Had our food & water preps, multiple alternate indoor cooking options, solar batteries reasonably charged (panels covered with snow but inside batteries ok).. and, the pipe in our attic burst. Ceiling caved in. Flooded house. Attic exposed, ice crystals forming inside flooded rooms. No water, no safe way to heat the house or even use any type of electricity. No hotel vacancies. The prep that saved the day? Having multiple friends who more than welcomed us into their warm home.
One of the tricks my family used during the 2009 ice storm that wrecked the Ohio valley was repurposing a burn barrel with one of our ovens grates to make an improvised wood burning grill to cook with our cast iron pans. Breakfast was cold by the time it was served(interior home temp 44 degrees) but it was nice to have a cooked meal when we had no power
Checking in from neighboring New Mexico. We were on the edge of the deep freeze, and had few problems here, but it could happen here someday so I observed what happened and learned from it. First, we bought a Jackery 1500. After using it during a summer storm power outage, we liked it so well we bought two more, a 1000 and a 500. Second, I began storing water in any empty jug I had. No more recycling plastic bottles- they were all washed out and refilled with water. Third, I had the wood stove chimney professionally cleaned and I’ve been cutting down some dead tress we have around and stacking firewood. During a recent cool-down, I built a morning fire three days in a row in order to get a feel for the stove and make sure everything was in working condition (we had not used the stove since moving in.) Lastly, I advise everyone to take an honest look at themselves and what gaps they may have in their knowledge. I scoffed at several news stories of Texans doing “stupid” things during the freeze, but I’m sure none of those folks were actually stupid. They all did the best they could with the knowledge they had. So one of the best preps we all can get is knowledge. Know what is safe for indoor use and what is not. Know where your utility turn-off valves are (and his to use them.)
I agree, generally we weren’t stupid down here. But some were definitely foolish. Not running your car exhaust into the house for heat should be common sense. Yes, that happened.
Car exhaust, using grills inside, all the cell phone videos of water gushing into people’s homes instead of using the phone to look up how to shut off the water. Etc etc. The worst one I heard was a 6 year old boy who froze to death in his bed. Why was he alone? Where were his parents?
IMPORTANT!!!! don't just turn your water off if you are worried about pipes freezing and splitting. You need to turn all your faucets ON including outside and unhook the garden hose. You need to drain as much water from the pipes as you can. If you have a basement opening a sink there will allow most of your pipes to drain. with less water in your pipes the water freezing and expanding has less chance of splitting your water lines. Also leave the faucets on, some house shut offs do not seal perfectly and water could slowly fill your pipes back up. Don't forget to drain your water heater.
I hear fire blankets are pretty handy! Also, a good sleeping bag for each family member is a worthwhile investment. They sell socks that heat up using just a D battery each. When you’re feet are warm, you’re less miserable.
As an Alaskan, getting enough fuel to heat through the Winter is always something to keep in mind. Most of my town runs off of Diesel heat and the rest are propane or wood. Being in the middle of an enormous Forrest, having wood heat is very practical for us. I feel sorry for those in cold climates without trees!
I’m sure most of your viewers have already thought of this, but just to make sure… If you think your pipes are going to freeze and you turn the water off at the source and drain that water out, make sure you’re having that water drain into buckets, jugs, pails, pitchers, pots, and any other pot-shaped device you can get your hands on. Don’t just let that clean water go down the drain! If you’re about to have frozen pipes, you’ll want all the fresh water you can get your hands on.
Problem with solar in the winter is, Overcast skies, snow and ice and low temp are hard on batteries. Keeping your battery pack and solar panel out in sub freezing temps will not generate the energy per hour needed. Running a freezer on solar in freezing weather would be a waste of energy, place items in a cooler to protect and set outside. In freezing weather if power is not restored within 1/2 hour shutting off water to the house and opening the furthest tap to drain water into containers is a great idea. Indoor rated heaters like "Buddy Heater" is a good alternative. Move to a room that can be sealed off with sleeping bags a tent etc. this should slow the temp differential from outside and make the situation more livable. Just considerations.
Very overcast skies are the crypto to solar, need a generator to alternate and recharge the the Solar (it if takes it). Dual Fuel is my proposal, Solar at the moment must be backed up....
