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THE AM BULLETIN BOARD => QSO => Topic started by: flintstone mop on December 12, 2008, 11:12:58 AM



Title: Major Problem N.H. Mass.
Post by: flintstone mop on December 12, 2008, 11:12:58 AM
You folks in Mass and New Hampshire, even Maine and Vermont are having major electrical outage. 600,000 without power.
Nasty NorEaster???

Fred


Title: Re: Major Problem N.H. Mass.
Post by: W4EWH on December 12, 2008, 12:13:34 PM
My sister lives in Senior Housing at Hilton, NH: her entire apartment building has been evacuated and she's going to spend the weekend at a local school gym.

She said she's got some embroidery kits she can take along, and plans to hold some classes.

Bill W1AC


Title: Re: Major Problem N.H. Mass.
Post by: KB2WIG on December 12, 2008, 12:27:20 PM
Time for her to learn the code?


Title: Re: Major Problem N.H. Mass.
Post by: Steve - WB3HUZ on December 12, 2008, 12:40:55 PM
I'm guess for most, if their power is out, they won't be surfing the Web. :'(


Title: Re: Major Problem N.H. Mass.
Post by: k4kyv on December 12, 2008, 05:15:50 PM
And not a lot of New England AM activity tonight.


Title: Re: Major Problem N.H. Mass.
Post by: KD3CN on December 12, 2008, 06:08:57 PM
Quote
And not a lot of New England AM activity tonight.

Didn't hear the usual NE boys (miscreants) during the day either!  :(

Karl


Title: Re: Major Problem N.H. Mass.
Post by: KF1Z on December 12, 2008, 07:33:42 PM
1.25 million  homes and businesses lost power, in 7 states today....

New Hampshire had more damage than in the storm in 1998.

We didn't loose our power at all here in central Verminmont.
We got 8 inches of snow, then about 1/2" of sleet, then just a little ice (maybe an 1/8" on the ANT.)

My Mother drove from here to Southern Maine today... left here at 11am, got home at 5pm...  only an extra hour of driving, mostly because of detours around downed trees and power lines....

She said it was really pretty to look at, (but felt bad for the people who took damage to houses and cars.)


I suspect a lot of guys lost antennas, but more likely just no go-go juice for the radios.......





Title: Re: Major Problem N.H. Mass.
Post by: WU2D on December 12, 2008, 10:51:47 PM
Very lucky here in Manchester - the only explanation why I got power back in 5 hours is that we must be on the same grid as the hospital or something and got lucky somehow - it is dark just beyond us in almost every direction.

This is bad-it is getting very cold tonight -pipes will burst, basements will flood and people will have to go to shelters all over New England. Last time (98) my boss who was in a big mini-mansion was out of power for 17 days. They are saying that this is worse.

Mike WU2D


Title: Re: Major Problem N.H. Mass.
Post by: steve_qix on December 12, 2008, 11:32:59 PM
No power here (I'm on generator now).

This storm is DEFINITELY worse than the big ice storm of 1998.

Virtually EVERY tree on the property (all 100 acres worth) has damage.   Sherrie and I spent 5 hours clearning downed trees from across the driveway.  The power lines are lying on the ground.

There is no power anywhere in town (except for generators).  During the last storm, I was out for 7 days.  So far, no estimate here as to when.

The antennas suffered some damage.  The 160 meter antenna is down about 15 feet because the tree which held one end broke off at the top.

What a pain.  I'd rather have snow any day over ice!

Regards,

Steve


Title: Re: Major Problem N.H. Mass.
Post by: Opcom on December 12, 2008, 11:38:02 PM
Do people have natural gas to run generators with? There is also the power failure of 2003. I'd hate going to a shelter while the looters idled about the neighborhood.


Title: Re: Major Problem N.H. Mass.
Post by: W1ATR on December 13, 2008, 01:05:57 AM
Incredible. I was reading up on the outages in close by states a little while ago. Here, I didn't see any more than a bunch of rain, that was about it.

