@@thekingsdaughter4233 I'm the same way! I LOVE shopping at all the Father's Day sales to flesh out my tools and gadgets collection. I collect Craftsman, Leatherman, Ryobi One+, and solar powered and hand-crank stuff. I LOVE the useful functional gadgets, just as much as my husband loves his.
Got my 600 Oupes with 100 watt folding solar panel this spring and love it. I use for camping but also have for back up power. I have USB string lights, USB/solar lanterns, solar Luci light, some burner propane stove and several cans if fuel, power brick that charges phones and runs string lights for many hours, and a 12 volt fan that cools really well. Nice to know I won't be left in the dark. 😊 I enjoy your down to earth videos.
@@larryware1 I have 2 600 watt's and a 1200 watt and love them. Check out Topsolar panels, I have 3 120 watt panels and they put out 80 to 90 watts a peace.
I live in Arkansas. I’ve been here for a year and three months. I have literally lost track of the number of times my power has went off. The good thing is I’m still living in an RV. It is just me and my dog in a twenty two trailer. The range doesn’t need electricity to work. I turn it on in the winter when needed and use a battery powered blower from HarborFreight. I have nine or ten battery that run for a long time. I can also charge them off my truck. I do have a cheap gas generator that I use for the refrigerator and the air during the summer. But I just run them one at a time. I have a flash light that is also an emergency tool. I use it mainly to charge my phone. I use candles, and have two Coleman lanterns that came from my camping days. They do use fuel that I have to keep on hand. One thing you didn’t mention was that gasoline gets old in a couple months. I use Sea Foam that can be bought at any auto parts store. It will keep your gas fresh and also clean the carburetor and other internal parts while it is being ran. It will also do the same for Diesel engines. Can’t wait for your next video. Thank you.
Things have changed so much since the 1970s. I remember if we had a power cut, dad got out candles, matches and hurricane lamps and we played card games. The fridge was abandoned and the grown ups used those little tins of milk for their tea and coffee ,cheese and butter were put in the dark larder with a wet cloth over them and we got the water from the tap for the kids to drink with fruit squash to make it more interesting. We were lucky to have a gas cooker though...Roll forward 2022 and we have 3 of those solar generators, small folding solar panels, usb chargeable lamps and fans. Camp cooking stoves and if all else fails, a kelly kettle. Also a camping cooler that reduces the temp using peltier plates . Even one of those little 6 litres dorm 'fridges' will help with things like cheese and milk cooling(I think they are about 20watts). Those solar generators can charge from a car cigarette socket so they can kind of work like a generator would as far as charging is concerned but with another stage added, so can still be useful if it not sunny.
First time viewer, longtime gadget shopper. I use solar powered USB rechargeable banks, solar rechargeable lanterns that have dual usage as a lantern or flashlight; I even have fireplace/bbq lighters that are USB rechargeable. I also have a shower pump (place in a bucket of water) that uses a USB rechargeable battery! I'm all about using the sun in whatever capacity I can afford. Place items on the dash or windowsill and no worries about finding an electrical source to charge your phone, run USB fans, LED lights, etc. I love the fact that USB draws so much less power.
We were out of power for 4 hours yesterday evening in the SF East Bay 6/8/22. The text message from PG&E said power would be back on at 9:45 and that1905 homes were affected. The other text was from Xfinity saying that the grid down caused cable troubles and no internet connection. I put my home built 7200 watt hour solar generator to good use and switched the transfer switches to power the kitchen and living room to keep the fridge and chest freezer running. We used the Instaspot and the Air Fryer to cook up a nice dinner. Around 9:30 I went outside and the only other homes had lights from LED headbands. We had a 2 hour outage last week as well. It feels great to be prepared. I see more of this coming. The temperatures were in the mid 90's F yesterday and today.
I live alone and truly have nothing for a power outage, other than candles and flash lights. You have some great "gadgets" to consider. I find your videos very intriguing and I'm trying to implement some of your tips on saving. You're a great team!
I'm a woman. . . and I DON'T like gadgets, lol. I would have to watch this MANY times to wrap my head around everything Larry was saying. I like Hope's ALL in one idea, however, Larry is saying those will be more expensive. It is impressive how knowledgeable Larry is about this subject. . . and Hope is VERY knowledgeable about her niches 😊
We all have our niches. But don't despair of learning more outside your current wheelhouse, no matter your age. At 76 I've only just now been forced into getting my first cell phone ever. But I was able to jump on the computer bandwagon way back when the first dot com boom started. So my point is that no matter your experience or stage of life, you CAN learn new tricks. I did, and they tell me I was dropped on my head a lot as a baby. So if I can do it, so can you. :)
WE had those light bulbs but they were solar and they came in handy when we lost our power for a few days. We live in apartment so the inner hallways and stair wells (no power= no elevator) are extremely dark. Emergency back up power for our building only lasts 1 hour. I also used those neon bracelets that glow in the dark to show where door knobs were. WE also have a car cooler that we can keep charged with our hybrid car (it's like a generator) which is a backup for any refrigerated medicine. great video.. loved the solar oven
When we lived in an apartment i kept a magnetic hook on the back of the front door with all of our headlamps. Came in handy during nighttime Fire-drills, nighttime power issues, etc. We didn’t have to go find them.
I took the remainder of insurance when my husband died and bought a whole house Generac natural gas generator system for my house. Yes, it was very expensive. However, I know nothing about electricity or generators that you need to hook up and am not physically able to drag one around. I plan to live here alone for the next 20 years or so. It allows me to live here alone with no worries. It was worth every penny to me. I pay $250 a year for maintenance. It is the biggest luxury I have ever allowed myself. I sat on the fence for 2 years thinking about this. Three outages close together did it for me. I called the company and never looked back. Not very frugal was it!
...each new vid of yours that I watch, learn from & enjoy becomes more & more valuable to, I'm sure, so many...thank you for all the unbelievable amount of energy, time & hard work you so generously provide for "the world"... btw, as I am a visual person, just sharing that Larry's hairstyle is so much more "eye appealing" when he has a partial side part instead of the full straight-across "little-girlish" bangs & Hope looks so much prettier & younger with pastel lipstick instead of dark red...Luv You Both too much...God Bless You...
I run that bestek 500 w inverter with my beginning solar power bank and I love it! it shuts down the battery bank when it gets at 50% battery power. great video. so thumbs up on the bestek. keepd up the good vids.!
Lady’s opinion: I love it when gadgets come in cool storage containers- like a screwdriver set or a multi use nail holder box. I love the tool boxes that come on wheels- in the style of carry on airplane luggage. 🙂
I like me some kitchen gadgets! My guy was real interested in all the info and I learned that while he was at his job and while he was in the army he used and maintained these. Good info to know! Thanks for this practical help.