Most people don’t know that their vehicle can be used as a generator in a pinch find a goon inverter. I used my truck all the time when off-site or not near an electric source. Also lawn and garden batteries are wonderful for the smaller items
Hot water bottles are great to have. If you are able to heat water, then fill up a hot water bottle to put into the bed at night. The water doesn't go to waste because you can reheat it.
For those out there with a portable power station or small, Honda style generator; Reliance/Goal Zero make a 110v, 4 circuit transfer switch, so you can just plug one extension cord and power 4 circuits. For me, it's bathroom lights, master bedroom and living room and Fridge, all powered from the safety of a closet (when using the power pack).
Thank you - some great suggestions. The Sawyer tap filter is a great idea, thanks for that - it is now on my Christmas wish list. Have solar and for the first 3 days cloud cover and ice on the panels didn't generate any electricity. After that, when we had our 4 hours out of 12 up time, we were actually exporting energy to the grid. As far as cooking with minimum electricity - we have a 1 burner hot plate and an Instant pot (once it gets to pressure, only the timer uses electricity). I believe Georgetown is the most expensive electricity in Texas and it is 100% renewable (hydro, solar, and wind turbine), but, we survived
Great information. I live in Houston. I call the storm The Ice Apocolypse. We have Ecoflow solar power generators. We were way more prepared than most. We're looking to get a Honda 2000i to use along with solar panels to recharge the SPGs. It got down to 48 degrees in the house. We stayed warm by placing a blanket on top of the mattress and putting another blanket on top of the bedspread & top sheet. I was so warm that I kicked off my socks in my sleep! I'm thinking about investing in a DC-powered electric blanket. DC (cigarette lighter port) power uses way less than AC (wall plug type)
When we got that same little Honda generator we went on eBay and bought a propane conversion kit. It installed quick and easy so we only use our Honda with propane. What's nice is when we're not using it we can throw it in the backseat of the car or keep it inside the house or camper with no fumes, since we've never burned any gasoline in it.
I was so happy I bought my generac whole home generator after hurricane Harvey the power was out for 3 days at my house but we didn't have any problems staying warm and had water the whole time since we are on a water well had the propane tank topped off the week before the storm and burned almost 300 gallons in that week between powering the house water well running the gas furnace and water heater
I think comparing these and gas generators are like comparing apples and oranges. The Jackery is not going to keep a freezer and refridgerator running for long. Jackery is a good product, but it is not a replacement for a gas generator. Each have their place.
Great video and I picked this Jackery 1000 with two SolarSaga 100-1 solar panels after that freeze 🥶 and i am building a smaller unit just for my Ham Radios❗️
Surprised by the many negative comments on the utility of solar power stations. Of course you're gonna get more energy by breaking those chemical bonds (internal combustion) but let's not pretend that a gas generator equates to an unlimited supply of power. As daylight hours are limited so are gallons of gasoline. So it's less about which is better but more about an individuals needs. And let's not ignore the fact that the only time someone is rolling out a noisy, smelly gas genny is during a power outage while solar/battery tech offers a multiple of use cases (camping, boating, UPS backup power, etc).
I think both have their place. I use a dual fuel with propane for short times in the day, also for charging power storage units that could also charge from solar if the sun is out.
Solar doesn’t work for us in the Alaska rainforest. Petrol based generators seem to be the only alternative if you live in a condo as I do. Wood stove is optimal but not an option for me
a solar rig is essential ... i use goal zero .... but get a jackery or whatever ....just get what u can afford.....then scale up....JR another stellar vid m8!
Toaster oven is my plan for the solar generator. I have a black Jeep, so whatever sun I do get, will be charging through the solar panels, but also keeping the generator somewhat warmer than just sitting on the cement of the porch. I have another one, which I'll trade back and forth with the first one, as I know the panels won't keep up with demand. I have an electric heater with two settings: 1000/1500 watts. I'll keep it at 1000 to keep the battery level higher, longer. If, like the last time, we have rolling blackouts, then I can just recharge the generators through the outlet. I was one of the folks melting snow to flush toilets, but only because I didn't want to go to the river and go that route. It was an option, but we didn't have to do that. I've got a lot more levels of backup this year, than I did during the Winter event, but we weren't worried. We had a ranch in Utah, so this was nothing new. It does bother me that I'm not sure people just didn't stick their head back in the sand and won't be ready this time, either.
