her CPAP for the night.

[ArtsieAng Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close ArtsieAng]

Vintner

I have been looking into a small portable generator, enough to power the freezer, fridge and furnace (for winter blackouts). I should be able to power lights with that size generator too.

That's probably the best thing to do. We looked into buying one a year, or so ago, but never bought it.

Last time we lost electricity, we noticed that one of our neighbors had one, and we were very jealous. Now, we're thinking about getting one, again. They actually weren't all that expensive for the small ones.

[tonyg Goomba & Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close tonyg]

Everytime I think about buying a generator, I find more reasons not to. First, in order to have minimal power I need about 5000kw, since I have electric heat and a well. That also means an extra cost of getting an electrician in to set up for the switchover. Then there's the storage. When it seems to be a necessity- like now -- usually the next 5-10 years will have minimal outages of minimal time.

Let me also mention that you need to keep that generator ready to run, which may include quarterly starting and testing. Nothing quite like trying to get a long non-run generator started in inclement weather and/or darkness.

[T. R. Oglodyte Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close T. R. Oglodyte]

After we lost electricity for about three days after an ice storm about ten years ago, I decided to keep my eyes open for a deal on small generator. About two years later I walked into one of the big box home improvement stores one day, and they had three or four small Honda units they were clearing out, so I bought one at a good price. We've used it about four or five times since.

When we need it we run it for a few hours, usually twice a per day, mostly for the refrigerator. We'll operate the generator until the refrigerator shuts off.

I made a 12-gauge, double male outlet extension cord that I use to connect one of the outlets on the generator with a wall outlet on the kitchen circuit (20-amp wiring). Before energizing the house this way, I turn off the main electric service into the house, and deactivate all 220-volt services. When utility power is restored I turn off the generator, restore the main service and reenergize the 220-volt services.

[vintner Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close vintner]

Steve, that is the plan that I will be using. I have a sub panel in the garage. I would use it to bring power into the main panel. Like you said, kill power to the main panel and shut of the switches of the circuits you will not be feeding. Fire up the generator, flip the panel switch in the garage and power the circuits of the house.

I barely have room in my garage, but think it would be worth adding the generator.

[T. R. Oglodyte Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close T. R. Oglodyte]

I barely have room in my garage, but think it would be worth adding the generator.

If you put the generator in the garage, don't run the generator in the garage unless the main garage door (to the driveway, not the house) is open.

[ArtsieAng Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close ArtsieAng]

Holy Moly this all sounds complicated. You mean it doesn't just go on by itself, when the electricity goes out. .

Everytime I think about buying a generator, I find more reasons not to. First, in order to have minimal power I need about 5000kw, since I have electric heat and a well. That also means an extra cost of getting an electrician in to set up for the switchover. Then there's the storage. When it seems to be a necessity- like now -- usually the next 5-10 years will have minimal outages of minimal time.

Let me also mention that you need to keep that generator ready to run, which may include quarterly starting and testing. Nothing quite like trying to get a long non-run generator started in inclement weather and/or darkness.

After we lost electricity for about three days after an ice storm about ten years ago, I decided to keep my eyes open for a deal on small generator. About two years later I walked into one of the big box home improvement stores one day, and they had three or four small Honda units they were clearing out, so I bought one at a good price. We've used it about four or five times since.

When we need it we run it for a few hours, usually twice a per day, mostly for the refrigerator. We'll operate the generator until the refrigerator shuts off.

I made a 12-gauge, double male outlet extension cord that I use to connect one of the outlets on the generator with a wall outlet on the kitchen circuit (20-amp wiring). Before energizing the house this way, I turn off the main electric service into the house, and deactivate all 220-volt services. When utility power is restored I turn off the generator, restore the main service and reenergize the 220-volt services.