Solar Flares and home generators?

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Having read the recent posts on solar flares and the possibility of this phenomenom knocking out power grids it occurred to me if the power went out in your area due to this solar flare thing it might not be a wise thing to start up your generator. Could it also fry a small generator?

Sorry if this sounds like a stupid question but I'll admit I'm clueless on this subject.

-- LG (www.mimesis@webtv.net), June 27, 1999

Answers

LG

Generators will be fine, especially the older electro-mechanical ones. The bigger and newer stuff has lots of electronics built in, but these should be fine also.

Solar activity generates a large and varying magnetic field aver large areas that induce currents on long lines as in grid networks and communications.

You genset is most likely safe on this one.

Bob P Lic #11234 NJ

-- Bob P (rpilc99206@aol.com), June 27, 1999.


Hmmmm hmmm hmm hmm whistle, whistle, peep.

Comment added at 15:26 UTC on January 27: A solar wind shock was observed at 14:00 UTC with an abrupt increase in solar wind speed from 340 to 370 km/sec. Just afterwards solar wind density increased to extremely high levels approaching 100 particles/cm3. The interplanetary magnetic field has strengthened a lot and swung strongly southwards. This could result in major storming later on today.

Link dxl solar

Link uvisun

Link space weather

Link helios

Link science nasa

Link uleth

""Solar Warning Site"" Link

Link seismo

Link maj.com

Link YPOP

Link

Link lasco navy

Link harvard

Link sunspot noao

Link umbra

Link solar njit

Link First_light

Link uvisun

Link iris

Link ottawa

Link artrans

Oh nouice..shhhhh...{|}.peek... quiet...shhh! peek

-- oki (ok@doke.o), January 27, 2000.


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