We are in the country and have a 250 gallon tank of propane and have 2 space heaters that kept the whole house at 70 degrees with it in the single digits outside. It was the best prep we had. (Also gas stove and gas water heater). What part of Texas are you in?
@Paco I can smoke a delicious whole chicken during a power outage with my $750 Pit Boss pro series, using my $450 jackery power station. I’ll take my smoker over heating up noodles over a cup of alcohol.
Question. I live in an apartment and don't have access to solar power. I also have no knowledge of generators so I am not sure what to buy. Is there a generator that I can just charge using an electrical outlet within my home without solar power or using gas? Preciate any advise you can offer.
I’m seconding both answers! These portable solar generators will recharge by being plugged in, but don’t forget that they can also be charged as you drive down the road. Anytime you drive anywhere, get in a habit of plugging at least one item in to charge using your cigarette lighter. There are CHEAP cigarette lighter converters, basically, that will allow you to pull the extra energy off the system and recharge anything that uses a USB charging cable. So you can recharge phones, tablets, lights, batteries…you name it using these converters. My husband and I used to full-time RV, and before we moved from one campsite to the next, I’d get everything laid out that I wanted to charge as we drove. I used a higher-end converter that allowed me to plug in regular plugs (rather than just USB) so I was charging my laptop, a portable battery, and lots more as we drove. It’s electricity that would otherwise be wasted, so by utilizing it, we basically had “free energy” that didn’t require any sort of generator or regular power source to be produced. Having these cigarette adapters in every vehicle and always using that electricity to charge something anytime you go anywhere isn’t something I see any preppers talk about, but they should. Topping off batteries with free electricity? The very epitome of prepping. 😉
Who keeps gas, that is ethanol free and stabilized for 2 years? Most homes need lawn care, so there should be some level of fuel turn over. For us, every 6 months, the stabilized gas goes into the car, and the cans are refilled and stabilized. There should be ample opportunity to turn over your stored fuel.
I'm in the southeast US, so a year's temps run from below freezing to the 90's. From personal experience, Stabil treated generic unleaded gas in a tightly closed can keeps at least 2 years here, even working well when used to mix 2 cycle fuel. My backup power is a small solar system of my own design plus an inverter generator for the sunless days and about 2 weeks of treated gasoline in a shed out back.
@@notyoung I had my treated gas in plastic containers which were originally purchased to serve as added car weight when I got trapped in snow storms a long way from home. So 6 months seemed about right for fuel turn over. Those cans are being retired for Eagle Metal cans for treated gas storage. Living in NY, we have a real winter to deal with and our primary issue is heat. Our fireplace was converted to a wood insert without the surround. Since we have NG fuel for the furnace, water heater and stove, our electrical load is low. We have a Generac XL5500 from 1998, and have replaced that with a Firman 3300 W inverter(WO3382) for any electrical need. Your small solar sounds like a good investment. We will think about adding that for lights with the battery back up.
@@gibblespascack1418 We have NG but the central heat needs 460 watts for the blower, so that's a balancing act when running from the batteries (about 2520WH of power available). The approximate furnace run time based on thermostat setting and the average outside temperature is part of the spreadsheet of what things the solar backup system can power and for how long. If you want more furnace run time, you don't use the 50" TV ;-) The freezer is good for 8-16 hours without power so maybe a few hours running it daily when the solar panels have full sun or the inverter gen is running. Lots of tradeoffs with anything thing less than whole house solar - and that doesn't last long when it's cloudy or the panels have snow on them. We rarely have the snow problem - although 7+ inches here is almost guaranteed to how power off for some hours - but lots of cloudy skies in winter mean limited solar input. The spreadsheet has separate fields to display winter backup hours versus summer backup hours - summer thunderstorms can also put us in the dark.
