What a time to be without electricity !!!! On Saturday Dec 21st....Sothern Ontario was hit with one of the worst Freezing rain storms in centuries.... They are calling it the worst storm (of its kind) to hit Toronto ever....... We live on a farm and everything is powered by electricity including our heat......and we have been without it for 4 days......we have a generator running the vitals and have been burning wood to keep from freezing... :shok:.... I have had to chainsaw the laneway several times from falling trees and branches.......and the property looks like it was hit by a bomb !!!!! We are surviving......and have tried to find out when power might be restored ...The emergency crews are so overwhelmed that they have had to post automated updates. Two people have died trying to stay warm....but the entire GTA has just coming out of this minor state of emergency. Systems are slowly being restored but being on a farm...we may be without power for a week....so many downed trees ,branches and power lines.......don't know and can't find out when. Thank God that we were able to get our mitts on a generator or the basement would have eventually been under 4 feet of water...and I would have been playing "Octopus's Garden" on my drums..instead of "The Little Drummer Boy".. :dash2:. I stole one of the generator lines long enough to log in and get updates and send out some messages.
http://s1071.photobucket.com/user/photocandman/library/Ice%20Storm (http://s1071.photobucket.com/user/photocandman/library/Ice%20Storm)
In spite of everything.....we are faring well and I want to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and Happy New Years......and hope your holidays bring you and your family and friends as close together as these days have brought ours......lots of Love
Kev
Wow!!! :shok: That is some bad weather. Glad your doing OK and have the vital stuff sorted out. I hope you thaw out soon.
Merry Christmas CanDman.
Glad to hear you are all ok
Try to stay warm and dry.
Looking forward to catching up with you in March.
:drinks:
Darran
In Scarborough (eastern Toronto), I was lucky as our power was only off for a couple of hours on Sunday morning. We housed a few people overnight as they hadn't had power for over 24hrs. Many parts of the city still don't have power and won't until the weekend. It's now -10 degC going down to -15 tonight (14 to 5 degF). Everything is as solid as a rock (or ice I guess). Whacked my knee off the spruce in the front yard, thought I hit a brick wall.
I was at work Saturday night when it hit. Didn't do much except scramble everytime the power went out. Then the power went off completely by 2am. We had to evacuate to the front office due to the fumes from the nitric acid, chromic acid, nickel and copper sulphate, as all the scrubber exhausts were down. Eventually the fumes came into the front office so we had to go out to our cars at 4am.
All night we watched transformers and subtations explode and light up the sky with pretty blue arc lights, and the crackling and crashing of trees. A man made borealis.
Finally make it home to this.... its 730am so the light was still dim, and my phone camera is obsolete (omg! it must be 2yrs old almost!)
http://s839.photobucket.com/user/pgirard005/library/2013%20XMas%20Ice%20Storm?sort=2&page=1 (http://s839.photobucket.com/user/pgirard005/library/2013%20XMas%20Ice%20Storm?sort=2&page=1)
Wow, hang in there...
Looks like the one we had here a couple of winters ago. We ended up with 4" of solid ice on the ground.
Some of my neighbors in the complex thought I was crazy for moving my new Jeep from under one of the common carports. That is, until one of the ones around the corner collapsed from the extra weight.
Glad to hear you're ok Paul.....and thx guys for the encouragement........the wife and daughter had to stay at a friends so I am bunkered down in here......just cut some more wood...and stoked the fire....and got some more gas for the Genny.......I must say this has been one of the more interesting Christmas's I 've ever had.......in fact....I probably won't cook the bird until the ovens working...lol...but certainly not tooo hard to keep this bird frozen..... :mocking:...hopefully this will end soon......a hot shower would sure beat rolling in the snow again..... :wacko2:////love you guys...and have a great Christmas for me......
Kev
My borther lives by Downsview airport, and he is still without power...he's on my couch past 2 nights
Stay safe and I hope you all get power back soon.
DAY 6
........wow....feels like I'm writing a journal...Power Stream says I might get power back today....but there are still over 100,000 people without electricity....so I'm not alone......nice to hear from you Sab's and Rove.....warms my heart to read your well wishes....
Kev
Stay warm and safe up there to the north guys...................Thinking about you guys. My brother in NY said the ice storm hit northern NY also.
