RE: Looking for advice on datacenter electrical/generator

[Timo Janhunen <timo () aci on ca>]

At 05:51 PM 04/04/2003 -0800, Bill Woodcock wrote:
>       On Fri, 4 Apr 2003, Timo Janhunen wrote:
>     > Natural gas is volatile, hence not a good option in earthquake prone
>     > areas - earthquake + natural gas line = big smelly leak - big 
> smelly leak +
>     > spark = big fire
>
> They're already there.  Whether or not you use it doesn't affect the
> likelihood that it'll break in an earthquake.  And FWIW, I've been
> throught a lot of earthquakes, and I've been through a lot of gas-line
> cuts, but the two have never coincided.  Backhoes always so far.

Backhoe, earthquake, bottom line is that there's a break.

>     > - The gas gets cut off immediately in any fire situation, usually
>     > affecting a few city blocks at a time
>
> When was the last time you saw a fire that affected a few city blocks?
> I'm sure gas would be cut off in the event of a fire of that magnitude,
> but are you arguing that diesel delivery would continue?  Trucks rolling
> through the maelstrom?  I'm not sure what your point is here.

Gas being turned off usually affects a few city blocks.

>     > Diesel generators come in both turbocharged and naturally aspirated
>     > models, which can easily be serviced
>
> Hey, and engine is an engine, regardless of what you dump in the top.
> Doesn't make any difference to the mechanic, or the parts guy, or
> whatever...  It's all the same parts.

Ask a mechanic that question. You'll likely get a somewhat different opinion.

Timo