Eneloop rechargeable batteries are fantastic! I work at a television production network and we regularly use these in our microphones. We used to go through batteries ridiculously fast since we couldn't trust going on live to air with batteries less testing less than 80%. We needed 3 AA batteries per microphone so imagine how many batteries we were going through every day. We replaced them with these and haven't looked back. They hold a charge for a long time and even with heavy use in 8 studios they last a long time before finally being replaced. Definitely pick up for your home use.
Super, Arlyd. They are the very best as far as I can determine. Glad you are getting good use from them. I use their AAA rechargeables for our digital audio recorder. Very reliable! I loved working in television. Back in the days I worked the equipment wasn't so reliable, but it was an adventure!
Choosing a quality charger for batteries is important or they can be damaged. I bought chargers compatable with my portable solar panels too just in case.
We camp in an rv. We have a gas powered generator that is very loud but works well to power our rv kitchen. We also have battery type lighting,headlamps,pick lights,battery powered light switch lights,lanterns battery powered,oil lamps with extra oil. One winter we had an ice storm and windy conditions. It knocked our power out because of a break in the power line. We knew this storm was coming so we prepared our freezer with embedding heavy duty plastic jugs,like Arizona tea comes in. Filled them with drinking water and froze them solid b4 the storm hit. We have a storm radio,plug in power inverter to run a small slow cooker on and a camping stove that uses small bottle propane. In RV we have propane stove with an oven. Refrigerater that operates on propane or electric. In my home we have a propane stove with oven and grill lighters to light the burner in the event of a power outage. Cool cloths to wipe our forehead with to keep cool.
My husband is shaking his head while I try to prep. I am searching for something to recharge my tablet, AND cellphone, so which of these would be best for these two items, and whatever else they can do? Thank you for your valuable videos. I told my husband, just wait...you will be locked out of my prep area LOL
Great video! I'm gonna binge watch some of yours now, I love the frugal vibe! Those Eneloop batteries are amazing, I've had some powering my garden solar lights for 8 months and they are still going strong I haven't even needed to recharge them yet!
I am not a gadget person whatsoever. Heck, I have 1 flashlight and I haven't used it for years! It is very rare for us to lose power and if we do, it's up and running within minutes to a couple or few hours. We do have 2 generators. We also have acres of woods on our land so can cook with ease outside. I should look into a camping propane stove top for inside just to have on hand. I do live in a state that has tornados. Knock on wood we've been lucky. Course if a tornado hit bad enough...none of your things would be around anyways or no good/damaged. Lol. Your family is more than covered. Awesome job!
Our house is set up to just flip our main breaker and turn the generator on. Also ~ it’s at the shop away from the house so we don’t have the racket right at our house. 🙌🏻 It’s a game changer!! 😁
Great content! I have an emergency handcart with a little ingenuity and some bungee cords, you can have your battery, inverter etc. Never have to lift or put the equipment together just plug and play.
One clever use of battery power is the Greenworks 60/80V 300 watt inverter. Uses the lawn mower/acc batteries as the source.. Bought it and we lost power the next week for 12 hours, worked perfect for my CPAP machine for sleep apnea.
Totally unrelated but please give us a home tour. Its amazing when you move to your kitchen. I would love to see your study fully and your living room. Thank you for being inspirational.
I have been trained and prepared for emergencies including earthquakes since I was in early 30s. It takes a lot of time and energy but the piece of mind is worthy it =:)
I’m a gal who loves gadgets! I’m way more into this kind of thing than my husband is. 😁 In terms of what we have, lots of solar lights and headlamps and puck lights, etc. Lots of rechargeable AA, AAA, D, and 9V batteries. Lots of smaller USB battery banks to recharge anything that charges through a USB. But for bigger power needs, we’ve gone with the Bluetti system. We have the EB55 with matching solar panel. For both together, it was a thousand dollars. 😬 Which is a lot, but I don’t just use it when the power goes out. I charge and use this solar generator every single day. I use it to charge all electrical devices (laptop, iPad, phone, even our electric weed eater). I’ve made it a point to NEVER have charged the solar generator using a wall plug - I will only charge it using the cigarette lighter in our car as we drive, or through the solar panel. There’s no reason to charge the battery using wall electricity and then use the battery to charge our gadgets. Take out the middle man and just use wall electricity in that case. 🤷🏻♀️ I don’t track how much power I use through it, so I have no idea how long it’ll be before it’s paid for itself, but more than the free electricity that we get from it every day is the peace of mind that comes from knowing that even in a power outage, we’d be okay. Thanks for all that you do, you two! You’ve helped a lot of people gain a lot of knowledge. ❤️
Next week is the beginning of hurricane season. We live on the gulf coast. This is great info! Getting some sort of generator is on our list of things to buy. I love the idea of having solar and/or regular generator. Thanks for this info!
Being in upstate NY we can loose electricity at any time of year. We have a propane powered generator and two 20 gal tanks (9 hours each) and a 30 gal tank (15 hours). We only keep heating/cooling and refrigerator and freezers going.
@@larryware1 What brand. I hear Honda makes one that’s quite. What are the numbers I need for it to run both of them thank you so much for help on this I’m in Indiana
Larry,invest in extra extension cords,and wrap around the handle of the generator.saves time searching for extension cords. also,most power companies offer surge strips free.i would advise everyone to get them.we have tons.
I started living off grid in my camper November 2021. I’m still learning things. I have five 115(?) Ah Marine batteries & two 100 watt solar panels, about to buy more and an inverter. I have Generac’s 10,000 watt generator for back up. Along with about eight 5 gallon gas cans.
We have an Ecoflow River Max with a solarpanel. You can charge it with electricity, your car and solarpanels. It has multiple output ways. We gave used it so much on our holidaytrip. It saved our but while having a car-break-down stop. The kids could watch dvd on the portable dvdplayer, while we where bizzy to make phonecalls to get home. We made coffee on our way to Sweden, with our camping watercooker! Só nice to have an emergency back up!❤👌
I had to Subscribe, You guys have such excellent and informative information, and you're just funny and enjoyable to watch... I am just trying to understand the Battery, Inverter, Power Station, Solar Stuff, and its hurting my head trying to figure it out... Thank you for the Help 👍👍👍
I had to do a lot of research to put my first solar panels on the house back in 2007. It took me about 6 months to sort through all the information. There is plenty of information on-line and on TH-cam to assist you. If you have any questions feel free to leave them in the comments and I'll try to answer them as I can find time, CLC. And thank you for you kind comments. That means a lot to Hope and I.
Thanks, I bought a couple of 100-watt panels. One is in a southerly direction & the other is westerly to catch the last few hours of the setting sun. When the sun shines on both but it was a little cloudy & was giving just over 7 amps. I measured between the panels & the battery charger unit. I will at least get one more. I have 4 power inverters & I will wire the 3000 watts one to the main power fuse box, switching off the supply in case it should return even for a moment.
