Paging KiloBravo

[16Kobra]

Back-powering with a generator is a nice deal but to do it right, you need to feed the output into a 240 receptacle, not a 120 plug, to get the most power out of her and avoid tripped breakers.

I would be very surprised if even with the best load-balancing switch, you couldn carry the entire load with 8k.

I have my generator backfeeding into the main circuit box, but had an electrician wire it. I shut off the main and the ac unit and it powers the needed items in the house.

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[kilobravo]

Jim: First, thanks for the support.

Second, I do the same thing. I just fabricated a 240v "pigtail" cable to go between the generator output and a 240 receptacle I have in one outbuilding.

But, she won't carry even one of the A/C units now so I gave up.

 

[obspsd]

Threads constantly getting deleted...I can’t find any to post on.

Oh wait, I just did.

 

[kilobravo]

So you all have an idea of the work in store for yours truly (and helpers, I hope.) Here's a shot of the section of privacy fence that my contractor and I built in '07. That last storm, Harvey, got two other sections but this was the largest piece so far.

​

This obviously caused a problem for our pups. One is a seasoned pro and PROBABLY wouldn't take off but the new guy would be gone in a heartbeat if left unattended. I caught him TRYING to sneak away walking down atop the fence but I coaxed him back.

But after today, I no longer have to worry about that at least.

Of course, now the big chore will be first to remove ALL that heavy pine (after cutting it up into manageable pieces,) getting a "can" to put them in and hauled away...and finally, replace that old fence with something that will last and that is going to require some investigating.

Thanks for all the kind thoughts, folks, they are much appreciated.

 

[kilobravo]

My wife keeps our current house in the dark,

(You guys are confusing me with the non-usual avatars!)

Jim: My wife does perzactly the same thing..drives the dogs and I bonkers. :-)

 

[ThreeFiveO]

Glad you’re ok KB. Unfortunately the arsenic used to treat pine before 2004 has been replaced with a milder formula which is more copper based. A lot of ground contact treated pine is only seeing a 6-8 year life span as a result. There are speciality mills out there that will still treat it the old way known as CCA. The new way is ACQ. There is a CCA mill in Mississippi that my supplier still buys from. When you rebuild see if you can get CCA for the posts at a minimum. Good luck and be safe.

 

[AMBJR]

So you all have an idea of the work in store for yours truly (and helpers, I hope.) Here's a shot of the section of privacy fence that my contractor and I built in '07. That last storm, Harvey, got two other sections but this was the largest piece so far.

​

This obviously caused a problem for our pups. One is a seasoned pro and PROBABLY wouldn't take off but the new guy would be gone in a heartbeat if left unattended. I caught him TRYING to sneak away walking down atop the fence but I coaxed him back.

But after today, I no longer have to worry about that at least.

Of course, now the big chore will be first to remove ALL that heavy pine (after cutting it up into manageable pieces,) getting a "can" to put them in and hauled away...and finally, replace that old fence with something that will last and that is going to require some investigating.

Thanks for all the kind thoughts, folks, they are much appreciated.

You need to a chain-link fence or something with holes in it; so the wind can get through!!!

 

[kilobravo]

Allen: Unfortunately, chain link wouldn't make my neighborhood association happy and I'd be in court in the blink of an eye.

But I THOUGHT I had the wind covered as those sections were staggerboard on both sides with plenty of airflow. Problem was, the posts were the weak point..should have used galvanized beams.

In the process of investigating alternatives..preferably in stone of some sort to say FU to the weather down here.

 

[16Kobra]

So you all have an idea of the work in store for yours truly (and helpers, I hope.) Here's a shot of the section of privacy fence that my contractor and I built in '07. That last storm, Harvey, got two other sections but this was the largest piece so far.

​

This obviously caused a problem for our pups. One is a seasoned pro and PROBABLY wouldn't take off but the new guy would be gone in a heartbeat if left unattended. I caught him TRYING to sneak away walking down atop the fence but I coaxed him back.

