Thread: PBS World program

Originally Posted by the_man_one

google automatic transfer switch dee.... it senses the incomming curent when it goes out it turns off (acts like a relay usually to power up a generater)... this action disconnects u from the grid & allows u to power ur house without backfeeding thru the grid... dont be allarmed to find out that u become the mos important peson on the block when u have power tho

Oh I know... We get hurricanes here all the time and I have a generator that will run all the lights in my house (I use all CFL bulbs at the moment), my air conditioner, my coffee pot and my fridge.
I don't evacuate, I stay home and ride em out like the fool that I am.
Early on in the process the entire county goes black and in the case of Rita, they intentionally shut off the power, gas, water, etc a half day ahead of the storm.
I didn't ride out Rita though I wish I had. I came home after a 10 day mandatory evacuation to a LOT of damage from flooding and mold that I could have prevented by being here to clean up as soon as the storm passed.

Anyway, when it does go out I run my generator and I'm the Queen B**ch of the hood! Neighbors that also stay want to come hang out in my A/C and listen to the radio.. Um, nope! Get your own generator folks!

I did look at a professional solar grid with all the fancy switches but heck, they cost more than my OLD house is worth! I can't spend that much money on this dump, it's likely to blow down anyway the next big storm we get.

My dad is installing a fancy natural gas powered generator at his house that has that auto start up and switch over stuff but it's a very complicated wiring job and he's been stumped on it and has left the wires dangling for like 3 years now.
I wish he would get it fixed because it's a HUGE generator, I think it's a 40kw which is more than enough to run everything in his house. That's where I would rather go to ride out a hurricane..

With my generator I have to pull the electric meter out and plug in a special adapter. It keeps the house isolated from city power so that no one can be inured or things damaged. But it's a royal pain in the rump to bring the generator around to the back yard and hook it all up. But it's better than sitting in the dark. I'm hoping that my little home made solar system will at least serve to give me instant light in a power failure and if it's only a short one for like a few hours, I'll just wait it out. If it's going to be a long term problem like after Ike and Rita where I didn't have city power for a month (Ike) and 6 weeks (Rita) then I'll use the generator. The generator is good stuff but it's mega heavy and almost impossible for me to move it alone. I need to build a little crane winch to pick it up and put it in my lawn mower trailer so I can carry it to the back yard without having to go get help.

Life on the Gulf Coast is unforgiving. You learn to adapt.