Excellent & Important helpful topic.please do a part 2. .. maybe you could interview others from Texas and more on their suggestions.. ★TRUST CHRIST ❤️🙏 ★Acts 4:12 [NASB] “There is SALVATION in NO ONE ELSE; for there is NO OTHER NAME under HEAVEN that has been GIVEN among MEN by which we MUST be SAVED.” J-E-S-U-S IS LORD! ✝️🙏📖🙌❤️
@@diypreppertv Lord Bless You & your efforts here to warn & encourage etc. May we Trust in JESUS-&-in God’s unfailing WORD more than ever (James 4:6-10, 2 Cor 6:2, Titus 2:11-15)-& then Keep Looking UP!^ (Col 3:1-4) ✝️📖🙏❤️ .. Helping your algorithm 😊
Had our food & water preps, multiple alternate indoor cooking options, solar batteries reasonably charged (panels covered with snow but inside batteries ok).. and, the pipe in our attic burst. Ceiling caved in. Flooded house. Attic exposed, ice crystals forming inside flooded rooms. No water, no safe way to heat the house or even use any type of electricity. No hotel vacancies. The prep that saved the day? Having multiple friends who more than welcomed us into their warm home.
Good you were prepared, and great to have friends you can count on. I also had to leave my home and stay with a relative.
If you cannot heat your house, you have to drain your water lines even hit them with air pressure to clear them. Figure that out in warm weather.
One of the tricks my family used during the 2009 ice storm that wrecked the Ohio valley was repurposing a burn barrel with one of our ovens grates to make an improvised wood burning grill to cook with our cast iron pans. Breakfast was cold by the time it was served(interior home temp 44 degrees) but it was nice to have a cooked meal when we had no power
Very good idea! I may need to do a video over cast iron soon.
Careful what you burn. You don’t want toxic fumes in your food.
Checking in from neighboring New Mexico. We were on the edge of the deep freeze, and had few problems here, but it could happen here someday so I observed what happened and learned from it.
First, we bought a Jackery 1500. After using it during a summer storm power outage, we liked it so well we bought two more, a 1000 and a 500.
Second, I began storing water in any empty jug I had. No more recycling plastic bottles- they were all washed out and refilled with water.
Third, I had the wood stove chimney professionally cleaned and I’ve been cutting down some dead tress we have around and stacking firewood. During a recent cool-down, I built a morning fire three days in a row in order to get a feel for the stove and make sure everything was in working condition (we had not used the stove since moving in.)
Lastly, I advise everyone to take an honest look at themselves and what gaps they may have in their knowledge. I scoffed at several news stories of Texans doing “stupid” things during the freeze, but I’m sure none of those folks were actually stupid. They all did the best they could with the knowledge they had. So one of the best preps we all can get is knowledge. Know what is safe for indoor use and what is not. Know where your utility turn-off valves are (and his to use them.)
*how to use them. Sorry, I tried to edit and it posted instead. Fat finger syndrome 😂
I agree, generally we weren’t stupid down here. But some were definitely foolish. Not running your car exhaust into the house for heat should be common sense. Yes, that happened.
Car exhaust, using grills inside, all the cell phone videos of water gushing into people’s homes instead of using the phone to look up how to shut off the water. Etc etc. The worst one I heard was a 6 year old boy who froze to death in his bed. Why was he alone? Where were his parents?
IMPORTANT!!!! don't just turn your water off if you are worried about pipes freezing and splitting. You need to turn all your faucets ON including outside and unhook the garden hose. You need to drain as much water from the pipes as you can. If you have a basement opening a sink there will allow most of your pipes to drain. with less water in your pipes the water freezing and expanding has less chance of splitting your water lines. Also leave the faucets on, some house shut offs do not seal perfectly and water could slowly fill your pipes back up. Don't forget to drain your water heater.
I hear fire blankets are pretty handy! Also, a good sleeping bag for each family member is a worthwhile investment. They sell socks that heat up using just a D battery each. When you’re feet are warm, you’re less miserable.
Really? Battery operated socks?
As an Alaskan, getting enough fuel to heat through the Winter is always something to keep in mind. Most of my town runs off of Diesel heat and the rest are propane or wood.
Being in the middle of an enormous Forrest, having wood heat is very practical for us. I feel sorry for those in cold climates without trees!
Houses in Texas aren't built with furnaces you can feed wood into.
I’m sure most of your viewers have already thought of this, but just to make sure…
If you think your pipes are going to freeze and you turn the water off at the source and drain that water out, make sure you’re having that water drain into buckets, jugs, pails, pitchers, pots, and any other pot-shaped device you can get your hands on. Don’t just let that clean water go down the drain! If you’re about to have frozen pipes, you’ll want all the fresh water you can get your hands on.
