Windy this week in norcal and socal. Get your genset now

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  • Dave Angelini
    Dave Angelini Solar Expert Posts: 6,728 ✭✭✭✭✭✭
    Getting close to 30,000 acres on the Kincade. The whole area north of the golden gate is a traffic nightmare from 3am. 93 MPH gust up on the peaks and mandatory evacs from Sonoma out to Bodega bay and Sutter hospital in Santa Rosa was evaced. Winds until 11am tomorrow.

    Give them a prayer/ good vibe, they need it!
    "we go where power lines don't" Sierra Nevada mountain area
       htps://offgridsolar1.com/
    E-mail offgridsolar@sti.net

  • Horsefly
    Horsefly Registered Users Posts: 470 ✭✭✭✭
    My daughter decided to not wait until she was told to evacuate. She packed as much stuff as she could fit into her car and drove down to stay with friends in San Francisco. Luckily, she's only 24 so doesn't own very much.  ;)

    When we first helped her move to Santa Rosa it was in December 2017, only a few months after the big Sonoma fire. Seeing all the burned down neighborhoods was really heart breaking. It also made the rental market difficult for my daughter, as most of the people who lost their homes moved into rentals.
    Off-grid cabin: 6 x Canadian Solar CSK-280M PV panels, Schneider XW-MPPT60-150 Charge Controller, Schneider CSW4024 Inverter/Charger, Schneider SCP, 8S (25.6V), 230Ah Eve LiFePO4 battery in a custom insulated and heated case.
  • Dave Angelini
    Dave Angelini Solar Expert Posts: 6,728 ✭✭✭✭✭✭
    She is smart Steve! Those winds are nothing to fool around with!   Indefensible!
    "we go where power lines don't" Sierra Nevada mountain area
       htps://offgridsolar1.com/
    E-mail offgridsolar@sti.net

  • BB.
    BB. Super Moderators, Administrators Posts: 33,431 admin
    Here is the power outage map for PG&E


    No estimated dates for restoring the grid yet (at least I'm my area).

    Bill
    Near San Francisco California: 3.5kWatt Grid Tied Solar power system+small backup genset
  • Dave Angelini
    Dave Angelini Solar Expert Posts: 6,728 ✭✭✭✭✭✭
    60,000 acres now on Kincade. It was up to 10% contained, then last night happened. Down to 5% and doubled in size overnight. It will burn to the Ocean and probably 10 more days. 2.5 million in the dark may get their electricity on to be turned off again on Tuesday.

     Lebron James down in Socal evacced and can't find a decent hotel. Tough year for the sunshine state.

    I will link the fire map later but have to add now that the real story here is still not being told by the media. The Gov is blaming the rich and powerful and the Utility. Not a word about his party in the bed with environmentalist and the failed good intentions.

    All brush clearing, most logging, and the use of Forestry input cancelled since 1988.
    "we go where power lines don't" Sierra Nevada mountain area
       htps://offgridsolar1.com/
    E-mail offgridsolar@sti.net

  • softdown
    softdown Solar Expert Posts: 3,812 ✭✭✭✭
    60,000 acres now on Kincade. It was up to 10% contained, then last night happened. Down to 5% and doubled in size overnight. It will burn to the Ocean and probably 10 more days. 2.5 million in the dark may get their electricity on to be turned off again on Tuesday.

     Lebron James down in Socal evacced and can't find a decent hotel. Tough year for the sunshine state.

    I will link the fire map later but have to add now that the real story here is still not being told by the media. The Gov is blaming the rich and powerful and the Utility. Not a word about his party in the bed with environmentalist and the failed good intentions.

    All brush clearing, most logging, and the use of Forestry input cancelled since 1988.
    Interesting input on the cancellation of logging. The nicest national forest that I have trotted around in is Colorado's Uncompaghre(sp!) National Forest which was successfully logged. This is why:
    1) Nice broadly cleared trail (dirt road) every several hundred yards.
    2) A pond every 1/4 mile or so.
    3) No deadfall that are virtual furnaces waiting for ignition. 
    4) Large trees with ample room in between the trees. 
    5) I'm pretty sure that pond water and well cleared roads would really aid fire fighting efforts. Water is heavy. Plus  there are a lot of fire breaks.  *This is how it was in the 70's - have not been back to that side of the state. 

