Under the weather, really!

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pepr

Senior Member
I realize that these comments will get some eye rolls from our friend up north, but freezing rain, sleet, and snow are not on Arkansas's well to do list. We lost electricity at about 4 am Friday and just got electricity back at 9:30 am today (Saturday). I do fairly well without electricity, but I must say that I sure miss it when it is gone. Temperatures thankfully did not reach the forecasted low of 8 degrees-F last night, only reaching 20 degree-F.

Overall, I'd say .5 to .75" of ice and 4 inches of snow.

Arkansas is not setup to promptly blade the highways of the snow and ice. As a result, we will deal with slick highways for the next few days if not more. Oh, and Arkansans don't know how to drive on slick highways, at all!!!!!!!!!

Thank goodness I plumbed the house for propane usage. I keep a propane heater stored in the closet just for these times.

Well, the HVAC is working again, the water is now back (I use well water), and the hot water heaters are getting the water ready for my much needed shower. Ooh that smell!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thanks you God and thank you Arkansas Valley Electric! What a great day to be alive!!!!!!!!!!!
 
Sorry about your weather issues but glad to hear you have electric again.

Time for a generator?
 
Zoom, you're so correct! Been wanting a Miller Bobcat welder/generator for some time now. Just hard letting go of $3500, although, I think I just might get to that point soon.
 
Even up here in Michigan ice storms cripple us.Trees fall on power lines and were out of power for 5 to 7 days a lot of times.I know it has to be a lot harder on you southern folks.
I have a 5000 watt generator just for these things.
When power goes out I turn off the main breaker and have a 220 volt cord made up that i can plug in the generator and then plug in the other end to the 220 outlet in the garage for the welder to back feed the entire house.It helps a lot when you need the well pump to get water and run the blower on the wood stove.You can generally pick up a decent 5000 watt generator for under 600 at most places.
 
Oh pepr, glad you are warm now.. I'm just in from feeding the cows. It is 32 at 12 pm here. I am grabbing some lunch but will feed the cows extra today because it is so cold. How are yours fairing? I know how it is on well water plus the water troughs freezing up. Years ago even our ponds froze across. I hope the best for you and others . Another chance on the bad stuff Monday for us... So be ready...
We have either a trailblazer or bobcat miller welder. We have used it 2x for the generator and it is really handy. Just never ever, ever, never ever, boost off the battery... it will fry the computer board to the tune of $1000..!!!!! I was sure glad I wasn't the one that did it.. A battery maintainer is important to have for it or you could get one of the battery disconnect switches . .. collie
 
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pepr said:
Zoom, you're so correct! Been wanting a Miller Bobcat welder/generator for some time now. Just hard letting go of $3500, although, I think I just might get to that point soon.
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I Miller would be nice but you can get a generator for a lot less.

Mark.Sibole said:
When power goes out I turn off the main breaker and have a 220 volt cord made up that i can plug in the generator and then plug in the other end to the 220 outlet in the garage for the welder to back feed the entire house.
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That's pretty much what I do. Must emphasize that it's really important to throw the main breaker off on the panel before turning on the generator. If you don't, it backfeeds your generated electricity back out the line, gets stepped up at the transformer and can injure or kill a lineman working to restore the power.

I have several generators ranging from about 1500W up to 225,000W. The latter is a beast so to be honest, I've never run it. It has a turbine engine and burns 11 GPH with no load, 44 GPH at full load.

I find the best size for general use to be about 7500W. It will do most everything except run an electric furnace.
 
Mark, the smaller generator would be a great option; however, I weld quite a bit (don't worry Peanut) on the farm. Currently, I must weld all in my shop. Plan to build all metal corrals, so an engine driven welder is needed. Besides, I think this go round has the wife wanting a generator at the tune of $3500.

Judy, thanks for the info on boosting the battery. We should talk more of this in the future. Yesterday was the first to feed hay to the herd. I've a bales in homemade cover bale rings for the herd bull and heifers. All are doing well. The herd has been grazing stockpiled summer forages. Once covered in the ice and snow, I rolled out some of a bale. They sure seemed to like the hay. My cows are so spoiled.
 
No eyes rolling here, the weather of the world is so screwed up now that it is so unpredictable. Just glad your hydro is back on and try to keep off the roads until they are cleared up. people around here are use to that kind of weather and still cannot drive safe in it.
 
We have been lucky so far that it stayed all snow. Tonight is a real crap shoot with NWS predictng a few more inches of snow capped off with sleet and freezing rain. I won't plow till it is done the rain and sleet. Makes the snow easy to use to remove the ice. After tomorrow it will just be plain COLD for next week with 2 days struggling to get out of the teens. Glad the woodshed is full and will have one of the Amish boys help me move the generator from the barn to the basement. Doc says no lifting even to put it in the skid steer bucket.
 
muleman said:
Doc says no lifting even to put it in the skid steer bucket.
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Advise, Listen to Doc !!!!

Hey brother,
We want you around to help keep things going in the right direction !!!


*** It's cold to us down here. But nothing compared to what ya'll get up there.
Do my best to keep warm.
Told to put on thin socks ( I call them church socks ) first, and then cotton. They called it layering.

They sell wool socks and so called winter socks down here. But don't care what you get or how much you spend. My feet get so cold they get knum and hurt. My hands too. I just don't know what to do other than just tuff it out !!!!

................. jamie
 

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Since my heart troubles started I get cold a lot quicker than I used to. The blood thinners make it hard to get the heat from the furnace inside to the feet and hands. I bought the best gloves I could find and still got cold hands last I went deer hunting. I have tons of warm duds to wear but am seldom out long enough to worry about it. I make dang sure I take the nice warm quilt the wife made me along when I plow snow. I don't want to be stuck and counting on the heater all the time.
 
Muleman, do you have one of those hand warmers that runs off of lighter fluid? bordercollie

edit: [ame]http://www.amazon.com/Deluxe-Electric-Ignite-Pocket-Warmer/dp/B001MTI2E4/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1386535459&sr=8-4&keywords=electronic+hand+warmer[/ame]
 
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