Hoping you get your power back on soon.
appreciate all the love....I am hoping to see the end soon.....it is wearing me down a bit........trying to keep positive...... :drinks:
KERRY LIVGREEN - UP FROM THE WASTELAND (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sLyuseV-OD0#)
this song ..says it all...... :empathy3:
man i feel your pain. I live in a mtn community where we get windstorms every single winter/spring. trees falling and power outtages. By the third year I couldnt stand it anymore. I bought a $2000 generator , wired it into house and stock up on gas, food and basics like oil lanterns, back ups with even more back ups. Of course since I did that its been mild as hell-lol
My brother is a tree surgeon....many people think he is a dumb tree monkey until they are in the position you folks are in. It takes skill and brains/independent thinking to unF a lot of that stuff. Thank God you have a generator and the foresight to know what the weather can do....hope things are better for your community.
Quote from: JMR on December 27, 2013, 01:38:49 AM
My brother is a tree surgeon....many people think he is a dumb tree monkey until they are in the position you folks are in. It takes skill and brains/independent thinking to unF a lot of that stuff. Thank God you have a generator and the foresight to know what the weather can do....hope things are better for your community.
I imagine the arborists will be busy; we'll be hiring one. It won't an easy job.
In Whitby (east of Toronto) we only lost power for an hour or so. Some people north of hwy.2 had to wait for 24 hours to get it restored. Compared to others in the GTA, we did fine.
This is our back yard...
(https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/5602924/2013%20backyard.JPG)
Day 7
My wife and daughter are coming home to check up on me....make sure there is no hint of a Howard Hughs thing coming down on me...although I have found myself playing with my toy airplanes.....and I was talking to a few of the geese gathered under a row of Spruce trees....... :scratch_one-s_head:...........uh ohhh....well....I'm sure it will pass.......
The Genny has been a God send......I have an electric heater in the basement which I snuggle with when trying to sleep.....burnt my knob a few times...but it kind of felt nice.... :blush:. I steal power and hook up the computer for me to check in with the rest of the world...but it is cold up here....man I never I realized how much we depend on electricity....all our utilities are electric....I could use a hot shower...I'm starting to look like Grizzly Adams......or a hockey player during the Playoffs......or a World series Boston Red Sox.....
That's quite the downed Tree Bob.....looks like a job for Dr. Chainsaw........could use some surgery myself.
Thank you for the kind and encouraging words......I appreciate it very much
Kev
Kev,
Sunny Florida feels for ya', Mon! (actually, it's kind of overcast today, but I'm still in shorts.)
I'm carefully watching the weather up north so I can run up and get that 1990 FJ from NotALib's friend. It's DEFINITELY getting ridden back here!
Keep us posted. (popcorn)
Steve
Quote from: CanDman on December 24, 2013, 01:36:01 PM
What a time to be without electricity !!!! On Saturday Dec 21st....Sothern Ontario was hit with one of the worst Freezing rain storms in centuries.... They are calling it the worst storm (of its kind) to hit Toronto ever.......
Kev
Glad you guys finally got to experience what winter is all about.
Quote from: Steve_in_Florida on December 27, 2013, 10:37:24 AM
Kev,
Sunny Florida feels for ya', Mon! (actually, it's kind of overcast today, but I'm still in shorts.)
I'm carefully watching the weather up north so I can run up and get that 1990 FJ from NotALib's friend. It's DEFINITELY getting ridden back here!
Keep us posted. (popcorn)
Steve
This weekend would be pretty doable, but not after that for several days. :biggrin:
Wanna borrow my electric vest?
Quote from: Travis398 on December 27, 2013, 12:42:13 PM
Quote from: CanDman on December 24, 2013, 01:36:01 PM
What a time to be without electricity !!!! On Saturday Dec 21st....Sothern Ontario was hit with one of the worst Freezing rain storms in centuries.... They are calling it the worst storm (of its kind) to hit Toronto ever.......
Kev
Glad you guys finally got to experience what winter is all about.
