Melbourne….
The MCG, Hook Turns, Trams and…. storm damage.
If you think back the last 3 years, we’ve had 3 major storms on record, plus a smattering of less severe storms. Each storm plunged thousands of Victorians into darkness, some for as long as 2 months without power to their homes. In most cases, a tree has taken down a power line somewhere in your area, or even worse, blown up a major transformer supplying many power lines. In either instance, you could be without power for a day, a week or a month. There is no way of knowing, and it’s usually other fallen trees that stops Downer, Ausnet or United Energy from reaching your power lines for repair or replacement.
Sometimes, the only power line that’s been affected is yours! The power lines from the pole to your house are particularly prone to failure, as rotting fascia’s make it all too easy for even a small branch to take out your power line, in even a moderate storm! Let’s go through the whole scenario of you losing power in your home…
Power Outage Scenario:
You’re sitting in the lounge listening to the wind outside, enjoying a nice cuppa while the news reports on the weather. And then in an instant, total darkness! Enjoy that cuppa, because you won’t be making another one for quite some time.
Call your Supply Authority:
The first thing to do is wait a few minutes, and see if the power comes back on. During this time, check your circuit breakers and Main Switch are in the ON position. Also check your smart meter to see if the screen displays any lights or text. If your smart meter is blank, the power in the street has been affected.
Check your immediate surroundings to ensure your overhead powerline hasn’t become detached. Do so very carefully, and NEVER approach a fallen power line. If all is well, onto the next step.
Call your supply authority to report the outage (not your energy retailer, they can’t help). Your supply authority may be able to provide you with information on the cause of the outage as well as an expected reconnection timeframes.
Choose your Authority:
Ausnet – click here https://www.ausnetservices.com.au/outages/report-a-fault/report-a-fault-form
131 799
United Energy – click here https://www.unitedenergy.com.au/outages-emergencies/
132 099
Jemena – click here https://www.jemena.com.au/outages/electricity-outages/
131 626
Different territories have different energy supply authorities. If you’re unsure which applies to you, entering your address on their respective websites will tell you who to contact. We know you can make the right choices regarding your emergency, so if your own power line is down in your property or street and you’re not sure who to call… call everyone! Call your supply authority, the SES, or even OOO to report your fallen power line in your yard or street. You have a potentially fatal situation on your hands, so anything beyond a standard power outage needs to be treated as such.
The Waiting Game
The waiting game is not a fun game to play. The rules are, you sit and wait for your power to come back on. Your phone will slowly lose charge after you’ve trawled outage trackers, social media and the news for more information. Your fridge will become less cold every time you get the milk out. Your frozen goods will begin the inevitable countdown towards thawing out. You might even see how many spare towels you have, for when the freezer gives up the fight.
You might get lucky, but usually once you hit the 4 hour mark you’re going to become concerned. With a flat phone, a fridge / freezer 2 hours away from their threshold of retained temperature, and no way of getting the information you need, there’s frankly nothing you can do but wait.
Or is there…..
Generator Backup System
A generator backup system, or more specifically a generator changeover switch is the ultimate home backup power solution. Cheap, easy to use, and incredibly useful during an outage – this setup will allow you to restore power to your entire home in less than 2 minutes.
Main Switch Off.
Start Generator.
Flick Generator Main Switch ON.
Crank your Generator Changeover Switch to GENERATOR SUPPLY
Watch your lights, TV, fridge, internet and phone chargers come back on!
How Much Can a 7kVa Generator Power? During the 2021 storms, a client lost power for 10 days. Their generator changeover switch helped them power their entire home for 10 days, as well as 3 neighbours getting a powerboard each via extension leads over fences (fridge, internet, lamps) AND the entire street being told they can charge phones and tablets from 3 weatherproof outlets on their verandah. This one house kept over 30 people connected to the world, and saved over $3,000 worth of food.
Apart from fuel, and occasional oil checks this setup ran from 6am til 9pm for 10 days without an issue. Neighbours donated fuel and made friends for life while Ausnet worked hard to clear trees, restore power lines and reconnect houses during rolling 12 hour shifts.
How Does it Work:
A generator changeover switch is very easy to use, and performs a crucial role in keeping linesmen safe while you power your home. To keep it simple, a generator changeover switch isolates your home from the grid fully, cutting off any connection between your house and the street. This stops your generator from energising power lines, and also stops your home from being supplied by the grid AND a generator at the same time, when the power comes back on.
A generator changeover switch is Prescribed Works so your electrician MUST provide you with the correct documentation. An independent inspection officer must attend site to inspect the installation, and once approved, your electrician (hopefully us!) will issue you with a Prescribed CoES as outlined in our blog article on certification of works HERE .
The installation itself consists of an inlet port, pictured below. The generator is plugged into this inlet port by means of a custom made connection lead (to suit your length and generator output current) which then powers the changeover switch via a dedicated cable we’ve installed, which then powers your house while cutting out your grid connection.
TIP: Never leave fuel in your generator after a blackout. It might be months before you use the generator again, and stagnant fuel can block fuel filters and prevent your generator from working when you need it. Either run the generator to empty, or drain the fuel out. Intermittent testing of your generator will also help keep it’s battery charged (if it has electric start) and allow you to use old fuel up.
What Next:
If you’d like to find out what’s involved for your home to be backed up by a generator, shoot us an email. We’ll ask a few questions, and make some suggestions on the type of generator to buy, as well as recommended locations to install this setup in your home. It’s a super easy way of making the next storm way less stressful for everyone, pets included.
