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William Foster
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rca21978 said:

I spent some time walking around my neighborhood today. I'm absolutely amazed by the number of large trees downed in the neighborhood. Two houses had trees fall on the roof - fairly significant damage. SEVERAL other houses had trees fall in the yard, sometimes near but not on the house.

We must have been really lucky. No downed trees - just a lot of leaves and branches. And the pool was full of debris.

Did you see a lot of downed trees in your neighborhood or is mine atypical?
Not many here. One of the good things about living in non-mature suburban neighborhoods...Bunch of tiny trees. That being said, with one oak tree planted within 15 ft of each house in our neighborhood by the idiot developers, not sure I will want to be here in 10-15 years. That is going to be a disaster someday.

I have seen pics from 77079 and 77024 showing lots of downed trees. There are tons of 60+ ft old trees back there. I was honestly not expecting to see many fallen trees in this storm, given the May 16 storm that brought down so many. I was wrong.
AgLiving06
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David_Puddy said:

Hopefully you knew my post was tongue in cheek as a laugh to all of those saying that people shouldn't be complaining.

I mean even for Derecho, we at least had an estimated date of expected power restoration, which was different than the freeze where we could see where the outages were and what areas were getting fixed and when. Something like that would be more helpful than seeing this on their "outage tracker"


I knew! Just putting some sarcasm back.

AgLiving06
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aTm2004 said:

AgLiving06 said:

David_Puddy said:

Centerpoint is perfectly fine and are continuing to handle this with ease! Quit complaining and just be more prepared!!!


I'm coming up on 36 hours on my generator in a house cooling to 68 (reducing the stop/starts on the AC).
That's not a bad idea. I've always bumped mine up to run less, but I'm going to cool the damn thing down and just let them run. I have a 5 ton and 2.5 ton and my 20kw runs both but does surge when they come on. Once they're on, it runs normally. Outside of a fridge and freezer, a couple fans, and the kid's TV, that's pretty much all it's running. Having full LEDs throughout helps as well.

Here's what I do...I push it down to 68. When it hits that and turns off, I then bump it back up to like 72-74...let it slowly drift back up until it kicks on again. Then bump it back down.
Dr. Doctor
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AG
I'm in Orlando, but my house is in the back of Sandcreek.

Hoping the power comes back on soon so i don't come back to a freezer and fridge spoiling.

~egon
Rustys-Beef-o-Reeno
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AG
Can you send me your set up
Jugstore Cowboy
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Hey since you close to me and have a generator, mind if I crash tonight?

It's not really the AC I'm worried about, just wondering if you have any bourbon.
tjack16
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Just got an email saying power will be restored between 10 PM Wednesday and 10 PM Friday
n_touch
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tjack16 said:

Just got an email saying power will be restored between 10 PM Wednesday and 10 PM Friday
and I thought the cable company was bad
David_Puddy
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AG
tjack16 said:

Just got an email saying power will be restored between 10 PM Wednesday and 10 PM Friday

Yikes......what a time window
Ferris Wheel Allstar
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AG
I think I have power in 77008
justnobody79
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Al Bula said:

jh0400 said:

There was a CP truck in Westbury 5 earlier doing a survey of the area. One of the guys told us that they probably wouldn't start the actual work until tomorrow due to a lack of crews to do the work.
BuT tHe LiNeMaN aRe RoLlInG dOwN iNtErStAtE 10 fRoM eAsT aNd WeSt
well, they are. the surveyors generally have to go out first and assess what is what and if it is safe to begin work. they won't begin if there are trees in the way or if a line from the pole to your house is yanked out of your box outside, etc. the linemen don't just show up and go house to house looking for work to do.
drmwvr
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AG
Whereabouts?
agz win
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David_Puddy said:

tjack16 said:

Just got an email saying power will be restored between 10 PM Wednesday and 10 PM Friday

Yikes......what a time window


Wish I had a time window. Mine says out…indefinitely…until they further investigate.
Jugstore Cowboy
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AG
Friend on Sanford said his power just came back on.
David_Puddy
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Well I've gotten 0 emails from Centerpoint thus far, so y'all are both ahead of me.
Ryan the Temp
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Ferris Wheel Allstar said:

I think I have power in 77008
I'm jealous.
Ferris Wheel Allstar
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AG
David_Puddy said:

Ag_07 said:

We all knew how incompetent they were based the last go round not but a month ago and you still thought you could depend on them?