Thx Trav....I'm glad you're glad...... :scratch_one-s_head:
Day 8
still no power......where's a tree surgeon when you need him....* I have never laughed or made fun of a tree monkey......sorry tree surgeon.....in fact I known a few in my time...I already mentioned Dr. Chainsaw......but I also had visits with Dr. Mapleripper as well Dr. Oakdown and Dr. Beaver .......each time they all wanted me to cough...and I was adamant that there was no need to see my trunk....and that it did not require felling of any kind....not from them anyway....I told them only the nurse could chop down that wood..... :mocking:
Cantakeitman !!!!!!
Quote from: CanDman on December 28, 2013, 09:27:58 AM
Day 8
still no power......
Wow. I'll bet the subdivision across the street has power. Maybe they forgot about you; your place is kinda hard to find :smile:
Quote from: Bob on December 28, 2013, 09:51:13 AM
Quote from: CanDman on December 28, 2013, 09:27:58 AM
Day 8
still no power......
Wow. I'll bet the subdivision across the street has power. Maybe they forgot about you; your place is kinda hard to find :smile:
You're right Bob....the houses all around me have had power since Sunday.....Power stream won't hook up the power until a certified arborist comes into the property and removes the fallen branches and trees that created this situation in the first place.....Power Stream is the worst company in the world for customer service....but that will always be the case when you have a monopoly. They have come to the property and left...without so much as a phone call to inform me what needs to be done or how I am able to locate the right (licensed) people to do it. I was able to make some phone calls to at least find out what is going on.......but as you can see from Travis's post .......winter can bring out the cold in people........ :shok:
Quote from: CanDman on December 28, 2013, 11:02:58 AM
Quote from: Bob on December 28, 2013, 09:51:13 AM
Quote from: CanDman on December 28, 2013, 09:27:58 AM
Day 8
still no power......
Wow. I'll bet the subdivision across the street has power. Maybe they forgot about you; your place is kinda hard to find :smile:
You're right Bob....the houses all around me have had power since Sunday.....Power stream won't hook up the power until a certified arborist comes into the property and removes the fallen branches and trees that created this situation in the first place.....Power Stream is the worst company in the world for customer service....but that will always be the case when you have a monopoly. They have come to the property and left...without so much as a phone call to inform me what needs to be done or how I am able to locate the right (licensed) people to do it. I was able to make some phone calls to at least find out what is going on.......but as you can see from Travis's post .......winter can bring out the cold in people........ :shok:
WOW I work for the supply company here and if you where off that long all hell would be raised in the news and on media. Hope it gets better soon..
Cheers
Quote from: CanDman on December 28, 2013, 11:02:58 AM
....but as you can see from Travis's post .......winter can bring out the cold in people........ :shok:
When your power outage gets close to a month, then we can talk ice storm. :empathy3:
Until then suck it up like everyone else................... I found a car battery useful for hooking up an old car radio/cd player for my entertainment. during my 3+ weeks of no power.
You probably don't need that though, because them drums don't need power. So go let some steam off, it may help heat the house up.
Hang in there Kev. Inconvience aside, it's a shame the damage done to your beautiful trees.
Do you have future plans on setting a LP tank on your property? You don't have to worry about piping your home, for emergency use you can run hoses to your heaters, stove and backup water heater.
That and a hose to your dual fuel generator would be the ticket.
If you wanted to get fancy, a PV solar system with a battery set would be handy.
Your house is all electric? Ouch. How much do your pay (per kWh) for juice? Is it a tiered rate structure?
Quote from: Pat Conlon on December 29, 2013, 01:22:38 PM
Hang in there Kev. Inconvience aside, it's a shame the damage done to your beautiful trees.
Do you have future plans on setting a LP tank on your property? You don't have to worry about piping your home, for emergency use you can run hoses to your heaters, stove and backup water heater.
That and a hose to your dual fuel generator would be the ticket.
If you wanted to get fancy, a PV solar system with a battery set would be handy.
Your house is all electric? Ouch. How much do your pay (per kWh) for juice? Is it a tiered rate structure?
Interesting question Pat. I too am interested in energy costs in your neck of the woods. I`m in the solar industry and downunder am really concerned at the proliferation of poor quality PV systems (manufacture, installation, warranty integrity, output promises etc) and resultant variations of system outlays up to 300%.
Here the cost of battery back up systems with PV is not economical, (but handy as you say) and in Kev`s environment may indeed be of value. Meanwhile battery technology is changing rapidly, so that viability here is only 2 years away, (subject to Government whims.)
