Latestarter's ramblings/musings/gripes and grumbles.

[Bruce]

and just an fyi, you can straighten out cattle panels, not easy but it can be done. don't ask how I know.

Heck with not asking, just go over and help Joe fix them!

 

[Mini Horses]

Well -- the goats sure look good!

You know it's the kids who love to jump. Do they have some toys? Stumps to jump on? Well, that seems to be what they thought the hut was for! At least your truck wasn't out there.

Can you pony wall the site there & hoop the top? I can sure understand the $$$ part!

(Hope your gout is better.)

 

[Latestarter]

Power just came back on. Was off for about 2 hours. Tried to go to bed but couldn't sleep. Mind was wandering all over thinking about what a generator would cost if the power didn't come back on by morning. Other things I could use the generator for if I bought one. Where to buy and what brand, best price, etc. How to research those details with no power for computer and internet (hate using phone for internet). Lots of other miscellaneous stuff got mixed in as well. Really kinda funny how the mind works (or not...).

Got about 4-5 hours of mowing done earlier today. Would have gotten more done but the cutting deck threw the belt so had to stop and re-install it. Getting much faster at doing it now since I've had a few opportunities to "practice" the procedure. The actual re-install took about 1/2 hour. Mowed the front, back & side yard, a small portion of the front & back pasture, the driveway and the road frontage. Tomorrow's weather is supposed to be similar so I think I'll take the goats outside the fence for an hour or two early, then try to concentrate on getting the back pasture done.

Did the mowing wearing long pants, a long sleeve faux 1/2 turtleneck and a cap. I have my typical rash all over my upper body and upper arms, and I seem to get it worst after mowing due to all the dust and debris blowing all over me. Figured I'd try and see if I could keep it off me for the most part. So dry and dusty here that I really should wear a dust mask as well. I have a package but they're the really cheap kind that won't hold their shape so don't block much dust as they don't seal to the face real well. They also block lower vision. Need to check into the more expensive/heavier kind.

 

[greybeard]

I've always found paper dust masks difficult to breath thru, even right out of the box. The ones with the valve are a little better.
116304 3M™ 8835

I usually use one of these when spraying:
http://www.auto-gadget.com/index.php?route=product/product&product_id=57350

 

[Mini Horses]

Other things I could use the generator for if I bought one. Where to buy and what brand,

WOW -- 2 hrs is stressing you? Well, it IS annoying to have no computer, middle of night and can't sleep. Yeah, sure is. Been there.

I bought one 7 yrs ago @1,300 on sale. 8 run & 10 surge, electric start, etc. I have never needed to use it. But, mom was here then & I needed equipment to run, lights, etc. for her. Plus, well pump had to run (big pull! -- deep well)) Also had co-op install behind meter plug (50 install & 12.50 mo rental) to use as whole house, knowing I must control breakers to assure no 220 jump ons at once --hot water, etc. Gotta tell you tho, it takes a bull elephant to move the darned thing!! Even with wheels. That rascal weighs several hundred pounds!! A Generac. Figured they made those whole house ones, should know what they're doing. Drawback, besides weight, it's gas powered.

In 19 years here I've only had two times with power out more than 36 hrs. One was 9 days and that was rough. Self & 2 kids shared a small generator I had, every 8 hrs. I filled with water from their shallow wells as it was moved between us. It was a hurricane event, early summer. Kept our frig/freezers going -- main issues -- I needed animal water every day. If not for the well pump, I'd have bought way less & run cords.
$150 yr rental on device could have now pd for the inside breaker box add on & electrician to do. At the time, didn't feel I had the $500 to do. We all do what we need at the time, right?

I don't even drag the thing out for power until we are approaching 8 hrs. It can start & test run where it is. DS borrows sometimes for a job with no power source for his tools.

Big expense...think about it. Smaller may work fine. Nice to have tho. Especially if you are on a "non-priority" power line. Far less than the $20K solar I'd like to have

Would love to share some of my rain with you! I feel your pain with the mowing. I have a DR pull behind mower that allows me to adjust the height way above the mower -- Probably 14-1800 cost now but, use it rarely since I bought the tractor & hog. Worked great to keep higher with no tractor. Probably need to sell it.

 

[Mike CHS]

I have a Troybilt 7000 watt generator that I have had since just after Hurricane Ivan when I lived in Pensacola in 2004 I think. I had over 20 people that had major damage in their houses and we were at the end of a road that was going to take a week or more to get open. Luckily I had an almost empty chest freezer so everyone brought all of the food that was salvageable and we wound up not getting power back for 32 days. We ran the freezer, a small refrigerator, a small window A/C and a couple of lights. I start it regularly still and let it run but it hasn't had major use for several years. I do put it in the trailer and haul it out to various places to use power tools so I don't have to mess with battery tools losing their charges. I have even taken my contractor table saw out to use in the field.