Again all I'm asking for is just some slight improvement after each of these events. Instead, we get this….






https://www.instagram.com/p/C9NnSvSyG-5/?igsh=MTVhcG0xc3IxYmJrYw==
AgLiving06
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Jugstore Cowboy said:

Friend on Sanford said his power just came back on.

I'm on the other side of Belfort but maybe that means they are working my way!
BillYeoman
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Dan Patrick just said 16,000 peopled called 911 yesterday to inform them their power was out.
Cromagnum
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AG
That's probably more to do with an inventive attempt to keep the generator dry than THD.
gougler08
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BSD said:

gougler08 said:

I can confirm that IAH is a giant cluster**** just trying to get in, can't wait to see how much fun security is


The line to get into C was all the way down the entrance ramp at about 8:30am. I had to go back up and search thru about 1500 pieces of luggage at baggage claim to find my bag when I saw it.
Got through D super easy, but no Wifi at the terminal/lounge and limited cell service, people everywhere
Captain Winky
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The only emails I get from Centerpoint are trying to get me to sign up for insurance on my gas lines.
Texaggie7nine
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Captain Winky said:

The only emails I get from Centerpoint are trying to get me to sign up for insurance on my gas lines.
I get letters from them once a month trying to sell me on that.
7nine
tjack16
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AG


Hey they finally opened the roof at NRG.
AgLA06
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AgLiving06 said:

There needs to be some significant changes in leadership at CenterPoint. They are clearly showing they have no idea how to be a utility provider for a big city like Houston.

I can remember after Ike when they talked about how they had done all these upgrades to the grid to make repair so much faster. Now we are just hoping to get power back in that same timeframe.

We've allowed them to normalize the idea that getting power back in 7-10 days is acceptable and that needs to stop.

Why we allow this kind of thing to happen is beyond me.


Same people crying now will be the same ones crying if they ever decide to do all the things demanded.
jh0400
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Jugstore Cowboy said:

Friend on Sanford said his power just came back on.


East of Hilcroft?
Guitarsoup
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tjack16 said:



Hey they finally opened the roof at NRG.


God wanted it open the whole time
Poot
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Bridgeland by Pope just powered up… fingers crossed that it sticks.

I had literally just cut the box open on a newly purchased portable AC unit. Totally worth it.
Teddy Perkins
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AG
Anyone in 77096 with power? Seeing some posts on Reddit that some have power.
SchizoAg
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ChemAg15 said:

htxag09 said:

But not an inverter. Not sure how much the cleaner power supply really matters. But worth considering.


Can anyone speak to whether it's necessary to buy an inverter generator rather than a conventional? Am I going to fry my TV and appliances if I run them on dirty power for 300 hours. TIA
The advantage of an inverter generator is that it saves fuel, because it only runs the engine as fast as necessary for the power you're using.

For example, if you have an A/C or a fridge, the compressor will cycle on and off as necessary to maintain the desired temperature. With a conventional generator, it has to generate enough power for that worst case (compressor on) and just waste the extra power when the compressor is off. An inverter generator can slow down its power generation when the compressor is off and save that fuel.

Another feature of SOME inverter generators is a "cleaner" (more sinusoidal) power signal, which can be easier on some sensitive electronics if they have a cheap power supply without enough filtering. I think a happy medium is to just get a cheaper inverter generator and plug your computer, etc. in through a surge suppressor or a UPS if you're worried about that.
DDub74
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I have a new in the box generator from Costco that I bought on Friday. We were fortunate and only lost power for about an hour, so never used it.

Firman WHO3242
Duel Fuel (Gas and Propane)
4000/3200 on Gas
3750/3000 on Propane

I can return it tomorrow to Costco but would rather help out an Aggie that needs one.

$799 plus tax is what I paid. Will take same. Can deliver if within 30 minutes or less.

Please DM me if interested.
Jugstore Cowboy
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jh0400 said:

Jugstore Cowboy said:

Friend on Sanford said his power just came back on.


East of Hilcroft?


