All yesterday we had issues with power brownouts, starting at 9am – they continued all day, and then happened again this morning. Normally, the generator kicks in and we get a very short loss of power, anything on a UPS (TV etc) stays on, and once the power starts again, it’s all good.

Yesterday however, the generator wouldn’t start. This has happened recently, the day of the Rugby World Cup Final (yes – rugby mad here) we had a brownout, and the genset didn’t start. Myself and one of the other guys in the compound got it going by putting his truck battery in the genset to start it. We made it just in time for the start of the Haka – phew.

So yesterday, when it didn’t start – it was exactly the same problem. The battery was dead, obviously the alternator is not charging the battery, and the genset doesn’t start after a while. So the company that fixes the genset, came out with a new battery. They stuck it in and fired up the generator – all good.

About an hour later – another brown out, however the power died in all the apartments. So I stuck my head up and checked to see if the genset was working – and it was… So the genset fixing company guy comes out again, and starts scratching his head. I thought it was reasonably obvious what was wrong, either the circuit feeding the genset power to the apartments wasn’t up, or the alternator was completely stuffed – but, who knows… I’m certainly no expert.

Anyhows, (is that even a word). Thinking they were fixing it, I left – but they didn’t fix it. More brownouts, more heat in the apartment… it’s a vicious circle that…

Today, I just recieved the most comical email from the management company that manages the compund.

Please be advised that the generator has a major problem with the alternator. So when PNG Power’s supply goes off, you will have no power during this time until the main power comes back on again.

ahh yes – no shit sherlock…

So the funny thing is, this has been happening for a while, and instead of wondering why they were replacing batteries, they just replaced them.

And that is why every day is as fasinating as the one previous – lol

As least – when the power is off, I just have to turn on the shower for some moisture – instant SAUNA!!

Aaron