You will get use to this. Here by us it is loadshedding almost everyday for years now. Then you dont have power for several hours. This is due to no maintenance since the new government took over in 1994.
Great info! We have a dual fuel gas/propane generator. Researching solar generators so not so dependent on gas. Battery candles, flashlights, and lanterns and 2 small solar lanterns for lighting. We have a small heater and fans to help with heat or cold, but would like to get window ac yet. Thank you!
@@MegaBpop I live in a van, and so far there isn't a unit to fit my window. I have one of those upright rectangular units and have to put the exhaust hose out the front passenger window. I know it won't work without a source of electricity. 🤨 I have a dual USB fan but when it gets warmer than 65 outside, it gets too warm inside.
@@larryware1 I actually just bought it based on your recommendation! I needed to have the security to run my sump without power or use of a gas/propane powered generator. I can't wait for the next video!
@@honestlykayla8249 - thank you. You'll love it. I used mine to run 1 1/2 pots of coffee through it this morning. It only went down to 80%! I'm ver happy with it. Thanks for being part of the frugal family!!!
I live in an apartment and have several sources of power. The largest is the Honda 2200, Jackery 1000 w/2 100 watt solar panels, and two smaller rechargeable batteries for smaller devices. I converted the Honda to use both propane and gasoline.
@@larryware1 yes one was wind from Hurricane Ike that made its way to Southern Indiana and then we had an ice storm but luckily then we had a wood stove so we were able to have heat cause it was January
@@RetiredLovingIt - good for you. I wish we had a wood stove. What we use are 3 kerosene heaters. We've never had to rely solely on them for heat but have them just in case.
Love the video. We also have a gas generator and run our 3 freezers and fridge, TV, coffee maker, computer/internet modum, a few lights, etc. You know, just the necessities. LOL. I totally understand the extension cords all over the house. LOL. I have been trying to get my husband to get a transfer switch put in to our home also. We have been without power for 7 days at a time at least twice and we did fine with this. We do keep a supply of gas on hand as a generator with no gas is useless. I also have a Jackary power bank for camping in my van and we use that also, which is very convenient. I'm looking to get solar panels to attach to it and will check into the brand you guys have. We also have some battery operated motion detector lights on our stairs and hallways and those were so helpful. Again, we do have to make sure we have fresh charged batteries in them. Thanks for all the info.
Don't forget the C and D sized spacers for the AA batteries. Also, you can get chargers that will charge up to 16 AA and AAA rechargeable batteries at the same time.
So where do you get spacers for double and triple a batteries to c& D batteries I bought a adapter for my 6volt lantern battery but can't find rechargeable D batteries at a reasonable price 2pack of double a rechargeable are 2 dollars a pack at the loony store and over 16dollars a pack elsewhere and I can't find rechargeable D at the loony store are others
@@larryware1 thank you for helping me I went bought some of those things you showed in the video I went bought some of those things at Menards today so thank you for helping me
I really do not have too much to help with power outages and my whole house and everything I have runs on electricity but being on only SSI I can NOT really afford much..I can't help but be nervous but.I still value your videos...I lost power one time for a week in the summer in Arizona, It was awful!!!!
Hooking up a generator to natural gas was sooo good after Hurricane Ida. We were out of Electricity for 3 weeks and running water fory about 2 weeks. Natural Gas was the one thing working.
I'm one of these crazy preppers, what you got is pretty good for short term, but not for long term, I'll share some ideas, run that same lamp behind you without a inverter, get some E26 12v light bulbs and run that lamp directly from the battery, have fun making the proper adapter so you don't ruin the lamp, I run a 12v emergency lighting system throughout my home, with USB built-in outlets that run directly on 12v DC current, I also have 12v outlets throughout the home, I also run a main wind and solar system to power heavy loads, I also have a rain harvesting system that is 100% off grid with its own 12v wind and solar pumping system...I can go for years off grid...I learned alot after huricane Maria, I was without power and water for months.
I have an Ecoflow Delta 1300 and a Bluetti AC50S for power stations. I have 300 watts of solar. I also have a 1000watt inverter gas generator. This is part of my emergency kit.
The main things I want to keep running during a power outage are the fridge, freezer, well pump and water heater. In the winter I also want power for the house's heating system. To accomplish that I have a 4,000 watt split phase output (120/240 VAC) inverter, a 20 KwH Lithium Iron Phosphate battery bank and a 1,000 watt solar array. The system is connected to the house wiring with a 10 circuit transfer switch. That will run everything I need for at least 3-4 days in the winter and indefinitely in the summer. Total cost was about $6K. We also have a 5 kilowatt generator that plugs into the transfer switch, but we haven't used it since we installed the inverter/battery/solar system.
So where do you get a split phase 110 220 inverter all I've ever found are 110 and some if you buy 2 units at twice the price can do 220 110 volts and can you get them for 12 volts I don't want to go 24 or 32 volt battery bank thanks
@@douglaswindsor120 I bought a Schaeffer, but Magnum, Aims and many other companies make split phase inverters. Aims does make a 12VDC to 240 VAC inverter. There are a lot more options if you go with a 24 or 48 volt battery bank.
Great info. In uk they reckon if theres underground/ train strikes theres gonna be petrol rationing and powercuts. We havent had bad powercuts since 70s. Im fairly well prepped
I’m saving money for a Jackery or similar with solar panels. I won’t be ready to buy one this summer. Until then, I have some USB battery banks and all my camping gear that is designed to be used in water only or dispersed sites. We try to use up our freezer food as much as possible leading up to and during hurricane season so we don’t lose as much if/when we lose power. I am planning on getting that jump starter in the next 1-2 months.
I have a gas generator like yours. And it has been a life saver during our many power outages from hurricanes and snow storms. The rechargeable packs are certainly next on my list of needs. I like that they come with the solar panels. That's pretty cool that it charges your bike.
Oh my, Hope. I just have to say that you have the SWEETEST facial expressions ever. You fairly glow with such a beautiful inner light and kind and helpful disposition. We all have our faults and I don't know yours, but I just have to say that watching your videos, with you looking into the camera and nodding your head yes is just about enough to cheer up a person all by itself! (Larry, you are awful sweet too -- but Hope is off the charts!) God bless.
I live in Fl. I have two generators. I Bought a window air conditioner to put in bedroom which I also have a TV so I can run that too.The heat and humidity is high in the summer. The other one can run two refrigerators and freezer. I also have a 14 gallon gas caddy on wheels and other 5 gallon gas cans.
This off the subject but I just got my computer fixed and I hear you talking about an Amish store you go to. I live in the Quad City area about an hour from you and I was wondering where is the Amish store located! I did not know there were any Amish stores around this area. Please share! Thank you! I found your channel about a month ago and have been powering through your videos! I am enjoying every one of them!