But after today, I no longer have to worry about that at least.







Of course, now the big chore will be first to remove ALL that heavy pine (after cutting it up into manageable pieces,) getting a "can" to put them in and hauled away...and finally, replace that old fence with something that will last and that is going to require some investigating.

Thanks for all the kind thoughts, folks, they are much appreciated.

Question: Did the post have concrete on the bottom?

The way they all broke I am guessing they were, the reason I ask, I have been told by many fence guys here in Fl. that most don't "cement" the poles in anymore. Reason: the rain collects on top of the concrete and rots the wood pole, Thus your breakage as shown in your picture.

All my fence is "non-cemented" and have held up to various storms for about 15 yrs.

 

[kilobravo]

Jim: In all likelihood, the advice you received is sound and yes, every post was in concrete. Had we not used it though, the fence would have looked like a snake from above and both my contractor and I are far too OCD to have THAT! <grin>

However, the regular irrigation down here probably played a role as well. And, we made the fence too top heavy by trying to make it attractive.

No more pine for this fella.

 

[Tomster]

My vinyl posts bent over and sheared during hurricane Mathew. Other than using an I beam, its hard to stand up to hurricane force winds.

 

[16Kobra]

Jim: In all likelihood, the advice you received is sound and yes, every post was in concrete. Had we not used it though, the fence would have looked like a snake from above and both my contractor and I are far too OCD to have THAT! <grin>

However, the regular irrigation down here probably played a role as well. And, we made the fence too top heavy by trying to make it attractive.

No more pine for this fella.

The irrigation most certainly attributed to the demise of the fence.

 

[kilobravo]

Jim: I've spent YEARS "tweaking" irrigation heads so they don't "irrigate" the fence. It's doable but I swear a little bastid comes around once a month and twists them all back!

 

[marklboris]

I have been away from this forum for a little over a week hiking with friends and trying to stay away from my portable devices.

I just read this entire thread. KB, glad to see you are ok and that is quite a bit of fencing that fell over. Too bad your HA won't allow some type of a wire fence because you would never have to worry about it ever again.

You guys were all talking about generators and it seems like those are popular in your area. Here in CA back up batteries are very popular as they are quiet and don't use gas or propane to power them. I have two Tesla PowerWalls (13.5 kWh of usable power each) that not only power my home when we loose electricity but I also have them run weekdays between 4-9 pm when we get charged a higher rate. I never have to pay for the peak rates anymore and the solar charges the batteries. It is completely seamless when the batteries kick in and shut down daily. Between the solar and the batteries, I rarely have a power utility bill (it is usually a credit) and if I do get one, it is not over $15. Up until last year there was a 30% tax credit if you had batteries installed now it is 26%.

 

[16Kobra]

I have been away from this forum for a little over a week hiking with friends and trying to stay away from my portable devices.

I just read this entire thread. KB, glad to see you are ok and that is quite a bit of fencing that fell over. Too bad your HA won't allow some type of a wire fence because you would never have to worry about it ever again.

You guys were all talking about generators and it seems like those are popular in your area. Here in CA back up batteries are very popular as they are quiet and don't use gas or propane to power them. I have two Tesla PowerWalls (13.5 kWh of usable power each) that not only power my home when we loose electricity but I also have them run weekdays between 4-9 pm when we get charged a higher rate. I never have to pay for the peak rates anymore and the solar charges the batteries. It is completely seamless when the batteries kick in and shut down daily. Between the solar and the batteries, I rarely have a power utility bill (it is usually a credit) and if I do get one, it is not over $15. Up until last year there was a 30% tax credit if you had batteries installed now it is 26%.

@marklboris I have been considering that option when we build the next house, but the upfront cost scares me a bit.

I understand you are not paying the power company much, but instead you are paying for the investment to solar (Tesla) for the product. I guess that is my issue, pay Tesla (or whomever makes the panels you use) or just pay the normal electric bill from the provider.

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