The return on investment here for a PV solar system starts at 18% per annum. (bigger return of course as electricity costs rise per kwh used)
Here's something else to chew on, at least for US solar fans:
http://news.yahoo.com/analysis-clouds-over-hawaii-39-rooftop-solar-growth-121006876--finance.html (http://news.yahoo.com/analysis-clouds-over-hawaii-39-rooftop-solar-growth-121006876--finance.html)
Quote from: Travis398 on December 29, 2013, 07:21:39 AM
Quote from: CanDman on December 28, 2013, 11:02:58 AM
....but as you can see from Travis's post .......winter can bring out the cold in people........ :shok:
When your power outage gets close to a month, then we can talk ice storm. :empathy3:
Until then suck it up like everyone else................... I found a car battery useful for hooking up an old car radio/cd player for my entertainment. during my 3+ weeks of no power.
You probably don't need that though, because them drums don't need power. So go let some steam off, it may help heat the house up.
Day 9
uh oh.......looks like I wasn't the only one who didn't get a visit from Santa..... maybe it was because you don't play nice with the other kids.... :scratch_one-s_head: ...maybe you scolded another member for dropping their bike........... maybe you didn't send any money to the Philippines.....or maybe you invited the Grinch and Scrooge over for the Holidays. Not to worry....Santa's list for next year is still a few days away....so you have an open ticket to swing that hammer at any and everything you want. I should remind you, however, (being a carpenter and all) that the hammer was initially designed for building things not for breaking....but you may not know that fact....since you're an electrician (who was without electricity for a month :shok:).....and that's the difference between you and I Trav....I never demanded you to learn how to swing a hammer before I said you could use one.....so I never thought twice about getting it from you...permission to speak that is...about electricity.... I would wish you a Merry Christmas but it's obvious that yours never arrived. Ohhh......and I wouldn't worry about anyone stealing the belt from you....I'm sure that whatever anyone has ever gone through in life......you've gone through 10 times worse :hi:
I found this tribute to your Manly State and the Manly Men who inhabit it.......now I see why you're not a Real Man....unless you're a Maine Man ...... :flag_of_truce:
Maine Man Song - Rhett & Link (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BcDsd_sMtiw#)
Now.....all that testosterone aside.....I finally have some good news to report......tomorrow an arborist, a municipal representative, a real electrician (from the Maine office... :mocking:), a representative from the Health and Safety Board, a building inspector as well as a crew from Power Stream will all congregate on the property to fix this minor problem....finally... :good2:
Now since I have never gone through something like this before and was at the bottom of the priority list, I must admit that this caught me completely off guard......but I am giving myself full marks for riding this one out. Thanks to everyone who encouraged me through a very strange Christmas Holiday. I will ring in once the fix is completed..... :drinks:
Kev
Quote from: not a lib on December 29, 2013, 03:28:23 PM
Here's something else to chew on, at least for US solar fans:
http://news.yahoo.com/analysis-clouds-over-hawaii-39-rooftop-solar-growth-121006876--finance.html (http://news.yahoo.com/analysis-clouds-over-hawaii-39-rooftop-solar-growth-121006876--finance.html)
We`ve had that rule in place for some time in Qld. We have a direct portal to the Electricity distributor for the applications and will not proceed without it`s acceptance. But yes the Electricity suppliers hate cheap systems that release "dirty" power on to their grid. Also they limit the applications in a given area to approx. 30% of nearest transformer rating. As we reach closer to saturation the application acceptance will be worth money - and yes it will limit the industry growth..our consumers have not woken up to this fact generally. (yet). (thanks for the link..I will use it in my consultencey work) :drinks:
Hey Doug, we have the same requirements (as Hawaii) over here in Calif.
Where I live in SoCal we have a 'for profit' Investor Owned Utility (as opposed to a non profit Public Utility) and our rates are steep in the top tier at $0.34 per kWh.
That, coupled with a severe climate zone on summer cooling, means that on even modest sized homes it is not uncommon to see $ 800-1000 a month electric bills in the summer months. With the proper low interest financing, the federal Investment Tax Credit (33%) a 'properly sized' PV system has about a 8 year payback.
Not too bad.