Lots of black ice on the streets tonight however. That's not a lot of fun in a 10,000lb top heavy utility body I assure you. It makes my skin crawl when I come rolling up on a wet spot in the road and i can't hear any water under the tires.   


Title: Re: Major Problem N.H. Mass.
Post by: W1ATR on December 13, 2008, 01:30:26 AM
Do people have natural gas to run generators with? There is also the power failure of 2003. I'd hate going to a shelter while the looters idled about the neighborhood.

Yeah, true story Pat. With no lights, no alarms, no nothing, it would be like a buffet for the POS crooks.

I have a 13kW generac I use for jobs on new construction, but I haven't needed it to power the lights and heat in the house yet, knock on wood. If it comes right down to it, I'll yank the main and wire the gen in at least for lights and the boiler, and the fridge.

I remember I walked into a no heat call a long time ago. They're power was out, and the genius of the house cut the male ends off two extension cords and wired them together, then plugged a small generator into the outlet near his panel. I was following him to the basement and I saw that, (I new the other end was going to a gen I just saw in his garage.) I pushed him out of the way, grabbed the orange cord and ripped it out of the outlet. I opened the breaker panel, and naturally, the main was still closed. I like to think there's a possibility that I may have saved some poor bastard working in the rain, in a bucket truck, somewhere in that neighborhood from getting drilled by a pole pig.

DIY'ers like this guy in particular are dangerous to more than just himself.


Title: Re: Major Problem N.H. Mass.
Post by: n2bc on December 13, 2008, 09:48:34 AM
Power outages and idiots with generators don't mix.  There was a lineman killed in WNY a couple years back.

If you have a Square-D panel, there is a nifty transfer interlock. 

Here:  http://ecatalog.squared.com/techlib/docdetail.cfm?oid=0900892680126e4f

Mechanically interlocks the main breaker and a dedicated generator backfeed breaker.  Much cheaper than a transfer switch and has the major benefit of being able to select whatever circuits you want to power. 

Of course the real benefit of buying a generator and setting up the panel after our 5-day flood related outage some years back is that I haven't needed it once since then.  Sometimes Murphy is your friend!

73 Bill  N2BC


Title: Re: Major Problem N.H. Mass.
Post by: W4EWH on December 13, 2008, 11:22:20 AM
No power here (I'm on generator now).

I told my wife about my sister going to a shelter, and suggested for the umpteenth time that we get a generator.

I'm making progress: this time, she said "OK, if it costs less than $300".

Anybody know where ...

Bill W1AC


Title: Re: Major Problem N.H. Mass.
Post by: Sam KS2AM on December 13, 2008, 12:00:09 PM

I told my wife about my sister going to a shelter, and suggested for the umpteenth time that we get a generator.

I'm making progress: this time, she said "OK, if it costs less than $300".

Anybody know where ...

Bill W1AC



(http://www.epson-imaging.com/company/milestones/img/1947_lamp_l.jpg)


Title: Re: Major Problem N.H. Mass.
Post by: KF1Z on December 13, 2008, 12:34:36 PM
No power here (I'm on generator now).

I told my wife about my sister going to a shelter, and suggested for the umpteenth time that we get a generator.

I'm making progress: this time, she said "OK, if it costs less than $300".

Anybody know where ...

Bill W1AC



http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/CatDsp?storeId=6970&Ns=P_Price&N=36%20280777%20770942

http://search.harborfreight.com/cpisearch/web/attributeSearch.do?catPath=All%2BProducts%252F%252F%252F%252FUserSearch%253Dgenerator&currentPage=1&lastPage=4&isNext=&isPrevious=&category=&attributeValue=Between+%24100+and+%24300&attributeName=Price+range&requestedPage=1&resultsPerPage=10&resultsPerPageBottom=



Then of course there's ebay.........


Title: Re: Major Problem N.H. Mass.
Post by: KA1ZGC on December 13, 2008, 08:12:11 PM
I told my wife about my sister going to a shelter, and suggested for the umpteenth time that we get a generator.

