Power Cut

[MargaretR]

We have just had a 35 minute power cut - allegedly (per their helpline) 'affecting the Accrington area'.

The telephone automated response said 'due to damage to our equipment'.

That could be cable theft or could be due to the two Xclass solar flares we have had in recent days,

SpaceWeather.com -- News and information about meteor showers, solar flares, auroras, and near-Earth asteroids
"POSSIBLE CME IMPACT ON MAY 17: A coronal mass ejection (CME) hurled into space by the X1-flare of May 15th might deliver a glancing blow to Earth's magnetic field on May 17th. NOAA forecasters estimate a 40% chance of polar geomagnetic storms when the cloud arrives. High-latitude sky watchers should be alert for auroras. Aurora alerts: text, voice.

X-FLARE THREAT CONTINUES: Sunspot AR1748 has already unleashed four X-class solar flares, but it might not be finished. The active region continues to grow beneath a delta-class magnetic field that harbors energy for powerful eruptions. NOAA puts the odds of another X-flare today at 60%. "

The two flares were recorded as shown on the thumbnail below.

I must admit it caught me unawares. I now have the emergency electricity number recorded where I can easily see it (whereas the phone book needs a magnifier to see it).

So know where your candles and torches are and ensure they can be reached in the dark.

http://www.zdnet.com/solar-storms-to...13-7000009197/

[Less]

As usual for you mags, one heck of a jump in logic.
Power supply,
Gone,
Can't just be old age of the equipment or even neglect,
It obviously has to be an interstellar disaster.
I dropped a glass last night, the pub I'd nicked it from claimed it was toughened.
It still shattered, but into different sized pieces from that of an ordinary glass.!
OMG could it be that it should have been left on the shelf at the pub and the aliens have started their revenge against me?

[MargaretR]

Originally Posted by Less

As usual for you mags, one heck of a jump in logic.
Power supply,
Gone,
Can't just be old age of the equipment or even neglect,
It obviously has to be an interstellar disaster.
I dropped a glass last night, the pub I'd nicked it from claimed it was toughened.
It still shattered, but into different sized pieces from that of an ordinary glass.!
OMG could it be that it should have been left on the shelf at the pub and the aliens have started their revenge against me?

You obviously weren't a boy scout

I don't believe that people should be 'kept in the dark' about the possibility it could happen. Being prepared = no panic IF it happens.

[Less]

Originally Posted by MargaretR

You obviously weren't a boy scout

I don't believe that people should be 'kept in the dark' about the possibility it could happen. Being prepared = no panic IF it happens.

Yeah, Right.

[jaysay]

Ya caught me by surprise too Margaret, but at least I know I can do a quick swap from machine oxygen to medical oxygen without problems and have made sure its okay during the night too

[accyman]

best not weigh this copper in a few days

[cashman]

Didn't affect our area?

[jaysay]

Originally Posted by cashman

Didn't affect our area?

Think it was just the top end of Ossy Cashy

[Eric]

Originally Posted by Less

As usual for you mags, one heck of a jump in logic.
Power supply,
Gone,
Can't just be old age of the equipment or even neglect,
It obviously has to be an interstellar disaster.
I dropped a glass last night, the pub I'd nicked it from claimed it was toughened.
It still shattered, but into different sized pieces from that of an ordinary glass.!
OMG could it be that it should have been left on the shelf at the pub and the aliens have started their revenge against me?

Are you seriously suggesting that simple explanations are often correct Is it not more likely that aliens are manipulating solar flares so that they target the power grid in Accrington?

[Eric]

Hey, we had one too ... this is getting serious; first Accrington, then Kingston And they are trying to tell us that it was a faulty cable

Kingston Hydro

[cashman]

All i can say is aliens must like me.

[accyman]

a serious technical fault was discovered in oswaldtwistles power management system

apparantly the hamster fell asleep at the wheel

[Barrie Yates]

There was a power cut early in the week in Baxenden, according to our microwave it lasted something like 5 hours during the night.
Perhaps that was solar flares as well?
However, one must look at electrical equipment in general - switches burn out, kettles, cookers, showers and even light bulbs and batteries fail at some stage.
If you are concerned that it is solar activity then it seems obvious to revert back to oil lamps, primus stoves and candles - or even rush lights.

[jaysay]

Originally Posted by cashman

All i can say is aliens must like me.

Like you, I thought you were one

[jaysay]

Originally Posted by Barrie Yates

There was a power cut early in the week in Baxenden, according to our microwave it lasted something like 5 hours during the night.
Perhaps that was solar flares as well?
However, one must look at electrical equipment in general - switches burn out, kettles, cookers, showers and even light bulbs and batteries fail at some stage.
If you are concerned that it is solar activity then it seems obvious to revert back to oil lamps, primus stoves and candles - or even rush lights.

For Gods sake Barrie don't put ideas in Margaret's head