Indirectly, I too am in the business. To get an idea of my shenanigans just Google: Pat Conlon Palm Desert.
I'm proud to say that my Energy Efficiency/Solar financing model (PACE) has been adopted by many juristrictions throughout the nation and have proven to be a viable option to going to the bank to get a second/third trust deed loan to finance PV solar.
My beef with PV solar contractors is that they want to sell the homeowner the largest system they can...instead of educating the homeowner on Energy Efficiency 'FIRST'....it's been proven over and over (ad nausem) that every dollar invested by the homeowner in energy efficiency upgrades will save $3 to $4 off the cost of a PV system. In my climate zone, high efficiency a/c systems are particularly cost effective.
Australia is the home to Outback Power, one of my favorite off grid solar companies. Cheers Doug.....Pat
If you would like to borrow some heat, there is plenty over here in Oz, 40.4 deg Cel today not game to venture outside in fear of melting being a red head :nea:
Quote from: Pat Conlon on December 29, 2013, 08:52:20 PM
My beef with PV solar contractors is that they want to sell the homeowner the largest system they can...instead of educating the homeowner on Energy Efficiency 'FIRST'....it's been proven over and over (ad nausem) that every dollar invested by the homeowner in energy efficiency upgrades will save $3 to $4 off the cost of a PV system. In my climate zone, high efficiency a/c systems are particularly cost effective.
Australia is the home to Outback Power, one of my favorite off grid solar companies. Cheers Doug.....Pat
Mate you and I are hitting the same nail smack on the head. I spoke to a consumer only this morning re his request for a 4.5kw PV system. It took me an hour (unpaid unfortunately) to convince him he only needed a 2kw system. I also provide an energy audit that is accountable and have advised against the capital investment in solar in a number of cases. Amazing how many debt stretched people refuse to just read their meter at dawn & dusk to ascertain some idea of system requirement, however when they do, only sometimes do they begin to understand the massive savings available from a change of habit or existing componentry. Unfortunately very difficult to get paid for good advice, though I continue to develop a systematic strategy to their education with a money back guarantee - But often feel like a lonely voice in a classroom of suspicious deaf consumers. (end of vent - apologies re off topic hijack)) :drinks:
$800-$1000/mo :dash2: couple years ago I purchased a home on the water in Florida. The only waterfront I could afford was a fixer upper. I thought living in the sunshine state was a perfect opportunity to go green with a PV solar system to reduce energy costs. First I would get a good baseline with my daily KWa usage. My utility co( FPL) installed a new "smart meter" for free and showed me how to read the daily and cumulative numbers.
I installed; light colored reflective roofing, added attic insulation, insulated doors/windows, energy efficient heat
Pump rated SEER 16, tankless on demand hot water heater. With all these energy efficient home improvements
I reduced my monthly electric bill in half and decided that I didn't really need a PVC system. Oh, I did install a solar pool heater and almost, almost went with a solar water heater but really wanted to go tankless.
I guess where I'm going with this is I agree with you guys, conservation and efficiency trump throwing money
Into an alternative power source.
Another curious program FPL offers is a monthly averaging bill. They average your usage over the previous year and bill based on that. Takes the sticker shock out off the summer utility bill.
Now the payoff based on my improvements is probably longer than my lifetime however, the home was being remodeled anyway.
Scott
Scott and Doug, yeppers, we are singing in harmony.
A kWh saved thru efficiency and change of behavior is *always* less expensive, more cost effective, than a kWh generated from a PV system.
There is a lot of low hanging fruit out there, and a competent energy audit will show that to the homeowner.
Ok, back to Kev's situation.....
There is a lot of low hanging fruit out there, and a competent energy audit will show that to the homeowner.
Ok, back to Kev's situation.....