Hubby and I started out with a 24,000 power bank that folds out with 3 solar panels to charge the usb charger. It is great for our charging phones and tablets etc at the local go cart racetrack. We have added a solar hand crank radio that has a usb charger, a solar charging lantern that has a usb charger, a 300 watt solar charging station, a 1000 solar charging station, and an 8500 watt gas generator that will power our house as well as our well for water😊 Edited to add- numerous solar lights, solar lanterns and love those rechargeable batteries you mentioned…been using them many many years 👍
I live in an apartment. I don’t have much, but I do have multiple power banks as I have many items that are usb chargeable. But the one must have for me are battery operated and / or usb fans. I need air movement. So even if it is hot out I can function if I have fans.
I have 3 smaller power sources that have an option for solar charging. I use them easily. Also, in a pinch, your laptop can power your cell phone via USB charging.
I have an EcoFlow Delta Max that I over paneled with 1,360 watts of panels. That way I get it's max 800 watts of input longer throughout the day and closer to the max on overcast days. For quick charges overnight, I have a 6,500 watt tri fuel generator hooked up to my natural gas utility with quick disconnects to switch over to my 8 20lb propane tanks in the event I lose both power and natural gas. Of course I have the obligatory flashlights, lamps, batteries out the wazoo, USB power packs, etc. The EcoFlow is new and I am so impressed with it, probably going to get 1 or 2 2000wh add on batteries very soon.
Interesting learned alot thank you I live in a small town in morrisonville ny very small seems like in summer and winter we lose power often for no reason no storm in site boom power out usually its not out long enough to worry about the freezers or fridge or furnace but sometimes it could be for longer period of time so these were great tips thank you can't wait till part 2
I'm a woman and I am the one doing the researching and purchasing of all emergency preparedness gadgets as well as non mechanical preparedness...food, water, comfort and so on.
I built my own power bank with a 35AH 12v battery in a plastic ammo can. It includes a volt meter, double USB port and a 12v port. I can charge it from the Harbor Freight solar kit or a smart charger.
We have the first two you shared, just different models, so very useful, were working towards getting a generator as well. I also have a solar charged or outlet charged power bank thats super useful, it has two usb ports and charges your phone 3 times off a full charge or whatever else you want that can be charged with a usb.
Your typical 18 - 20 cubic foot sized refrigerator consumes about 120 watts when running. However, it takes a staggering 1200 to 2400 watts to start it. These refrigerators turn on a 600 to 720 watt heating element about 3 times a day to defrost. Each defrost cycle runs the heater for 10 to 20 minutes, followed by the refrigeration running 15 to 30 minutes afterward to remove the heat. This is not a problem normally but, can cause problems when running from backup power.
As far as I know, those big affordable gas generators do not put out pure sine wave power, and should not be used to power desktop computers. Laptops might be ok because you’re most likely only risking the power brick and the battery. The Honda inverter generators, and others that are inverter generators do provide pure sine wave power. Great video, thanks.
They put out a modified square wave. I have never had any problem running desktop or laptop computers with them. You pay more for a sign wave generator and they are hard to find. If you have soler panels the inverter will need sine wave detected from the grid to run. That protects line workers by shutting off your output. To use a generator with soler you will also need a disconnect switch to take it of the grid.
@@allen4353 Before I retired I was an IT pro mostly supporting clients in the hospitality business. A hotel that I took care of experienced a power failure, and while trying to run their computers and network equipment on a generator had multiple computers fail. Not positive about whether the waveform was the issue or the frequency possibly not being 60 Hz.
I cannot speak for others, but as a woman, I am truly delighted with any functional tools, the higher the quality, the greater my joy. I do use them.
Super, good for you, Bri. Yes, quality has great importance in back-up systems.
This woman will take good tools over flowers (for Mother's Day, birthday and such) any time.
Candles and matches are a low-cost second. 😉
@@thekingsdaughter4233 I'm the same way! I LOVE shopping at all the Father's Day sales to flesh out my tools and gadgets collection. I collect Craftsman, Leatherman, Ryobi One+, and solar powered and hand-crank stuff. I LOVE the useful functional gadgets, just as much as my husband loves his.
This is exactly the information I was looking for at exactly the right time. Thank you so much🙏
You're so welcome, Pat!!
Got my 600 Oupes with 100 watt folding solar panel this spring and love it. I use for camping but also have for back up power. I have USB string lights, USB/solar lanterns, solar Luci light, some burner propane stove and several cans if fuel, power brick that charges phones and runs string lights for many hours, and a 12 volt fan that cools really well. Nice to know I won't be left in the dark. 😊 I enjoy your down to earth videos.
Have a similar setup here in Spain. Love the solar lanterns with a magnetic base that you stick anywhere.
I love my Oupes 600 so much that I bought 2.
Super, Debbie. They do really come in handy!
@@mrspin3315 - It's certainly a nice unit, small, lightweight, portable.
@@larryware1 I have 2 600 watt's and a 1200 watt and love them. Check out Topsolar panels, I have 3 120 watt panels and they put out 80 to 90 watts a peace.
I live in Arkansas. I’ve been here for a year and three months. I have literally lost track of the number of times my power has went off. The good thing is I’m still living in an RV. It is just me and my dog in a twenty two trailer. The range doesn’t need electricity to work. I turn it on in the winter when needed and use a battery powered blower from HarborFreight. I have nine or ten battery that run for a long time. I can also charge them off my truck. I do have a cheap gas generator that I use for the refrigerator and the air during the summer. But I just run them one at a time. I have a flash light that is also an emergency tool. I use it mainly to charge my phone. I use candles, and have two Coleman lanterns that came from my camping days. They do use fuel that I have to keep on hand. One thing you didn’t mention was that gasoline gets old in a couple months. I use Sea Foam that can be bought at any auto parts store. It will keep your gas fresh and also clean the carburetor and other internal parts while it is being ran. It will also do the same for Diesel engines. Can’t wait for your next video. Thank you.
I don't have any thing for power outages but you have definitely inspired me.
So glad to hear that, Christine!
Things have changed so much since the 1970s. I remember if we had a power cut, dad got out candles, matches and hurricane lamps and we played card games. The fridge was abandoned and the grown ups used those little tins of milk for their tea and coffee ,cheese and butter were put in the dark larder with a wet cloth over them and we got the water from the tap for the kids to drink with fruit squash to make it more interesting. We were lucky to have a gas cooker though...Roll forward 2022 and we have 3 of those solar generators, small folding solar panels, usb chargeable lamps and fans. Camp cooking stoves and if all else fails, a kelly kettle. Also a camping cooler that reduces the temp using peltier plates . Even one of those little 6 litres dorm 'fridges' will help with things like cheese and milk cooling(I think they are about 20watts). Those solar generators can charge from a car cigarette socket so they can kind of work like a generator would as far as charging is concerned but with another stage added, so can still be useful if it not sunny.
