[MarinTeams] Fw: generator

[Bill Smith]

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Bill Smith" <hbco2 at sbcglobal.net>
To: <rosenbergfam at juno.com>
Sent: Saturday, December 22, 2007 3:05 PM
Subject: Re: generator


> Hi Ken,
>
> Thank you for the information and your experience.
>
> 1.  We have a UPS at present which has powered all the equipment we would
> expect to need when the power goes off.  With the existing (defective)
> batteries, we have been able to run the repeater, node and packet node for
> about 15 minutes before the batteries discharged.  The batteries are now
> totally defunct.
>
> 2.  If we replaced the batteries (4 x $65 = $260) we might get the
operating
> time up to 1/2 hour or 45 minutes or longer.  Batteries are available from
> Costco.  This is a very tempting expense given the fact we have the
inverter
> and a little booty in the treasury.
>
> 3.  Agree with your experience regarding gas, which would be the case
> whether or not we chose an autostart generator.
>
> 4.  I generally agree with your analysis of autostart.  KISS.  However, an
> autostart generator would likely encourage more donations from the CERT
> Radio group if we were to make a proposal and start a fund for emergency
> power.  Can an autostart generator also be started manually?  Would this
be
> the best of both worlds, neglecting the additional cost for autostart.  Is
> there any downside for getting an autostart generator even if it didn't
work
> and needed to be started manually?
>
> 5.  Great on the transfer switch.  I looked at the manual, but didn't see
a
> UL approval.  Wonder if PG&E would say if we connected this device to the
> power grid, guess we have to ask them.  Do you have any info?
>
> 6.  Can you develop a cost proposal, with and without autostart?  We can
> present same to the club and to the CERT Radio group and start a fund.
>
> Happy Holidays!
>
> 73 de Bill, AB6MT
> hbco2 at sbcglobal.net
>
>
>
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: <rosenbergfam at juno.com>
> To: <hbco2 at sbcglobal.net>
> Sent: Wednesday, December 19, 2007 10:48 AM
> Subject: generator
>
>
> > Bill,
> >
> >     As a follow-up to our discussion Tuesday on the desire to get backup
> > power for the HWA, I thought I would pass along some information that
> > might be helpful.  First, getting a generator that would be sufficient,
> > is fairly straight forward.  There are lots of places to buy them new
and
> > used.  Electric start is available.  I have attached a PDF on the least
> > expensive 50 amp automatic transfer switch which sells for $225.  Also
> > here is the link for the place I found that has it.
> > http://www.coloradostandby.com/catalog/index.php
> >
> > My experience is that I have little confidence that a stand alone remote
> > generator will start on its own all the time.  I have purchased new top
> > of the line generators and found that even with the electric start you
> > have to choke them from time to time depending on the temperature.   I
> > always have handy a can of "ether" to start most of my gas or diesel
> > engines.  Also gas that stands around loses its ability to start easy.
> > That is the exact situation with standby generators.  Unless you change
> > to fresh fuel every so often, you have to crank and choke etc to start
> > them.  Hospitals and others that rely on automatic back ups usually have
> > someone around to make sure the engines start or they do it manually.
> > On my hill, when Nextel had their races, they had their automatic
standby
> > generator ready to go for their cell site... but they still had a
> > technician sitting in his car next to the unit just in case the power
> > went out and the generator did not kick in automatically.
> >
> > On the other hand, next door, Sprint has a battery backup system that
> > lasts a few days, enough for them to send up a technician with a
> > generator. Most of the time the power goes out for a short time and no
> > one has ever come around during one of the few black outs we have had.
> > Personally, I think that a UPS with an extra battery hooked in parallel
> > with the existing battery can be purchased very cheaply.  Enough power
to
> > last a day or so, and since it is a 12v system, a solar panel could also
> > be used to extend the time.  This would allow for someone to get to the
> > site, even by foot, to start a small generator that we could keep on
> > site.
> >
> > Also from what I hear, HWA also has a UPS on site that is just lacking
> > some batteries.  I purchased a couple of UPS' for about $40. each and
put
> > them on my routers that will keep my internet up for days. (as long as
> > the tel. co keeps up theirs)  I also have a generator that can power my
> > house, so all my electric uses could continue as long as I have fuel.  I
> > have several cars with fresh fuel, so I could keep going for a long
time.
> > Bottom line:  We could put together an automatic system for less than 1k
> > with a electric start generator and an automatic transfer switch.
> > (although I am not sure how you would turn off the starting crank time
by
> > knowing if the unit starts or not).  I also notice that there is a 15
> > second delay on the starting units that without another UPS in the mix,
> > you would have no power.  Some electric equipment turns automatically
off
> > or needs to be reset when the power changes.    In the end, the simpler
> > the system, the more reliable it becomes.  That is why I would not
> > recommend the remote automatic generator system.
> >
> >
> > ken
>