Should we ride out Hurricane Irene in the bus?

Van · August 27, 2011, 06:12:06 AM

Has any one decided to stay? Good luck and don't forget the pix

oldmansax · August 27, 2011, 09:55:19 AM

I decided to leave. We stayed on the Shore until this morning early & then got over on the other side. Just got over the Chesapeake Bay Bridge before they closed it.

TOM

Van · August 27, 2011, 10:31:53 AM

Good news indeed! Stay safe!

Van

Scott & Heather · August 28, 2011, 05:31:29 AM

survived the night here in eastern PA. moved the coach to higher ground out of the woods friday. parked in an open parking lot near a picnic pavilion with 30 amps. got about 3 hrs of sleep. coach rocked back and forth worse than we've ever felt it rock. wind gusts were 75 mph here w/sustained 50-60 mph all night. never heard rain hit the roof of the coach all night...it was slamming against the driver's side the entire time. still rough this morning. coach is bouncing as i type this. power blinked 11 times before it's final blink around 3:50 AM. went out into the madness in my swim trunks to get the genset hooked up and fired up. tons and tons of rain...i'd be drier in a pool. the winds squeezed water somehow where it shouldn't be and we have water on the floor in the driver's area. enduring this for another 5-8 hours or so. the eye is 90 miles east of us approx. i'm soaked, cold and currently watching the metal siding rip off of a pole building... $:-\$ what a life.

buswarrior · August 28, 2011, 08:42:57 AM

Excellent conditions under which to consider the design of systems in the coach.

So many busnuts have to open multiple compartments outside to make things work, or change configurations between shore and on board power sources when the power goes out.

Think: How can I design so that I can manage my systems without going outside?

The boat folks are very clever at this, they don't have a dock to pull alongside out there.

happy coaching!
buswarrior

thomasinnv · August 28, 2011, 01:49:53 PM

Automatic transfer switches are priceless as far as convenience IMO, especially in adverse weather conditions. I have a 50A ATS for the genny, and a 30A ATS for the inverter. All I gotta do is push a button. I can do that in my underwear without worrying about the neighbors.

Scott & Heather · August 29, 2011, 04:43:54 AM

Quote from: thomasinnv on August 28, 2011, 01:49:53 PM
Automatic transfer switches are priceless as far as convenience IMO, especially in adverse weather conditions. I have a 50A ATS for the genny, and a 30A ATS for the inverter. All I gotta do is push a button. I can do that in my underwear without worrying about the neighbors.

Wishlist...a new genny is on it too. Lots of work to get it all set up right. At the present time, everything is cobbled together. I'd love to be able to push a button and be able to switch to genset....or better yet, automatic power failure sensing. anyway, just glad we had one for this storm.

oldmansax · August 29, 2011, 05:21:50 AM

I would never in a thousand years put an auto transfer switch in. Too much opportunity for problems. I made my manual transfer switch for less than $75 & it switches from inside via one small toggle switch. Works like a charm. I could make the thing switch automatically if needed but don't like that feature.

TOM

boxcarOkie · August 29, 2011, 08:02:44 AM

Busted Knuckle · August 29, 2011, 09:30:02 AM

Don ................Priceless!

BK

Scott & Heather · September 16, 2011, 06:45:07 AM

Quote from: van on August 27, 2011, 06:12:06 AM
Has any one decided to stay? Good luck and don't forget the pix

As wished for. So, the damage wasn't bad, and the wind wasn't earth shattering by any stretch...but when you ride something like this out in your coach, it really is a bit adventurous. Watch through the whole video..the first section is blank because it was dark, no power (genset not running at that point in the video) and I just wanted to capture the audio INSIDE the coach. Mind you, the coach was bouncing around in the wind the whole time...enough to keep us awake. I managed to snatch about 3 hours of sleep on and off:

Hurricane Irene in a Bus