Power outage

[jtr1962]

A stray tree limb knocked down a power line on my block. We were without power for about 4 hours. This got me thinking how dependent upon electricity we as a people are. The sad fact was that for the whole time I literally couldn't do anything other than watch them working on the power lines. No computer, no lights, not much eating(had to keep the refrigerator closed so the food would keep), no bathing(because there was no hot water circulator pump). About the only thing I was able to do was read a magazine that came today, and if there was no daylight I couldn't have even done that. Even more disconcerting was the eerie silence. No fans or hard drives humming away, no refrigerator or AC compressors cycling on and off, no blowers circulating air, no radio or TV. Just dead calm other than the sounds filtering in from outside. Kind of what it might have been like after a nuclear attack. For all the talk about people wanting to "get away from it all", I'm wondering how many would be able to survive and cope in a place far removed from civilization and all it's trappings.

The power's back now and my PC suffered no ill effects, but what struck me the most was my sheer lack of preparedness for this. Sure, I had a few fluorescent camping lanterns and flashlights with fully charged batteries but no, I'm talking about mental preparedness. It's when things happen suddenly, with no warning, that it seems we are least able to cope. If I was told last week the power would be out today at such and such times for four hours I would have been mentally and physically prepared. Perhaps I would have even welcomed the change. Maybe that's the problem. We're all so set in our routines that one small unexpected change can seemingly be magnified out of all proportion.

 

[LunarMist]

Buy a notebook.

 

[Howell]

No computer, no lights, not much eating(had to keep the refrigerator closed so the food would keep), no bathing(because there was no hot water circulator pump). No fans or hard drives humming away, no refrigerator or AC compressors cycling on and off, no blowers circulating air, no radio or TV. Just dead calm other than the sounds filtering in from outside.

This is specificly why I go camping.

 

[Mercutio]

I just buy enough UPSes to make the outages less noticeable. I really don't notice outages shorter than 15 minutes or so.

My apartment complex seems to be having a lot of them recently. Woke up this morning to no power, mostly (a couple of PCs made it, but beepbeepbeep bloody murder. Surprised it didn't wake me) I had to shower and shave in total darkness (my building DOES maintain water pressure without power for a good long time), only to have power come back just as I was reaching for the towel to dry myself off.

 

[jtr1962]

Interestingly, if power outages here were as regular as those experienced by Mercutio they probably would bother me less, and I would be more likely to have a large collection of UPSs to deal with them. Rather, what we have is generally an interruption of a few seconds perhaps every month or two, and genuine power outages lasting for minutes to hours perhaps occurred less than ten times in my life. This got me thinking that had I been in Mercutio's shoes I would have long ago had either solar or generator backup. To me an interruption of power, even for a second, is an unacceptable situation, and the sooner I'm not dependent solely on the "grid" the better I'll feel. I just never understood how many people in suburban or rural areas can cope with regular power outages.

It's amazing how intertwined electricity and modern life are. Without an infrastructure change we literally couldn't survive long term without it. Whenever I see something that promises to make solar cells more practical I'm always excited. UPSs and generators will carry you short term, but ultimately you're dependent upon the grid or a fuel source for power long term. Nobody's ever turning the sun off. I guess in layman's terms I want energy independence. Not independence just from OPEC but independence from power companies, messy grids of wires that blow down in a storm, and electric companies cutting you off when you can't pay their exorbitant rates. Nuclear plants were supposed to give us "reliable power too cheap to meter". It never happened.

 

[jtr1962]

This is specificly why I go camping.

You certainly have a point about "getting away from it all". The thing is you choose the time and place when you're going to do it. Being suddenly thrust in that situation would undoubtably be less pleasant. Camping was never my cup of tea, although this is more due to the lack of proper bathing and toilet facilities than anything else. For reasons similar to why you camp I would never take a cell phone with me when I go out. I want to be away from at least that aspect of civilization when I'm not home.

BTW, it has actually occurred to me to eventually live in Antarctica, at least for a while. The idea of being as far removed from anything resembling civilization has it's appeals, although living off the land would be impossible. And I would love the cold. I didn't realize how much I missed cold weather until we had a few weeks this winter of 15° to 20°F weather.

 

[Howell]

Last week a falling tree took out the power and telephone to the house I live in and to two other houses. Luckily the power outage was over-night so once I shut off the beepbeepbeeping UPSes everything was quiet as you described. Unfortunately my phone and therefor DSL did not come back up for three days. No biggy really. My cell phone still worked.