    The worst forest I have ever seen is Yellowstone a couple decades after the infamous fire. Scant inches or feet in between sorely cramped trees. They have no chance of ever realizing proper growth due to lack of space and consequent resources - water and sunlight and room.

    Environmentalists ruined the Yellowstone experience for me so I let the timeshares in Jackson Hole go. I used to enjoy seeing a moose or elk every 20 minutes. I seen more grizzlies than moose last time - I seen zero moose during an extensive drive. The elk were holed up in the tiny northern "outpost" - using the buildings for shelter against all the voracious predation. 

    Thick vegetation allows for successful ambush hunting. My local woods are thickly vegetated and deer and elk are extremely scarce. There are a lot of bears and a lot of bones. Have some expertise here - hiking in these woods a couple times/week. Still can't hardly believe how little big game there is. Or how many bones and carcasses my dogs find. 

    Not a fan of rabid environmentalists or wolves. But the noisiest seem to prevail in politics. Say hello to socialism and good bye to bountiful sightings of deer, elk, and moose. Say good bye to your outdoor pets as well. Though this will take time. 
    First Bank:16 180 watt Grape Solar with  FM80 controller and 3648 Inverter....Fullriver 8D AGM solar batteries. Second Bank/MacGyver Special: 10 165(?) watt BP Solar with Renogy MPPT 40A controller/ and Xantrex C-35 PWM controller/ and Morningstar PWM controller...Cotek 24V PSW inverter....forklift and diesel locomotive batteries
  • Dave Angelini
    Dave Angelini Solar Expert Posts: 6,728 ✭✭✭✭✭✭
    According to Gavin the Gov, it is the dog eat dog business (PGE) and investors meeting climate change that have caused California to become uninsurable. The high tech capital of the world in the silicon valley is dark this week.

    He leaves out the facts that PGE has a $ 50,000 a day fine that the PUC can levy against the Utility. PGE can barely change a printer cartridge without PUC approval. So guess how much in fines PGE has paid in 10 years?

    He leaves out that much of the money that could have been spent was for programs that have made our electricity 2X what neighboring western states have. Programs like Solar for the poor are mandated for PGE no matter the cost or feasibility.

    I am thinking this years woes will be a tipping point for sanity in this state. Crossing fingers and hoping voters will use critical thinking and not listen to people who are in the money trail of politics these days. 
    "we go where power lines don't" Sierra Nevada mountain area
       htps://offgridsolar1.com/
    E-mail offgridsolar@sti.net

  • m151
    m151 Registered Users Posts: 39 ✭✭
    Bill, you will be happy with an EU3000. Shut mine off after 49 straight hours and used 7 gallons of gas. That's a little over 1 quart per hour. It was on eco throttle not running too much equipment. The EU's are great, they are so quite they can run at night and not bother the neighbors. I would like to see honda put fuel injection on the 3000 as an option. My brother bought the fuel injected EU 7000 and although over priced it's a work of industrial art! I have generator envy.
  • BB.
    BB. Super Moderators, Administrators Posts: 33,431 admin
    The old (6 and 20 year old) eu2000i gensets have been working very well. The one for my inlaws, was orginally stalling on ECO Throttle and starting several refrigerators at once... So ran 32 hours on full RPM. Tried later with ECO throttle on (after breakin and and using Mobile Synthetic Oil--Used regular dino oil for breakin). Also, added a water pump for a pond (1/6 or 1/3rd HP), the breakin and/or adding a couple hundred Watts of base load, then on ECO throttle worked great for another ~8 hours.

    Looks like we are done with the fire season in San Mateo on the urban (Bay Side) for now--Pickled my genset and heading up to relatives to pickle that one (and make a dryer plug/suicide cord, with padlock to "seal" the main panel when the genset is running... I think that will be better than the extension cords running all over their home).

    Yea, thinking between the eu2200i (bigger/Honda industrial engine) or the eu3000i as my main/backup/spare (3+ gensets)... It the next genset lasts 20+ years new in box, I probably won't be around to care after that.

