Not sure how up to date this is, but if you're wondering which stations are on First Canadian Place, you can find them here.

I suppose I shouldn't find it surprising that so few of these stations affected by the power outage have back-ups. That's just absurd. When the power is out (often taking Internet and phones down with it, depending on the provider) radio gets its chance in the spotlight. Not being there is just not an option. 

Yes, back-up power can be expensive. So is insurance. I have it on my car and my house and thankfully, never use it. It costs me a lot of money every year, but I would not be without it. It astounds me that they won't go that extra mile to keep their signals on the air when they're needed the most. 

I remember the last big blackout in 2003 when the entire city was plunged into figurative darkness around 4 PM. Our TV station had no back-up. Everything went out - all the computers, editing bays, lights, you name it. We had no idea what happened or why - but more importantly, how long it would last. And we had a 6 o'clock show with a brand new lead story to get ready for and no way to do it. 

They managed to get a portable production truck from Dome Productions down to the station pronto and got the place partially powered back up. It didn't come cheap but there was no choice.

I hope management learned their lesson that day and invested in some kind of permanent back-up power supply. But given the expense and how rarely it happens, my guess is we're still vulnerable for the next time the plug gets pulled with no warning. Talk about dancing in the dark. 

OK I admit I'm as far from an engineer as you can get. But why would you want to put your emergency power back-up in the same place where a blackout is possible? Putting it somewhere else ups your chances that one power outage won't encompass everything. As they found out so painfully on Tuesday.

RadioActive wrote:

OK I admit I'm as far from an engineer as you can get. But why would you want to put your emergency power back-up in the same place where a blackout is possible? Putting it somewhere else ups your chances that one power outage won't encompass everything. As they found out so painfully on Tuesday.

Backups are gas powered.

RadioActive wrote:

Then how did these fail? Not enough gas in the tank? Do they ever test them?

Good question!  Im guessing CN tower was all ok?

Skywave wrote:

CN Tower was okay.  They completely replaced their generators after the 2003 debacle when they failed. 
Most building generator systems are diesel, as the engines are very efficient, and are inherently more reliable than gasoline or natural gas engines, which rely on spark plugs.
Good practice is to run up the generators at least once per month.  Don't have an excessively large fuel storage tank, as the fuel can go stale.  Don't run the generators without load for more than the time required to get to proper operating temperature, as they will carbon up. Do full load testing, including cutting the main power to ensure that the transfer logic all works correctly. If the full load is well under the rated capacity of the generator, have a mobile load bank connected and run the generator full blast to blow out the carbon. Have dual paralleled fuel filters, and replace them frequently.
A properly maintained generator will start within five seconds, and take full load within ten.
 

Would be basically like a big truck sitting but when needed, to work properly. 
 

This failure of backup power during the blackout would make a damn good news story but for the whole emperor's new clothes angle which could be a bit of a stumbling block.

Last edited by betaylored (July 17, 2024 5:09 pm)

Does anyone know where CKIS' backup is located? It's not on the ISED site.