[Possible OT] California, and running off of generators for e xtended periods

Tue Jan 16 17:42:47 UTC 2001

Not sure about others, but we are already supplementing our Edison feed with
our backup power supplies.  If we didn't we'd be meeting brown out
conditions.  We have the diesel generator scheduled to go online when our
battery reserves dwindle to a range that we have determined.  Why? Hassle.
Seems the appropriate way to work. Diesel is noisy and creates bad neighbor
relations.  Pick a reason.

K
Irvine, CA

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Matt Clauson [mailto:mec at dotorg.org]
> Sent: Tuesday, January 16, 2001 9:30 AM
> To: nanog at merit.edu
> Subject: [Possible OT] California, and running off of generators for
> extended periods
> 
> 
> 
> Allo, all...  Watching what's going on in California, it 
> occured to me,
> and some of my colleagues, that the major colo and data centers (for
> example, but not focusing on, Exodus, Colo.com, etc.) could 
> assist in the
> power crunch that California is having by shifting part, or 
> all, of their
> loads over to generator power -- one would think that a) 
> diesel fuel is
> still cheaper than electricity in California, price hikes lately
> notwithstanding, and b) the goodwill generated by such an 
> endeavor would
> be good for the company.  Admittedly, some sites with only 
> limited battery
> UPS power cannot do this, at least not so early in the day.  
> But it seems
> to me that at least a few datacenters and major facilities 
> could switch
> over to independent power and just keep fueling the generators.
> 
> Question:  Why would (or wouldn't) your company switch your datacenter
> loads to generator (or other off-mains) power sources, if you had the
> capability and/or capacity?
> 
> Comments invited, especially from companies in CA, or with
> offices/datacenters in CA.  Comments will be aggregated and 
> (re)posted at
> a later date.
> 
> (note:  this is posted from my personal account.  This inquiry is NOT
> related to my employer or employment, but is posed for information,
> speculation, and discussion among the NANOG and Internet communities.)
> 
> --mec
> 