Buy disposable cookware. Cups, plates, etc. Dont have to waste water for dishes. Good emergency prep that few think about.
Problem with solar in the winter is, Overcast skies, snow and ice and low temp are hard on batteries. Keeping your battery pack and solar panel out in sub freezing temps will not generate the energy per hour needed. Running a freezer on solar in freezing weather would be a waste of energy, place items in a cooler to protect and set outside. In freezing weather if power is not restored within 1/2 hour shutting off water to the house and opening the furthest tap to drain water into containers is a great idea. Indoor rated heaters like "Buddy Heater" is a good alternative. Move to a room that can be sealed off with sleeping bags a tent etc. this should slow the temp differential from outside and make the situation more livable. Just considerations.
Very overcast skies are the crypto to solar, need a generator to alternate and recharge the the Solar (it if takes it). Dual Fuel is my proposal, Solar at the moment must be backed up....
Most people don’t know that their vehicle can be used as a generator in a pinch find a goon inverter. I used my truck all the time when off-site or not near an electric source. Also lawn and garden batteries are wonderful for the smaller items
Hot water bottles are great to have. If you are able to heat water, then fill up a hot water bottle to put into the bed at night. The water doesn't go to waste because you can reheat it.
I have a hot water bottle. Need to get another one.
I added a dual fuel generator. Propane doesn’t go bad and it’s clean.
For those out there with a portable power station or small, Honda style generator; Reliance/Goal Zero make a 110v, 4 circuit transfer switch, so you can just plug one extension cord and power 4 circuits. For me, it's bathroom lights, master bedroom and living room and Fridge, all powered from the safety of a closet (when using the power pack).
Thank you - some great suggestions. The Sawyer tap filter is a great idea, thanks for that - it is now on my Christmas wish list. Have solar and for the first 3 days cloud cover and ice on the panels didn't generate any electricity. After that, when we had our 4 hours out of 12 up time, we were actually exporting energy to the grid. As far as cooking with minimum electricity - we have a 1 burner hot plate and an Instant pot (once it gets to pressure, only the timer uses electricity). I believe Georgetown is the most expensive electricity in Texas and it is 100% renewable (hydro, solar, and wind turbine), but, we survived
If I lived in Texas I would invest in a good generator as Texas WILL have another power grid failure sooner rather than later.
This!!! Everyone talking about solar when this type of event happens you're not generating no power with solar.
@@Cenlalowell LOL, Texas is ranked 4th in the US for solar. Texas is on track to add 9 GW of new solar to the mix over the next two years.
@@jammer6524 when the power is out a ranking won't matter. In Texas people were looking to fill propane bottles to use power not solar
Great information. I live in Houston. I call the storm The Ice Apocolypse. We have Ecoflow solar power generators. We were way more prepared than most. We're looking to get a Honda 2000i to use along with solar panels to recharge the SPGs. It got down to 48 degrees in the house. We stayed warm by placing a blanket on top of the mattress and putting another blanket on top of the bedspread & top sheet. I was so warm that I kicked off my socks in my sleep! I'm thinking about investing in a DC-powered electric blanket. DC (cigarette lighter port) power uses way less than AC (wall plug type)
Good ideas! A gas generator and solar generator combo definitely packs a wallop.
When we got that same little Honda generator we went on eBay and bought a propane conversion kit. It installed quick and easy so we only use our Honda with propane. What's nice is when we're not using it we can throw it in the backseat of the car or keep it inside the house or camper with no fumes, since we've never burned any gasoline in it.
My electric was just off for a day and a half. I have a small solar generator. It ran my refrigerator for the whole time.
We survived on buddy heaters. I was ready.
Love my Jackery! Bought the combo two type from Costco great deal!
Solar is great but expensive. I have a small 300 watt but I'm working on getting larger solar generator. Baking soda puts out fires too.
I was so happy I bought my generac whole home generator after hurricane Harvey the power was out for 3 days at my house but we didn't have any problems staying warm and had water the whole time since we are on a water well had the propane tank topped off the week before the storm and burned almost 300 gallons in that week between powering the house water well running the gas furnace and water heater
I think comparing these and gas generators are like comparing apples and oranges. The Jackery is not going to keep a freezer and refridgerator running for long. Jackery is a good product, but it is not a replacement for a gas generator. Each have their place.
