Put to the test by this cold weather

odo · Post by **odo** » 07 Jan 2010, 19:00

Hi,

Newbie from the UK here... I've been a lurker for a while, but decided to sign up to ask for some advice.

How has everyone been coping in this snowy weather? Has anyone found their preps have been beneficial at the moment, kind of a trial run for what may happen in the future?

I have to say that this weather has shown me that I'm still at the mercy of the national grid.

I've been prepping for a year now, have a good stockpile of food and all the household items I can think of that I use regularly.

Now that I've been stuck in the house for 3 days, I'm quite content that I have all I need, and don't have to go out for anything... and can carry on like this for several months.

However, we've had a couple of power cuts since Christmas, and this has really shown me how helpless I am in this situation. Save from finding my way to where I keep the nearest torch, and then lighting a few candles, that was about as far as I could go.

I had no ability to generate power, and found I couldn't do much to occupy my time during the power cut.... it was at night, and candles don't give off much light, so I couldn't do any reading, and obviously there was no TV or computer.

I have no knowledge on how to go about having the means to provide any backup power.

What should I do?

Thanks in advance for any suggestions...

RenewableCandy · Post by **RenewableCandy** » 07 Jan 2010, 19:22

Hello Odo and welcome to the wonderful world of posting!

There's a very helpful thread by adam2 on how to put together a 12 volt lighting system: http://www.powerswitch.org.uk/forum/vie ... php?t=8246.

We have a few stand-up lanterns of various sorts and I want to put up a wall-light that's bright enough to read by.

We have a woodburning stove with a flat top so we have heat (well at least, lack of chill) and very-basic cooking in case of a power cut. I have this theory that things like playing-cards and board-games are historically designed so that they can be used in low lighting conditions, so people wouldn't be short of entertainment in the days when lighting was very costly.

Getting light bright enough for our 2 small people to do their homework by, although useful in my time, wouldn't work nowadays because for most things they'd need the computer.

So until we can afford something like Andy Hunt's set-up, in the event of a power-cut you'd probably find us eating stew or somesuch round the woodburner, playing Scrabble, Uno or similar.

nnnnnn · Post by **nnnnnn** » 07 Jan 2010, 19:24

You can build a fairly simple system purely for backup fairly cheap.
The simplest way would be a backup generator available from about £100 upwards (of dubious quality!).

A simple low voltage system would be a large lead acid battery, like a car battery though a deep cycle battery is superior, and some 12V lights. You can buy 12V Halogen LED lights, or 12V compact fluorescents which will extend your battery life a lot.

You can make the system standalone by adding wind or solar charging though this will make it much more complicated. You can use an inverter which converts 12V to 240V to give yourself mains electricity.

Having a backup system makes you appreciate how much power everything uses. I have a simple backup system on my site (see my signature line) for exactly this purpose, might give you an idea of something to build.

extractorfan · Post by **extractorfan** » 07 Jan 2010, 19:24

There are some much better prepers here than me but since I'm online and in the posting mood.

You sound about as well prepared as I, I have a small stock of food and 3 small calor gas cans with a mini hob attachment. I've got one of those strap to your head torches for reading, it can be red or white light depending if you have sleeping company.

A good warm sleeping bag and some good ex army waterproofs and sturdy boots.

I can light a fire with a flint stick using the feather method like Ray Mears, but I also have lighters and matches

I have a few sideline preps for a low energy future but it seems you are talking about a sudden off grid shock shutdown, so I wont go into that.

JohnB · Post by **JohnB** » 07 Jan 2010, 19:51

I woke up to snow on the first morning at my new PO and EOTWAWKI survival home. Unfortunately, that means there are absolutely no preparations yet! So I'm finding out the problems that need sorting.

- The Rayburn needs converting back to solid fuel, but is running from today on oil. I needed a CO detector before I'd risk running it with lodgers in the house.
- The wood stove in the lodger's room is rubbish, as most of the heat seems to be going up the chimney, and it hasn't got a flat top to cook on.
- It's a stone house with very thick walls, and has taken a week to start warming up in the parts that are being heated.
- I'm staying in my van as it's easier to heat!
- We're dependent on electricity for some heating in the house, and all of it in my van.
- There are draughts to deal with.
- I started creating a food stock on my last trip out (on 28th December), but I'm working my way through it already! The lodgers bought me some food when they were out yesterday, but I'm not risking taking my van out at the moment.
- There's not much firewood around, but the wood is full of fallen trees, many of which have been down for a long time, so may be well seasoned. But the wood is covered in snow and ice, so not a good place to be working with a chainsaw! I found a bow saw in a shed, but the blade is rubbish, and I haven't got an axe to split logs.
- With dangerous roads, and businesses closed, it's not a good time to be going out to buy and acquire stuff I need. Buying online is good, and the delivery drivers and postman are managing to get here.
- I did walk half a mile to the petrol station to buy their last 3.9kg Calor cylinder the other day, so won't run out of gas for cooking in the van.

So it's actually quite a useful, but rather frustrating, and not always pleasant experience. I really hope we don't have a power cut though as we aren't prepared to cope with one!

Next winter will be great - I hope

PowerswitchClive · Post by **PowerswitchClive** » 07 Jan 2010, 21:42

Hey welcome odo
Let me introduce you to one of the best LED lantern's on the market -

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/SILVERPOINT-DAYLI ... 5ad5b7a221

Drop in 3 D cell Alkaline Batteries and they will provide 300 lumen of warm light...for 3 days! The are not cheap at £30, but add some rechargable D cells - you can get rechargable batteries now that are a mix between Alkaline and Ni-Mh, in that they are very powerful and have low storage discharge

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/2x-High-Capacity- ... 5636c1e56d

I have 2 of these lanterns and they really are excellent quality. I only really keep them as a back up for extreme weather.. when my solar panals won't charge my battery bank on the canal barge (because they are covered in 2 foot of snow?)