    I have been looking for an extended runtime cap for the eu2200i... Mix discussions if the eu2000i cap will fit (eu2200i fuel filler slightly smaller diameter--run risk of stripping the filler threads?).

    I am not sure of other generators--But the sealed cap + hose you can drop into anything full of gasoline (I am using 5 gallon gas cans)--Boy that is hard to beat. Got the magnetic oil filler plug--That worked nice too (just a small drop of "steel in oil" on the tip during oil changes.

    For my inlaws, probably used ~6 gallons of gas in 48 hours--It sounds like a good choice (decades ago, was around an eu3000i that ran very rich at an outdoor event of some sort--Don't know if it ever had any maintenance done or not).

    -Bill
    Near San Francisco California: 3.5kWatt Grid Tied Solar power system+small backup genset
  • softdown
    softdown Solar Expert Posts: 3,812 ✭✭✭✭
    Speaking of magnets around oils, going to try these on oil filters and transmission pans - neodymium may be the strongest magnet: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B073WJMSCR/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?smid=A2L77EE7U53NWQ&psc=1
    First Bank:16 180 watt Grape Solar with  FM80 controller and 3648 Inverter....Fullriver 8D AGM solar batteries. Second Bank/MacGyver Special: 10 165(?) watt BP Solar with Renogy MPPT 40A controller/ and Xantrex C-35 PWM controller/ and Morningstar PWM controller...Cotek 24V PSW inverter....forklift and diesel locomotive batteries
  • Horsefly
    Horsefly Registered Users Posts: 470 ✭✭✭✭
    An update for those who are following.... My daughter hung out with friends in San Francisco for a couple of days, and the house that she and some friends rent in Santa Rosa is (so far) just outside the mandatory evac zone (by about 1/3 mile). Her company is in the evacuated area, so no one is going into work. She hasn't been sleeping much, and it was pretty obvious she was getting really emotional about all this.

    Yesterday she called and asked if she could come visit us for the rest of the week, so I got online an bought a ticket for today from SFO to Denver. She practically melted in her mother's arms crying when we picked her up at the airport.

    She's not normally very emotional, but pretty empathetic. On the drive home it became obvious that she is really torn up about the people losing their homes or livelihood.

    Anyway, my thoughts are with all you folks dealing with the fire and smoke.

    Steve

    P.S. We are in the third of four straight days of snow, and when we picked her up it was 12 degrees. In some small way, I think she started to miss NorCal a bit. ;)
    Off-grid cabin: 6 x Canadian Solar CSK-280M PV panels, Schneider XW-MPPT60-150 Charge Controller, Schneider CSW4024 Inverter/Charger, Schneider SCP, 8S (25.6V), 230Ah Eve LiFePO4 battery in a custom insulated and heated case.
  • Marc Kurth
    Marc Kurth Solar Expert Posts: 1,142 ✭✭✭✭
    Bill, I am already a big fan of my eu2000i's, but it is always good to hear real world data. As I have already said, one of mine supports one chest freezer and two refrigerators here at home, on Eco mode.  
    Marc
    I always have more questions than answers. That's the nature of life.
  • Dave Angelini
    Dave Angelini Solar Expert Posts: 6,728 ✭✭✭✭✭✭
    Honda needs a model with 240 dual pole. The old EU 6500i has been used offgrid for close to 20 years and it's replacement the 7000i is great in large 240 systems. An Eu 4000i  240vac would be just about right and probably quieter than a 2000i running at max output.

    As for the fairly dangerous use of the dryer receptacle/genset, I think it should always be stated that this is a fairly easy way to cause major problems and should be only used in an emergency. It should then be done correctly for the future with several different options. You can easily see that if there were a fire,  the insurance on the property could be denied. With the losses that insurance companies are suffering this is not going in your favor.

    When I do a fire inspection for offgrid the first thing I see is the report that the fire guys wrote on scene. Almost all of my experience is with offgrid and so dryer outlet style connections to a generator are not used. If enough of the structure was saved you can count on the report noting a cable coming out of the laundry room window to a genset.