I'm making progress: this time, she said "OK, if it costs less than $300".

Sounds like she thinks a generator is just a toy.

You might consider adding up the costs of everything in your fridge, and everything in your freezer. I guarantee it will add up to far more than $300.

That's how much money you would lose by not having a generator if you were to lose power for more than two days.

A generator is also something you don't want to cheap out on. Your less-than-$300 will be completely wasted if the thing craps out after just a few hours of operation, which you can add to the cost of the spoiled food that will soon follow.

Sometimes it's better to ask forgiveness than permission.


Title: Re: Major Problem N.H. Mass.
Post by: W3RSW on December 13, 2008, 08:33:37 PM
Say nothing,
Cool as ice is the word.
A better stoic was n'er minted.

-let her freeze,
take the salvagable food and wrap it in newspaper /styrofoam/ blankets in the garage, hopefully stays cold.

line up all the spoiled food in the driveway.

Huddle around the fireplace in triple gortex (if you have a fireplace.)

Mention all the shelter horror stories you can remember or the new ones just occuring.

Listen to the portable radio until the batteries run out.

Light a candle; consider other uses for it if your still denied power.

And after about two weeks of this
go buy the best generator YOU think you can afford.

She'll be grateful.

Who's wearing the pants anyway?  ;D

(Then again you may have saved a bundle of money on utilites, relatives not coming for Christmas..... etc.)


Title: Re: Major Problem N.H. Mass.
Post by: W4EWH on December 13, 2008, 09:36:37 PM
Who's wearing the pants anyway?  ;D

I will quote Margaret Thatcher's husband, Dennis, who, when asked the same question, responded, "I do - and I wash 'em and press 'em too."


Title: Re: Major Problem N.H. Mass.
Post by: Jim, W5JO on December 14, 2008, 10:48:37 AM
A 300 dollar generator will only get you 1-2 KW.  That will run one of the ceramic heaters for her.  Remember to keep the refrigerator going and have a hot plate for warming food and a couple of lights, you are going to need something that gives you at least 5 KW.  Do as the boys have said, add up the necessities and buy that.
Anything less is just a waste of money.

Might ought to do something soon, another storm is over the Dakotas and Minn. right now headed your way.  It promises to be a bogger too.


Title: Re: Major Problem N.H. Mass.
Post by: Bill, KD0HG on December 14, 2008, 11:36:54 AM
A 300 dollar generator will only get you 1-2 KW.  That will run one of the ceramic heaters for her.  Remember to keep the refrigerator going and have a hot plate for warming food and a couple of lights, you are going to need something that gives you at least 5 KW.  Do as the boys have said, add up the necessities and buy that.
Anything less is just a waste of money.

Might ought to do something soon, another storm is over the Dakotas and Minn. right now headed your way.  It promises to be a bogger too.

It hit here overnight...0 F on the porch as I write this, maybe 6" of powder overnight. The big logs are cooking in the fireplace this morning.

I agree, one needs no less than a 5 KW generator. My 6 KW guy is adequate to run our propane fueled heating system, water pump, fridge, computers, teevee and lights. Not enough for the big transmitter + R-390A and the electric dryer.


Title: Re: Major Problem N.H. Mass.
Post by: WQ9E on December 14, 2008, 01:41:25 PM
All of this generator talk has been good, I just went out and started mine to make sure it is operating properly when it is needed.

One of the nicest things about having a generator is you no longer really worry so much about ice storms or other causes of power failure.  Before I bought ours I was always "sweating" the weather systems coming through in winter.

I went with a 7,500 watt unit because in addition to the other loads we have a deep well with a 1.5 horse pump that has a fairly high starting draw.  Other than that the load is fairly light with two forced air gas furnaces and two refrigerators as required items.  A 5,000 watt unit probably would have been fine but the price difference to 7.5 KW was pretty minimal.

