Not again

[Buckman]

No wind and no sun equates to no power. Past half and hour we have been without power. I was just about to step into the shower when it all shut down so a very lucky escape there. The last power break was between four and six hours, but hoping that this one will be resolved quickly.

 

[Mel]

I don’t understand, sorry. Are you saying that you have had a power cut because the supplier had run out of renewable energy?
Our last power cut was because some workmen had damaged a cable.
Mel

 

[GUMPY]

What's a power cut?
Apart from a warning beep from the inverter I wouldn't notice for a few hours.

 

[Buckman]

I don’t understand, sorry. Are you saying that you have had a power cut because the supplier had run out of renewable energy?
Our last power cut was because some workmen had damaged a cable.
Mel

I never said anything about renewable energy? It was a feeble attempt at some humour.

 

[Dustydog]

I never said anything about renewable energy? It was a feeble attempt at some humour.

That’s the problem having a shower at 2.00 am when it’s dark and a still night🤪

 

[otherclive]

Cold showers are said to be invigorating 😂

 

[Buckman]

Still no power, but it is Monday 13th Oct. Also found out that our back up UPS only worked for an hour before going dead when ti is supposed to last at least 12 hours. I guess that is what you get for buying a Chinese cheapy!

 

[otherclive]

Still no power, but it is Monday 13th Oct. Also found out that our back up UPS only worked for an hour before going dead when ti is supposed to last at least 12 hours. I guess that is what you get for buying a Chinese cheapy!

At least your mobile signal is okay, ours is rubbish, so no power no mobile unless I walk to top of the road.

 

[Buckman]

At least your mobile signal is okay, ours is rubbish, so no power no mobile unless I walk to top of the road.

You kidding? My phone is outside in the conservatory and as high up as possible. I have one bar so anything takes forever to download.

The power required for the Internet and phone is probably less than 20 watts, but need a UPS that will keep things going for at least 8 hours. I know I can expect to pay about +£100 for a reasonably decent UPS, but with our medical issues it is needed as no phone line. Generally our power breaks average about 4 hours with sometimes only an hour and then again as long as 8 or more hours.

We do still have our 25watt Tv from the caravan, but obviously between that and the router they will consumer 35-40watts.

 

[otherclive]

You kidding? My phone is outside in the conservatory and as high up as possible. I have one bar so anything takes forever to download.

The power required for the Internet and phone is probably less than 20 watts, but need a UPS that will keep things going for at least 8 hours. I know I can expect to pay about +£100 for a reasonably decent UPS, but with our medical issues it is needed as no phone line. Generally our power breaks average about 4 hours with sometimes only an hour and then again as long as 8 or more hours.

We do still have our 25watt Tv from the caravan, but obviously between that and the router they will consumer 35-40watts.

Given your loss of power and rubbish mobile performance your fortitude in continuing to post on the forum is admirable. I think I’d be settled down reading a book. 🤣🤣🤣

 

[Buckman]

Given your loss of power and rubbish mobile performance your fortitude in continuing to post on the forum is admirable. I think I’d be settled down reading a book. 🤣🤣🤣

Not good reading light, but the pub down the road has power so maybe that is another option. OH says it is too early, but I did remind her that the pubs in South Africa have been open for the past hour. LOL! Didn't help! 🤣 🤣

 

[Sam Vimes]

You kidding? My phone is outside in the conservatory and as high up as possible. I have one bar so anything takes forever to download.

The power required for the Internet and phone is probably less than 20 watts, but need a UPS that will keep things going for at least 8 hours. I know I can expect to pay about +£100 for a reasonably decent UPS, but with our medical issues it is needed as no phone line. Generally our power breaks average about 4 hours with sometimes only an hour and then again as long as 8 or more hours.

We do still have our 25watt Tv from the caravan, but obviously between that and the router they will consumer 35-40watts.

We had discussions some time ago about a UPS, and I thought you'd bought one.

FWIW: I've just sold two that BT gave me for free when I complained about the issues of power cuts. In fact they gave me five due to their incompetence. I still have a spare.

Openreach/BT do have a scheme for vulnerable users that will keep the analogue telephone alive despite the switch over to digital. If I can find the link I'll post it.

 

[Buckman]

We had discussions some time ago about a UPS, and I thought you'd bought one.

FWIW: I've just sold two that BT gave me for free when I complained about the issues of power cuts. In fact they gave me five due to their incompetence. I still have a spare.

Openreach/BT do have a scheme for vulnerable users that will keep the analogue telephone alive despite the switch over to digital. If I can find the link I'll post it.

We did buy the one that you mentioned, but it no longer works and it seems you cannot replace the battery. It is no longer available on Amazon. It is only the router that needs to be powered by the UPS . We have a 90AH Yumax battery, a Victron 12/500w inverter for lights, to watch the TV and also use the laptop.

Initially we did have a VOIP unit to keep our telephone working, but gave up on that as we had the small UPS unit which would have sufficed as we only needed it for the router. We do our mobile calls through the router. I have been looking at the APC UPS, but not being clued up on UPS units I am a bit uncertain of the wattage required for several hours. We are with Plus Net.

