Saturday, December 12, 2009

Brutal Mother Nature Test

Me and my little shack are really being put to the test now. I did'nt do much building today. I'm pretty sure that if I tried to drive a nail in a board, it would have just split the board. Lumber even sounds different in weather like this. Right at this moment my thermometer is reading about -39C/about -38F. Thankfully there is not much of a wind. My propane is still flowing, but I have done a few little precautions in case. Propane quits vapourizing at -44C, I have read. Our local forcast for tonight is calling for lows of -43C. I dunno, thats a little close for comfort. Out here, hopefully it gets no colder than it is, but it also could get colder than the local forcast. I have seen alot of this -40 stuff over the years, but not since I moved out here in the shack. I can actually remember one day, quite a few years ago where it was in the -50 area, but that dos'nt happen very often. All I know is that the floor in this old shack is cold enough to freeze an egg on.

Today I bought a couple of 72 inch battery warmers for inside the deep freeze to keep my batteries warm when ever the generator is running. Right now they are at +4C, which is not bad concidering what the temperature is outside. When the power is taken away, it takes quite awhile for the batteries to get to the outside temperature. I'm guessing that if I shut it down right now, the batteries would be about -15 to -20c by morning, maybe even warmer than that. I used to just use a 100 watt light bulb for this same purpose, but it was pretty slow warming it up a few degrees, but it did work. I'm actually quite impressed with the battery warmer blankets. However, in my new cabin I will have it somehow, so I don't even have t0 worry about things like this. This is actually quite a good experience to live in this shack for a winter before the house is built, just so I can iron all these little issues out and kinda plan things in. This is all kinda new to me also. I have done alot of research on things, but nothing beats hands on experience to really get to know how things actually happen.

I also put a 250 watt heat lamp in under the propane tanks which are covered with a tarp. I don't have that plugged in at the moment, because I want to see if this propane is going to keep running on it's own or not. I really need to know, because if I were working, I would'nt be around here to keep a generator running and all that. The generator is running now, but I wonder if it will start in the morning if I shut it down. I really should invest in another generator for backup. I'm also thinking that I should have bought another one of those battery warmers to wrap around the propane bottle. I think that could pretty good maybe, and might even be a little bit safer. I think, anyway.

I did do a little work with my pay job, but I also managed to get a little more building done. It must be like watching paint dry, for anyone who reads this blog. lol. Trust me, by this time next winter, I will be sitting in front of a warm crackling fire inside my new cabin type house, and I won't even care if it is -50c outside. I hope. lol.

Well it is actually starting to look something. I don't know how much is going to get done in the next few days. I guess it is supposed to be pretty nippy until about Wednesday, but I might get a little done in the sunshine, we'll see what happens. I am pretty eager to get going on this thing.
Just thought I would put in a little bit of an update, it is my own little way of keeping track of my progress.


14 comments:

  1. Sounds like you're sticking to the plan...and that's a good thing! I agree that this is a good test. Nothing like getting a taste of the rough times to make you appreciate the good ones, ya know?

    Keep on plugging away, buddy!

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  2. I agree you learn real fast what works and what does not in conditions like that. That is cold man. My Honda's fire up no problem in the extreme cold, electric start though, maybe keep the HOnda indoors when not in use??
    I moved my fiver indoors about two weeks ago, I should update my blog too, busy doing everything else.

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  3. I'm sorta stickin to the plan Jim. I'm trying anyway. It is a good education and will surely help me in designing all the electrical and heating functions in my new home. Batteries don't hold very many amp hours of energy when they are 40 degrees below 0, so I think I'll come up with a different plan than a deep freeze for battery storage for one idea. Thanks for dropping in Jim.

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  4. Hey Coal, it is conditions like this that sometimes makes a guy wonder why he's in this situation to begin with. Have you ever had that yourself? It actually got one degree colder in town than they thought it would last night.-44C at the local airport last night. I don't think that it went below -40 here, but then I was sleeping. -38 right here now at 9:30 pm my time. The generator took a few pulls this morning, but it did fire up pretty good. I had it covered with a tarp, and sometimes I throw it in doors. I would bring it right in the shack, but I'm kinda worried about condensation in the fuel and all that. Keep it full and put in some gasline antifreeze, I guess. I was wondering if you were still alive.

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  5. Man that is COLD. Glad you are used to it. Congrats on the progress. Everything is looking great. Keep it up.

    See Ya

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  6. Thanks Tony. It is darned cold here, but it is supposed to get a little warmer soon (Wednesday or Thursday). I am used to it, but I could really survive without too.

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  7. Glad to hear it's going to warm up a bit for ya Mark!

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  8. Thank you Jeanie. A little warmer would be kinda nice, but I sure do hope it dos'nt start melting or anything yet, that would just make a big mess of things.

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  9. Hang On! Warmer weather is coming.

    I remember a New Years Eve when the temperature went to -45C outside. I put some really dry oak in the stove and it got to 32C inside. The stove got HOT, started to make strange noises and I thought it would glow red and start to come apart. In the meantime I could hear the nails popping in the walls of the house. It was a memorable evening for my son and myself.

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  10. Hiya Mark! Well I think your couple of walls look amazing! Good for you! Stay warm, brother!

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  11. I was sent a link by email from my blog buddy Tossing Pebbles in the Stream... as he knows this is something I would have liked to hear about... he was not wronge.
    I have been to the very beginning of your blog and will be starting there and reading though all your posts and following your story... rest assured I will be calling by often... All the very best for the Christmas season and I hope to be a regular reader here in the New Year
    Tom

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  12. Tossing Pebbles, I actually can't wait for some real cold weather once the house is built. It will be interesting. I will definatley have me a wood stove of some sort. Thanks for that story my friend.

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  13. Hiya Cath. I just could'nt wait until they were all built to put up a post. They don't take all that long to build either, if the weather and work cooperates. The weather's good now, but work? Thats a different story. You have been in hiding Cath, I hav'nt seen you around for awhile, but it's good to see you again.

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  14. Welcome to it Tom, I really hope you enjoy. I had a quick peak over your way and probably will check in once inawhile, right now I don't seem to have enough time for too much reading lately. Thanks for coming by.

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