 

[greybeard]

It's hard to beat a Generac and those with Honda engines are the quietest. Mine is 7.5kw B&S powered, elec or rope start and other than it's weight, the racket is my major complaint about it..the constant loud drone you can't escape. Would probably help if I moved it off the front porch. You can pick one up cheap around here now since we haven't had a need for one lately, but let a hurricane popup in the gulf and they'll almost all be gone in 24 hrs.

Product Series GP7500E Model (Configuration) 5943-4, 5943-5 (EPA) 5978-2 (EPA/CSA)
AC Rated Output Running Watts: 7500 AC
Maximum Output Motor Starting Watts: 9375
AC Voltage 120/240 VAC
AC Frequency 60 Hz
Rated VAC Amperage 62.5/31.3
Max Rated VAC Amperage 78/39.1
Engine Displacement 420cc
Engine Type OHV
Engine RPM 3600
Recommended Oil 10W-30 / SAE30
Lubrication Method Splash
Automatic Voltage Regulation (AVR) Yes
Choke Location On Engine
Fuel Shut Off On Fuel Tank
Starting Method Electric/Recoil Pull Start
Low Oil Shutdown Method Low Level
Battery Type 12VDC, 10AH Battery Charger Input Jack Included
Neutral Bonded to Ground Yes
Unit Weight lbs (kg) 191.5 (86.9)

 

[Bruce]

Far less than the $20K solar I'd like to have

More than that. With solar you need to have battery backup or the panels stop generating when there is a power outage. Can't chance frying a line worker when they are working on reconnecting things "downstream". Even though there is a labeled shut off switch at the meter that the power company can turn off when they need to ensure nothing goes on the line.

The power company here does have a new thing where they put in a battery backup that THEY can use except during an outage. They guarantee not to take your batteries down below a certain percentage. And if the power goes out, you can use power from the batteries but not until then and the panels continue to charge the batteries. 10 year contract for $1,000 which is cheaper than a generator but I'll bet the homeowner gets to pay for all the "in house" electrical changes necessary. Like apparently you need a sub panel because you can't have circuits that draw more total amps than the battery inverter puts out. I guess one would have to rewire some things like refrigerator, well pump, some lights to the new subpanel. Probably forget any 220V stuff. I think the battery is a 7 kWh size. That would last us 1/3 of a day if everything was running normally AND it started out full.

 

[Latestarter]

Was out and about today. Had to purchase goat feed so swung by Home Depot and took a look at hedge trimmers. The hedges in front of the house haven't been trimmed since I bought the place and they needed it badly. I already have a Dewalt 20v hammer drill that came with 2 batteries and a charger and I didn't want to be dragging an electric extension cord along so looked and sure enough, Dewalt makes a 20v battery powered trimmer. Advertised to cut through up to 3/4" and showed more power than the AC electric models.

Was only $129.00 (trimmer only) so I picked one up. Used it when I got home and man, that puppy cuts great! And I didn't have to worry about cutting a/the cord!

Now that the hedges are a little more under control I was actually able to find a water spigot out front that I assumed had to be there someplace but wasn't able to locate. Now that I'm sitting here typing this I'm a little upset with myself that I didn't also pick up a dust mask like recommended by GB while I was there. Forgot all about it... Next trip I guess.

I did swing by and get a big mac and the accompanying 50 yr anniversary coin for a free one to follow.

 

[Devonviolet]

Hahaha! I just noticed that you were “liking” my posts while I was “liking” your posts. Funny how that happens sometimes.

I don’t have much time to get onto BYH these day, with baking for farmer’s market. I should be baking right now. I was SO sorry to hear about your goats pushing your hoop hut over! What a shame. DH and I would be game to go over and try to help you unbend the cattle panels. It might be doable if you take the panels apart, so we would be working on one panel at a time. I am wondering if you could stabilize the hoop by putting some 2x4s across the top of the hoop and attach with some kind of clamp, to the wire.

One thought, for a less spendy shelter, would be like the one that we have (that was here when we bought the place). You could cut cedar trees, from your woods, to use for 4, 8 foot posts, and use 2x4s (or even more smaller cedar trunks) to build framing on to those posts. Sheet metal only costs $1.69/linear foot at ETAS in Mineola. That would make a nice, sturdy, three sided, run-in shed, for keeping the goats dry this winter

When you talked about the 24x16’building, were you talking about a temporary shed or your barn? Our barn is 16x24, and is a good size for us. Although, I thought I remembered you mentioning that you wanted a bigger barn than ours.