Originally posted at "Prius_Technical_Stuff," it applies to any hybrid:
We had over 226 tornadoes in Dixie and many of them sliced up the TVA transmission lines in Alabama:
Alabama tornado outbreak visuals: jaw-dropping radar and satellite imagery - Capital Weather Gang - The Washington Post
http://crisislanding.appspot.com/?cr...rnadoes_4_2011
The Tennessee River flows east to west and on its banks are the TVA power plants and hydro dams. The big cities are Huntsville, Decatur, Guntersville, Florence, and Scottsboro but the tornadoes sliced up the high voltage power lines plunging the cities, half a million people, into darkness. I live in Huntsville Alabama and here is my report.
At ~5:20 PM, Wednesday afternoon, all power was lost in my building. Under the emergency lights, I left and noticed 'no one else is here.' Regardless, I got in my 2003 Prius and drove home taking a route that avoided main routes. Every light was out so when I got home, backed my 2003 Prius into the carport and ran the contractor cord into the house:
Prius - UPS Project
Data Log:
Wed, Apr 27, 2011, 5:49 PM
Prius started with parking brake set to suppress daylight running lights. Indicated mileage:
50.3 MPG, 10.2 miles: 0.203 gallons (indicated)
0.1915 (tire size adjusted)
Thu, Apr 28, 2011, 2:30 AM
Shutdown for night after running the gas furnace to warm-up the house.
Thu, Apr 28, 2011, 7:21 AM
Restarted 03 Prius.
Fri, Apr 29, 2011
Offered and ran another extension cable to neighbor so they would have lights and TV. They offered a one gallon of gas. Coordinated pulling their plug at 10:30 PM so we could run the gas heater to warm up the house.
Sat, Apr 30, 2011
Neighbor appreciated power, having a few lights and a 7" TV, they were able to plan a trip to Kentucky.
We have a '93, Coachman RV with a full, 80 gallon tank. However, I could not noddle a hose through the filler pipe to the tank and I started thinking about how to tap it. There are two, 20 year old, flexible couplings (I doubt they are flexible now!). I went back into the house to look for a power drill and screwdriver bit and heard that Decatur had power and was pumping gas.
Found another spare gallon in car port and then drove to Decatur in wife's 2010 Prius to fill up her car and a five gallon can for the 03 Prius. Ran the house furnace that night to fight off the chill for the wife.
Sun, May 1, 2011
Drove to Decatur for another five gallons as the news reports were that we might not see power until Tuesday.
Sun, May 1, 2011, 11:34 PM - power restored
1.3 MPG, 10.2 miles: 7.847 gallons (indicated)
1.2 MPG, 10.2 miles: 8.500 gallons (indicated if closer to 1.2 MPG)
There is no need to adjust for tire size as it never moved. So the total:
112 hours, 4 days and 6 hours
7.655 - 8.308 gallons burned
~2 gallons per day, 0.07-0.075 gallons per hour
LESSONS LEARNED
I. gas generators
There were radio news reports of generators for sale, often by I-65 exits or hardware stores in the early powered areas over in Decatur. This was followed by public health and safety warnings:
1) carbon monoxide poisonings - several seen at the local hospital. The hybrid catalytic converter all but eliminates the carbon monoxide risk.
2) refueling fire risks - the small tank requires frequent attention and there were several burn cases. Gasoline spill fires are a real risk.
3) noise - you hear the other generators across the street and 3-4 houses down. But our hybrid mufflers make them all but undetectable beyond the property line.
II. testing of all loads
We bought a 42" plasma TV in September but I didn't test it. During the outage, it started running for 1-4 hours and then it would shut itself off. I suspect a 'self-healing fuse' combined with higher than expected current from the relatively lower voltage, modified sine-wave inverter. Regardless, it is under warranty and I'll take it to the shop on Tuesday.
Saturday I bought a 7" inch, portable TV from Radio Shack but my wife could not make out the audio. Also, it really is a personal TV, not an easily viewable unit. I returned in on Sunday only to pay a 15% restocking fee for a $130 part.
On Monday I bought a 27", Samsung, LCD TV to replace the old analog, bedroom unit. We're watching it tonight and once the plasma screen is back, I'll run an endurance test on the inverter while it is in the 30 day, return period.
III. hot water
I'm looking for a 'cheap', gas water heater to put in the car port near where the car is parked. I'll get a flexible, exhaust hose, like the ones used in garages and wrap it in insulation. On the next power outage (we are averaging one use per year,) I'll route the exhaust gas through the heater and use an outside faucet for cold water and an insulated water hose into the kitchen.
IV. fix the roof before the storm
The time to setup an emergency power system is when it is nice outside. Trying to jury rig something during the emergency is expensive, dangerous, and likely to not work.
The Coachman will have an easy and safe to operate fuel tank tap. It will use a brushless, fuel pump, separate from the vehicle fuel system. I know it is tempting to put in a valve but I don't want to drive down the road and discover a leaking valve. It will be a 'sparkless' pump setup with a return-to-off, key switch.
Comments? Suggestions?
Bob Wilson