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Ice, power, and metrics
Feb. 24th, 2023 05:31 pmAs previously mentioned a few times, I live in Ann Arbor, and so was right in the worst band of Wednesday’s epic ice storm. Which wasn’t a storm so much as ten hours of steady, freezing rain that coated everything in a quarter inch (minimum) of ice. It was extremely pretty, and it absolutely catastrophic to the power infrastructure. Trees broke under the weight, often taking power lines, roofs, and cars with them. Power lines themselves gave out, even with the insulation they get this far north. It looked like a lightning storm, as things variously melted and exploded. Over 500,000 people lost power Wednesday night, and 460,000 are still without. Including me.
Fortunately, I’ve been on this ride before, in the ice storm of 97 (pretty sure it was 97). We were down for three days, that time, and made it through by virtue of burning every candle we owned. So I stocked up, when I moved back to Michigan. I have also learned that, as a bus rider, I’d better always have a power bank and assorted cords on my person in case of delays or having to call a Lyft at the end of the day, so I also have three 10,000 mAh banks, and incidentally a K-TOR pedal generator tucked away in the closet.
Pursuant to this, I report the following:
12 pillar candles and 16 tea-lights will keep 950 square feet between 60 and 70 degrees, even when the temps hit 18 last night. (And also light the space decently; recommend 4 tea-lights per bathroom.)
Bolsius emergency candles are worth the money; we’re on hour 34 of candles rated for 43 hours, and I judge there’s still 12 hours in them. (I ordered another set of those asap.)
A decently insulated hot water heater will keep water heated for 10-20 hours, averaging “quite tepid” at 15 hours in a 65-degree apartment (so take those showers early).
Often, gas is still flowing, since those switches are usually manual, so a gas stovetop may be light-able by hand. (It’s soup and fry-up time, here.)
A tablet being used constantly for work/music/email/frustrated blogging lasts about 12 hours on a single full charge.
A 10,000 mAh power bank will charge a phone once to full, and a tablet once to 75%.
It takes about three hours, total, of pedaling on the K-TOR to re-charge a 10,000 mAh power bank. (Ow, my knees.)
It takes about four hours plugged in to a car that’s idling. (Yay for having a full gas tank.)
And everything feels much less dreadful when the sun comes out, plus it helps warm things up. Still not looking forward to cleaning out my fridge, but if it really does take three days again, this time, I should make it.
Fortunately, I’ve been on this ride before, in the ice storm of 97 (pretty sure it was 97). We were down for three days, that time, and made it through by virtue of burning every candle we owned. So I stocked up, when I moved back to Michigan. I have also learned that, as a bus rider, I’d better always have a power bank and assorted cords on my person in case of delays or having to call a Lyft at the end of the day, so I also have three 10,000 mAh banks, and incidentally a K-TOR pedal generator tucked away in the closet.
Pursuant to this, I report the following:
12 pillar candles and 16 tea-lights will keep 950 square feet between 60 and 70 degrees, even when the temps hit 18 last night. (And also light the space decently; recommend 4 tea-lights per bathroom.)
Bolsius emergency candles are worth the money; we’re on hour 34 of candles rated for 43 hours, and I judge there’s still 12 hours in them. (I ordered another set of those asap.)
A decently insulated hot water heater will keep water heated for 10-20 hours, averaging “quite tepid” at 15 hours in a 65-degree apartment (so take those showers early).
Often, gas is still flowing, since those switches are usually manual, so a gas stovetop may be light-able by hand. (It’s soup and fry-up time, here.)
A tablet being used constantly for work/music/email/frustrated blogging lasts about 12 hours on a single full charge.
A 10,000 mAh power bank will charge a phone once to full, and a tablet once to 75%.
It takes about three hours, total, of pedaling on the K-TOR to re-charge a 10,000 mAh power bank. (Ow, my knees.)
It takes about four hours plugged in to a car that’s idling. (Yay for having a full gas tank.)
And everything feels much less dreadful when the sun comes out, plus it helps warm things up. Still not looking forward to cleaning out my fridge, but if it really does take three days again, this time, I should make it.
