Extended loss of grid power, what will happen to my central heating with loss of Wi-Fi?

[Taylortwocities]

Dont worry about losing grid supply. That nice Mr Starmer is plugging in a new nuclear power station, not far from you in Suffolk .
So we all now have the guarantee of an unlimited, cheap supply of electricity, forever.

 

[JohnW2]

Dont worry about losing grid supply. That nice Mr Starmer is plugging in a new nuclear power station, not far from you in Suffolk .
So we all now have the guarantee of an unlimited, cheap supply of electricity, forever.

... IF any of us still exist when they finished building it (by which time nice Mr Starmer will almost certainly be just 'a name from history')

 

[JohnW2]

Just a bit worrying if the local mast goes down or is far away and there is a power cut too though or somebody, deliberate or otherwise, is jamming it. But I suppose comparing with a wired line down puts it in more perspective.

Yes, as you say, a bit worrying but, as you also say, probably no more worrying than reliance on a 'wired line'

I must admit I am not aware of any motorised valves for heating systems being other any other than mains voltage ...

As I wrote, the same here, but ...

... but it would not surprise me if there are some, especially nowadays with all this tinternet etc.

As we've been told/shown, bernard appears to have created 'DIY' ones - but I'm not sure what happens if one of them needs replacement 'after his time'!

 

[ericmark]

I know one friend in the country has got an UPS for the phone, however no UPS for the cabinet down the road, so with power cut phones still don't work.

So all the work getting the UPS in house was a waste of time phone wise.

 

[JohnW2]

I know one friend in the country has got an UPS for the phone, however no UPS for the cabinet down the road, so with power cut phones still don't work.

With the traditional (PTSN) telephone network and a wired (not 'cordless) phone, I don't think a power cut would affect anything. Even a power cut at the exchange probably wouldn't since, if I understand correctly, the network still is (as it always has been) powered by great banks of batteries.

 

[bernardgreen]

I'm not sure what happens if one of them needs replacement 'after his time'!

After my time there will probably be a complete rip out of the systems in my cottage. The new owners will probably install the latest and greatest systems,

no UPS for the cabinet down the road, so with power cut phones still don't work.

The old POTS ( Plain Old Telephone System ) was powered by a large battery in the telephone exchange. No electronic cabinets distributed around the villages with noisy cooling fans running day and night.

 

[morqthana]

I must admit I am not aware of any motorised valves for heating systems being other any other than mains voltage

An internet search for '12v motorised valve' gets many results.

I didn't look to see how may are available in the UK/suitable for UK pipe sizes (but there are adapters), nor how many aren't actually 12v but were returned because Mr Bing or Mr Google decided I didn't really mean it, but they are out there.

 

[bernardgreen]

AN EXPLANATION OF THE TELEPHONE SYSTEM

 

[morqthana]

I know one friend in the country has got an UPS for the phone, however no UPS for the cabinet down the road, so with power cut phones still don't work.

So all the work getting the UPS in house was a waste of time phone wise.

Except there are power cuts and there are power cuts. Some are more localised/limited than others.

I've got a battery backup for my router/modem because the phone in the lift is hardwired. Entrapment shouldn't happen in a power cut as the lift has emergency lowering batteries, but....

 

[JohnW2]

After my time there will probably be a complete rip out of the systems in my cottage. The new owners will probably install the latest and greatest systems,

Yes, and I presume the same would/will be the case with my house, since I very much doubt that any 'ordinary electrician' would be able to his/her head around a lot of the 'bespoke' things that go on here (even though I've done my best to document it all quite well)!

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

Dont worry about losing grid supply. That nice Mr Starmer is plugging in a new nuclear power station, not far from you in Suffolk .
So we all now have the guarantee of an unlimited, cheap supply of electricity, forever.

The problem with the UK, is that such projects rely on political will. The problem being that every few years, we have new politicians, with usually differing priorities, and differing ideas - hence these big projects are cancelled, and billions wasted. Look what happened to HS2, and how much was wasted on that.

 

[morqthana]

And is still being wasted because of the sunk costs fallacy.

 

[ericmark]

In 1999 I was fitting OBASS into OpenReach buildings, there were in some banks of batteries and generators to keep them going in a power cut, but they were moving to a battery in each unit instead of a common one, which was a bit silly as the OBASS used the exchanges 50 volt supply.

It seems the cabinets can have battery backup, but only some have it, and way back I know RAYNET had to step in with the Prestatyn floods, however that is the only major event I know about where the phone system failed.

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

It seems the cabinets can have battery backup, but only some have it, and way back I know RAYNET had to step in with the Prestatyn floods, however that is the only major event I know about where the phone system failed.

There was the Scarborough event, where Raynet had to help out when the exchange caught fire.

 

[ericmark]

I remember being told about a petrol tank leak finding its way into the ducting into an exchange, I did not know it had gone on fire, but these are rare events, chicken licking was worried about the sky falling on his head, I have not quite reached that yet. Maybe next year?

So yes, I do look at loss of grid power, and I wonder how much needs to be done? If the exchange which I can see out of my window, is on same supply as me, unless they also have back-up supplies, I will lose both landline and mobile should the power fail.

2 meter is useless in this area, not tried CB, the railway repeater would link the village to town 8 miles away, but the frequency used means railway staff would need to be involved.

So back into the real world, what is reasonable precaution to take in case of power failure. Some ideas are not worth a candle. As to HS2 we still run steam trains here. Worse case, is I get some wood in, and burn it in the open grate. But much easier to use central heating if it will work.