[/quote]
Day 10
Hey..........you guys chirp away.......it's wonderful to see the cold bring out the firewood.......I must admit, I was surprised that an electrician from Maine doesn't know the difference from good wood and bad wood.......especially on this thread.....I would have bet the farm on the seeing his best logs thrown....rather than smelly garbage that he chucked......that being said.....I still love you Trav !!!! :empathy3:
So here's the update.......chainsaws are roaring and the trees around the lines are coming down........I have a chain saw......but I was given strict instructions not to do anything.....I could have been looking at some pretty hefty fines.....lots of bureaucracy here.......which explains why it took so long.....I am proud to know that I am the last place on a very big list.....I will be cooking a Turkey and making my famous Christmas dinner.....sautéed carrots....lumpy mashed Potatoes...pepper squash with melted butter..a dash of salt with a sprinkle of dill and cumin......and last but not least...my world famous Turnip......which is rutabaga......mashed with butter ..salt....pepper and brown sugar....with a hint of nutmeg..and of course...the gravy....finished with some pumpkin pie with whip cream and some warm plumb pudding......mm mmmmm....I'm getting hungry.....lol..well I will keep you posted......shouldn't be long now......
Kev
Quote from: megsy on December 29, 2013, 09:03:15 PM
If you would like to borrow some heat, there is plenty over here in Oz, 40.4 deg Cel today not game to venture outside in fear of melting being a red head :nea:
Hey Megs.....nice sentiment......40 degrees ? Ya......sounds great...send some over.....10 degrees would be perfect !!!! :good:
Kev
:yahoo: :yahoo: :yahoo: :yahoo: :yahoo: :yahoo: :yahoo: :yahoo: :yahoo: :yahoo: :yahoo: :yahoo: :yahoo: :yahoo: :yahoo: :yahoo: :yahoo: :yahoo: :yahoo: :yahoo: :yahoo:
POWERS BACK....POWERS BACK........NOW I CAN FINALLY CELEBRATE........MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE.....MERRRRY CHRRRRRRRRISTMAS.....POWERS BACK
54,000 Christmas Lights- Little Drummer Boy (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uiaE0Q0Dv_4#ws)
CanDman
there should be plenty of hard wood laying around for you, you may want to stock up for next time. We already got another 14" of snow since the ice storm. extending the power outages to thousands of people for over a week.
(http://www.washingtonpost.com/rf/image_606w/2010-2019/Wires/Online/2013-12-26/AP/Images/Ice%20Storm%20Power.JPEG-0303c.jpg)
Quote from: Travis398 on December 31, 2013, 07:35:59 AM
there should be plenty of hard wood laying around for you, you may want to stock up for next time. We already got another 14" of snow since the ice storm. extending the power outages to thousands of people for over a week.
(http://www.washingtonpost.com/rf/image_606w/2010-2019/Wires/Online/2013-12-26/AP/Images/Ice%20Storm%20Power.JPEG-0303c.jpg)
Wow.......I can't imagine....in 97 Quebec had it the worst.....some people were without power for 4 months.......all I can say is ........I know what it's like to have your life thrown upside down.....and I feel for everyone going through it. My thoughts and prayers are with all the good people in Maine and that their lives will resume to normal sooner than later. Before my ordeal...all I could muster was a little empathy.....now I have a lot of sympathy.
If it weren't for my generator....my drums and everything in the basement would have been under water......Canada is used to the bitter cold.....it is the temperatures that hover around the freezing mark that is so destructive....
This storm must have you busier than a bees nest......thx for sharing Trav.....and I hope all is well with you and your family.....
Kev
Hopefully Jack will be back......soon...... He carries the Green flag all winter long.........and helps us through the winter nights.........
(http://i1071.photobucket.com/albums/u517/photocandman/jackinthegreen_zps8c533ebb.jpg)
Jethro Tull- Jack In The Green (live) (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rj0foOyuj-w#ws)
(http://www.washingtonpost.com/rf/image_606w/2010-2019/Wires/Online/2013-12-26/AP/Images/Ice%20Storm%20Power.JPEG-0303c.jpg)
[/quote]
In The Dark (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N6ubD18G7HA#)
Friday night , we were finally able to have our Christmas Dinner....here's the proof..........and yes.....I prepared it all...... :hi:
(http://i1071.photobucket.com/albums/u517/photocandman/021_zps1d63d3ab.jpg)
(http://i1071.photobucket.com/albums/u517/photocandman/008_zps5d59db9f.jpg)
This SOB was the culprit....if you see where the tree broke.....that is were the live wire used to be and was touching the trunk.......started a fire and eventually burned through far enough to cause it to snap
(http://i1071.photobucket.com/albums/u517/photocandman/009_zpse92bcf34.jpg)