Lessons Learned from the Texas Grid Collapse
- Thread starter livingston
- Start date
livingston
20×102mm Vulcan
Having been through a hurricane one would think he would have been just a bit better prepared ... An example would be has a generator and sounds like he has never started it and never used it . ever, ... He seems like an average Joe giving you his observations ...
Doc8404
.450/400 Nitro Ex
Was going to start another generator thread.
currently have a predator 4K that I have used several times. Just run extension cords. But my furnace isn’t wired with a plug yet.
keep this in mind
Debating
1) whole house on the NG system
2) duel fuel portable with transfer switch like below. get a 100 gallon LP tank to supplement smaller tanks.
3) or a conversion kit for the small one we have already.
4) duel fuel whole house on NG with a 250-500 gallon tank
https://www.amazon.com/Pulsar-Porta...9Y2xpY2tSZWRpcmVjdCZkb05vdExvZ0NsaWNrPXRydWU=
currently have a predator 4K that I have used several times. Just run extension cords. But my furnace isn’t wired with a plug yet.
keep this in mind
Debating
1) whole house on the NG system
2) duel fuel portable with transfer switch like below. get a 100 gallon LP tank to supplement smaller tanks.
3) or a conversion kit for the small one we have already.
4) duel fuel whole house on NG with a 250-500 gallon tank
https://www.amazon.com/Pulsar-Porta...9Y2xpY2tSZWRpcmVjdCZkb05vdExvZ0NsaWNrPXRydWU=
Toecutter
.308 Win
I keep one of these on hand heats my main living space easy runs on propane need no exhaust or electricity. I also have a wood stove but if the power suddenly cuts out this is fasr and easy.
Doc8404
.450/400 Nitro Ex
i recently bought a Mr. Heater cabinet heater for the garage.
they all need venting. But it would work in a pinch.
Mr. Heater | Cabinet Heater
The Mr. Heater Cabinet Heater provides Portable Radiant Heat for all outdoor applications.
www.mrheater.com
Toecutter
.308 Win
I have one of these installed over the door in every room, not enough to read by but gives anough light to get things done.
Doc8404
.450/400 Nitro Ex
I have similar ones, but they are so bright I put them down low.
Toecutter
.308 Win
I also have a propane lantern, if i need alot of light, i cook on my outdoor grill.
In fact the only time i use my genny is in the summer to run the fridge and a small window ait conditioner i keep around for the bedroom.
In fact the only time i use my genny is in the summer to run the fridge and a small window ait conditioner i keep around for the bedroom.
spat
.700 Nitro Express
I used to have a decent generator, but I didn't use it very often and it got to where I didn't trust that it would start without some TLC at any given time.
I've got a 3000 watt inverter I can run the furnace and/or sump pump off of now. I can run an extension cord out to the drive way. I wouldn't need 24/7 power, just a few hours at a time to bring the house back up to temp.
The furnace isn't wired for that, but I've got everything necessary to fix that if it came to it.
One thing I did note during the ice storm of 91 when we were without power for several days, while the NG furnace needs power for the blower, the hot water heater did not require any electricity. So, the house got a little cold, but not enough to worry about plumbing. We did have a steady stream of friends and family through to take advantage of the hot showers, and that pumped a fair bit of heat back into the house. We got down into the 50s but nothing too dire.
I've got a 3000 watt inverter I can run the furnace and/or sump pump off of now. I can run an extension cord out to the drive way. I wouldn't need 24/7 power, just a few hours at a time to bring the house back up to temp.
The furnace isn't wired for that, but I've got everything necessary to fix that if it came to it.
One thing I did note during the ice storm of 91 when we were without power for several days, while the NG furnace needs power for the blower, the hot water heater did not require any electricity. So, the house got a little cold, but not enough to worry about plumbing. We did have a steady stream of friends and family through to take advantage of the hot showers, and that pumped a fair bit of heat back into the house. We got down into the 50s but nothing too dire.
Robin
.577 Tyrannosaur.
Natural gas needs compressor stations to keep it moving. If the black out is big enough NG will not be an option.
Robin
Robin
Doc8404
.450/400 Nitro Ex
I was hopeful the stations had a NG genset to keep things moving.
crunchberry
.40 S&W
Pretty much was thinking "duh" the whole time watching that for every point.
Can't believe people have died sitting in their running cars in their garage for heat. Morons.
I think the biggest takeaway from this is that you're not going to know when an emergency happens so actually BE PREPARED and don't just buy crap and leave it around your house without even testing it and thinking you're good now.
