Comments on: Off the Grid: Eighty Hours without Commercial Power http://www.dixson.org/off-the-grid-eighty-hours-without-commercial-power/ news and rants for family & friends Wed, 29 Jul 2009 02:58:34 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: Chris http://www.dixson.org/off-the-grid-eighty-hours-without-commercial-power/comment-page-1/#comment-14 Chris Mon, 19 Jan 2009 19:09:43 +0000 http://www.dixson.org/?p=276#comment-14 Thank you for the additional & helpful ideas! :-) I especially like, "Nail down the generator, such things have a way of growing legs in the night..." So true. I read that some generator thefts did indeed occur. Thank you for the additional & helpful ideas! :-) I especially like, “Nail down the generator, such things have a way of growing legs in the night…” So true. I read that some generator thefts did indeed occur.

]]> By: AC0KG http://www.dixson.org/off-the-grid-eighty-hours-without-commercial-power/comment-page-1/#comment-13 AC0KG Mon, 19 Jan 2009 15:33:38 +0000 http://www.dixson.org/?p=276#comment-13 Some ideas. Part of my planning includes battery powered LED night-lights. These plug into the wall and keep themselves charged and work as regular night-lights. When the power goes out they automatically switch to high brightness. You can take them out of the wall and switch them to 'flashlight' mode. Some models run on NiMH AA cells and are intended for use as battery chargers. I like them because they're always charged, in the same place and easy to find. They run about 10-15 bucks each. Make sure you can cold-start any gas-based appliances. My fireplace will run with the power out (without the circulation fan), but it won't turn on if the power is out. I also have some recycled computer UPSs that won't cold-start on battery power. Nail down the generator, such things have a way of growing legs in the night during extended power outages, particularly if they can be heard at night. Drill regularly and randomly. At unexpected times during the year, cut power to the house (or most circuits anyway) and restrict yourself to using only what would be available in a given emergency situation. This kind of drilling quickly reveals holes in your planning. Note the problem on paper and try to cope with it (in an emergency that's what you'd have to do anyway). Take notes about what would make things easier, what supplies you discovered you were low on or were using faster than expected. Working through the notes later will make sure you are always well prepared and know what to do. Also be sure you address not just the deficiencies you discover, but the cause of them. For example, if you're low on aluminum foil and so can't grill some food properly, find out why you haven't purchased a replacement yet (generally, because people shop for stuff after they notice they one they have is getting low or is gone. I buy a new one as soon as I've opened a fresh package, so I've always got at least one unopened one on the shelf). I try to make all my regular activities emergency-compatible, so that I have less to think about during an emergency situation. I also try to make sure I have backups for all my backups :) Some ideas.

Part of my planning includes battery powered LED night-lights. These plug into the wall and keep themselves charged and work as regular night-lights. When the power goes out they automatically switch to high brightness. You can take them out of the wall and switch them to ‘flashlight’ mode. Some models run on NiMH AA cells and are intended for use as battery chargers. I like them because they’re always charged, in the same place and easy to find. They run about 10-15 bucks each.

Make sure you can cold-start any gas-based appliances. My fireplace will run with the power out (without the circulation fan), but it won’t turn on if the power is out. I also have some recycled computer UPSs that won’t cold-start on battery power.

Nail down the generator, such things have a way of growing legs in the night during extended power outages, particularly if they can be heard at night.

Drill regularly and randomly. At unexpected times during the year, cut power to the house (or most circuits anyway) and restrict yourself to using only what would be available in a given emergency situation. This kind of drilling quickly reveals holes in your planning. Note the problem on paper and try to cope with it (in an emergency that’s what you’d have to do anyway). Take notes about what would make things easier, what supplies you discovered you were low on or were using faster than expected. Working through the notes later will make sure you are always well prepared and know what to do.

Also be sure you address not just the deficiencies you discover, but the cause of them. For example, if you’re low on aluminum foil and so can’t grill some food properly, find out why you haven’t purchased a replacement yet (generally, because people shop for stuff after they notice they one they have is getting low or is gone. I buy a new one as soon as I’ve opened a fresh package, so I’ve always got at least one unopened one on the shelf).

I try to make all my regular activities emergency-compatible, so that I have less to think about during an emergency situation. I also try to make sure I have backups for all my backups :)

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