Q: You recently wrote about ways homeowners could prepare for a power outage. One source of temporary power you didn't mention is already sitting in your driveway. You can use a DC to AC converter that attaches to your car's battery to provide AC power.
Jerry Cook
A: You're right Jerry. There are devices called inverters that attach to your car's battery and convert its DC current into AC that can be used by small appliances or lights in your home. Here's a Web link to one that can furnish 175 watts of AC: http://tinyurl.com/4ro3y94. There are others that provide even more power.
Used with caution during an outage, inverters can be helpful. But anyone considering one should keep a few things in mind. There's a real danger of running a battery down when drawing power from a car that isn't running. You could be stranded without transportation. But if you run the car to keep the battery charged, keep in mind that the car must be outside -- not in a garage. Otherwise you run the risk of carbon monoxide fumes killing your family. Even when cars are safely located outdoors, be cautious about emptying the tank. Mechanics also tell me that automobile engines are not designed for long periods of idling.
Q: Your column mentioned the use of a uninterruptable power supply for charging a cell phone during a power outage. I was wondering if I could use the UPS to power a fluorescent light in a power outage?
Ron Heisterkamp
A: Chargers for laptop computers and cell phones don't use much power. A UPS is a great way to keep them powered up during an outage. But most household appliances draw too much power to connect to a UPS. Depending on the size of your UPS, it might be possible to use it to occasionally power up a light with a exceptionally low power draw. But, in most cases, that's asking too much. I'd reserve the UPS to keep phones and laptops charged.
Q: How do I get rid of the Microsoft Messenger pop-up on my PC? I don't want it. I don't need it.
Jim Griswold
A: Go to the Windows Start button, then to Control Panel, then "Programs" then "Programs and Features," then "Windows Live Essentials." Click on "change/remove." You'll have the option to pick which Essential, including Messenger, you want to remove.
If you want to keep it from starting, rather than removing it, you can do this: Go to Live Messenger, then right click Menu, then Tools, then Options and on to Sign In. Remove the checkmark by "Open Messenger on Startup."
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Please send questions to Bill Husted at tecbud@bellsouth.net. Although he reads every e-mail, not all are answered. E-mails are selected for publication based on the likelihood the answers will be of general interest