Great video and I picked this Jackery 1000 with two SolarSaga 100-1 solar panels after that freeze 🥶 and i am building a smaller unit just for my Ham Radios❗️
Surprised by the many negative comments on the utility of solar power stations. Of course you're gonna get more energy by breaking those chemical bonds (internal combustion) but let's not pretend that a gas generator equates to an unlimited supply of power. As daylight hours are limited so are gallons of gasoline. So it's less about which is better but more about an individuals needs. And let's not ignore the fact that the only time someone is rolling out a noisy, smelly gas genny is during a power outage while solar/battery tech offers a multiple of use cases (camping, boating, UPS backup power, etc).
I think both have their place. I use a dual fuel with propane for short times in the day, also for charging power storage units that could also charge from solar if the sun is out.
Bought mine last month, exact same set up , for emergencies and off grid camping at the shack i built in the rocky mountains.
Glad you learned some things from a bad situation. Thanks for sharing. Hopefully other people learned lessons as well...but im doubtful.
I’m afraid you’re probably right. Most folks have a really short term memory.
Solar doesn’t work for us in the Alaska rainforest. Petrol based generators seem to be the only alternative if you live in a condo as I do. Wood stove is optimal but not an option for me
a solar rig is essential ... i use goal zero .... but get a jackery or whatever ....just get what u can afford.....then scale up....JR another stellar vid m8!
Thanks Andy!
Every room in the house has a 55 gallon water drum. No freezing issue.
Just subscribed you are a beacon of light Thankyou! Im so glad i found you God bless you and your family liked and will share 👍😊
Thank you!
Another hitter, JR. Well done!
Thank you CM!
Good stuff. thank you!
Thanks for watching and commenting!
I learned from it that I should’ve had 2 stills. $60 per gallon with a free pint of shine.
Toaster oven is my plan for the solar generator. I have a black Jeep, so whatever sun I do get, will be charging through the solar panels, but also keeping the generator somewhat warmer than just sitting on the cement of the porch. I have another one, which I'll trade back and forth with the first one, as I know the panels won't keep up with demand. I have an electric heater with two settings: 1000/1500 watts. I'll keep it at 1000 to keep the battery level higher, longer. If, like the last time, we have rolling blackouts, then I can just recharge the generators through the outlet. I was one of the folks melting snow to flush toilets, but only because I didn't want to go to the river and go that route. It was an option, but we didn't have to do that. I've got a lot more levels of backup this year, than I did during the Winter event, but we weren't worried. We had a ranch in Utah, so this was nothing new. It does bother me that I'm not sure people just didn't stick their head back in the sand and won't be ready this time, either.
Helping the algorithm
Thanks Pete!
Why would an electric blanket on the pipes cause a fire?!
Short circuit
Electricity and moisture don’t mix. Very risky.
I had the same question! I wouldn’t have thought that would be an issue, but okay, it’s true that water and electricity don’t mix. 😋
We are in the country and have a 250 gallon tank of propane and have 2 space heaters that kept the whole house at 70 degrees with it in the single digits outside. It was the best prep we had. (Also gas stove and gas water heater).
What part of Texas are you in?
Get it.. got it.. good.🇺🇸👍🏻
Even in the mid west we would have something like this.
I was ignorant enough to think that Texas would not be so subject to ice storms. Heat yes, in the summer, but ice?
My jackery 500 will power my pit boss pellet grill for several hours!
@Paco I can smoke a delicious whole chicken during a power outage with my $750 Pit Boss pro series, using my $450 jackery power station. I’ll take my smoker over heating up noodles over a cup of alcohol.
Charge it at work. Many businesses have backup power
I got A Winnerwell Nomad woodstove Large!!!😉😉😉🤔🤔🤔😎😎😎
Question. I live in an apartment and don't have access to solar power. I also have no knowledge of generators so I am not sure what to buy.
Is there a generator that I can just charge using an electrical outlet within my home without solar power or using gas?
Preciate any advise you can offer.
You can charge the Jackery I used in the video from the wall outlet in your apartment.
