Period Power Cuts

[Flyfisher]

I've seen various news reports in recent years about how the 'safety margin' between generating capacity and electricity demand has been reduced, making power cuts more likely in future and I'm sure I'm not alone in not giving such news much significance as long as the lights remain on.

But when the power companies start asking what help you may need during power cuts, it makes me think such things might be closer than we expect and that perhaps it's only the very mild winter that has saved us so far . . .

We are UK Power Networks. We keep the lights on in your area regardless of your chosen energy supplier (the company that you pay your electricity bills to). We own and maintain the electricity lines and cables in London, the East and South East of England.

We understand that power cuts can be worrying.
Do you need extra support during a power cut?

Our services are free to customers who need support.

Power cuts don’t happen very often but if the electricity network is damaged or develops a fault it’s our job to get your power back on. Our engineers will work around the clock 24/7 to restore your power as quickly and as safely as possible.

If you live in London, the East or South East of England, then being on our Priority Services Register will ensure you will receive extra support if you experience a power cut.



. . . and so on. I'm assuming I'm not the only PPUKer who has received such emails?

Better start stockpiling candles for that authentic period ambience.

 

[skier-hughes]

It's for vulnerable people. Some who are being cared for at home may have monitoring equipment, such as pressure mats, telephone etc. These work of mains and are connected to a call centre, who will, if necessary send out a neighbour or even emergency services.
If there is a list of these people held by the power companies, they will work quickest to ensure they are protected, such as delivering a generator if a prolonged period is foreseen.

It's not to do with expecting a shortage of power to keep us going

 

[Flyfisher]

I'm not entirely sure how to interpret that smiley, but if it were mine it would be more like this :wink:

 

[Penners]

I'm assuming I'm not the only PPUKer who has received such emails?

Better start stockpiling candles for that authentic period ambience.

No, you're not alone, FF - we've had it too. I assumed that this meant we were already on an official list of the old and decrepit, but I'm considerably heartened that the email has also been sent to a youth such as yourself.

We do indeed have a modest stock of candles, upon which we ought to rely for light, cooking, heat, etc. But I'm ashamed to admit that we also have a small standby generator. So much for period authenticity...

 

[Flyfisher]

:lol: :lol: :lol:

 

[Feltwell]

We do indeed have a modest stock of candles, upon which we ought to rely for light, cooking, heat, etc. But I'm ashamed to admit that we also have a small standby generator. So much for period authenticity...

How do you connect such a beast to the house? Or is more a case of "we'll run a 13amp extension lead in from it and power a few plug-in essentials?"

We're lucky I guess in that we can retreat to our period motorhome if need be, it's designed for comfortable living without mains hook up - 2 large batteries that will run everything for around 3 days with no charge if need be, a big solar panel on the roof that keeps them topped up if it's sunny, or just take it for a drive and the engine charges them. Fridge, cooker and heating can run off bottled gas. Most importantly for my daughter, I've fitted USB sockets that run off the 12v system, so she can still charge her phone :roll:

Only problem I can forsee with a generator is will it start when required? I had to drag my mower out of hibernation at the weekend (mowing the lawn in January?? Yep! :? It's been that mild). Would the mower start, would it hell! Eventually resorted to the old trick of taking the plug out and giving it a good warm with a blowtorch, popped it back in and away it went. Aided no doubt by the liberal amount of swearing and threats that had preceded that, as I exhausted myself with the recoil starter!

 

[88v8]

Not received that email.
We have never yet experienced a cut long enough to imperil the freezer contents, but I did buy a UPS for the computer to prevent crashes during the frequent switching dropouts.
Unfortunately it seems the UPS now needs a new battery as it failed to bridge properly when the electrician switched the power off last week.
The more gadgets one has, the more to go wrong.

Ivor

 

[Penners]

How do you connect such a beast to the house? Or is more a case of "we'll run a 13amp extension lead in from it and power a few plug-in essentials?"

