30 Years of the Digest ... founded August 21, 1981
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The Telecom Digest for November 6, 2011
Volume 30 : Issue 283 : "text" Format
====== 30 years of TELECOM Digest -- Founded August 21, 1981 ======
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Date: Sat, 05 Nov 2011 15:57:34 -0400
From: David Chessler <chessler.remove-this@and-this-too.usa.net>
To: telecomdigestmoderator.remove-this@and-this-too.telecom-digest.org.
Subject: Emergency generators.
Message-ID: <201111051957.BDY58190@mr17.lnh.mail.rcn.net>
Some years ago we had a windstorm (or hurricane) that knocked out
power for days--a week for some people. This is not an uncommon
problem in Maryland and the Eastern shore. Summer thunderstorms can
knock out power for days.
Anyhow, the problem was getting power into the house to run the
computer (I was on deadline at the time), the refrigerator, and maybe
a light or two. I don't own a generator, and for events that happen
only once or twice a decade, that seems an excessive expense. Then I
remembered: I had two cars, each of which had a generator with
battery backup. A quick trip to a nearby truckstop (if two counties
away is nearby) and I owned two inverters. These cost about $100-125
each. (Truckstops are the most likely local sources, but Wal-Mart
sometimes has them. Or, there is the internet.)
I connected the one with the nominal rating of 1000 watts
(continuous) to the battery of my Ford, which had the larger battery
and generator, using large crocodile clips (like jumper cable
clamps), and ran an extension cord into the house. I plugged in the
refrigerator and "POWER". The one with the nominal rating of 750
Watts could not run the refrigerator, but attached to the battery of
the Honda it did just fine on the computer and printer. I had the
cars idling, so the batteries had a chance to recharge (IIRC, modern
alternators deliver full power even at idle). There is no way this
arrangement could supply full power to the house. I think the Ford
had a 65 AMP alternator, which means 780 Watts at 12 volts, less the
losses. However, the battery supplied any surge that the alternator
could not. (When an electric motor, like the one in the refrigerator,
starts, it draws perhaps double its usual load for a fraction of a
second.) Electric stoves, air conditioners, electric heat just won't
work with such small alternators, though you could probably run the
fan in a forced-hot air furnace.
This arrangement would also work for camping at events [or
evacuations] where you can leave your vehicle reasonably close to your tent.
***** Moderator's Note *****
I don't know how to calculate the startup load of a refrigerator: you
are right, of course, that the starting demand is much higher than the
running power that's needed, but I'm not sure how to calculate it. I'm
told that the worst case power-demand is from an air conditioning
system, but I don't know why.
If anyone has a pointer to an EPA or other site that gives the
procedure, please send it in. I'm very interested in getting
information about the running costs of various fuels, as well: I read
that Natural Gas is much more expensive than gasoline. TIA.
Bill Horne
Moderator
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