First time viewer, longtime gadget shopper. I use solar powered USB rechargeable banks, solar rechargeable lanterns that have dual usage as a lantern or flashlight; I even have fireplace/bbq lighters that are USB rechargeable. I also have a shower pump (place in a bucket of water) that uses a USB rechargeable battery! I'm all about using the sun in whatever capacity I can afford. Place items on the dash or windowsill and no worries about finding an electrical source to charge your phone, run USB fans, LED lights, etc. I love the fact that USB draws so much less power.
We were out of power for 4 hours yesterday evening in the SF East Bay 6/8/22. The text message from PG&E said power would be back on at 9:45 and that1905 homes were affected. The other text was from Xfinity saying that the grid down caused cable troubles and no internet connection. I put my home built 7200 watt hour solar generator to good use and switched the transfer switches to power the kitchen and living room to keep the fridge and chest freezer running. We used the Instaspot and the Air Fryer to cook up a nice dinner. Around 9:30 I went outside and the only other homes had lights from LED headbands. We had a 2 hour outage last week as well. It feels great to be prepared. I see more of this coming. The temperatures were in the mid 90's F yesterday and today.
Wow! Thanks for sharing your experience. Sounds like you were very well prepared.
@@UndertheMedian
Yeah. I watch you guys and slept in a Holiday Inn Express 2-3 years ago. So, cruel world, bring it on!
This is community, helping each neighbor.
I live alone and truly have nothing for a power outage, other than candles and flash lights. You have some great "gadgets" to consider. I find your videos very intriguing and I'm trying to implement some of your tips on saving. You're a great team!
Thanks, Janice. Our pleasure.
That radio looks like it's from the 1950's but in "mint condition"!!!!! Cool!!!!
I'm a woman. . . and I DON'T like gadgets, lol. I would have to watch this MANY times to wrap my head around everything Larry was saying. I like Hope's ALL in one idea, however, Larry is saying those will be more expensive. It is impressive how knowledgeable Larry is about this subject. . . and Hope is VERY knowledgeable about her niches 😊
Thank you for your kind comment, Denise.
We all have our niches. But don't despair of learning more outside your current wheelhouse, no matter your age. At 76 I've only just now been forced into getting my first cell phone ever. But I was able to jump on the computer bandwagon way back when the first dot com boom started. So my point is that no matter your experience or stage of life, you CAN learn new tricks. I did, and they tell me I was dropped on my head a lot as a baby. So if I can do it, so can you. :)
So many great videos coming out today. It makes my birthday special
Happy birthday!!!! 🎂
Happy Birthday and many more!
Happy Happy Birthday…And Many More 🎁🎂🎈
WE had those light bulbs but they were solar and they came in handy when we lost our power for a few days. We live in apartment so the inner hallways and stair wells (no power= no elevator) are extremely dark. Emergency back up power for our building only lasts 1 hour. I also used those neon bracelets that glow in the dark to show where door knobs were. WE also have a car cooler that we can keep charged with our hybrid car (it's like a generator) which is a backup for any refrigerated medicine. great video.. loved the solar oven
Wow! Great idea about the door knobs!
When we lived in an apartment i kept a magnetic hook on the back of the front door with all of our headlamps. Came in handy during nighttime Fire-drills, nighttime power issues, etc. We didn’t have to go find them.
Dang, Larry this is your passion. I hear the excitement in your voice. 😄 Great video!
I took the remainder of insurance when my husband died and bought a whole house Generac natural gas generator system for my house. Yes, it was very expensive. However, I know nothing about electricity or generators that you need to hook up and am not physically able to drag one around. I plan to live here alone for the next 20 years or so. It allows me to live here alone with no worries. It was worth every penny to me. I pay $250 a year for maintenance. It is the biggest luxury I have ever allowed myself. I sat on the fence for 2 years thinking about this. Three outages close together did it for me. I called the company and never looked back. Not very frugal was it!
Peace of mind is worth every cent when you are alone😊
Some investments are worth it,,I'm sure your husband is looking down from heaven saying great job Honey😊🙏
My Blu tooth speaker is Bose I'm using it now to watch this program. Got it at thrift store $5 it's awesome.
You got a great deal!!
...each new vid of yours that I watch, learn from & enjoy becomes more & more valuable to, I'm sure, so many...thank you for all the unbelievable amount of energy, time & hard work you so generously provide for "the world"... btw, as I am a visual person, just sharing that Larry's hairstyle is so much more "eye appealing" when he has a partial side part instead of the full straight-across "little-girlish" bangs & Hope looks so much prettier & younger with pastel lipstick instead of dark red...Luv You Both too much...God Bless You...
I run that bestek 500 w inverter with my beginning solar power bank and I love it! it shuts down the battery bank when it gets at 50% battery power. great video. so thumbs up on the bestek. keepd up the good vids.!
Lady’s opinion: I love it when gadgets come in cool storage containers- like a screwdriver set or a multi use nail holder box. I love the tool boxes that come on wheels- in the style of carry on airplane luggage. 🙂
I like me some kitchen gadgets!
My guy was real interested in all the info and I learned that while he was at his job and while he was in the army he used and maintained these. Good info to know! Thanks for this practical help.
Love all kinds of kitchen gadgets😁
Eneloop rechargeable batteries are fantastic! I work at a television production network and we regularly use these in our microphones. We used to go through batteries ridiculously fast since we couldn't trust going on live to air with batteries less testing less than 80%. We needed 3 AA batteries per microphone so imagine how many batteries we were going through every day. We replaced them with these and haven't looked back. They hold a charge for a long time and even with heavy use in 8 studios they last a long time before finally being replaced. Definitely pick up for your home use.
Yep. Larry worked in television and multi-media for many years. Eneloops are the best.
Super, Arlyd. They are the very best as far as I can determine. Glad you are getting good use from them. I use their AAA rechargeables for our digital audio recorder. Very reliable! I loved working in television. Back in the days I worked the equipment wasn't so reliable, but it was an adventure!
Yes, eneloops are great but are now rebranded as Fujitsu.
Choosing a quality charger for batteries is important or they can be damaged. I bought chargers compatable with my portable solar panels too just in case.
We camp in an rv. We have a gas powered generator that is very loud but works well to power our rv kitchen. We also have battery type lighting,headlamps,pick lights,battery powered light switch lights,lanterns battery powered,oil lamps with extra oil. One winter we had an ice storm and windy conditions. It knocked our power out because of a break in the power line. We knew this storm was coming so we prepared our freezer with embedding heavy duty plastic jugs,like Arizona tea comes in. Filled them with drinking water and froze them solid b4 the storm hit. We have a storm radio,plug in power inverter to run a small slow cooker on and a camping stove that uses small bottle propane. In RV we have propane stove with an oven. Refrigerater that operates on propane or electric. In my home we have a propane stove with oven and grill lighters to light the burner in the event of a power outage. Cool cloths to wipe our forehead with to keep cool.
