When it rains..

In the Congo, when it rains, it floods. This pattern not only follows the weather (currently the rainy season here) but is applicable to most aspect of daily life.

It starts with clouds rolling in, which for us is problematic because we run predominately on solar power. So its time to fire up the generator. Well, easier said than done when your triple filtered fuel looks like mud.

Then the clouds darken and the wind howls. The power inverter decides it doesn't like the volts and hertz being delivered by the generator and refuses to connect. The power system drops as you run critical labs and database functions.

Then it begins to lightning and thunder....see my previous post for a demonstration. You watch helplessly as the power is sucked from the system which the Congolese lab is now connected to because their labs power tapped out hours ago and there is a baby that needs a blood transfusion or he'll die.

Suddenly, rain lands like a waterfall on the roof of the tiny exhaust filled room you've been in for the last hour. Frantically, you begin to weigh your options and begin running a full system sweep.

Just as it begins to really come down, the internet goes haywire and all connections are lost. The power is getting critically low and the entire grid is about to shut down. Nothing on the inverter or network systems hints as to what is causing this nightmare. What do you do?

Break out the tools and begin taking everything apart looking for the problem. You shut off all non-critical systems (satellite uplink, lights, freezers, fans, etc.)and hope there is just enough power to get through the next 30 minutes while they type and cross the blood and the Polymerase Chain Reaction equipment is cycling. The rain comes harder and you are soaked from running back and forth between the lab and the electric room.

What was once sand has now become submerged muck which has been tracked onto every square inch of the floor you are now crawling on in order to run the miles of wire and cable connecting all the electronics to the power grid and the battery bank. The possibility of getting electrocuted briefly enters your mind.

By a stroke of luck, nothing seems out of place. This means the only thing left is the generator. Unfortunately, the other 3 generators in the room are incompatible. You you reach out to it off and decide if taking it apart in the rain is really a good idea. The rain is hitting the side of your face due to the wind. The good news is you're not asphyxiating on fumes at the moment and can think a little more clearly.

Just as your plan of action solidifies and you touch the off switch, it sputters, kicks, and dies. NOT NOW! Having been here prevoiusly, you knew all to well what that death roll meant, the fuel filter has clogged. You deftly reach the filter plug and begin to rotate it while catching minor contact burns from the engine. After a little negotiating, the filter, and a pile of oily muck, drop out. You hold it out and let the rain do the work of cleaning the filter. After the bulk is washed away, you apply a little manual air pressure and blow on it to release the rest of the obstruction and reinsert it finally replacing all the components. It fires up as if it was brand new...beautiful.

Before you complete you mental victory lap, you remember that there is still another, larger issue and power it down. As you unplug the main line from the generator, you notice it is a little hot and discolored. On a whim, you decide to take it apart and give it a better look. The rain lightens ever so slightly.

Dumb luck is better than no luck at all. The hot wire has overheated the connection and separated from the plug. Pulling the necessary tools to repair the line, you yell at the lab to hold all operations for 5 minutes while you cut, strip, and reconnect the lines. 4 1/2 minutes later, you yell back to resume everything, start the generator, and flip the switch....everything begins to hum as the grid lights up; it feels like Christmas came early.

You sit down and look at the mess you'll have to spend the next 3 hours cleaning up. Satisfied, you look outside and notice the rain has stopped.....for now.