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176

First of all if shtf it aint gonna be fun. Its over 100 degrees here, in the shade my thermometer read 110. Now no sun comes in any window, woods all around and porch on front and back. It only got 87 inside with occasional front door (half screen) and backdoor open. I slept on top of towels.

Generators, I had two new in boxes still. (two is one one is none) First one ran 10 minutes and quit. Second was a 2250, almost useless. Wouldnt run fridge with full size freezer door. Top freezer fridge would run for awhile before breaker blowing. Small window unit worked kinda sometimes.

Im the last house on the line, power people came out and replaced fuse then said they were alerted to other shortages. Said they were gonna check the line. I told them they could drive down it from here ( I have had to before when the damn went out sides they set the posts and shit). They said naw we will take the road all the way around. They didnt fix my shit. Next people finally come out and they go the way I said. Told me it looked like a post had got hit by lightening and partially broke ( from sometime before).

Cold shower sucks. To top it off next morning after power is on I have low water pressure. Im like WTF? I do not want to dig up a leak this time of year ( mile long private water line after meter.). Turns out county has a leak they still havent found yet.

Im totally surprised how freezers stayed cold without opening. Of course I have frozen water bottles in all of them.

Fuck I could go on but think this is as much as I ever typed here.

First of all if shtf it aint gonna be fun. Its over 100 degrees here, in the shade my thermometer read 110. Now no sun comes in any window, woods all around and porch on front and back. It only got 87 inside with occasional front door (half screen) and backdoor open. I slept on top of towels. Generators, I had two new in boxes still. (two is one one is none) First one ran 10 minutes and quit. Second was a 2250, almost useless. Wouldnt run fridge with full size freezer door. Top freezer fridge would run for awhile before breaker blowing. Small window unit worked kinda sometimes. Im the last house on the line, power people came out and replaced fuse then said they were alerted to other shortages. Said they were gonna check the line. I told them they could drive down it from here ( I have had to before when the damn went out sides they set the posts and shit). They said naw we will take the road all the way around. They didnt fix my shit. Next people finally come out and they go the way I said. Told me it looked like a post had got hit by lightening and partially broke ( from sometime before). Cold shower sucks. To top it off next morning after power is on I have low water pressure. Im like WTF? I do not want to dig up a leak this time of year ( mile long private water line after meter.). Turns out county has a leak they still havent found yet. Im totally surprised how freezers stayed cold without opening. Of course I have frozen water bottles in all of them. Fuck I could go on but think this is as much as I ever typed here.

(post is archived)

[–] • 6 pts

Fill a tub with water at night before bed. Sleep in bathroom on tile. Get used to hard floor. Obviously a blanket or some sheet/towel under you. These outages are intentional. To gauge what people will put up with.

[–] • 1 pt

Im not sure whats thats supposed to do but only tub never used is a clawfoot. So off the floor.

[–] • 5 pts (edited )

Body of water absorbs heat. Tile floor is absorbs heat. Sucks to have to do but the alternatives suck in other ways too. Also cold showers are awesome.

[–] • 2 pts

lukewarm I can get behind, full cold even in summer is cold.

[–] [deleted] • 1 pt

Now do winter!

[–] • 0 pt

Get in the oven. Warm I'm there.

[–] • 5 pts

Modern freezers are very efficient at keeping cold in. Putting a lot of heavy blankets over the unit can keep it cold even longer when there's no power.

[–] • 2 pts

I added a piece of construction foam (2” from Lowe’s or depot) and taped all the sides to the top of the freezer. It’s surprising how much that helped. Stayed cold much longer and used significantly less power from then on.

[–] [deleted] • 5 pts

I went 14 days without electricity in south Florida after a hurricane. The Chinese place was open because they used propane and had a generator for the freezers. The first few days everyone is trying to cook everything from the freezer on the BBQ. I ended up throwing out a bunch of food but it wasn't too bad. I would wait until the hottest part of the day to take a cold shower. It can get pretty boring. Books, board games, and babes will pass the time.

[–] • 3 pts

Books, as long as its just a power outage for a bit. I have propane to cook so that wasnt a problem.

[–] [deleted] • 5 pts

Generators: Do the proper break in procedure and keep plenty of oil on hand. Do not run a brand new generator out of the box like a broken in one. Change oil every 100-150 hours. Do not use eco mode. It causes carbon build up. Don't waste time and money on shit generators. Honda and Onan/Cummins are about the best. Stay the fuck away from Champion and Predator. Use marine stabil, the blue one every tank of fuel.

