What's on your PO shopping list?!

MacG · Post by **MacG** » 11 Nov 2005, 14:57

peaky wrote:I'm sure it's lovely dear ... but what is it?

Please followed the provided link. Just a click away...

Post by **mikepepler** » 11 Nov 2005, 20:48

MacG wrote:I would really like one of these babies, but they refuse to ship outside the US.

Why not one of the Freeplay ones?
Freeplay Summit
I've had one for a year now, and after the initial charge to condition the battery, have never needed to charge it, or even wind it up - the solar planel has done it all. Nice to know the winder is there in case there's a fortnight with no sun!

MacG · Post by **MacG** » 11 Nov 2005, 21:45

mikepepler wrote:
MacG wrote:I would really like one of these babies, but they refuse to ship outside the US.
Why not one of the Freeplay ones?
Freeplay Summit
I've had one for a year now, and after the initial charge to condition the battery, have never needed to charge it, or even wind it up - the solar planel has done it all. Nice to know the winder is there in case there's a fortnight with no sun!

A bit bulky, but Way Cool! Will consider priorities.

skeptik · Post by **skeptik** » 11 Nov 2005, 22:09

peaky wrote:
MacG wrote:I would really like one of these babies, but they refuse to ship outside the US.
Which also had me confused too... hmmm GP-4L... must be a miniaturised Global Positioning system that can run off the heat provided by a Zippo lighter...fascinating... after PO you could runit off the heat of rubbing two Boy Scouts together.... what will they think of next...

but no... as the website reveals...its a radio which runs off 2 non-rechargeable Duracell batteries!

MacG · Post by **MacG** » 12 Nov 2005, 06:29

skeptik wrote:...its a radio which runs off 2 non-rechargeable Duracell batteries!

*Sigh* Since I've replaced all other alkalines with rechargable NiMH, I guess it wont be that hard to replace these too.

AllanH · Post by **AllanH** » 23 Nov 2005, 13:40

Aliwood wrote

Store them in paper sacks or hessian type stuff, if they're in a plastic bag they'll sweat and go mouldy, we use ex-grain sacks (I have spares upon request).

Can you use post office mail sacks? These are tougher, more plasticy material than hessian so I'm not sure if they'll work.

Back to preperations for PO:
As we're expecting a bad winter I'm concentrating the preparations I'm making right now on seeing me through the winter. Can I get any comments on the (multitude of) things I'm forgetting.
I've got:
*over 50 litres of water stored
*warm clothing
*Milbankbag water filter
*Swedish firesteel & a few lighters (no actual fireplace so these are just for candles & in case)
*50+ candles
*camping stove & a couple of gas bottles (70%butane 30%propane)
*gradually increasing my stock of tinned food, etc
*powdered milk, oats, rice, pasta - few kg of each (apart from the milk - 1 big tub)
*batteries & recharger (not solar as yet but with the amount of sun we're getting it's not worth it right now)
*battery powered walkman & radio (will get a windup one at some point in the future)
*Will be getting new good boots shortly
*wellies (should pick these up when I come back from visiting the family)
*spare cash

Ok so what am I forgetting & what else should I be getting?

AllanH

Ballard · Post by **Ballard** » 23 Nov 2005, 19:35

I wish I'd done this to my house,

http://www.justgenerators.co.uk/pages/powertransfer.htm

Probably the best way to ensure the central heating continues to work during the problems ahead.

Sigh, I think I'll go and get a portable gas heater, just in case.

MacG · Post by **MacG** » 23 Nov 2005, 21:15

AllanH wrote:Ok so what am I forgetting & what else should I be getting?AllanH

In case of real infrastructure shutdowns:

Sleeping bags for everyone
Some decks of cards
Eternal board games such as chess and Go
Paper, notebooks and pencils. Lots of it!
100-500 more candles (your neighbourghs will love you if you share a little)
Acoustic musical instruments (and people to play them)

I think that personal stuff is indeed important, but community building, personal connections and ways to fight boredom are more important. Store a little stuff for the next guy also.

AllanH · Post by **AllanH** » 24 Nov 2005, 12:38

It's just me, myself & I so I don't need board games or cards (always keep a deck anyway), I've got a sleeping bag & can't play any instruments.
You reckon I'll need (or would be wise to get) that many extra candles. Maybe I'll see what else I ought to get & see how my money holds up.

AllanH

PowerswitchClive · Post by **PowerswitchClive** » 24 Nov 2005, 15:25

Forget candles... get on ebay and pick up an LED camping lantern for ?15.
The advanced LEDs give the same light as a normal camping lantern, but allow the batteries to last a 100 hours!! I have bought a couple of these and they even come with the 4 D cell batteries needed, bargin!
Excellent quality and really well made.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll? ... 8718405214

I also was able to pick up a brand new Bosch portable calor gas heater, gas regulator and new full 13kg calor gas bottle for ?100 including delivery. Gives 100hours of room heating

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll? ... 7561336021

So for ?130 you have solved all of your emergency lighting and heating needs for this winter...

Ballard · Post by **Ballard** » 24 Nov 2005, 17:32

Have you sat in a room lit by leds only, it's not nice, after a while you feel as if you're being prepared for dissection.

I think a nice mix of candles for colour warmth and Leds for background light levels is ok.

MacG · Post by **MacG** » 24 Nov 2005, 22:15

AllanH wrote:It's just me, myself & I so I don't need board games or cards (always keep a deck anyway), I've got a sleeping bag & can't play any instruments.
You reckon I'll need (or would be wise to get) that many extra candles. Maybe I'll see what else I ought to get & see how my money holds up.

AllanH

Other people matter when times turn rough. It's never wrong to think a little about what other people might need. On simple candle make a huge difference if the alternative is complete darkness, and the ability to hand it out can make a huge difference to your standing and reputation.

GD · Post by GD » 24 Nov 2005, 22:30

Ballard wrote:Have you sat in a room lit by leds only, it's not nice, after a while you feel as if you're being prepared for dissection.

I think a nice mix of candles for colour warmth and Leds for background light levels is ok.

They're not all like that - Warm white LED's

BTW, MacG I like your thinking ^ that's ^ exactly the kind of attitude that's needed. (And when you have their attention, perhaps they might want a book on Peak Oil to read while there's no TV, so they can understand what's really going on...)

hatchelt · Post by **hatchelt** » 25 Nov 2005, 01:26

How much are you good people paying for gas bottles?
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ADVERT DELETED

Ballard · Post by **Ballard** » 25 Nov 2005, 09:04

um, I just paid ?44 for a 15kg one from Calor, but I didn't go bargin hunting!