It is a case of exactly that, Feltwell. We can boil a kettle or heat a can of baked beans on the woodburner, so the genny is just a small one to run a few light bulbs. Sadly its waveform is too dirty to run TVs and computers, so if a power cut lasts more than a few hours I shall definitely start to display serious withdrawal symptoms.

 

[Toby Newell]

I am old enough (just) *straight toothed smile emoticon not available on the right* to remember powercuts from the 1970's fondly. As I recall they even arranged one specifically on halloween, which was nice. I am sure they wouldn't be so much fun now, even for children. Sign of the times...

 

[plasticpigeon]

There was a power cut about 5 years ago where I live. I lived on my own in a flat then. A few of us neighbours got together and played scrabble by candlelight, and boiled water for tea in a pan on the stove. We all said it was so much fun we should do it again. We never did.

 

[mims&pip]

We've not received that email either.

The day we viewed our last house for the first time (April 2011) there was a power cut in the village. It was also raining torrentially. We viewed the house in semi darkness as certain parts had/has tiny windows letting in little natural daylight. As it happened because the vendor had begun to restore the place but ill health forced him to cease, some rooms had no electric lighting anyway, so when we purchased and moved in we survived with lamps in many of the rooms - which is my preferred choice During the three years, seven months we were there we had several power cuts (neighbours informed us shortly after moving in that they were a regular occurrence) and often cooked or boiled kettles on top of the huge woodburner - fortunately we also keep vast quantities of candles.........we thought it was great fun!

Mims x

 

[Zebra]

I misread the title of this thread as Period Power Cats. That I would have liked to see.

 

[Feltwell]

I am old enough (just) *straight toothed smile emoticon not available on the right* to remember powercuts from the 1970's fondly.

Same here! Although where we lived, not only did we have the power cuts as the result of the 1970's industrial unrest, we also had them when the cows in the field next door used to lean too heavily against the power poles whilst scratching themselves, pushing the poles over!

I do remember having quite a few dinners made on our old camping stove, then eating them by the light of an old Tilly lamp.

 

[88v8]

In the 70s I worked in the CU tower in Leadenhall Street, then a new and hi-tech office. The many power cuts interfered with compiling the year end figures so we were issued with candles. After a day or two someone, presumably the Fire Officer, scuppered that, but it was quite fun while it lasted.

Ivor

 

[Penners]

The many power cuts interfered with compiling the year end figures so we were issued with candles.

I'm trying the visualise this situation... did you count the candles or did the candles power the adding machines?

 

[Feltwell]

did you count the candles?

4 seems a popular number for candles, for some odd reason.

 

[88v8]

The many power cuts interfered with compiling the year end figures so we were issued with candles.

I'm trying the visualise this situation... did you count the candles or did the candles power the adding machines?

I do wish I'd taken a picture, but at the time I was using a prewar Zeiss with a powder flashgun and I only had outdoor powder. As some of you may know, outdoor powder goes with quite a zing but emits much smoke.
Not that the smoke alarms would have been working. Unlike the staff beavering away at their desks full of paper with the Company candle in a saucer from the canteen.
At the time I was working on the 3rd floor, not so easy for those on the 18th where I later worked, what with no lifts n'all.

The adding machines, we didn't have, they were a perquisite of the Accounts dept, we had calculating machines, d'ye recall, one set up the numbers and then turned the handle forwards to multiply or backwards to divide. Ding ding ding !

Ivor

 

[Penners]

4 seems a popular number for candles, for some odd reason.

Whoever designed those candles* deserves the Nobel Prize in Visual Humour, in my opinion. I wish I'd thought of it!

Ronnie Barker must be giggling in his grave.


* Was it you, Feltwell?

 

[Feltwell]

* Was it you, Feltwell?

With a UPVC window clearly visible in the background, I think not! :wink:

No, merely a photo that I saw recently that appealed to my sense of humour, I can take no credit for them . Whoever made them did a lovely job, very nicely crafted, it would be a shame to ever burn them!

 

[Penners]

At first I thought they were real candles cunningly grafted on to the fork 'andles. But if you look closely at the photo, I think you'll find that they're entirely made of the fork 'andle wood, with the candle wicks attached to the top.

A great idea, though!