@@diypreppertv Thank you so much!!
You’re welcome!
I’m seconding both answers! These portable solar generators will recharge by being plugged in, but don’t forget that they can also be charged as you drive down the road.
Anytime you drive anywhere, get in a habit of plugging at least one item in to charge using your cigarette lighter. There are CHEAP cigarette lighter converters, basically, that will allow you to pull the extra energy off the system and recharge anything that uses a USB charging cable. So you can recharge phones, tablets, lights, batteries…you name it using these converters.
My husband and I used to full-time RV, and before we moved from one campsite to the next, I’d get everything laid out that I wanted to charge as we drove. I used a higher-end converter that allowed me to plug in regular plugs (rather than just USB) so I was charging my laptop, a portable battery, and lots more as we drove. It’s electricity that would otherwise be wasted, so by utilizing it, we basically had “free energy” that didn’t require any sort of generator or regular power source to be produced.
Having these cigarette adapters in every vehicle and always using that electricity to charge something anytime you go anywhere isn’t something I see any preppers talk about, but they should. Topping off batteries with free electricity? The very epitome of prepping. 😉
Who keeps gas, that is ethanol free and stabilized for 2 years? Most homes need lawn care, so there should be some level of fuel turn over. For us, every 6 months, the stabilized gas goes into the car, and the cans are refilled and stabilized. There should be ample opportunity to turn over your stored fuel.
I'm in the southeast US, so a year's temps run from below freezing to the 90's. From personal experience, Stabil treated generic unleaded gas in a tightly closed can keeps at least 2 years here, even working well when used to mix 2 cycle fuel.
My backup power is a small solar system of my own design plus an inverter generator for the sunless days and about 2 weeks of treated gasoline in a shed out back.
@@notyoung I had my treated gas in plastic containers which were originally purchased to serve as added car weight when I got trapped in snow storms a long way from home. So 6 months seemed about right for fuel turn over. Those cans are being retired for Eagle Metal cans for treated gas storage. Living in NY, we have a real winter to deal with and our primary issue is heat. Our fireplace was converted to a wood insert without the surround. Since we have NG fuel for the furnace, water heater and stove, our electrical load is low. We have a Generac XL5500 from 1998, and have replaced that with a Firman 3300 W inverter(WO3382) for any electrical need. Your small solar sounds like a good investment. We will think about adding that for lights with the battery back up.
@@gibblespascack1418 We have NG but the central heat needs 460 watts for the blower, so that's a balancing act when running from the batteries (about 2520WH of power available). The approximate furnace run time based on thermostat setting and the average outside temperature is part of the spreadsheet of what things the solar backup system can power and for how long. If you want more furnace run time, you don't use the 50" TV ;-) The freezer is good for 8-16 hours without power so maybe a few hours running it daily when the solar panels have full sun or the inverter gen is running. Lots of tradeoffs with anything thing less than whole house solar - and that doesn't last long when it's cloudy or the panels have snow on them. We rarely have the snow problem - although 7+ inches here is almost guaranteed to how power off for some hours - but lots of cloudy skies in winter mean limited solar input. The spreadsheet has separate fields to display winter backup hours versus summer backup hours - summer thunderstorms can also put us in the dark.
Excellent & Important helpful topic.please do a part 2. .. maybe you could interview others from Texas and more on their suggestions..
★TRUST CHRIST ❤️🙏 ★Acts 4:12 [NASB] “There is SALVATION in NO ONE ELSE; for there is NO OTHER NAME under HEAVEN that has been GIVEN among MEN by which we MUST be SAVED.” J-E-S-U-S IS LORD! ✝️🙏📖🙌❤️
Thanks for watching!
@@diypreppertv Lord Bless You & your efforts here to warn & encourage etc. May we Trust in JESUS-&-in God’s unfailing WORD more than ever (James 4:6-10, 2 Cor 6:2, Titus 2:11-15)-& then Keep Looking UP!^ (Col 3:1-4) ✝️📖🙏❤️ .. Helping your algorithm 😊
Good stuff.
Thanks Ken!
Another tool for the toolbox!
For no reason, we lost power yesterday for 5+ hours…peace of mind is our solar power stations and solar panel to charge them!
😷👍