Reply to: Powercuts - UPS on gas boiler??

[Sysman]

Plus it's an inductive load which, I seem to recall, Invertors don't like.

I had that on a canal boat. To get the invertor to kick in when you wanted to use the vacuum cleaner, you switched the telly on first.

Me, I just throw another tree in the stove (ok, maybe not at 3:00 am........)

Stack of ready chopped logs by the fireplace, surely?

[VectraMan]

My CH pump says 70W on it. I remember my desktop PC used 75W at idle, so at a wild guess a UPS capable of powering a PC and monitor would be quite a good match for running your central heating off.

And surely, local storage is one solution to all the problems and inconsistencies of windmill power generation.

[al_cam]

Top man!
Keep us up to date on your 6kva research- I've seen some useful looking diesels gens around the £2600 mark

Hi,

Fired up and ran my house off a generator this afternoon.
Diesels are nice, but for only an occasional power outage, I couldn't really justify the price, plus I wanted something I could take out on Cam acres when I need electricity remotely.
I ended up buying one of these - cost a grand. It's nice - Honda engine, mecc-alte alternator and I got the barrow and long run tank options.

Bought this changeover switch to switch manually from mains to generator power. No idea why, but the original enclosure comes with 25mm and 32mm knockouts which are of little use in a domestic situation. I cut them out and fitted 20mm ones but it's a bit carp so I'm going to get a nice MK 4 module enclosure.

The switch is nice - made by control gear - a rail mounted single lever - neatly switches off the mains and connects the generator in one switch. If I had the space in my consumer unit it would be nice to mount it in there. actually, might just buy a bigger consumer unit rather than a separate enclosure...

I just wired the existing meter tails straight into the switch and a new set of tails to the consumer unit. I got a nice bit of 6mm H07 cable, a 32A commando socket and connectors for the generator side.

It works just lovely - ran my microwave just fine which the 3kva generator couldn't do so I tried the oven - again just fine - a wee bit of a dip as the generator revved up in response to the demand but it works fine.

Now I just need some more storms to take out the electricity so I can be a smug b* but sods law says there will never be a power cut again.

Al.

[Troll]

Hi,

Having recently spent nearly 5 days without electricity, I've a bit of experience in this area.

I used a 3kva generator to run my Central Heating;Fridge/freezer;router;TV;Laptop;One light (low energy bulb)
I could even boil a kettle.

I had to unwire my central heating and shower pump from their fused spurs and wire a plug onto the end, but I was warm, clean and had cold beer.

Overnight I used a 2kw UPS to keep the fridge and central heating running as I didn't want to run the generator all night long. It didn't last the full 8 hours, I guess maybe about 6 or 7 so not bad really.

All my cooking is electric and my microwave didn't like the generator at all so I had to eat out.

It was a huge PITA and I'm currently looking at 6kva generators and switchgear so I can switch the power across.

I think it could be a plan B. I can see power stability being a problem in the medium term.

Al.

Top man!
Keep us up to date on your 6kva research- I've seen some useful looking diesels gens around the £2600 mark

[al_cam]

Hi,

Having recently spent nearly 5 days without electricity, I've a bit of experience in this area.

I used a 3kva generator to run my Central Heating;Fridge/freezer;router;TV;Laptop;One light (low energy bulb)
I could even boil a kettle.

I had to unwire my central heating and shower pump from their fused spurs and wire a plug onto the end, but I was warm, clean and had cold beer.

Overnight I used a 2kw UPS to keep the fridge and central heating running as I didn't want to run the generator all night long. It didn't last the full 8 hours, I guess maybe about 6 or 7 so not bad really.

All my cooking is electric and my microwave didn't like the generator at all so I had to eat out.

It was a huge PITA and I'm currently looking at 6kva generators and switchgear so I can switch the power across.

I think it could be a plan B. I can see power stability being a problem in the medium term.

Al.

[RSoles]

The pump is the most power hungry thing.

Plus it's an inductive load which, I seem to recall, Invertors don't like.

Me, I just throw another tree in the stove (ok, maybe not at 3:00 am........)

[Sysman]

Mine doesn't either.

There's some sort of piezo spark generator thingie that gets the pilot light going, then it's full output is available at a mere touch of the control knobbie thing.

I don't like it because it smells & gives me a headache.

Thought it was CO, but none of the various CO meters I've tried have ever detected anything.

I had an ancient one in one of the bedrooms in my old house and felt quite ill when I slept with the thing on in the middle of winter. Whipped the panel off and it had last been serviced in 1975.

Wallop, straight down to the Gas showrooms and got a replacement on special offer, with free fitting.

The original in my present abode looked a bit dated and had a funny pong, so that got replaced pronto as well. I don't think either were CO or I might not be here, but I did suspect other noxious fumes.

[Sysman]

not really that crazy cause when you think about it you realise that there are a few control systems on the boiler which need electricity run.
The gas also needs either electonic ignition or a pilot light constantly burning. Modern systems use electronic ignition

But that gas fire on my study wall needs no leccy in spite of having electronic ignition (of sorts). No batteries needed.

[d000hg]

not really that crazy cause when you think about it you realise that there are a few control systems on the boiler which need electricity run.
The gas also needs either electonic ignition or a pilot light constantly burning. Modern systems use electronic ignition

Sure, but the control systems shouldn't need more than a trickle. Allowing you to plug in a 9v battery and light it with a spill would be nice.

[chef]

No recent powercuts in our are

heh heh I see what you did there

[AtW]

No recent powercuts in our are

[Joeman]

Both good points. It is crazy that your GAS heating relies on you having electricity, when you think of it.

yep, stupid. if the boiler had been plugged in, instead of a fused spur, i would have powerd it up with my jumpstart box that i used for my fishtank.

Also. my boiler is in the loft, so a bugger to get to in the dark at 7am on a cold morning...

[Spacecadet]

Both good points. It is crazy that your GAS heating relies on you having electricity, when you think of it.

not really that crazy cause when you think about it you realise that there are a few control systems on the boiler which need electricity run.
The gas also needs either electonic ignition or a pilot light constantly burning. Modern systems use electronic ignition

[d000hg]

That's a good idea, and could be Plan B material.

how often do you get power cuts?
I think it's been 10 years since I last suffered a domestic power cut

Both good points. It is crazy that your GAS heating relies on you having electricity, when you think of it.

[Sysman]

how often do you get power cuts?
I think it's been 10 years since I last suffered a domestic power cut

It depends where you are. When I was out in the sticks the leccy came through overhead wires. When it was really sloshing it down some of the telegraph posts emitted loud sparking sounds.

Folks I know in the US get their power lines taken down every other winter by falling trees. For them, a generator is the answer.