AC: Get a window unit or portable AC and wire in a microair easystart to it. This will allow you to run at least one room worth of AC off of a generator. I can run my 6k btu on my little Honda 2200, though I usually run it on my Onan 4500. Compressor appliances like AC and refrigerators are hard on generators and require high current to start unless a third party start assist like the easystart is used.

Power: Solar panels, mppt charge controller, batteries, inverter. You got some homework.

Water: Two gallons per person per day minimum. Know local water sources of available. If not available, move.

Food: Dry goods that only need water added. Grains, pasta, etc. Canned and jarred goods. Eat what you store and rotate products. Be mindful of rodents and humidity. Be extra mindful of anything dairy like jarred Alfredo sauce. Tomato based sauce lasts much longer.

Cooking/hot water: propane 21,600 btu per pound. Know your burn rate. Store 1lb bottles or put up a bigger tank with a conversion kit/hose for whatever propane appliance of your choice. I like the Coleman two burner stove personally. Be mindful of the excess moisture produced. Blue flame is safe. Yellow is incomplete burn and will produce carbon monoxide.

Never use "off grid" electricity aka battery bank and inverter to power anything that converts electricity to heat or drives a compressor. Making heat from electricity is the worst use of electricity. Your 2250 should have ran your fridge/freezer unless you used an extension cord that was an improper gauge or was too long.

Being prepared isn't just hoarding and living on cheap Walmart camp equipment. It's a lifestyle. Use what you put up, rotate, replenish. There's no reason I'm more prepared in my van than you are at home.

If you don't have wood, water, and game in your area, move.

[–] • 5 pts

This is where it's good to have an RV. Easy to power with a generator, or solar if the weather isn't too hot. Install a diesel heater for the cold. The fridges are generally powered by propane / LPG and a bottle will last like 30 days.

[–] • 0 pt

Yeah if you can afford the initial costs now and frequent repairs on new ones. But sure if you got one just sitting in your shop ready for use.

[–] • 1 pt

RV travel is great anyway so you might as well have one if you can afford it.

And yes you are right about new ones, after purchase there will be loads of things to fix via warranty. Once they are repaired (properly) then the issues cease.

We love ours and use it all year round.

[–] • 0 pt

What really gets me is how so many camp sites wont allow older ones.

[–] • 4 pts

I wet though that a few yrs back. No power for about a week. Lived in a trailor. Middle of summer, id come home from work and wash in a spring fed creek. I slept on a sleeping bag across the street in a cedar thicket. No bugs and pretty cool compared to the tin can.

[–] • 4 pts

Man you got a spring fed creek? Awesome. Aint no water here in Tx , cow tanks about it. Least in my parts.

[–] • 3 pts

Springs every where here. There was a time way back after a shit ton of bad decisions that I took showers in a barn n slept in my truck for a whole summer. Unhooked the float shutoff in the cows trough for a makeshift shower. Damn the things I do to myself!

[–] • 1 pt

You got water, Im the jealous one.

[–] • 1 pt

That's all Texas is, cattle, oil and cities

[–] • 2 pts

My county is claiming the same, my water keeps shutting off randomly or low pressure.

[–] • 1 pt

A weed sprayer is an awesome way to get water pressure when you need it. Great for off grid showering and watering places the hose won't reach.

[–] • 1 pt

Great idea. Luckily I live around the corner from a huge waterfall, and I have 2 flowing creeks on my property.

[–] • 1 pt

That's awesome! You could rig up your own non-potable watering system and/or water wheel.

[–] [deleted] • 2 pts

I was knock off for 10 days back in 2010 and it was a great experience. It reminded my of my childhood growing up in the 60's with no AC. My power down reminded me to keep the windows open and spend time outside as much as possible. Yea, the biggest pain in the ass is food going bad. If it would have lasted longer I would start killing animals and fish.

[–] • 2 pts

If you have a place you can light a fire, you can boil water - put that in a big bucket and wash with that in the shower - one bucket is fine - two is a luxury. I lived six months that way with my water tank down - it's fine. A little time consuming preparing the water. Hot water is worth it.

Just like camping in the woods.

[–] • 2 pts

To me no power ain’t bad. It’s no running water that will make the house unlivable within 24 hours.

[–] • 1 pt

You can flush a toilet with a five gallon bucket full of water. You just need to keep some buckets of water stored for emergencies.

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