    Bottom line, if you do this type of connection, do it once and then spend the $500 or so to do this properly. It may seem safe to you but there is a long list of unintended consequence just like what is happening to California.  
    "we go where power lines don't" Sierra Nevada mountain area
       htps://offgridsolar1.com/
    E-mail offgridsolar@sti.net

  • Estragon
    Estragon Registered Users Posts: 4,496 ✭✭✭✭✭
    A couple of weeks ago we had an early heavy snow with most leaves still on trees, followed by strongish wind.  The big HVDC lines were okay, but lots of downed trees on distribution lines caused blackouts, some lasting a week or so.  There's been at least one death I've read about from CO poisoning.

    You want to be sure the laundry room window isn't sucking in exhaust  ;)
    Off-grid.  
    Main daytime system ~4kw panels into 2xMNClassic150 370ah 48v bank 2xOutback 3548 inverter 120v + 240v autotransformer
    Night system ~1kw panels into 1xMNClassic150 700ah 12v bank morningstar 300w inverter
  • Dave Angelini
    Dave Angelini Solar Expert Posts: 6,728 ✭✭✭✭✭✭
    A bit different down here than sparks dropping on snow ;) 

     The laundry room can have worse things than carbon monoxide coming in. Avoid this as not many electricians would connect this way and if they did, you would not be able to sue them. They are long gone!
    "we go where power lines don't" Sierra Nevada mountain area
       htps://offgridsolar1.com/
    E-mail offgridsolar@sti.net

  • BB.
    BB. Super Moderators, Administrators Posts: 33,431 admin
    Dave, you are making me feel bad about the suicide cord.  :'(

    The house has a separate main breaker and distribution panel. So, an interlock would not be possible as is. I did purchase a padlock for the main breaker panel...

    I will look at the meter base with integrated genset transfer switch...

    http://www.generlink.com/

    Have to see if PG&E will accept.

    -Bill  B)
    Near San Francisco California: 3.5kWatt Grid Tied Solar power system+small backup genset
  • mike95490
    mike95490 Solar Expert Posts: 9,583 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Had a fire in town yesterday, house burned from generator misuse, and spread to a 3 acre brush fire.
    Powerfab top of pole PV mount | Listeroid 6/1 w/st5 gen head | XW6048 inverter/chgr | Iota 48V/15A charger | Morningstar 60A MPPT | 48V, 800A NiFe Battery (in series)| 15, Evergreen 205w "12V" PV array on pole | Midnight ePanel | Grundfos 10 SO5-9 with 3 wire Franklin Electric motor (1/2hp 240V 1ph ) on a timer for 3 hr noontime run - Runs off PV ||
    || Midnight Classic 200 | 10, Evergreen 200w in a 160VOC array ||
    || VEC1093 12V Charger | Maha C401 aa/aaa Charger | SureSine | Sunsaver MPPT 15A

    solar: http://tinyurl.com/LMR-Solar
    gen: http://tinyurl.com/LMR-Lister ,

  • Dave Angelini
    Dave Angelini Solar Expert Posts: 6,728 ✭✭✭✭✭✭
    No intention for feeling bad from me. Tomorrow is thursday and we get to have canadian whiskey again after a month of sobriety. :)

    Suicide is fine for you but a sub panel for the elderly is alot safer and zero chance that anyone might be denied insurance coverage in a meltdown.

    or,

    How about the lock for the main and add a dual pole/or single pole to the panel for genset input and an all weather exterior gen input. That way there is nothing coming out a window or running around in the house?

    Others reading this should be very aware that there are right ways and wrong ways to connecting a genset for emergence use.
     Life is good so stay alive!

    Definitely nasty winds today here. YUK
    "we go where power lines don't" Sierra Nevada mountain area
       htps://offgridsolar1.com/
    E-mail offgridsolar@sti.net

  • BB.
    BB. Super Moderators, Administrators Posts: 33,431 admin
    Just teasing, Dave.

    Telling people all the time to do things safely, and code does have reason to exist...

    But I'm different.

    Bill :#
    Near San Francisco California: 3.5kWatt Grid Tied Solar power system+small backup genset
  • mike95490
    mike95490 Solar Expert Posts: 9,583 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Just had  generator inlet installed at our local LP-FM station, to keep things going.

