Generator 1 / Power cut 0

Well, it finally happened last night at about 19:15. Half the village lost power and we were told it would be 00:30 before it could be restored, overhead line down. They were actually early, it came back on at 00:27, so not bad!

Anyway I put the transfer switch over and started the genny. Was I smug? YES!!!!

Apart from a dull thudding sound in the background my evening carried on relatively as normal. Visited a few neighbours and boiled a few kettles.

Reply to
Bill
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In message , Bill writes

We rely on some camping gas stoves. However, as they are stored behind the garage electric doors there may be something wrong with my plan!

On 30th. October we were due to have our 11kV overheads disconnected and re-routed through the new underground cables. Because of the storm damage down South, all the available jointers were called off for emergency work elsewhere.

The job was actually done last Sunday. We now have about 600m of safe to work overhead copper.....

Reply to
Tim Lamb

How mu did you spend on the genny, transfer switch etc?

What would it have cost to book into a local decent hotel for the night and a meal out at a nice restaurant?

Philip

Reply to
philipuk

In article , Bill writes

Was that from the genny or the frightened villagers trying to batter the door down (clearly the devil's work).

Reply to
fred

...presumably the hotel in the half with power?

Reply to
Phil

If it happens on a night when we have heavy frost, then it could cost you a burst pipe.

Reply to
Road_Hog

We just ajorn to the caravan in the drive, on those rare occaisions. Battery lighting, sat TV and gas 12v blown air heating system - we are good for days.

Reply to
Harry Bloomfield

On Wednesday 20 November 2013 11:38 Road_Hog wrote in uk.d-i-y:

Come on - the residual heat in the house would prevent that - it takes a prolongued period of below freezing external temperatures to cool a building enough that the water in the pipes inside will also cool enough to freeze.

Even then, you're still unlucky to get a burst pipe - copper and plastic can both take a bit of abuse. Lead OTOH was a bugger for splitting.

Reply to
Tim Watts

In article , Bill scribeth thus

Only the one overhead?, I thought that most places like small villages were dual supplied so that power could be fed back through the one line whilst the other was down of is that wishful thunking?..

What's the power of the gennie Bill?, "thudding" seems like a diseasel..

Reply to
tony sayer

Agreed, un lagged in an external draft in a well insulated roof space might be a problem.

I must post a photo of the burst bit of 15 mm copper that appeared in the (untterly unheated) garage last winter. Trouble is I can't find it ATM. B-(

Reply to
Dave Liquorice

Two people, one night with power, vacancies and decent £150 to £200.

Premier Inns are around £60/night/room they are OK but not what I would call "decent". Meal for two in a decent restaurant, not much change from £100. The eatery pubs next to Premier Inns are OK but not what I would call "decent", £30 to £50 for two with drinks.

So £300 for the night away. That'll get the transfer switch and wiring. Depending on the size of the genset the next power cut and night away buys that. "Profit" from then on...

Our 2 kVA standby genset and extension cables probably cost no more than £200. At some point I'll spend a bit more money either making a lean to shelter for it outside or extending the exhaust through the garage wall so it can be run in there.

Reply to
Dave Liquorice

Unless you live in a sooper dooper thermally insulated newbuild house where the pipes are routed around the house on the *outside* of the insulation - as I did a few years ago in deepest Aberdeenshire. After a couple of days with snow piled up outside the pipes were frozzed solid. Nice cosy house, though.

jgh

Reply to
jgh

Well, it finally happened last night at about 19:15. Half the village

I assume you had all the outside lights on to rub it in.

Mike

Reply to
Muddymike

down here the 11KV is DEFINITELY a ring.

when my 11kv developed a problem they cut off everyone, then isolated the km or so feeding me and one neighbour and gave us a genny each. Massive things.

Reply to
The Natural Philosopher

My 2.8 KVA set was, I think, only £60 from Aldi, or possibly Lidl. It is on wheels so I can use it around the garden and therefore be reasonably sure it will work when really needed.

Don't have a changeover switch so have to rely on very strict procedures. Have prominent, and permanent, labels attached to main switch, connecting cable and generator, just in case I am not available (say dead) when the power returns and the house needs to be swirched back.

Reply to
Old Codger

In message , " snipped-for-privacy@gmail.com" writes

The genny was free, and I forget about the transfer switch, not a lot though.

You're not a hotelier by any chance?

Reply to
Bill

Can I have a free generator, please?

Reply to
Adrian

In message , tony sayer writes

It was a bit strange Tony. My road has always been on a different feed from the rest of the area, but this time half the village went. In the past the faults have always been with an underground cable, but this time they told me it was an overhead. None nearby so it was presumably before the underground bit.

7.5KVA 2 cylinder Lister diesel. Ex one of our sites that I decommissioned a few years ago. We had the original genny stolen and this was the replacement, it had only done test hours in the few years it was in service, last night was probably the longest it has ever run!!
Reply to
Bill

In message , Muddymike writes

Yes :-)

Reply to
Bill

Only a single feed to my road. Overhead along the road (3 phase and earth/neutral/star point). Used to be fed overhead (by a bit of wet string) across a field opposite but when the new estate was built across that field (45 years ago) it went underground then up a pole opposite me. The estate is fed underground from the new substation.

Reply to
Old Codger

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