To get the most out of your generator, as much as reasonably possible you should balance your load across both sides of neutral since the rated draw is based upon an equal load.  In my case one furnace and one refrigerator is on each side of neutral; even though there is no guarantee that they will be running simultaneously at least I don't have most of the commonly run items connected to one side.

I also added a second captive air tank for the well system so our total drawdown between pump cycles is about 70 gallons.  With low water use plumbing fixtures and quick showers the well pump doesn't need to cycle much.  Although I probably don't need to I keep the switch for the pump shut off and when it needs to run I shut off the other loads temporarily while the pump runs. 

I bought one of the Porter Cable branded generators when a local store was closing out merchandise a few years ago.  It is pretty typical with a Briggs engine and the basic controls and outlets mounted on the frame.  It does have wheels and wheel barrow like handles for easy movement.  I start it with the auto idle control engaged so it can warm up at slower speed and after a few minutes I switch the idle control off and gradually add the breakers for the important circuits.  The changeover switch is at the panel and the breakers that need to be turned on for the important stuff are labeled with red dots.  Shut down is the same and I let it cool at idle for a few minutes under no load.

Last year the outages were so bad I was starting to look at one of the diesel powered long run generators that would run everything.  I have been keeping an eye out at farm sales for a PTO driven unit to go on the tractor but so far no happiness.  I hope that the increase in maintenance in the last year will improve our local power delivery reliability but I am not ready to bet on that yet.

Good luck to those of you in the N. East.  I have been through this before in IL and after hurricanes in MS.  There is no prettier sight than seeing the streetlights suddenly come on after days without power!

Rodger WQ9E


Title: Re: Major Problem N.H. Mass.
Post by: k4kyv on December 14, 2008, 01:57:12 PM
Didn't Terry W2PYF's cheap diesel generator crap out and that's the reason he doesn't fire up the big rig any more?

Wasn't it made in China?

Maybe retaliation for Terry's covering up their broadcasts on 7285.


Title: Re: Major Problem N.H. Mass.
Post by: Ed/KB1HYS on December 14, 2008, 02:14:27 PM
We've got power, but the elderly lady right be hind me is out.  We're running her some power to keep her furnace going. (The mains and circuit breakers are OUT at the box, and we disconnected the furnace from the feed, it would be hard for someone to backfeed or fry anything).  Last time we had an outage, we were out a couple hours and she was out for DAYS.  Seems she's in a weird spot on the grid... Luckily she went to stay with her kids and we're just keeping her pipes from freezing.  I don't want to be the one to clean out her fridge when she gets home though!


Title: Re: Major Problem N.H. Mass.
Post by: Jim, W5JO on December 14, 2008, 02:32:59 PM
Something those of you might want to consider if you don't have a generator is to talk to the regional manages of rental companies.  They typically purchase very good units and use them for about 1/2 or less of their expected life.  Usually they are very well maintained and can be bought for a very good price. 

If a company depreciated them and sells for much more than the depreciated value, they have to recapture the sale as income.  Believe me they loath doing that.  Generally you can find most any size for about 1/2 or less than retail.  Good value for the dollar. 

Also do what Rodger says, and get a throwout switch, otherwise should something happend and someone is hurt, they will be all over you,your fault or not.  Follow the code on this one. 

I have a 12 KW, 14.4 surge Industrial model on wheels.  It is a monster for the wheels and difficult to move about but supplies everything in the house but the electric heat.  A nice warm shower is sure worth it to me.  Mine is a Coleman brand put together up in Kansas.  The similar model today is 11 KW, surge to 13 and uses a Honda motor.  I found mine at a large supplier for just over 1500 dollars 4 years ago.  It gives one piece of mind when you live at the end of the grid in the country.


Title: Re: Major Problem N.H. Mass.
Post by: KF1Z on December 14, 2008, 03:11:57 PM
I bought a 6.5kw ...7.5surge  model with a 13hp motor..

It was $400. new... yup, a cheapo unit.

I have put many hours on it... I've had it for  7 years now.