 

[IanB1485]

@Buckman , if you have a landline and have a medical need , the phone provider is obliged to supply a battery pack for when the power is lost, see : https://www.gov.uk/government/news/...lnerable-customers-agreed-with-telecoms-firms. i don't know the details ,

 

[Buckman]

@Buckman , if you have a landline and have a medical need , the phone provider is obliged to supply a battery pack for when the power is lost, see : https://www.gov.uk/government/news/...lnerable-customers-agreed-with-telecoms-firms. i don't know the details ,

Thanks. It was mentioned last year about the system going digital so we jumped the gun a bit. Apparently we can only apply once the area has gone digital only. Also knowing telecom companies they will supply the cheapest possible solution.

 

[Buckman]

It now gets worse. We have power again, but the sewage recycling plant near us has an issue due to the power failure so lovely aroma around. To add to it, Severn Trent have discovered that due to the long dry spell a number of water drains around the village have collapsed? They are investigating sending probes down the drains to check, but is causing traffic issues as the access drains are in the middle of the road. Luckily traffic in the village is very sparse, but makes it awkward coming and going unless you are happy to driveu p on the pavement.

 

[otherclive]

It now gets worse. We have power again, but the sewage recycling plant near us has an issue due to the power failure so lovely aroma around. To add to it, Severn Trent have discovered that due to the long dry spell a number of water drains around the village have collapsed? They are investigating sending probes down the drains to check, but is causing traffic issues as the access drains are in the middle of the road. Luckily traffic in the village is very sparse, but makes it awkward coming and going unless you are happy to driveu p on the pavement.

I suspect that water companies will find more defects caused by the long dry summer. But they won’t become apparent until wetter weather really sets in, unless they can proactively inspect them.

 

[Sam Vimes]

We did buy the one that you mentioned, but it no longer works and it seems you cannot replace the battery. It is no longer available on Amazon. It is only the router that needs to be powered by the UPS . We have a 90AH Yumax battery, a Victron 12/500w inverter for lights, to watch the TV and also use the laptop.

Initially we did have a VOIP unit to keep our telephone working, but gave up on that as we had the small UPS unit which would have sufficed as we only needed it for the router. We do our mobile calls through the router. I have been looking at the APC UPS, but not being clued up on UPS units I am a bit uncertain of the wattage required for several hours. We are with Plus Net.

This is the link to the Openreach service - Plusnet are part of the same group but I have no idea if the service will be available via them.

Openreach Launches Alternative UK Analogue Phone Line Product

Openreach has today notified UK telecoms providers that their SOTAP Analogue product will, following a "successful pilot" (here), get its full commercial launch

www.ispreview.co.uk

Sorry to hear your UPS died. The Plusnet router is rated at 12V 1.5A so you can work out how long a battery would last from those figures.

If you already have an inverter for the lights etc and aren't worried about being Uniterruptable why not manually plug in the router mains psu into that.

 

[Buckman]

Second time we have been without power in the past 24 hours. The new UPS seems to be holding up okay. Power is supposed to come back on at 5pm!

 

[Beachball]

No power cut in North Lincolnshire but i hope it up and running asap.

 

[Buckman]

Second time we have been without power in the past 24 hours. The new UPS seems to be holding up okay. Power is supposed to come back on at 5pm!

Been advised it will be 8pm at the earliest.

 

[Buckman]

No issue with UPS, but due to power outage no mobile signal and that is a BIG concern for us. We had wifi internet for about half an hour and then nothing.

Initially I thought it was the UPS going low and not enough power to modem, but modem was flashing orange.indicating power. Went outside where I knew I go get at least one or two bars, but nothing!

In an emergency there is nothing we could do as no landline!

 

[Martin_E]

Three outages here a few days ago, they knew there was a fault somewhere and were switching circuits to narrow down where.

 

[Buckman]

We have back up UPS for wifi, 240v inverter to power lights, small Tv or radio, gas lamps, camping gas stove, gas BBQ, torches in every room etc.

The power break affected 439 homes in a very large rural area which is served by one network mast. Sadly after about an hour this mast ran out of power and the networks covering our area failed. Apparently the mast will only last about 1 - 2 hours depending on usage before it runs out of power. That means no internet, no phones etc. and you cannot communicate with emergency services.

Brazen thieves could in full view of yourself steal your car, break into home while you are there, steal your goods etc and you cannot phone the police because the landlines have been removed by BT. I wonder if the government thought of this when pushing for landlines etc to be dumped?

 

[RogerL]

We have back up UPS for wifi, 240v inverter to power lights, small Tv or radio, gas lamps, camping gas stove, gas BBQ, torches in every room etc.

The power break affected 439 homes in a very large rural area which is served by one network mast. Sadly after about an hour this mast ran out of power and the networks covering our area failed. Apparently the mast will only last about 1 - 2 hours depending on usage before it runs out of power. That means no internet, no phones etc. and you cannot communicate with emergency services.

Brazen thieves could in full view of yourself steal your car, break into home while you are there, steal your goods etc and you cannot phone the police because the landlines have been removed by BT. I wonder if the government thought of this when pushing for landlines etc to be dumped?

If you've got a UPS, surely VOIP would still work - it relies on copper/optic cable to the local exchange, not airborne signals to the mobile phone mast.