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Poll: Emergency power and heating
missioncontrol:
--- Quote from: CheffoJeffo on December 17, 2007, 07:39:07 pm ---
--- Quote from: tommy on December 17, 2007, 07:31:44 pm ---Who would you agree with on this board that you wouldn't see it as being strange? I haven't seen anyone yet you have not said that about.
--- End quote ---
Normally, I wouldn't bite this bait (let's admit it ... normally you don't make a lot of sense), but let's say ...
missioncontrol
and see what you do with it.
--- End quote ---
I agree that it is difficult to agree with missioncontrol....
knave:
--- Quote from: ChadTower on December 18, 2007, 01:27:40 pm ---
Would you be able to function with just the ignition/control and no fan in an emergency situation? I'd MUCH rather temporarily be forced air instead of blown than to have to deal with gas/generator/dude swapping it with a mower.
--- End quote ---
I'm not sure how much good that would do without some hefty mods to the duct system. As it stands my impression is that without the blower the unit would overheat. Also I don't think the heat would effectively travel. I am sure there is a way to make it work but our need is not there.
I'm pretty sure any generator wuld be pretty safe in our backyard...but I can see that locking it up would be a good idea. (Won't have to deal with that for a long time anyhow.)
nostrebor:
--- Quote from: ChadTower on December 18, 2007, 01:27:40 pm ---
Would you be able to function with just the ignition/control and no fan in an emergency situation? I'd MUCH rather temporarily be forced air instead of blown than to have to deal with gas/generator/dude swapping it with a mower.
--- End quote ---
Nope. Without the fan running, the control boards will not let the unit continue to operate. Plus the fact that a forced air furnace with no fan has no means to get the heat thorough the ducts and to the people.
A small generator (1500 watt) will start and run an average forced air gas furnace. It won't do much else, but at least you could have some heat. Furnaces are typically on their own circuit, so a generator and a transfer switch can be used to power just that circuit. There are other creative ways to get power to a furnace circuit as well, but they don't meet code so I won't be discussing them here.
Fresh water was brought up. It is a huge concern over the long haul or in a situation like Katrina. In our case last January, with some searching, we could find bottled water after the first 48 hours. We could also go into the city and get water from the municipal system. When we knew that the storm was coming, we filled all our bathtubs with water and several large plastic totes with water. If you're on a well and the power goes out, you soon lose the ability to flush your toilets. Having a 3 gallon bucket and some water in reserve, will allow a toilet flush for the inevitable chong. ;) You can also boil bathtub water to drink in a pinch, assuming you have a means to boil it.
At the end of our 11 day stint, we were getting pretty good (almost comfortable) at surviving without power and running water. Even though the experience sucked *alot* I did learn much from it.
shardian:
--- Quote from: nostrebor on December 19, 2007, 10:21:59 am ---You can also boil bathtub water to drink in a pinch, assuming you have a means to boil it.
--- End quote ---
1 gallon water + 3 drops bleach = drinking water
Add koolaid or other flavorings as needed.
In Iraq, or soldiers have a water truck which then has the proper amount of bleach put in to clean it. of course, the guys who run the truck don't give a ---steaming pile of meadow muffin--- and put in too much bleach usually. That is why my buddy BEGGED everyone to send him koolaid mixes. Same thing in Korea, same thing in Vietnam, etc, etc.
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