Can't believe people have died sitting in their running cars in their garage for heat. Morons.
I think the biggest takeaway from this is that you're not going to know when an emergency happens so actually BE PREPARED and don't just buy crap and leave it around your house without even testing it and thinking you're good now.
Toecutter
.308 Win
I watch a couple of Youtubers from Texas, alot of damage gas been caused by frozen pipes. No one even thought about it . Simply running the water could have stopped alot of damage.
Up here pipes freezing would be the first thing most of us would have thought of. A little education goes a long way.
What I have learned from watching these people in Texas???
Too many Americans are dependent upon government for everything.
Too many Americans are not able to use the sense they were born with.
Too many Americans could not free themselves from a wet paper bag.
Too many Americans have nothing to survive in their homes.
Too many Americans are fat and out of shape.
Too many Americans have become enslaved to the conveniences of modern life.
If a full Country wide SHTF were to occur, their would be more dead that I originally thought!
Too many Americans are dependent upon government for everything.
Too many Americans are not able to use the sense they were born with.
Too many Americans could not free themselves from a wet paper bag.
Too many Americans have nothing to survive in their homes.
Too many Americans are fat and out of shape.
Too many Americans have become enslaved to the conveniences of modern life.
If a full Country wide SHTF were to occur, their would be more dead that I originally thought!
crunchberry
.40 S&W
I learned, you CAN mess with Texas. I learned even some cold and frozen pipes will mess with them.
This was pretty much my first thought.
In a major grid down it will be every bit as bad as one second after or worse.
It was chaos and it was only a temporary regional disruption while we still have a "functional" government.
Imagine what the worst case scenario would be.
Oh
Wait
We barely avoided a major cascading failure perhaps by seconds or minutes.
:watermark(cdn.texastribune.org/media/watermarks/2021.png,-0,30,0)/static.texastribune.org/media/files/2897bc076e654fb304e0250166ec4146/Reilly%20Elementary%20Warming%20MG%2010.JPG)
Texas was "seconds and minutes" away from catastrophic monthslong blackouts, officials say
Officials with the Electric Reliability Council of Texas said that grid operators implemented blackouts to avoid a catastrophic failure that could have left Texans in the dark for months.
www.texastribune.org
Acer-m14
20×102mm Vulcan
when Texas gets back to normal and fits the wind farms for cold weather maintenance package .. i hope they think of the high speed maintenance package too ..
so they can blow out the next hurricane that comes inland ..
so they can blow out the next hurricane that comes inland ..
Acer-m14
20×102mm Vulcan
I and my brother do this in the winter at times when there is power .. cuz we can ..
beer keg turkey in 1 hour and 45 mins ..
PS we could have boiled water too ..
beer keg turkey in 1 hour and 45 mins ..
PS we could have boiled water too ..
Acer-m14
20×102mm Vulcan
@spat .. do you have the propane jets for your NG furnace .. the furnace i installed a 3 or 4 yrs ago came with them ... i still need to get a propane tank just for that as a back up
i could used the bbq ones but wouldn't last long .. all ready had to use the generator last yr on the furnace from a power outage .. plug and play
for that .. how i wired it up ..
i could used the bbq ones but wouldn't last long .. all ready had to use the generator last yr on the furnace from a power outage .. plug and play
for that .. how i wired it up ..
spat
.700 Nitro Express
I don't have the ability to swap either the furnace or the water heater to propane, but I don't have enough propane on hand for it to matter anyway.
A scenerio where the municipal natural gas is out is not likely to resolve itself quickly.
If I found myself in that situation, I think I would be shutting off the water and draining all the plumbing and putting on a lot of layers.
Acer-m14
20×102mm Vulcan
If your furnace has it's own regulator, make sure you know how to adjust it for propane. Sometimes you need to install a different spring. Without the correct regulator adjustment/spring, your propane jets won't work right.
BerettaGuy
.308 Win
It was a freak storm in an area with trees that aren't bare in the winter. Heavy wet snow on trees means snapping limbs and felled trees. We in Western New York know what that means. Remember the October Surprise. A freak storm on trees with leaves.
TEOTWAWKI inc.
.338 Win Mag
I wonder how many learned to read the terms of their wholesale energy pricing contract with a 3rd party supplier, and not cry bc the demand pricing this billing cycle far exceeded the small savings they got by switching providers?
livingston
20×102mm Vulcan
I have a square D safety switch on my oil furnace . I have flipped it off and was able to disconnect the wires and used a wire nut to connect it to an power cord and run it outside to a portable generator
Acer-m14
20×102mm Vulcan
brb photo to come ... this will be the regulator and all that came with the furnace was a bag with 3 LP jets .
looks like i need a spring kit like you say ..