 

[Buck]

It is rare that we have a power outage these days in my neighborhood. In years past, it was more prevalent, especially in the winter. Nonetheless, I have always enjoyed the peace that comes with a power outage. If it is in the evening, just light a few candles and away you go. Our water is heated by gas, and we don’t have an electric water pump, so showers remain the same. Additionally, our stove and oven both use gas, so you can light them with a match and still have full cooking capabilities (there is always the BBQ if necessary). Plus, we still have a phone that doesn’t need auxiliary power, so it continues to work when the electricity is out. Thus, we’re left with a relatively operational house, minus the bright lights. When the power is out at night, the sky is amazingly bright, all of the suburban lighting is gone, and the stars are beautiful. During a new moon it is a bit dark, but if you need to go outside, use a light stick.

Essentially our house is set up so that we can lose power, gas, and water and still live comfortably. This is sort of a prerequisite for living in earthquake country, although we haven’t had a big tremor in a while.

 

[Mercutio]

Howell, is there a reason I'm getting a login prompt for Cayman-DSL at www.whstrain.us whenever I view a thread you've posted in? Did you just change your avatar or something?

 

[Buck]

Ditto.

 

[Groltz]

Howell has introduced pop-ups to SF...Is nothing sacred? :wink:

 

[The JoJo]

Howell ! ! !

:sqnt:

(Just kidding...but the pop-up is annoying...)

 

[Howell]

The most likely explaination is that since my phone has been knocked out yet again the IP has been assigned to someone else but the DNS servers still have it associated with me.

Apparently, it's been given to someone with a Cayman-DSL router. The repair is supposed to be by 6PM tommorow. I'll see what I can do 'til then.

 

[Tea]

Howell, are you going to take your avatar out from behind that password-protected server of yours? Every time I access a thread that you've posted to, it asks me for a username and password.

 

[Tannin]

TEa, you are supposed to read threads before you reply to them.

 

[Tea]

Yez, TANnin. And I'm supposed to review my postz for typos too, am I?

(Stupid human)

 

[Mercutio]

I am now posting during a power outage. UPSes are good things.

 

[Handruin]

I had a water outage today...it's almost as disturbing to find no water filling the toilet after flusing....

I called the managment and they informed me a pipe was being worked on because of a small leak. Thanks for letting me know :roll: ...not like I had to be anywhere today. Point being, I'm equally dependant on water as this topic discusses electricity. As jtr mentiond, the lack of preparation is most disturbing.

 

[blakerwry]

I can live without electricity (although it would make most of my toys useless), but I would have a very hard time living without running water..

*never heard of needing electricity to have runing water in your house... do you live in an apartment?

 

[Handruin]

I don't require electricity for water, but many people with well water systems do require electricity in order to run the pump. If you are asking me, yes I do live in an apartment.

I'm not 100% certain, but I believe city water doesn't require electricity in the house/apartment/condo in order to work.

 

[LunarMist]

I'm not 100% certain, but I believe city water doesn't require electricity in the house/apartment/condo in order to work.

The pressure required depends on the water column height. Pumps are used in high-rise apartment/condo buildings.

 

[Pradeep]

Some friends of mine in Rochester, NY had a serious power outage during the ice storm this past Winter. No power for about 5 days. Heating is via wood stove, but without electricity for the blower motor it couldn't be used. Hot water is via propane, but the blower exaust is electric, so the water was only heated by the pilot light.

Basically they got by with a kerosene heater, and a propane grill. Not good with a ton of freezing ice outside. And the damage to trees etc was unbelievable. fortunately I had returned to sunny Australia the week before!

 

[blakerwry]

I guess my family's enthusiasm for the outdoors has us prepared. We have a propane grill (with 2 or 3 cannisters) we also have 2 white gas camping stoves and a propane camping stove. Also ahve some kerosine lanters and white gas ones.

In addition to that we have probably 2 sleeping bags per person, 2 space heaters, and several tents. I, myself, have a case of MRE's (Military for Meals Ready to Eat). And we have a decent selection of freeze dried foods. Water filter, gallons of distilled water, in addition to water purification tablets.

I'd say if we were in some type of natural disaster that we'd be more prepared than 98% of the people around us.