My husband is shaking his head while I try to prep. I am searching for something to recharge my tablet, AND cellphone, so which of these would be best for these two items, and whatever else they can do? Thank you for your valuable videos. I told my husband, just wait...you will be locked out of my prep area LOL
Great video! I'm gonna binge watch some of yours now, I love the frugal vibe! Those Eneloop batteries are amazing, I've had some powering my garden solar lights for 8 months and they are still going strong I haven't even needed to recharge them yet!
Super, Lorraine! Glad you found us. We enjoy sharing what has worked for us with people like you!
I am not a gadget person whatsoever. Heck, I have 1 flashlight and I haven't used it for years! It is very rare for us to lose power and if we do, it's up and running within minutes to a couple or few hours. We do have 2 generators. We also have acres of woods on our land so can cook with ease outside. I should look into a camping propane stove top for inside just to have on hand. I do live in a state that has tornados. Knock on wood we've been lucky. Course if a tornado hit bad enough...none of your things would be around anyways or no good/damaged. Lol. Your family is more than covered. Awesome job!
So true, Bones. All could be destroyed. But, we prepare as good as we can. Thank you for your kind comment.
Our house is set up to just flip our main breaker and turn the generator on. Also ~ it’s at the shop away from the house so we don’t have the racket right at our house. 🙌🏻
It’s a game changer!! 😁
Good for you!!
@@larryware1 it was set up this way when we bought our house! I’ve thanked God many times for it too!
Great content! I have an emergency handcart with a little ingenuity and some bungee cords, you can have your battery, inverter etc. Never have to lift or put the equipment together just plug and play.
Thanks, Insane Mainstream! I used to tape an inverter to the AGM battery to make it a little more all-in-one.
@@larryware1 No problem! I actually added some plywood to mine and screwed everything to it.
One clever use of battery power is the Greenworks 60/80V 300 watt inverter. Uses the lawn mower/acc batteries as the source.. Bought it and we lost power the next week for 12 hours, worked perfect for my CPAP machine for sleep apnea.
Totally unrelated but please give us a home tour. Its amazing when you move to your kitchen. I would love to see your study fully and your living room.
Thank you for being inspirational.
For a power outage I have a built in inverter in my Ram Pickup. And camp mode in my Tesla modelY.
Thank you. I enjoyed your video, and picked up a few tips as well. First time viewer.
Love the information. Also love Larry geeking out with all of these 😁
LOL! So true about the geeking out. I love this stuff, Breanna.
Awesome video with lots of information! Can’t wait for the 2nd part.
I have been trained and prepared for emergencies including earthquakes since I was in early 30s. It takes a lot of time and energy but the piece of mind is worthy it =:)
I’m a gal who loves gadgets! I’m way more into this kind of thing than my husband is. 😁
In terms of what we have, lots of solar lights and headlamps and puck lights, etc. Lots of rechargeable AA, AAA, D, and 9V batteries. Lots of smaller USB battery banks to recharge anything that charges through a USB.
But for bigger power needs, we’ve gone with the Bluetti system. We have the EB55 with matching solar panel. For both together, it was a thousand dollars. 😬 Which is a lot, but I don’t just use it when the power goes out. I charge and use this solar generator every single day. I use it to charge all electrical devices (laptop, iPad, phone, even our electric weed eater). I’ve made it a point to NEVER have charged the solar generator using a wall plug - I will only charge it using the cigarette lighter in our car as we drive, or through the solar panel. There’s no reason to charge the battery using wall electricity and then use the battery to charge our gadgets. Take out the middle man and just use wall electricity in that case. 🤷🏻♀️
I don’t track how much power I use through it, so I have no idea how long it’ll be before it’s paid for itself, but more than the free electricity that we get from it every day is the peace of mind that comes from knowing that even in a power outage, we’d be okay.
Thanks for all that you do, you two! You’ve helped a lot of people gain a lot of knowledge. ❤️
Next week is the beginning of hurricane season. We live on the gulf coast. This is great info! Getting some sort of generator is on our list of things to buy. I love the idea of having solar and/or regular generator. Thanks for this info!
Thank you, SMarie.
Being in upstate NY we can loose electricity at any time of year. We have a propane powered generator and two 20 gal tanks (9 hours each) and a 30 gal tank (15 hours). We only keep heating/cooling and refrigerator and freezers going.
This video is great. I would love to have an entire house generator.
Funny s looking at generators at menards before seeing this. Your teaching me so much thank you 🙏🏻. Will it run the fridge. And separate freezer
The gas generator will - both - I use my 3500 watt generator to power 2 fridges and a freezer.
@@larryware1 What brand. I hear Honda makes one that’s quite. What are the numbers I need for it to run both of them thank you so much for help on this I’m in Indiana
Larry,invest in extra extension cords,and wrap around the handle of the generator.saves time searching for extension cords.
also,most power companies offer surge strips free.i would advise everyone to get them.we have tons.
I started living off grid in my camper November 2021. I’m still learning things. I have five 115(?) Ah Marine batteries & two 100 watt solar panels, about to buy more and an inverter. I have Generac’s 10,000 watt generator for back up. Along with about eight 5 gallon gas cans.
Good for you, LilTexasRose! You're well prepared. I'd like to get more solar panels as well. Would love to be living off-grid.
I highly recommend the Luci Light solar, blow-up backpacking lights. I have 3 and I have purchased 2 for my mom. Love them!
Here in South Africa it has now become a normal event. Most people who can afford it are opting for Solar power.
Excellent Analysis, Deployed Worldwide Through My Deep Learning AI Research Library…
Thanks Hope And Larry
Thank you, Truth!
@@larryware1
You’re Welcome
We have an Ecoflow River Max with a solarpanel. You can charge it with electricity, your car and solarpanels.
It has multiple output ways. We gave used it so much on our holidaytrip. It saved our but while having a car-break-down stop. The kids could watch dvd on the portable dvdplayer, while we where bizzy to make phonecalls to get home. We made coffee on our way to Sweden, with our camping watercooker! Só nice to have an emergency back up!❤👌
You two are brilliant. TFS
Thank you, D Lynch. (Only in some things.... LOL!)
I had to Subscribe, You guys have such excellent and informative information, and you're just funny and enjoyable to watch...
I am just trying to understand the Battery, Inverter, Power Station, Solar Stuff, and its hurting my head trying to figure it out... Thank you for the Help 👍👍👍
I had to do a lot of research to put my first solar panels on the house back in 2007. It took me about 6 months to sort through all the information. There is plenty of information on-line and on TH-cam to assist you. If you have any questions feel free to leave them in the comments and I'll try to answer them as I can find time, CLC. And thank you for you kind comments. That means a lot to Hope and I.
An excellent overview across a range of viable options. You could not have picked a better time offer the information in this video!
