<Hurricane Gustav, Energy Infrastructure, and Updated Damage Models - Thread #3 (updated 23:46 edt) The Oil Drum Hurricane Gustav, Energy Infrastructure and Updated Damage Models -- Thread #4 (Updated 8/31 23:00 EDT)>
<DrumBeat: August 30, 2008 DrumBeat DrumBeat: September 1, 2008>

100 comments on DrumBeat: August 31, 2008

Comments can no longer be added to this story.

Show without comments | PDF version

nelsone on August 31, 2008 - 11:25am Permalink | Subthread | Parent | Comments top

When the catalytic converters started disappearing off cars here in Beaverton, the local PD told people to get the bolts welded up. Only takes a couple minutes, and it's done for free (!) at many muffler shops.

Can't the same trick be used to freeze up the bolts on your PV panels? Touch 'em with a stick, and instantly their removal is neither quick nor silent.

Comments can no longer be added to this story.
boby on August 31, 2008 - 12:10pm Permalink | Subthread | Parent | Comments top

Hmm, can't imagine that electrical welding would do the panels or electrical system much good.

Comments can no longer be added to this story.
phreephallin on August 31, 2008 - 12:25pm Permalink | Subthread | Parent | Comments top

I don't think catalytic converter thieves bother with wrenches or bolts. They typically just saw or use a pipe cutter to cut through exhaust pipes. Here was one theft caught on video in Sacramento.

Welding the bolts on anything seems like a bad solution for the time when you might need to legitimately work on it.

Comments can no longer be added to this story.
Insania on August 31, 2008 - 1:00pm Permalink | Subthread | Parent | Comments top

I used Unirac mounts, all aluminum. Anything to weld or permanently fix them in place also prevents me from roof repairs, etc., and would more or less destroy the racks for re-installation. The rails/mounts were roughly 10% of the total cost of my installation, not trivial.

They are located right above the garage and face the street...it really would be a bold move on a thief's part to hijack them, but who knows.

My father-in-law's Toyota truck was hit here in Sacramento about 8 months ago...welding bolts on the converter wouldn't do it as they use ratcheting pipe cutters...three minutes, tops, to sever both sides.

Comments can no longer be added to this story.
creg on August 31, 2008 - 6:33pm Permalink | Subthread | Parent | Comments top

speaking of bold

i keep & ear out[out of sight in the summer] for a neighbor's place for sale- a year + now. i recently heard a big truck working over there & listened carefully & could tell was a big wench type truck picking up a propane tank, so i thought was legit; they stole it 1/2 full of propane.

Comments can no longer be added to this story.
mbnewtrain on August 31, 2008 - 6:37pm Permalink | Subthread | Parent | Comments top

Solution to catalytic converter theft:

Get a piece of hardened or wear plate steel (manganese alloy) from a metal fabrication shop, maybe 1/4" (0.75cm) by 1" (2.5cm) about 36 - 42" (90 - 110cm) long (long enough to follow the pipe where it passes above the cross frame. Have the muffler shop MIG weld this bar to the exhaust pipe in front of and behind the cat. converter.
Manganese alloyed steel cannot be cut with any pipe cutter or saw, it can only be cut with a cutting torch or abrassive cutoff wheel. Using the later to cut throught the wear plate steel would take 5 - 10 minutes and create a lot of sparks and noise. Most thieves need to be in & out in less than 3 minutes without creating any sound.

Comments can no longer be added to this story.
elwoodelmore on September 1, 2008 - 7:09am Permalink | Subthread | Parent | Comments top

"Solution to catalytic converter theft:"

but would it protect against rsb's ?

Comments can no longer be added to this story.

100 comments on DrumBeat: August 31, 2008

Comments can no longer be added to this story.

Show without comments | PDF version