The key to any of it is to run these things regularly...
Once a year just doesn't cut it.

Even the cheapo units will last a long time IF you take care of it.
If you only have it for emergencies, take it out and run it at LEAST 3 times a year, and change the oil EVERY time...

If you only fire it up once a year, and leave the same oil in there, I guarantee the lifespan will be short.
The gas ( or diesel ) needs changing every year at least... even if it's treated.


I feel for those that rely so heavy on electricity in the Winter.....
The only reason I pull out the generator is in a prolonged outage it's nice to have water to flush and wash with. and the fridge and freezer might need a charge.

We heat with wood, and the cookstove is propane...
So a short outage ( a day or two) is just a minor inconvenience.....




Title: Re: Major Problem N.H. Mass.
Post by: w1vtp on December 14, 2008, 08:25:50 PM
Very lucky here in Manchester - the only explanation why I got power back in 5 hours is that we must be on the same grid as the hospital or something and got lucky somehow - it is dark just beyond us in almost every direction.

This is bad-it is getting very cold tonight -pipes will burst, basements will flood and people will have to go to shelters all over New England. Last time (98) my boss who was in a big mini-mansion was out of power for 17 days. They are saying that this is worse.

Mike WU2D

Same here Mike (we're just a stone's throw apart for the rest of you-all).  Lost power 2 am, went back to sleep with extra covers -- slept well, got up the next AM and started up the 8 KW generator -- flipped the transfer switches and had nice hot coffee / breakfast.  Power came back on around 11 AM.

Just one tho't -- get those generators guys if you're in ice storm country!  And install the power transfer box so the guys out there working on the lines don't get hurt in case they're working on your lines and you're unknowingly feeding AC back out to the grid.

I feel sorry for the folks who were really hit hard -- Derry NH comes to mind in this area  (Townsend, Ma too, huh Steve?).

Oh yes, that "Knob and Tube" wiring is not active although I still have some in my 200 year old house.  I've had it checked out by electricians and it's a down the road project someday.

73, Al

PS: mine's an 8 KW Troy


Title: Re: Major Problem N.H. Mass.
Post by: w1vtp on December 14, 2008, 08:37:35 PM
Do people have natural gas to run generators with? There is also the power failure of 2003. I'd hate going to a shelter while the looters idled about the neighborhood.

Yep

http://www.norwall.com/newimages/17%20AC%20prepack%20spec.pdf

Al


Title: Re: Major Problem N.H. Mass.
Post by: Bill, KD0HG on December 14, 2008, 08:38:10 PM

Last year the outages were so bad I was starting to look at one of the diesel powered long run generators that would run everything.  I have been keeping an eye out at farm sales for a PTO driven unit to go on the tractor but so far no happiness. 


I've been looking for one of those, too. How much are they new? (LOL)

Something like that would be heavy. I suppose you back the tractor PTO up to a driveshaft and the generator sits on the ground?

b


Title: Re: Major Problem N.H. Mass.
Post by: WU2D on December 14, 2008, 08:41:37 PM
They popped the Emergency Broadcast System here in NH today at least twice. Even my cable box says EAS instead of the channel. The hotels that have power are full of locals and line crews, some from as far away as Michigan; and Canadian crews are here.


Title: Re: Major Problem N.H. Mass.
Post by: Jim, W5JO on December 14, 2008, 08:50:46 PM

  I have been keeping an eye out at farm sales for a PTO driven unit to go on the tractor but so far no happiness. 


I've been looking for one of those, too. How much are they new? (LOL)

Something like that would be heavy. I suppose you back the tractor PTO up to a driveshaft and the generator sits on the ground?

b

I believe DR Power Tools sells one that hitches to your tractor 3 point and attaches to the PTO.  I would bet expensive.