Thanks, I bought a couple of 100-watt panels. One is in a southerly direction & the other is westerly to catch the last few hours of the setting sun. When the sun shines on both but it was a little cloudy & was giving just over 7 amps. I measured between the panels & the battery charger unit. I will at least get one more. I have 4 power inverters & I will wire the 3000 watts one to the main power fuse box, switching off the supply in case it should return even for a moment.
You will get use to this. Here by us it is loadshedding almost everyday for years now. Then you dont have power for several hours. This is due to no maintenance since the new government took over in 1994.
Thank you I will be waiting for the cooking one next.
Many thanks for doing this video!!!
Yesterday I started getting delivery some of the items that were suggested in the video.
GIRLS LOVE GADGETS
Excellent information, right when I need it (before hurricane season). Thanks Larry and Hope. ♡♡
Great info! We have a dual fuel gas/propane generator. Researching solar generators so not so dependent on gas. Battery candles, flashlights, and lanterns and 2 small solar lanterns for lighting. We have a small heater and fans to help with heat or cold, but would like to get window ac yet. Thank you!
You're so welcome, Linda. You have been doing a lot to be prepared. Way to go!
Yea don’t get those upright NON a window rectangular AC units. The window AC units last longer and cheaper!
@@MegaBpop what are you talking about?
Window ac to be able to plug into generator
@@MegaBpop I live in a van, and so far there isn't a unit to fit my window. I have one of those upright rectangular units and have to put the exhaust hose out the front passenger window. I know it won't work without a source of electricity. 🤨 I have a dual USB fan but when it gets warmer than 65 outside, it gets too warm inside.
Thank you for this video. I live in a duplex. Power box is on the neighbors side. Generators are out of my fixed income
This is the answer! The Oupes 1800w was just what I was looking for! THANK YOU THANK YOU HOPE AND LARRY!!! ❤️❤️
You're very welcome!
Awesome, HonestlyKayla. I'll be doing a full review on the Oupes 1800 on Monday's video (5.30.22) It's REALLY a nice unit!
@@larryware1 I actually just bought it based on your recommendation! I needed to have the security to run my sump without power or use of a gas/propane powered generator. I can't wait for the next video!
@@honestlykayla8249 - thank you. You'll love it. I used mine to run 1 1/2 pots of coffee through it this morning. It only went down to 80%! I'm ver happy with it. Thanks for being part of the frugal family!!!
I live in an apartment and have several sources of power. The largest is the Honda 2200, Jackery 1000 w/2 100 watt solar panels, and two smaller rechargeable batteries for smaller devices. I converted the Honda to use both propane and gasoline.
We have been out of power for 9 days & 6 days so we are now fully prepared for outages.
Oh no! Storm caused? Glad you are fully prepared now, Retired.
@@larryware1 yes one was wind from Hurricane Ike that made its way to Southern Indiana and then we had an ice storm but luckily then we had a wood stove so we were able to have heat cause it was January
@@RetiredLovingIt - good for you. I wish we had a wood stove. What we use are 3 kerosene heaters. We've never had to rely solely on them for heat but have them just in case.
Great video and very informative
Love the video. We also have a gas generator and run our 3 freezers and fridge, TV, coffee maker, computer/internet modum, a few lights, etc. You know, just the necessities. LOL. I totally understand the extension cords all over the house. LOL. I have been trying to get my husband to get a transfer switch put in to our home also. We have been without power for 7 days at a time at least twice and we did fine with this. We do keep a supply of gas on hand as a generator with no gas is useless. I also have a Jackary power bank for camping in my van and we use that also, which is very convenient. I'm looking to get solar panels to attach to it and will check into the brand you guys have. We also have some battery operated motion detector lights on our stairs and hallways and those were so helpful. Again, we do have to make sure we have fresh charged batteries in them. Thanks for all the info.
Don't forget the C and D sized spacers for the AA batteries. Also, you can get chargers that will charge up to 16 AA and AAA rechargeable batteries at the same time.
Good thoughts, Debra. There are SO many options.
So where do you get spacers for double and triple a batteries to c& D batteries I bought a adapter for my 6volt lantern battery but can't find rechargeable D batteries at a reasonable price 2pack of double a rechargeable are 2 dollars a pack at the loony store and over 16dollars a pack elsewhere and I can't find rechargeable D at the loony store are others
Awsome video, thank you. I'm subscribing to this channel now.
Thank you, Sherry!
@@larryware1 thank you for helping me I went bought some of those things you showed in the video I went bought some of those things at Menards today so thank you for helping me
@@sherrymanes7253 - You are so welcome! So glad to have been a help!
I use a tacklife jump starter , from USB , many adapters . I have jump started a 460 Ford with no problem
That's amazing!
I really do not have too much to help with power outages and my whole house and everything I have runs on electricity but being on only SSI I can NOT really afford much..I can't help but be nervous but.I still value your videos...I lost power one time for a week in the summer in Arizona, It was awful!!!!
@@faith4754 - great tips for low cost items!
Hooking up a generator to natural gas was sooo good after Hurricane Ida. We were out of Electricity for 3 weeks and running water fory about 2 weeks. Natural Gas was the one thing working.
I'm one of these crazy preppers, what you got is pretty good for short term, but not for long term, I'll share some ideas, run that same lamp behind you without a inverter, get some E26 12v light bulbs and run that lamp directly from the battery, have fun making the proper adapter so you don't ruin the lamp, I run a 12v emergency lighting system throughout my home, with USB built-in outlets that run directly on 12v DC current, I also have 12v outlets throughout the home, I also run a main wind and solar system to power heavy loads, I also have a rain harvesting system that is 100% off grid with its own 12v wind and solar pumping system...I can go for years off grid...I learned alot after huricane Maria, I was without power and water for months.
Wow! Thanks for your tips. Super helpful.
I have an Ecoflow Delta 1300 and a Bluetti AC50S for power stations. I have 300 watts of solar. I also have a 1000watt inverter gas generator. This is part of my emergency kit.
Great power stations, Dolores! You have certainly put together a nice emergency package.
The main things I want to keep running during a power outage are the fridge, freezer, well pump and water heater. In the winter I also want power for the house's heating system. To accomplish that I have a 4,000 watt split phase output (120/240 VAC) inverter, a 20 KwH Lithium Iron Phosphate battery bank and a 1,000 watt solar array. The system is connected to the house wiring with a 10 circuit transfer switch. That will run everything I need for at least 3-4 days in the winter and indefinitely in the summer. Total cost was about $6K. We also have a 5 kilowatt generator that plugs into the transfer switch, but we haven't used it since we installed the inverter/battery/solar system.