.

You seem to have made an excellent start though, all you need is a buffer
some of which you have.

Now for heating... If you have or can fit a flat top stove, then you have some heating and cooking, if you can store some coal and wood in a shed.
Otherwise a paraffin heater such as this, may be of use -

http://www.charliesdirect.co.uk/product ... fin-heater

JohnB · Post by **JohnB** » 07 Jan 2010, 21:57

Interesting "brief history of snow" from the Guardian
http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2010/jan/0 ... ie-english

Britain's recent cold snap is nothing on the 16th century's Little Ice Age, or even New York's notorious 1888 blizzard, but we could learn a lot from past snow events

Not about preparations, but some interesting things to think about that could help.

RuncornBridge · Post by **RuncornBridge** » 07 Jan 2010, 22:50

Hi Odo and welcome.

Ok
Lighting: Many Victorian type oil lamps, loads of candles, wind up lantern, torches.
Heating: No emergency heat

but I can open a chimney or four.

But.. I've spent the past two days sorting out my food cupboards and I've discovered I need to rotate alot more. I will be eating from my stores for the next six months, and that's just the out of date stuff

And despite having loads of stuff I couldn't make too many proper meals out of it without a trip to the shop for that one essential ingredient, so

Lesson learned: devise 6/10 meals, as varied as possible, tasty and will store well and concentrate stocking up for those.

Something like:
Pasta, tomato sauce and tuna.
lentil type curry and rice

Ideas?

odo · Post by **odo** » 07 Jan 2010, 23:22

Wow, some good info there, thanks everyone.

It's interesting to see some others who have doubted the extent of their preps when they're actually needed.

I'd have to study the DIY home generator instructions, not really played with that kind of equipment before.

It's really just this issue of power that concerns me... not so worried about heating, since that's solvable with some warm clothing. Mind you, I might think differently if I found myself without any hot water in the house!

For me during the recent power cut, no power = boredom!

Catweazle · Post by **Catweazle** » 07 Jan 2010, 23:32

Hi Odo, welcome to the real world

I'm no expert but I have a few suggestions.

I wouldn't worry too much about electricity if I was you, whilst you may find life a bit boring without TV it's not the end of the world. I understand that your heating might not work, see below.

Personal insulation. Thermal underwear is great, lots of thin layers are best as you can remove and replace them as necessary. Quality sleeping bags are amazing, I have slept well with frost on the outside of a surplus German Army sniper bag.

Potable water, we take it for granted but will die within 3 days without it. Glass bottled water is a good investment.

High fat long shelf life food. Corned Beef hits the spot for me, you can eat it hot or cold or combine it with other edibles easily.

Multivitamins - cheap and long shelf life.

Coal. I'll get slagged for this, but a couple of sacks of coal provide a lot of emergency heat and cost peanuts.

JohnB · Post by **JohnB** » 08 Jan 2010, 00:05

Catweazle wrote:Coal. I'll get slagged for this, but a couple of sacks of coal provide a lot of emergency heat and cost peanuts.

If we're being that naughty, I'll take coal dust. Culm was the in fuel in West Wales at one time, made by mixing coal dust with clay. My wood just happens to be on a former clay pit used for the purpose, and a previous owner of my house used to heat his greenhouses with it.

the_lyniezian · Post by **the_lyniezian** » 08 Jan 2010, 00:30

Sounds even more like we've had it easy on Teesside, given what I've been hearing on the news too.

My preps are aboslutely diddley squit so far, wondering how we'd manage long-term power cuts I don't know. (They will come in future I'm sure and not due to snow). About my only advice might be in terms of beating boredom- if you're really stuck try investing in a wind-up radio. Maplin's do this one which also incorporates a light and siren for the really stuck- for about £40: http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=222276

Of course a. whether one will pick up anything and b. whether there are not much better things to do probably needs bearing in mind.

Wind-up torches do me fine for reading, the only lantern I have is rubbish but I'm sure there are ones that work.

The rest I leave to the more capable ladies and gentlemen of the board.

One thing I do wonder about cold weather is if its that freezing, what is the best way of coping with getting out of bed and changing into "proper" clothes? Silly I know but...

That and whether it is worth getting/making one of those 12V backup systems when one is on the dole and with parents who tend to be a little apathetic (perhaps not if I practiced what I preached).

hardworkinghippy · Post by **hardworkinghippy** » 08 Jan 2010, 09:27

Hello Odo - welcome to the forum - nice to see some "new blood" !

When we were in our cabin with only 40watts of solar the light and a car radio cheered us up immensely and charged little batteries so it's well worth having even a small panel - especially for a few LED lights. The the batteries will go eventually but the solar panel should outlast you and you can still run 12v things like radio and a tiny TV off it during the day.

Books of song words and some musical instruments are good for a laugh too.

We put our latest panels up where we could scrape the snow off of them without too much trouble - thank goodness !

I hope everyone's comfortable.

RuncornBridge · Post by **RuncornBridge** » 08 Jan 2010, 10:45

Lyn, as to getting out of bed in the cold, we always had our clothes within reach, then you grab them from your bed and put them in bed with you to warm, then you get dressed UNDER the covers, by the time you've fought with the duvet you'll be as warm as toast

Aah those were the days, one open coal fire to heat the whole house, in the morning you had to scrap jack frost off the inside of the windows to see out. Happy Days!

I was in Stockton last week, I know my sister wouldn't agree that Teesside's had it easy and neither would I

emordnilap · Post by **emordnilap** » 08 Jan 2010, 11:58

I have to say that the Sunnan lights we got from Ikea last year are excellent. We bought four so there's two days' charge in each. They are useful for illuminating reading and bits of sewing.