Title: Re: Major Problem N.H. Mass.
Post by: KF1Z on December 14, 2008, 09:01:41 PM
http://www.electricgeneratorsdirect.com/style/PTO.php?source=goog&keyword=pto+generator&gclid=CKLzkbrDwZcCFQQCagodYE10SA


Title: Re: Major Problem N.H. Mass.
Post by: Bill, KD0HG on December 14, 2008, 10:16:03 PM
Beautiful gear.
I'll be calling Santa.


Title: Re: Major Problem N.H. Mass.
Post by: Opcom on December 15, 2008, 10:01:02 PM
Groban supply has a lot of surplus honda and military generators.. In Chicago.

My set is a 40KW Mankato 3-phase, converted to single phase 240V @ 30KW. It's powered by a 4-cylinder Perkins diesel and I've put 130 hours or so on it since I got it. It had 125 hours and 10 years on it then. The transfer is a Zenith 175A unit. It does use about 3/4 gallon per hour, load or not, but it has been fairly reliable. I've had to change the battery in a rain storm to start it once, and also had to step inside the enclosure, open the control panel, and tap a certain relay to get it to crank a couple times. But I test it every month, including a 10 minute run time.

If I could devise a way to run it on natural gas I would love that. Natural gas is cheap here in TX.

The only thing I need for it is a control for the coolant heater for when it is cold. I don't like starts in 30 degree weather with cold oil and instantly going to 1800RPM. It's built for that, but still it can't be good for it. It has a heater in the coolant line but it is 1KW and seems oversized, starts to boil the coolant. It keeps it at 180 degrees allright, but that's not necessary. I'd be happy to keep it at 60 degrees. I have tried different thermostaic switches from everything from a water bed to a space heater, but they have eventually failed due to vibration.


Title: Re: Major Problem N.H. Mass.
Post by: WA2TTP Steve on December 16, 2008, 12:23:05 AM
I was lucky here in Saratoga County NY in that I didn't have any damage but the power was out for 58 hours at my house. National Grid and NYSEG had 200+k customers out in the Capital district and some areas just south of me, 3 or 4 miles had major damage due to hugh trees down on houses, roads and power lines.

I don't have generator but I do have an inverter system powered by 2 125 amp hour batteries to run my furnace, a few CF lights, garage door openers and the all important coffee maker. I had designed this system to supply my emergency needs for about 16-20 hours based on winter loads. The longest winter outage in 25 years was only 16 hours to date but this 58 hour outage really caused me a problem due to the need to recharge the batteries in a timely mannor. I tried connecting them via a 40 foot heavy cable to my truck but that only gave me about 7 amp charge rate. I finally had to put another inverter up at the truck and feed 120 volts down to battery charger in the basement which gave me about 25 amps. I left the truck running for about 7 hours in this mode that gave me what I needed to make it until the power came back.

I think I'll be looking for generator to get thru the day and evening and use the inverter overnight to keep the furnace going.

Hope everyone gets there power back soon.

Steve
WA2TTP


Title: Re: Major Problem N.H. Mass.
Post by: WB2YGF on December 16, 2008, 11:42:25 AM
A 300 dollar generator will only get you 1-2 KW.  That will run one of the ceramic heaters for her.  Remember to keep the refrigerator going and have a hot plate for warming food and a couple of lights, you are going to need something that gives you at least 5 KW.  Do as the boys have said, add up the necessities and buy that.
Anything less is just a waste of money.

Might ought to do something soon, another storm is over the Dakotas and Minn. right now headed your way.  It promises to be a bogger too.
I agree, one needs no less than a 5 KW generator. My 6 KW guy is adequate to run our propane fueled heating system, water pump, fridge, computers, teevee and lights. Not enough for the big transmitter + R-390A and the electric dryer.
Really?  It depends on what appliances you have.  I lived for many years in two old houses each with 30A services.  That's 3.5 KW.  Even ran a 7500 BTU AC in one of them.  Even though I upgraded to 200A 15 years ago, my stove and dryer are propane, and my boiler and hot water are oil fired.  I bet I rarely exceed 3KW for everything except air conditioning.