    Sad thing is, it's plastic and I worry the local vandals will smash it trying to get power out of it to charge their cell phones

    Powerfab top of pole PV mount | Listeroid 6/1 w/st5 gen head | XW6048 inverter/chgr | Iota 48V/15A charger | Morningstar 60A MPPT | 48V, 800A NiFe Battery (in series)| 15, Evergreen 205w "12V" PV array on pole | Midnight ePanel | Grundfos 10 SO5-9 with 3 wire Franklin Electric motor (1/2hp 240V 1ph ) on a timer for 3 hr noontime run - Runs off PV ||
    || Midnight Classic 200 | 10, Evergreen 200w in a 160VOC array ||
    || VEC1093 12V Charger | Maha C401 aa/aaa Charger | SureSine | Sunsaver MPPT 15A

    solar: http://tinyurl.com/LMR-Solar
    gen: http://tinyurl.com/LMR-Lister ,

  • softdown
    softdown Solar Expert Posts: 3,812 ✭✭✭✭
    There are a lot of links claiming that the Rothschild dynasty own PG&E. A lot. Then we have this: https://stockzoa.com/ticker/pcg/

    Always lots on interesting stuff happening. Not many as painful as losing homes in the country - many of which are likely to be uninsured due to fire risks.

    Power outages are a horrific nuisance but would seem to pale compared to losing ones home. 
    First Bank:16 180 watt Grape Solar with  FM80 controller and 3648 Inverter....Fullriver 8D AGM solar batteries. Second Bank/MacGyver Special: 10 165(?) watt BP Solar with Renogy MPPT 40A controller/ and Xantrex C-35 PWM controller/ and Morningstar PWM controller...Cotek 24V PSW inverter....forklift and diesel locomotive batteries
  • softdown
    softdown Solar Expert Posts: 3,812 ✭✭✭✭
    A bit different down here than sparks dropping on snow ;) 

     The laundry room can have worse things than carbon monoxide coming in. Avoid this as not many electricians would connect this way and if they did, you would not be able to sue them. They are long gone!
    I'm sure most regular posters will certainly agree that code adherence > carbon monoxide coming in. 
    First Bank:16 180 watt Grape Solar with  FM80 controller and 3648 Inverter....Fullriver 8D AGM solar batteries. Second Bank/MacGyver Special: 10 165(?) watt BP Solar with Renogy MPPT 40A controller/ and Xantrex C-35 PWM controller/ and Morningstar PWM controller...Cotek 24V PSW inverter....forklift and diesel locomotive batteries
  • Dave Angelini
    Dave Angelini Solar Expert Posts: 6,728 ✭✭✭✭✭✭
    edited October 2019 #54
    A bit more than 5 hours until I get to take the Kirkland 6 year cask aged out you recommended!
     I might have to dust it off after a month of extra aging.  Sit out on the deck and watch the PGE helios in the distance continue their 70kv transmission line replacements.  THX !
    "we go where power lines don't" Sierra Nevada mountain area
       htps://offgridsolar1.com/
    E-mail offgridsolar@sti.net

  • bill von novak
    bill von novak Solar Expert Posts: 891 ✭✭✭✭
    softdown said:
    There are a lot of links claiming that the Rothschild dynasty own PG&E. A lot. Then we have this: https://stockzoa.com/ticker/pcg/
    Yep.  Yet another investor-owned utility.  When you have all those investors demanding a good return, it can be hard to plan for the long term instead of next month.  You're incentivized to do the quick fix, the short-term patch instead of the 10+ year infrastructure plan.  Those pressures can be hard to resist.
  • Estragon
    Estragon Registered Users Posts: 4,496 ✭✭✭✭✭
    I'm not so sure about investor owned utilities necessarily being subject to short-termism.  The utility sector tends to be attractive to investors as a source of stable, long term income.  Executives and boards who do stuff to put those stable returns in jeopardy are quite likely to be treated harshly by investors.

    That said, they're subject to regulation by sometimes very political bodies, who tend to be in constant re-election mode.  Whether investor or publically owned, I suspect it's the regulator that often makes the difference.
    Off-grid.  
    Main daytime system ~4kw panels into 2xMNClassic150 370ah 48v bank 2xOutback 3548 inverter 120v + 240v autotransformer
    Night system ~1kw panels into 1xMNClassic150 700ah 12v bank morningstar 300w inverter