I managed to find a copy of this program on a newsgroup index site. I liked it to be honest, quite realistic I thought.
Seems like the things to do if this becomes reality are...
Run your generator right after the lights go out to keep your freezer and fridge going and before the looters have time to gather. In the first few hours the panic will be yet to set in.
Try to have a quiet place to run aforementioned generator.
Don't talk to anyone about your prepping especially the neighbours.
Good security in your back garden. Nice thorny hedge and lockable gate. Deadlocks in the house.
Keep your petrol tank more than 3/4 full at all times.
Tinned food and lots of it.
We had a 13 day power cut back in the early nineties after a snow storm. We had a freezer full of runner beans and had beans with every meal to use them up. I was never so happy to have a Rayburn with thermosiphon water heater.
Or give up on the generator, and spend the money on a high efficiency DC fridge and/or freezer. These are costly appliances, but save money whilst times are normal by reduced energy use.
In an emergency, a high efficiency DC fridge or freezer can be worked for a week from a reasonably sized battery bank, and indefinatly with some PV input.
A stealth PV system may be worth considering. Special PV modules are available that resemble standard roof slates, these are mainly intended for grid tie applications on historic buildings where coventional PV modules would look out of place.
No reason they cant be used for battery charging though.
Greatly reduces risk of theft or looting as they are inconspicous, the main risk would seem to be neighbours watching the installation and later remembering, but most people dont remember that sort of thing.
If only modest power is needed for emergency needs, remember that a PV module might be better placed where it cant be seen from the road or neighbouring properties, even if this results in much reduced output.
A 100 watt module that only produces 10 watts because it faces north, is more use than one that produces 100 watts but is stolen in the emergency.
Dont forget large stocks of disposable alkaline cells, totaly self contained and not reliant on any stealable, noise producing, or attention attracting charging system.
6 alkaline D cells and a good LED torch bulb can provide a good light for 100 hours, that is several weeks of evening use.
3 alkaline D cells and a small LED can provide minimal lighting every night for a whole year.
The true doomer would equip their home with standby lighting in each room from a battery bank, this should ideally have two settings.
Relatively bright for safety and convienience during short term power cuts or breakdowns, and a very much lower level when keeping a low profile is important, but SOME light is needed for safe movement.
The lamps used for the low level lighting should be placed such that they cant be seen directly from outside, and also wont cause glare to yourself.
For say a living room, a couple of 3 watt LED lamps for the high level, and a couple of 0.05 watt LEDs for the low level might suffice.
"Installers and owners of emergency diesels must assume that they will have to run for a week or more"
cubes wrote:Tbh, I would have thought most people would assume PV is grid-tied and therefore useless. Although there are plenty of idiots out there.
A fair bit of the population do not understand that most large PV systems are grid tied, and those that do understand might want to steal the modules for battery charging.
"Installers and owners of emergency diesels must assume that they will have to run for a week or more"
adam2 I think you have made a lot of valid points. I also managed to get from the same newsgroup index site a program on UK preppers that was also very interesting.
My solar installation is unfortunately very prominent but I have considered installing a separate more 'stealthy' system at the back of the house rigged to a battery, the main installation being on the front viewable from the street. The roof level is about 14 feet up on a steeply sloping roof which may provide some protection as it required four people to get it up if anyone tried to remove they could have on fall on their head.
Perhaps 200 Watt solar panels could even be a tradable currency in the world of the future. Maybe a store of some still in their packets could be worthwhile.
I do like the idea of a 12 volt system around the house. It is something I have thought about using caravan or boat 12V technology. Also the 12V fridge freezer. I have also seen where you can buy a circuit that converts a 240V chest freezer into a more efficient fridge (basically a thermostat).
I am off out to get some quality C and D batteries now!
Are there any decent rechargeable C and D batteries on the market? Don't they just tend to be made up of several AAA or AA connected in parallel? Is this actually a good solution?
Perhaps 200 Watt solar panels could even be a tradable currency in the world of the future. Maybe a store of some still in their packets could be worthwhile.
Even more valuable would be the panel together with someone with the know-how to set it up. Could be among the "pioneer species" of post-collapse businesses that emerges.
Jason Heppenstall ("22 Billion Energy Slaves") has just pointed out that the programme completely forgot to mention what would happen to our fleet of nuclear power stations and their waste-processing emporia in the event of a failure of electricity supply for cooling.
Are there any decent rechargeable C and D batteries on the market? Don't they just tend to be made up of several AAA or AA connected in parallel? Is this actually a good solution?
I experience pleasure and pains, and pursue goals in service of them, so I cannot reasonably deny the right of other sentient agents to do the same - Steven Pinker
RenewableCandy wrote:Jason Heppenstall ("22 Billion Energy Slaves") has just pointed out that the programme completely forgot to mention what would happen to our fleet of nuclear power stations and their waste-processing emporia in the event of a failure of electricity supply for cooling.
Errr...forgot??
Nothing much would happen if the power was only off for a week, or even for a month.
In the absence of an external power supply the reactor cooling systems may be powered from diesel generators.
Stocks of diesel fuel are held sufficient for several months.
In the situation depicted in the TV programe, I doubt that nuclear power stations would be without external power supplies for cooling for as long as a week.
A very high priority would be given to restarting hydroelectric plant and OCGT generators, perhaps under manual control. This would energise key parts of the high voltage grid network, including nuclear stations, long before supply to the public would be restored.
"Installers and owners of emergency diesels must assume that they will have to run for a week or more"
Not new on the forum though not very active, was westcoastreticence but cannot get on or reset password for whatever reason.
Saw this a while ago and meant to reply then.
J2M stated 'You also have a few million illegal firearms in the UK'
Interested to know why you think that sounds a bit (excuse the insult) a bit daily mail.
In the UK we have had some of the tightest gun control laws in the world since shortly after WW1 I understand it was the fear of the same happening in the UK that happened in Russia.
It is often stated you can walk into certain pubs and get a gun for 50 quid but Ive never seen any evidence to back this assertion up. It reminds me of the urban tale 'my mates uncle has a friend who bought a crate at an MoD auction for 20 quid and it contained a brand new Willys jeep.' I understand a dealer has offered money for anyone who can produce any evidence of this happening for real, to date no takers.
The point.
If we accept we have the tightest gun control and therefore not a huge amount of weapons out there surely a big stick or air rifle will deter most folk? American sites will argue the merits or otherwise of various calibres but really? does anyone want shot with a .22? if you get shot in such a shtf situation regardless of what calibre it is you are in deep trouble.
The guy in this programme would have found it hard to have done more wrong, a generator in a city? unless you are part of a very big group you will attract problems easily avoided. cooking outside equally stupid.
American version of the show now available. Search Youtube for "American Blackout". Clearly inspired by the British version (or vice-versa?). Similar themes and plot-lines. Worth a watch though.
Finally got round to watching Blackout. Very good, compelling and a bit frightening, some nice realism in there. If anything, it could have been a tad longer. Like most biographies of influential people, it lacked any examination of consequences (i.e., biographies usually end at the person's death, whereas the person's influence can carry on for decades; likewise, an appraisal of society post-blackout would have been good).
I felt most sorry for the hospital staff; awful job to have in those circumstances.
Then again, a real version of Blackout would do many people a lot of good.
I experience pleasure and pains, and pursue goals in service of them, so I cannot reasonably deny the right of other sentient agents to do the same - Steven Pinker