Yes. Between Mullins and Renwicj/Atwell. Still dark on my block.
Sea Speed
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AG
The AC at my rental is not working properly so I offered to recharge it for the time being and I was told that I'm not licensed so they don't want me messing with the refrigerant. Ok, well enjoy the summer heat. In case you had not noticed a hurricane blew through yesterday and the city is in chaos.

jenn96
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SchizoAg said:

ChemAg15 said:

htxag09 said:

But not an inverter. Not sure how much the cleaner power supply really matters. But worth considering.


Can anyone speak to whether it's necessary to buy an inverter generator rather than a conventional? Am I going to fry my TV and appliances if I run them on dirty power for 300 hours. TIA
The advantage of an inverter generator is that it saves fuel, because it only runs the engine as fast as necessary for the power you're using. If you have an A/C or a fridge, the compressor will cycle on and off as necessary to maintain the desired temperature. With a conventional generator, it has to generate enough power for that worst case (compressor on) and just waste the extra power when the compressor is off.

Another feature of SOME inverter generators is a "cleaner" (more sinusoidal) power signal, which can be easier on some sensitive electronics if they have a cheap power supply without enough filtering. I think a happy medium is to just get a cheaper inverter generator and plug your computer, etc. in through a surge suppressor or a UPS if you're worried about that.

Would adding a whole home surge protector do the same thing if I'm using a generator?
AgLiving06
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Rustys-Beef-o-Reeno said:

Can you send me your set up

Generator:

I have this generator:
https://www.duromaxpower.com/collections/generators/products/duromax-xp13000hxt-13000-watt-500cc-tri-fuel-gas-propane-natural-gas-portable-generator-with-co-alert?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAAR2AQL_nBcgllqQ8m0tkPp9r6mCbNDAYltG4iZ9ten83IVjuhda7NJxp8iM_aem_Hr427YbCVA-HLbXvhNKBWw

Others have this:

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Champion-Power-Equipment-15-000-12-000-Watt-Electric-Start-Gasoline-Propane-and-Natural-Gas-Tri-Fuel-Portable-Generator-CO-Shield-NG-LPG-Hoses-201161/325472002?irgwc=1&cm_mmc=afl-ir-78091-456723-&clickid=Uiqw-L1nVxyOR-mwUx0Mo3cjUkC05ZwuPWIFVo0

Spark plugs:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00KMPBSFO/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

These are the preferred spark plugs. Most generators have moved to this one because the old ones didn't always fire on Natural Gas. I just changed to these an my generator fires up on the first push.

Natural Gas Hose:

https://ab3power.com/natural-gas-hose-with-quick-disconnect-kit/

Hose Size: 3/4 inch unless you need 100feet and then consider 1 inch
Hose Length: estimate from meter to where you will put generator

Generator Hose to interlock:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08RG5RF6K/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&th=1

Need to measure from generator position to interlock (or where you plan to have the interlock).

GenTent (nice to have, but not necessary)

https://www.gentent.com/gentent-universal-kit/

Plumber:
1. Once you get hoses, plumber can add the new nat gas connection and install quick connect that comes with hoses
2. Tony's Plumbing (They should be able to come to your house and I highly recommend calling them to get it done right the first time) edit: This plumber services most of the Houston area. If you are outside of that, they may not come, but may be able to recommend someone closer to you.
a. 832-890-8449
b. https://tonysplumbingtx.com/?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAAR2tgSy_rfO_8YPmqcXWkxAWPwU-6WAiZQcVdc9C2LwcWX436TiXNa_5NXw_aem_Z4A2NQ0kifnoCIPY-XlbxA
c. They charge roughly $200 and takes about 30 minutes. They do a lot of these each day

Electrician
1. Ask them to install a 50amp interlock near panel.
2. Good idea to get a whole home surge protector in the panel as well.
3. You can have him add conduit to move the interlock to a better position. I had them move mine around a window which helped me get a shorter hose to the generator

AC Company
1. Make sure you have a hard or soft start on AC. This lowers the energy needed to start the compressor.
a. Hard start is older tech. Cheap to install and many AC's have them standard now.
b. Soft start is new. More expensive, but "better." Some AC's seem to have some issues with them, but many love them.
- Many people have been moving to this soft start and have liked it: https://www.microair.net/products/easystart-flex-home-ac-soft-starter



Other things:
1. You could consider buying some propane tanks (recommendation is 40lb tanks) to have alternative fuels available.
2. Gasoline as emergency backup due to risk of fouling the carb if it's not cleared out.
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