stop using gas ? ...

[Jim GM4DHJ ...]

thank god some of the punters up aberdeen way have gas as well or they whoud be frozen to death by now.....not a good idea relying on lecy only

[Brian]

Gas central heating needs electric to operate. The pump and control system need it.

If the have a simple electric fire etc they should be able to use that. Ditto a gas cooker.

[Andrew]

More fool them for giving the old Baxi Bermuda back boiler with its ugly radiant fire on the front the heave-ho and replacing it with a 'modern' combi/condensing/whatever boiler.

If you live in an area where winter storms have caused power cuts then keeping a portable gas heater with its own cylinder might be a wise precaution if you have no other heating.

Most of the affected folks live out in the sticks anyway so they should also have log burners as well, so their real problem is if the water has gone off too.

[SH]

yes you are correct..... But a Honda Inverter generator would be adequate to power gas boiler....

What it will not be adequate for though is running simple electric fires for the whole house....

not without mains electricity or overloading the generator

provided you have matches or a mechanically driven piezeoelectric ignitor

[charles]

most gas boilers rely on lecy, too.

[Brian]

Oops, simple gas fire.

[Jim GM4DHJ ...]

no shit sherlock...I was meaning gas fires and cookers at a pinch..and LPG

how does an electric fire work with no electricity ? ...

[Jim GM4DHJ ...]

EVEN SOME SHATY TOWNS IN kENT HAVE OVERHEAD SERVICES DON'T THEY BRIAN ....

[Jim GM4DHJ ...]

no shit sherlock

[John Rumm]

Although the wiring may be non obvious.

Most gas boilers will use flame rectification to "flame sense". Many generators will produce a 230V output, but with a floating output not tied to any true earth reference. Hence the flame sensing will often not work and the boiler will lockout when it tries to fire.

So you may need to provide an earth spike and connect one leg of the generators output to that. That can be become the house neutral, and also can also be connected to the main earthing terminal, and the other leg can then feed the live.

[Dave Plowman (News]

Many years ago I installed an inverter to run the CH. Uses a 12v car etc battery. A changeover relay so it can all happen automatically (if enabled) Ran for about a couple of days on test. But has never been used in anger. Reminds me I really should check it all still works. ;-)

[Pamela]

Brian, are you sure you mean "electric"?

[williamwright]

An electric fire?

Bill

[williamwright]

I just made up a lead with earth and neutral commoned internally. Is that wrong?

Bill

[williamwright]

Don't be so rude.

Bill

[Jim GM4DHJ ...]

no

[williamwright]

On 02/12/2021 13:30, Andrew wrote:

I don't have an indoor log burner.

After the power went off and then finally came back on it occurred to me that since we are powered by overhead lines and since I have in the past had an out-of-the-blue attack of global amnesia, the situation could arise in which there was a power cut and I wouldn't know what to do. So I've written myself a rather long aide-memoire and attached it to several strategically chosen surfaces. It is as follows:

Power cuts in very cold weather Based on events during the power cut of 26th/27th November 2021. For a longer power cut things would be different. Boiler There is a special mains lead next to the boiler. It is to connect the boiler to the generator. It has neutral and earth commoned internally so the igniter will work. However, unless the power cut looks likely to last for several days it isn?t really worth bothering with the boiler, unless it?s so cold the pipes might freeze up. After a power cut the boiler should start up automatically, but it takes a long time for the heat to get though. Mains supply It isn?t worth using the Jesus lead (on the shelf back right hand corner of the workshop) for a short duration power cut. The alternative to this (and running the boiler) is given below. Clothes Wear long johns, thick socks and a thick jumper, plus ordinary clothes. If you have to go outdoors take your phone. Living arrangements Abandon the living room and office; shut the sliding doors. Live in the dining room and kitchen. Generator It?s under the [redacted]. Petrol is in the freezer shed (don?t use two-stroke mix). Generator needs four or five pulls to get the fuel through. Follow the instructions on the label on the machine. Once it?s running put it outside under the dining room window. Keep heavy rain off it. Put the ten-way mains power distribution strip on the sideboard. Drop the cable out of the window. The window will close OK on the cable. Plug the distribution strip into one of the 13A generator sockets. In extreme weather put the generator in the shed with the shed vents open. Freezers and fridges Freezers will climb to -10C after six hours without power. Plug a long extension cable into the second 13A generator socket. Run the extension cable to the freezers, or reconfigure if the generator is in the freezer shed. The kitchen fridge could run from the generator if necessary, or put a joint of meat (etc) in it to defrost slowly and keep everything else cold. Cooking Put one of the microwaves on the sideboard next to the distribution strip. Used on medium power this will do water for drinks and washing, ready meals, soup, etc. For frying etc, use the gas ring and Calor bottle that are in the van, or use the motorhome. Heating The portable gas fire is in the utility room. The gas bottles are near the freezer shed. A thick book will tilt a big gas bottle slightly so the gas fire?s flexible pipe will reach. The locking device on the regulator (press catch to turn): Upright (as you will find it): regulator can be fitted to bottle

90°: locked on but no gas flow 180°: locked on and with gas flow. Follow the lighting instructions on the inside of the fire?s hinged top cover. The fire only needs to be on one bar. Phones, torches, powerbanks, etc Put them with the power distribution strip and charge them up when necessary. Non-rechargables: spare batteries are in the dining room sideboard. Lighting The 30W LED tripod flood (next to the washing machines) can be stood on the table and is adequate for the dining room. An inspection lamp can be used for the kitchen, or just use a head torch. There is a battery lantern in the motorhome. For lighting when the generator is off use the 12V light on the compressor (etc) unit. It?s probably in the [redacted]. Computer, internet, CCTV, TV, etc Use the laptop. Charge it whenever the generator is running. Use the mobile phone as a personal hotspot. Turn off the ?permanently on? power in the office, and everything in the CCTV room, in case of surges. The dining room TV will work from a improvised aerial of some sort.

Bill

[Andrew]

<snip>

That surprises me, but you have a mobile home with some catering arrangements in there and a Kubota that could run a genny off its pto.

SSE are calling in the army in Aberdeenshire saying this is a 'once in a generation weather event'.

Thought we had that in 2019 (fishlake floods), 2015 (Carlisle floods), 2013 (floods), 2007 (Gloucester July floods),

1987 (snow and wind) and again in 1989 (tad windy), 1979 (snow, ice and aslef strike 2 days/week, so no rail de-icing) 1963 (snow, I walked 3 miles to school and back many times) 1947 (snow+++ and uber cold), and plenty more.

[williamwright]

That's an idea!

[ARW]

Sorted that at my parents house.

230V inverter from a car battery.

It can do the CH, a couple of sockets (computer/TV use) and boil a travel kettle. Granted not 24/7 but enough to keep warm and as long as there is enough fuel in their cars they can keep on going.