Out-to-Lunch
Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
In cold weather, the propane evaporates first, and the butane is left behind.
You meant the other way around, right?
In cold weather, the propane evaporates first, and the butane is left behind.
You meant the other way around, right?
No.
Say, the tank is at 0F. Propane can still boil at a temperature as low as -44F, so it has no problem evaporating, turning from a liquid into a gas and exiting the tank. Butane stays liquid below 32F, so it stays behind in the tank.
Where I am, cold weather is not a problem. It gets down to below freezing at most 1 or 2 nights a year, and it has not been that cold in 10 years. Summer heat is the problem though, if electricity gets cut.
Enter my DIY solar system. It produces more than 30 kWh today. Production will be higher in the summer. With my battery storage, it's enough to run 1 of the 2 minisplit ACs all 24 hours.
Another potential problem is water. Texas is having a real problem with the water supply right now.
I don't know the risk of the water supply here, but this potential problem is solvable. My 25,000-gal swimming pool comes in handy here. The water is somewhat salty with a lot of minerals, due to the residue from chlorination. If I want to be a thorough prepper, will need to set up a portable RO filter system to get good potable water. I just looked, and it will cost less than a mere $300.
The people I know don't have that large of tanks (1000 gal). If stored it has to be above ground the tank has to be inside a containment container. Most that have generators here are rural people and use their tractors and have fuel on site. Very few have larger then 10KVA (~85Amps) equivalent generator and most equivalent to a 5 or 7 KVA transformer. They don't need to run the whole house and generally wouldn't run it continuously. In rural area it is very common to be out of power and people don't get that excited. Most don't even call it in because they know one of the neighbors most general already has.
Not really sure why you would expect that "given their nature." Wind turbines are utilized in Scandanavia and Canada - they just have to be winterized. Texas utilities determined it would cost too much for a situation that would never happen. Never turned out to be not so long a time. As for solar, it works fine in the winter unless snow builds up too much. In fact once the sky clears, the sun comes out and the temperature drops, solar panels actually produce more electricity! Yes, it's a fact that solar output is inversely related to temperature.
I agree. It was UPS. The Amazon vans come all the way to the house, but the bigger UPS vans may have a tougher time. I think I’m in for an extended period of UPS deliveries at the street. Good thing they text when the stuff is delivered.
Wind turbines also work in the Antarctic where it can drop to -72 with much more than two inches of snow.
https://www.antarctica.gov.au/antar...s-and-operations/renewable-energy/wind-power/
As for solar panels, they are much more efficient in cooler weather than hot weather.
Maybe, coal and NG or even oil?Solar panels not too effective when snow covered though. And turbines useless with no wind. Plans are needed for deal with this lack of persistent power generation.
Now let's not get carried away with this stuff....Drive smaller and slower cars too, darn it!
So glad you have electricity and water back!Here in sunny San Antonio we now have electricity but no water. It’s cold. In the 20’s and snowing. No electricity for 2 days, no water for 3. It’s cold. Our bug-out bag supplies have helped but I am adding a car powered pot and tea pot to it. Also, couple of lithium powered lights. It’s cold and gets dark early. Did I mention it’s cold?
Praying for an early spring.
So many here have it worse. Especially those with very young and older family members. We found ways to have our morning, hot coffee[emoji106]
It was astounding the way those wind mills drank all the water, too.Here in sunny San Antonio we now have electricity but no water. .......
So weird. Central TX sees a snowfall of more than an inch less than once in a decade. We had 5 inches on Monday and have another 3 inches today, and it is still snowing.
Happiness is having power and water...
Maybe, coal and NG or even oil?
Yes but those fuels are plentiful and industries employ millions of people in well paying jobs.
Sounds like a risky scheme.
Here in sunny San Antonio we now have electricity but no water. It’s cold. In the 20’s and snowing. No electricity for 2 days, no water for 3. It’s cold. Our bug-out bag supplies have helped but I am adding a car powered pot and tea pot to it. Also, couple of lithium powered lights. It’s cold and gets dark early. Did I mention it’s cold?
Praying for an early spring.
Come to think of it, diesel engines can run on vegetable oil, which is renewable.
And there are fast growing trees one can plant for firewood.
It's easier if there is more arable land. And people need to live in smaller more energy efficient homes. Drive smaller and slower cars too, darn it!
So, not really out of the ordinary, as long as it’s the last snowfall for the rest of the century.So weird. Central TX sees a snowfall of more than an inch less than once in a decade. We had 5 inches on Monday and have another 3 inches today, and it is still snowing.
+1Happiness is having power and water...