Winter blackouts

Mstty

Our 2.8kwh petrol generator can run for 10 hours at max load which it won't be and with a multi fuel burner in the lounge mainly used in the dark before bed and wake up if dark as this is likely to happen in the winter time

Mainly for lights, fridge freezer, router, microwave, might run a 1kWh heater off it and powering devices to watch downloaded movies and tv from prime etc and charging mobile phones. 

We have two gas bottles in the BBQ and a double camping stove with lots of cannisters for cooking.

Last time it happened during Strom Eunice the power was off for over 24 hours we had a party with lights, music, BBQ.

Everyone's devices were charge, they were fed and had a nice hot coffee or tea as well👍

markin

The way it was described in the worst cast is that it would probably be 2hrs is the morning and evening in a 6 hr window, and done by smart meter so not to affect people on the priority service.

Benny2020

Zombies are attracted to the noise a generator makes so no use after the apocalypse.

QrizB

@Elevenses (this thread) has purchased 4.8kWh of grid-linked battery. It's a fairly extreme version of this but it should meet all his needs other than space heating during a moderately-long power cut.

His space heating is storage heaters so there's a fair chance of any blackout falling outside E7 hours anyway.

(He doesn't say whether he's wired up the EPS output from his Lux inverter; maybe he'll let us know?)

markin

Austria

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NIMyZkdIORg

MattMattMattUK

markin said:

The way it was described in the worst cast is that it would probably be 2hrs is the morning and evening in a 6 hr window, and done by smart meter so not to affect people on the priority service.

It will not be done by smart meter but by cutting off specific areas. Firstly not enough people have a smart meter yet, secondly it would punish those who have smart meters to the benefit of those who do not, thirdly that would require legislation and finally and most importantly if it was done via smart meters all one would need to do would be to wrap ones smart meter in layers of foil and potentially suitably sized metal mesh to block out the signal and so stop it turning off (a Faraday cage). 

Sea_Shell

I trust they wouldn't cut us off for so long that food in our fridges and freezers was at risk.

It's one thing to lose power due to unforeseen circumstances, but to make a decision to cut power needs to take this into account.

I vaguely remember the 70s power cuts, but can't remember what schedule they were on or how long they lasted?

brewerdave

Sea_Shell said:

I vaguely remember the 70s power cuts, but can't remember what schedule they were on or how long they lasted?

I seem to remember one lot in the early 70s when I was still at Uni. Lasted 2 to 3 hours at a time but the areas being deprived must have been published because I can remember planning my "studies" in the library (and afterwards in a local pub) when my digs had no power and vice versa.
In the mid 70s ,I was working and we had days where we ran the generators to allow some production to be carried out but can't remember how long the power was off for. I was fortunate that my flat was on the same circuit as the local hospital so never suffered cuts at home,  AND my local was also on the hospital circuit.  

MattMattMattUK

Sea_Shell said:

I trust they wouldn't cut us off for so long that food in our fridges and freezers was at risk.

The most likely circumstance would be rolling 2-3 hour outages and potentially a late evening power cut designed to send people to bed early. Fridge and Freezers are usually good for 12+ hours provided they are kept shut.

Sea_Shell said:

It's one thing to lose power due to unforeseen circumstances, but to make a decision to cut power needs to take this into account.

I am sure it would be and there would be huge cuts to business usage first as domestic cuts for anything more than a few instances would likely see the downfall of the government. Weeks of regular power cuts would end any government, so they will be avoided at all costs, even if that makes the overall economic damage worse.

markin

I'm sure they could push a law in emergency, But they have 6 months to do it the normal way.

"In total, at the end of 2021, 50% of meters operating were smart, an increase of eight percentage points from the end of 2020 "

They only have to shave off a small % in rolling 1hr slots.