624610 - Norydne Furnace Gas Valve NAT/LP GAS
This is a BRAND NEW Universal Honeywell Electronic Ignition Gas Valve. The valve is set up for NAT Gas, but comes with an LP Conversion Kit. It also comes with wiring diagram, in case needed. Thanks for looking and good luck!OEM Replacement for Old Part #
www.northamericahvac.com
nothing comes up in search for this valve number straight from Honeywell .. so far ..
now this is interesting .
624610R Gas Valve. - Mobile Home Repair
Honeywell VR8205R2091 gas valve for many Nordyne M-series furnaces with hot surface igntion. 1/2" gasline inlet on the right, 1/2" outlet on the left. Gas valve may be turned for side mounting. Comes set for natural gas. To convert to propane (LP), simple unscrew cap marked 'NAT', flip over...
www.mobilehomerepair.com
remove the screw and flip ..
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One of my biggest holes in my preps is electrical generation. I was going to wait until I got my garage built to do anything about it. But now I'm thinking about buying a portable generator. I came across this one what do you guys think?
www.newegg.com
Pulsar G12KBN Heavy Duty Portable Dual Fuel Generator - Newegg.com
Buy Pulsar G12KBN Heavy Duty Portable Dual Fuel Generator - 9500 Rated Watts & 12000 Peak Watts - Gas & LPG - Electric Start - Transfer Switch & RV Ready - CARB Compliant with fast shipping and top-rated customer service. Once you know, you Newegg!
Toecutter
.308 Win
Don't know own the brand, like the duel fuel and 12 hrs half load for 8 gallons seems decent for fuel usage.One of my biggest holes in my preps is electrical generation. I was going to wait until I got my garage built to do anything about it. But now I'm thinking about buying a portable generator. I came across this one what do you guys think?
Pulsar G12KBN Heavy Duty Portable Dual Fuel Generator - Newegg.com
Buy Pulsar G12KBN Heavy Duty Portable Dual Fuel Generator - 9500 Rated Watts & 12000 Peak Watts - Gas & LPG - Electric Start - Transfer Switch & RV Ready - CARB Compliant with fast shipping and top-rated customer service. Once you know, you Newegg!
I have 2 gennys a 5500 and a 2000 . The 2000 will run half load for 8 hrs on one gallon. I use that little guy the most . Be aware during widespread power outages gas pumps don't work and gasoline becomes hard to get.
Also remember not to run sensitive electronics on a genny unless the power is cleaned.
What fuel do you heat your home with?
I personally see backup power as a bunch of small answers instead of a big generator. Heat with wood stove, small efficient led lights and cook on propane or woodstove.
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livingston
20×102mm Vulcan
I have a smaller Honda works good .. The brand has had good reviewsOne of my biggest holes in my preps is electrical generation. I was going to wait until I got my garage built to do anything about it. But now I'm thinking about buying a portable generator. I came across this one what do you guys think?
Pulsar G12KBN Heavy Duty Portable Dual Fuel Generator - Newegg.com
Buy Pulsar G12KBN Heavy Duty Portable Dual Fuel Generator - 9500 Rated Watts & 12000 Peak Watts - Gas & LPG - Electric Start - Transfer Switch & RV Ready - CARB Compliant with fast shipping and top-rated customer service. Once you know, you Newegg!
now this is interesting .
624610R Gas Valve. - Mobile Home Repair
Honeywell VR8205R2091 gas valve for many Nordyne M-series furnaces with hot surface igntion. 1/2" gasline inlet on the right, 1/2" outlet on the left. Gas valve may be turned for side mounting. Comes set for natural gas. To convert to propane (LP), simple unscrew cap marked 'NAT', flip over...
remove the screw and flip ..
I did a quick google search and came up with the same info on a couple different sites. It makes sense too. If the manufacturer included the three jets, you would think they would also include anything else needed for the conversion. If they didn't include an LP spring, it would seem there isn't a need for one.
Is there a black cap marked NG on your regulator? That would be a good sign. You could prove it 100% by unscrewing the cap and seeing if it says LP on the other side. You may want to wait until warmer weather to try this in case something goes wrong. I would also turn off the gas when removing that cap. Not because there is going to be any gas under the cap, but because you'll be releasing the spring pressure on the diaphragm that normally works against the gas pressure on the other side. No need to put any extra stress on that diaphragm.