So where do you get a split phase 110 220 inverter all I've ever found are 110 and some if you buy 2 units at twice the price can do 220 110 volts and can you get them for 12 volts I don't want to go 24 or 32 volt battery bank thanks
@@douglaswindsor120 I bought a Schaeffer, but Magnum, Aims and many other companies make split phase inverters. Aims does make a 12VDC to 240 VAC inverter. There are a lot more options if you go with a 24 or 48 volt battery bank.
Great info. In uk they reckon if theres underground/ train strikes theres gonna be petrol rationing and powercuts. We havent had bad powercuts since 70s. Im fairly well prepped
I’m saving money for a Jackery or similar with solar panels. I won’t be ready to buy one this summer. Until then, I have some USB battery banks and all my camping gear that is designed to be used in water only or dispersed sites. We try to use up our freezer food as much as possible leading up to and during hurricane season so we don’t lose as much if/when we lose power. I am planning on getting that jump starter in the next 1-2 months.
Check Costco I bought a pair of Jackery there as a set great deal
I have a gas generator like yours. And it has been a life saver during our many power outages from hurricanes and snow storms.
The rechargeable packs are certainly next on my list of needs. I like that they come with the solar panels. That's pretty cool that it charges your bike.
Thank you, R N. So glad you have some back-up for those unexpected outages. I love being able to ride the bike on solar power.
I got a goal zero yeti 6000 and a bluetti 300 with 2 expansion modules.
And for emergency back up I got a renogy solar set up.
Thank you for the information.
I bought a Duramax 15k Tri-fuel generator so I’m good the go.
Oh my, Hope. I just have to say that you have the SWEETEST facial expressions ever. You fairly glow with such a beautiful inner light and kind and helpful disposition. We all have our faults and I don't know yours, but I just have to say that watching your videos, with you looking into the camera and nodding your head yes is just about enough to cheer up a person all by itself! (Larry, you are awful sweet too -- but Hope is off the charts!)
God bless.
Wow, thank you!
Charge converter solar panels Battery inverts and your done thankyou good video 👍
I live in Fl. I have two generators. I Bought a window air conditioner to put in bedroom which I also have a TV so I can run that too.The heat and humidity is high in the summer. The other one can run two refrigerators and freezer. I also have a 14 gallon gas caddy on wheels and other 5 gallon gas cans.
Excellent information. Thank you.
This off the subject but I just got my computer fixed and I hear you talking about an Amish store you go to. I live in the Quad City area about an hour from you and I was wondering where is the Amish store located! I did not know there were any Amish stores around this area. Please share! Thank you! I found your channel about a month ago and have been powering through your videos! I am enjoying every one of them!
The Amish store we go to is Heartland Bulk Foods in Cuba, IL
@@UndertheMedian Thank you!
I love this show.👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍
I have never heard of Eneloop... will be definitely looking into those batteries.
Try Costco
Hubby and I started out with a 24,000 power bank that folds out with 3 solar panels to charge the usb charger. It is great for our charging phones and tablets etc at the local go cart racetrack. We have added a solar hand crank radio that has a usb charger, a solar charging lantern that has a usb charger, a 300 watt solar charging station, a 1000 solar charging station, and an 8500 watt gas generator that will power our house as well as our well for water😊 Edited to add- numerous solar lights, solar lanterns and love those rechargeable batteries you mentioned…been using them many many years 👍
I live in an apartment. I don’t have much, but I do have multiple power banks as I have many items that are usb chargeable. But the one must have for me are battery operated and / or usb fans. I need air movement. So even if it is hot out I can function if I have fans.
I have 3 smaller power sources that have an option for solar charging. I use them easily. Also, in a pinch, your laptop can power your cell phone via USB charging.
I have an EcoFlow Delta Max that I over paneled with 1,360 watts of panels. That way I get it's max 800 watts of input longer throughout the day and closer to the max on overcast days. For quick charges overnight, I have a 6,500 watt tri fuel generator hooked up to my natural gas utility with quick disconnects to switch over to my 8 20lb propane tanks in the event I lose both power and natural gas. Of course I have the obligatory flashlights, lamps, batteries out the wazoo, USB power packs, etc. The EcoFlow is new and I am so impressed with it, probably going to get 1 or 2 2000wh add on batteries very soon.
Interesting learned alot thank you I live in a small town in morrisonville ny very small seems like in summer and winter we lose power often for no reason no storm in site boom power out usually its not out long enough to worry about the freezers or fridge or furnace but sometimes it could be for longer period of time so these were great tips thank you can't wait till part 2
Hope you can use some of these tips to help you out, Tracey! Thank you.
I have a ECOFLOW River Pro with 120watt solar panel
Great system! EcoFlow makes high-quality power stations.
I'm a woman and I am the one doing the researching and purchasing of all emergency preparedness gadgets as well as non mechanical preparedness...food, water, comfort and so on.
Crazy how many of them power Bank I have. I find them all the time . Next time I see a USB fan I'm gonna get a couple.
I built my own power bank with a 35AH 12v battery in a plastic ammo can. It includes a volt meter, double USB port and a 12v port. I can charge it from the Harbor Freight solar kit or a smart charger.
Super. You can save money that way!
We have the first two you shared, just different models, so very useful, were working towards getting a generator as well. I also have a solar charged or outlet charged power bank thats super useful, it has two usb ports and charges your phone 3 times off a full charge or whatever else you want that can be charged with a usb.
Definitely nice to have several different types of charging devices. 👌
Your typical 18 - 20 cubic foot sized refrigerator consumes about 120 watts when running. However, it takes a staggering 1200 to 2400 watts to start it. These refrigerators turn on a 600 to 720 watt heating element about 3 times a day to defrost. Each defrost cycle runs the heater for 10 to 20 minutes, followed by the refrigeration running 15 to 30 minutes afterward to remove the heat. This is not a problem normally but, can cause problems when running from backup power.
As far as I know, those big affordable gas generators do not put out pure sine wave power, and should not be used to power desktop computers. Laptops might be ok because you’re most likely only risking the power brick and the battery. The Honda inverter generators, and others that are inverter generators do provide pure sine wave power.
Great video, thanks.
They put out a modified square wave. I have never had any problem running desktop or laptop computers with them.
You pay more for a sign wave generator and they are hard to find. If you have soler panels the inverter will need sine wave detected from the grid to run. That protects line workers by shutting off your output. To use a generator with soler you will also need a disconnect switch to take it of the grid.
@@allen4353 Before I retired I was an IT pro mostly supporting clients in the hospitality business. A hotel that I took care of experienced a power failure, and while trying to run their computers and network equipment on a generator had multiple computers fail. Not positive about whether the waveform was the issue or the frequency possibly not being 60 Hz.
The last two Sundays we lost power for 4 hours each day…I don’t believe in coincidences.
I had an interlock on the breaker box and an outside receptacle, which is a cheaper and more uses over a transfer switch.
Walmart has the RavPower USB Battery Bank on sale for $30 right now.
Thank you so much for this video!
Very informative video. I like how you covered different price points on power sources.