Could Have Been Worse

[pshaw_raven]

This could have been really bad. This is part of out power service box - I don't know the actual name but it is what the meter can plugs into. As you can see, something got hot enough to melt the plastic, and the meter was, of course, partially melted. We're currently on generator power and ... let me back up a few steps here.

Last night after dinner, I was playing Baldur's Gate (I picked dialogue that Gale took as flirting. I wasn't flirting before, but I AM NOW. Gale is 90% g-spot anyway.) I keep thinking I hear something, then the cats flip out and run. Clay Electric is at the door, and the guy says, "We got a notice that your meter is overheating, I'm here to take a look at it. Y'all had any power problems?" Well, Fox did just mention to me over dinner that the UPS on his computer has been tripping today and he wasn't sure why. I'd noticed some lights dimming and then coming back up, but that's nothing unusual way out here. So Fox and I both come outside and when the guy pulls the meter, that's what he finds.

We're lucky we didn't have a pole fire. I guess we're also lucky it's on a pole and not mounted to the side of the house. Anyway, he took the ruined meter and pulled fuses or something so now the power pole is "dead." You can touch it with impunity. He said just to call the service line and tell them we made the repairs, and they'll get us a new meter. Hopefully another smart meter, but we'll see what they have.

It could also have happened at a worse time - like a few weeks ago when it was still deathly hot. Right now the house is running on a small Predator generator, which is keeping the fridge and freezer going, some lights on, and it can run a small appliance when needed. I just made a pot of coffee, and we can nuke food if we need to, but can't run the oven or stovetop. We're also on low water use, since it can't run the well pump, and definitely not the hot water heater.

So if it happens that they can't reconnect the meter today, we'll need to get the big generator out so it can run the well for water. Fox is heading into town this morning to go to an electrical wholesaler as an employee of FastNet (which he technically is) and see if he can buy the needed parts. We shouldn't need to pull permits or anything since we're not upgrading. Time is of the essence if we don't want to go all weekend like this. Absolute worst case, we can pull the camper out and set up, and use its propane tanks for hot showers. But Fox seems hopeful that he can get this knocked out today.

None of this answers the question - what overheated that line? Why? Is this going to happen again?

Comments

[etherwhere]

Oh wow, that image is terrifying. I'm glad the electrical company addressed this before a fire had the chance to break out. (Cracking up over your Baldur's Gate goals, btw. I don't play, but my brother does, so I am quite familiar with Gale. XD)

Hope you get some answers about the line to alleviate future worries!

[pshaw_raven]

My husband loved playing Baldur's Gate so much he's got me doing it, though video game RPGs aren't usually my thing. Tabletop - now we're talking :D But anyway, I wasn't sure why I "needed" to have a romance option but I like Gale. He seems like a good guy, despite his questionable choices.

Fox thinks this was probably due to a manufacturing defect, and not anything we specifically did. Which honestly makes a lot of sense.

[etherwhere]

Tabletop RPGs seem so interesting! Alas, most require more than 2 players, and only my brother would happily join in. (If you have any recs that are playable with only 2 people, please feel free to share!) I'm with you on the romance options, though - I play one of Pathea's 'My Time At' games, and instead of romancing the eligible bachelors/bachelorettes, I'm having more fun challenging them all to duels. :'D

That does make sense. It's a little scary knowing defects can slip under the QA radar, but hopefully that's a one time thing, and your replacement is up to standard.

[pshaw_raven]

I haven't tried any two-player games, but there's a pretty good list of them here - https://www.reddit.com/r/rpg/wiki/twoplayers/

I only recently found that there are single-player RPGs, where you simply have some paper and a pen. I bought one but haven't tried it out yet, and I really ought to!

[etherwhere]

Oh, thank you so much! Now that you mention it, I do recall coming across an ARG that worked in the same way, like an interactive mystery book. How strange that I never thought to look into that format for other games. It seems like they'd be a ton of fun, so I hope you get the chance to try one out!

[gender_euphoric]

Ok not the most appropriate place for a Simpsons quote, but maybe a wizard did it.

[pshaw_raven]

[cdayzee]

Egads!

What's going on with electricity lately?? We've been having our own issues. Breakers tripping, appliances blowing, lights flickering. Kinda makes ya wonder...

Hopefully no more issues for you!

[pshaw_raven]

Solar flares?

Fox was telling me a cool/weird thing about solar radiation and hard drives. Apparently it can flip the bits on your data and change what's on hard drives. So redundant drives check each other and correct those errors. But even your normal computer drives in your house are vulnerable to that kind of thing and it gets worse when there are a lot of flares.

Not saying this is making the power go weird, but it probably doesn't help!

[dorchadas]

Glad that at least it didn't lead to a fire!