Title: Re: Major Problem N.H. Mass.
Post by: Bill, KD0HG on December 16, 2008, 12:33:51 PM
The 1-1/2 HP water pump is the problem when both the refrigerator and freezer are running.
Otherwise, as you state, it all depends on one's circumstances.


Title: Re: Major Problem N.H. Mass.
Post by: KF1Z on December 16, 2008, 01:00:13 PM
The 1-1/2 HP water pump is the problem when both the refrigerator and freezer are running.
Otherwise, as you state, it all depends on one's circumstances.

Start-up surge on that  1 1/2hp would be pretty rough on a small generator....especially with any other load....

Luckily my well pump is only 1/2hp... so no trouble there....


Title: Re: Major Problem N.H. Mass.
Post by: WQ9E on December 16, 2008, 01:52:10 PM
Our well driller friends have been installing a lot of the variable speed well pumps in the last couple of years and one of the advantages of these is low startup draw.  They initially had a lot of issues with the controllers after electrical storms but better surge suppressors seem to have cured that problem.  I am not sure that the additional cost and complexity is worth it but if you factor in generator pricing it might make more sense.  We had our new (240 foot deep) well drilled 7 years ago before these pumps were common so our pump is a traditional deep well pump and you can definitely tell when it starts as the generator deals with the load.

Rodger WQ9E


Title: Re: Major Problem N.H. Mass.
Post by: WB2YGF on December 16, 2008, 03:05:37 PM
I recently got an RV with a 50 gallon gas tank and an Onan 4KW generator on board.  Would be nice to somehow plug the house into it, but I am afraid an electrician to do it right would cost a small  fortune.  :)


Title: Re: Major Problem N.H. Mass.
Post by: WA1GFZ on December 16, 2008, 04:18:08 PM
Just run a #12 gauge extention cord in the house and plug in the stuff you need to run.


Title: Re: Major Problem N.H. Mass.
Post by: WB2YGF on December 16, 2008, 05:26:47 PM
Just run a #12 gauge extention cord in the house and plug in the stuff you need to run.
Well, not too practical for the boiler and the water pump which would be the #1 priority.  I wonder if I could put (relatively) small transfer contactors on the furnace and water pump and run an independent circuit.  (Then I don't have to mess with the mains.) There is a nice 30A receptacle in the RV which is how the RV plug is powered from the generator when not on "shore" power.


Title: Re: Major Problem N.H. Mass.
Post by: Opcom on December 16, 2008, 08:55:24 PM
I've looked at these but the only DPDT ones are 24V coils.
http://www.surplussales.com/Relays/REcontacts.html

but check out the DPDT 60A switch:
http://www.surplussales.com/Switches/SWPowerTap.html


Title: Re: Major Problem N.H. Mass.
Post by: WB2YGF on December 16, 2008, 10:12:06 PM
I've looked at these but the only DPDT ones are 24V coils.
http://www.surplussales.com/Relays/REcontacts.html
The 25A DPDT contactor in combination with a cheap 115/24VAC transformer looks like a winner.  I need to check to see if the pump and burner are wired for 115 or 230.


Title: Re: Major Problem N.H. Mass.
Post by: WA1GFZ on December 18, 2008, 12:29:56 PM
You could just put a line cord on each with a plug then just transfer the plug to an extention cord. Relays would need a lot of extra wiring. I guess the frequency of use would be the driving motivation. A single transfer switch at the breaker panel sounds a lot easier than a bunch of relays.
Gee I hope all you guys have power by now. We have 3 days of snow coming here in Ct.


Title: Re: Major Problem N.H. Mass.
Post by: W1JS on December 18, 2008, 01:09:54 PM
As of this morning, Thursday, there are still over 50,000 without power in NH. 


Title: Re: Major Problem N.H. Mass.
Post by: Steve - WB3HUZ on December 18, 2008, 01:58:36 PM
Why isn't this all over the national news? Where's FEMA? How can this happen? Doesn't the government care? Oh the humanity!

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