What are your hacks when the electricity goes out

[notorious]

Originally Posted by frozenchief

We have frequent power outages in the winter but they typically don’t last very long - 20 minutes to an hour at most is what is typical. We get bad winds that blow trees onto power lines.

A few years ago we had a really bad storm with gusts up to 100mph in some places. Power was out for 3+ days at our house. My wood stoves could not keep up. Main part of the house would not get above about 35. So, we got a 6500W generator and put in the switch so our house could run off that. Since then we’ve had to run it for at least 2 major storms. It won’t power everything but it will power the heater and the water pump (we have a well) And what we need.

We have about a couple weeks’ worth of food in general because I don’t want a bad earthquake to prevent us from getting food. I admit, if an earthquake keeps us without power or food for >1 week, we are super hosed.

But we just got another 6” of snow last night and a bunch of wind. No power issues so thus far we are good.

What part of Alaska do you live? Juneau is interesting.

[ShortRoundChief]

Originally Posted by notorious

What part of Alaska do you live? Juneau is interesting.

Dodging moose and bears does sound interesting. I'm wondering if they are as common as deer here.

[scho63]

In the last 25 years I'm pretty sure I've lost power 3-4 times in total.

Never an issue. I don't live in a 3rd world country. I have had issues in some places I've traveled. Haiti, Cuba and Rio de Janiero had problems.

[ShortRoundChief]

Originally Posted by scho63

In the last 25 years I'm pretty sure I've lost power 3-4 times in total.

Never an issue. I don't live in a 3rd world country. I have had issues in some places I've traveled. Haiti, Cuba and Rio de Janiero had problems.

What the ****? You do know power grid go out in the US too right?


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[scho63]

Originally Posted by J Diddy

What the ****? You do know power grid go out in the US too right?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I think I read the top three causes of power outages were:

1. Traffic accidents
2. Construction workers cutting a power line or needing to turn it off temporarily to move a line.
3. Weather related.

Transformers blowing were 4th I think.

[scho63]

OP: You sure you paid your electric bill?

[displacedinMN]

Originally Posted by scho63

I think I read the top three causes of power outages were:



1. Traffic accidents

2. Construction workers cutting a power line or needing to turn it off temporarily to move a line.

3. Weather related.



Transformers blowing were 4th I think.

I could see that

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[Chief Pagan]

Originally Posted by scho63

In the last 25 years I'm pretty sure I've lost power 3-4 times in total.

Never an issue. I don't live in a 3rd world country. I have had issues in some places I've traveled. Haiti, Cuba and Rio de Janiero had problems.

If I had a basement, I wouldn't be too worried about it.

In a summer power outage, a basement won't get hot.

In 110+ heat, my house heats up quickly.

When Sacramento hit the all time high record of 116 a few years ago, my power got turned off. Not because of a rolling black out due to insufficient power supply, but because local equipment over heated.

The equipment hadn't been designed for that high of Temps (and the previous days highs) and the continuous max load. Because the area had never seen Temps/heat wave like that, duh.

The ~$400 I spent was worth it for that one event for me.

I don't do well in heat and it was a very small investment for me.

The chance of losing power obviously varies by location as does the inconvenience to different households as does the experience of being prepared for various contingencies.

I keep two weeks of drinking water on hand. I'm connected to a city water supply, so I really doubt I'll ever use it. But I have space and it's really cheap and easy to do, so why not.

[Otter]

Pot belly stove and a cord of firewood.

[Hog's Gone Fishin]

I own one of these. Won't run the house but minor shit can run. Solar generators can be run in the house without issue

https://inergytek.com/products/inerg...-power-station


Also have two coleman cooking stoves and about 50 of those little green propane bottles

[Hog's Gone Fishin]

This site tells you where current power outages are ocurring, I keep it in my "favorites" for some reason. Not sure why.

https://poweroutage.us/

[neech]

Originally Posted by Hog's Gone Fishin

This site tells you where current power outages are ocurring, I keep it in my "favorites" for some reason. Not sure why.

https://poweroutage.us/

For SHTF purposes.

[neech]

Originally Posted by Hog's Gone Fishin

I own one of these. Won't run the house but minor shit can run. Solar generators can be run in the house without issue

https://inergytek.com/products/inerg...-power-station


Also have two coleman cooking stoves and about 50 of those little green propane bottles

How long does it take to charge up the inergytek by solar power when it is low generally speaking Hog?

[Hog's Gone Fishin]

Originally Posted by neech

How long does it take to charge up the inergytek by solar power when it is low generally speaking Hog?

I've only done it once but it took about 6 hours to get from 10% to full charge. I drained the charger down to zero when I first got it and then it sat for a few days before I tried to recharge it from the wall outlet and it never would take a charge. Had to send it back and have it reset which took about 3 months turn around.

The instructions say Not to let it go to zero so now I know. That was disappointing.

Would NOT buy this model again

[neech]

Originally Posted by Hog's Gone Fishin

I've only done it once but it took about 6 hours to get from 10% to full charge. I drained the charger down to zero when I first got it and then it sat for a few days before I tried to recharge it from the wall outlet and it never would take a charge. Had to send it back and have it reset which took about 3 months turn around.

The instructions say Not to let it go to zero so now I know. That was disappointing.

Would NOT buy this model again

Doh, I wouldn't have thought of that either.

My brother was telling me about this unit a few months back, I think he bought it but not sure.