Somebody decided that it was a good idea to drive into a pole, so we are without electrical power.

The big hangar door is operated by hydraulic pistons, the pump in the hydraulic system is electric.

The small man-size (person-size?) door works, but airplanes are trapped.

Can not do any work in the hangar today with the oven door closed and ambient temperatures in the mid 90s.

No computer power.

No air conditioning in the office.

No fans working anywhere.

No fire alarm monitoring -- battery backup is fine for short intervals, but not for extended power interruptions.

Sounds like a good day to double check your insurance.

My Bi-fold door motor has a twist lock 220V plug. I bought a generator to keep at the hangar to keep from being trapped.

quote:

Originally posted by pbramlett:
My Bi-fold door motor has a twist lock 220V plug. I bought a generator to keep at the hangar to keep from being trapped.

Good thinking!

I added a couple batteries to my alarm/fire system. Lasts for 5 days.

quote:

Originally posted by pbramlett:

My Bi-fold door motor has a twist lock 220V plug. I bought a generator to keep at the hangar to keep from being trapped.

This is a hydro-swing door. Once piece, not bi-fold. Hinged along the top. The whole door pivots up and out, pushed by a hydraulic ram on each side.

The hangar is leased. I should probably get a quote from an electrician about some sort of transfer switch to isolate the electric pump from the mains and use external power, and then discuss it with the owner / landlord.

It's generally not a terrible thing if power fails when the place is locked up, as it did today, but we have had one or two power failures when the door was open. I certainly did not want to leave and go home while the hangar was wide open, so I sat there with SIG on my hip, waiting for power to be restored so I could close the door. Not fun, especially around sunset during mosquito season. Reminded me of standing watch at our missile compound in my Navy days long ago.

No hand pump?

Master Lock & manual door here. Plane should be out of annual today, Oshkosh next week. I also got a new Stratus ADS-B transponder with improvement to the panel lighting.

quote:

Originally posted by LS1 GTO:

No hand pump?

Nope. Not likely to happen, I am a renter, the owner is not likely to spend the $$, even if there was a hand pump available as an option to the system.

Would be a good idea, at least for lowering the door. Not sure that I would want to raise it that way except in case of dire emergency.

quote:

Originally posted by V-Tail:

...the oven door closed and ambient temperatures in the mid 90s...

Good thing the V-Tail isn't rag-and-twig, the glue would probably melt!

Costco has or had a 6000 portable generator with electric start and propane or gas option....

With a transfer switch outside you could roll it up, fire it up and be working easily.

Or put in a big ol Generac, see if you can get a few months free rent for installing the generator... Both win...

quote:

Originally posted by newtoSig765:

quote:

Originally posted by V-Tail:

...the oven door closed and ambient temperatures in the mid 90s...

Good thing the V-Tail isn't rag-and-twig, the glue would probably melt!

That’s why you’ve got to shoot holes in the roof...for ventilation.

Time to go fishin'.

quote:

Originally posted by HRK:
Costco has or had a 6000 portable generator with electric start and propane or gas option....

With a transfer switch outside you could roll it up, fire it up and be working easily.

Or put in a big ol Generac, see if you can get a few months free rent for installing the generator... Both win...

Probably overkill for the application. A little tiny Honda one would do it and be more easily moved. As far as the transfer switch, he'd just use a double pull double throw switch wired in line with a plug end put on switch. Utility power out, flip light switch to genny, close door. Turn off genny and flip switch back to utility power. Electrician should be able to do in 1-2 hours with common off the shelf items. If it's bigger than 20a it would add a few complexities, but still easy and cheap to do.

Oh, its the big hangar doors. I was thinking you could just shoot the lock off with a 9MM from across the street.

quote:

Originally posted by Skins2881:

quote:

Originally posted by HRK:
Costco has or had a 6000 portable generator with electric start and propane or gas option....

With a transfer switch outside you could roll it up, fire it up and be working easily.

Or put in a big ol Generac, see if you can get a few months free rent for installing the generator... Both win...

Probably overkill for the application. A little tiny Honda one would do it and be more easily moved. As far as the transfer switch, he'd just use a double pull double throw switch wired in line with a plug end put on switch. Utility power out, flip light switch to genny, close door. Turn off genny and flip switch back to utility power. Electrician should be able to do in 1-2 hours with common off the shelf items. If it's bigger than 20a it would add a few complexities, but still easy and cheap to do.

I'll check the data plate on the motor to look at the power requirements. I'm going from memory here, I think that the motor that drives the pump can be installed either as 110V or 220V, I seem to remember a diagram that shows how to do it either way. I'm guessing that it's 110, but would need to verify. The circuit breaker is a double one (takes two slots in the breaker box).

In a power-out situation, I guess I would not need to power anything else in the hangar, just the ability to open and close the door. The only other thing that should be powered is the fire alarm monitoring system, but I'm not going to worry too much about that; if mine is out of service, it's likely that many others are also out.

quote:

The circuit breaker is a double one (takes two slots in the breaker box).

If it's 240v then you can't use the little tiny Honda generators, they are only 120v. Still can be done, just would need oversized generator for that specific purpose. Equipment may also be more expensive, but not likely ( greater than 20a).

quote:

Originally posted by Skins2881:

quote:

The circuit breaker is a double one (takes two slots in the breaker box).

If it's 240v then you can't use the little tiny Honda generators, they are only 120v. Still can be done, just would need oversized generator for that specific purpose. Equipment may also be more expensive, but not likely ( greater than 20a).

I'll take a look next time I'm at the hangar and report back. Memory tells me that there's a wiring diagram on the data plate, showing two different ways to connect this, either 120V or 240V. Stand by until Monday.

Also check the amps. Remember that starting amps are roughly twice what running amps are for the motor, so 10 amp motor will require 20 amps to start. This can be an issue as most portable generators top out at 30 amps, unless you spend a LOT of money, or buy a monster.

My 7500 watt Generac tops out at 30 amps, so while it makes 240 volt current, which my central air requires, it doesn't make enough amperage to start the compressors which kick over at about 40 amps and run at 20.

Definitely time for a vacation V-tail.

Maybe even retirement?