Living without power....

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VenomJockey

VenomJockey

Ancient AH Pilot, Retired CWO W4.
Neighbor
HCL Supporter
Joined
Dec 31, 2017
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3,131
Lots on here about Solar, generators, even wind turbines and water turbines....but what about living with no power at all? The pioneers did it, and quite well, at that! Eliminates a lot of expense, spare parts and hassle. Think about it...what do you really NEED power for anyway? You can cook over a wood stove. You can salt meat, or smoke it, cure ham, etc. Gardening and canning can preserve veggies for year round use. Get up with the sun, go to bed with the moon!

https://www.askaprepper.com/how-to-make-survival-ration-bars-at-home/

http://www.happypreppers.com/without-electricity.html

https://www.backwoodshome.com/how-do-you-live-without-electricity/

Or for "get it and forget it" water turbine power, if you have a fast flowing stream that doesn't freeze over in winter....

https://www.powerspout.com

Or wind turbine....https://singularityhub.com/2017/07/...ntle-breeze/#sm.0000xetw9s21temoug22g15f5y6k2

https://www.motherearthnews.com/renewable-energy/wind-power/home-wind-power-zm0z13amzrob

Both cost far less than backup generators (diesel or gas), and less than solar. But cobnsider going without power, period.....hey, the pioneers did it! :gardening:
 
I'm trying to live without it and these days my choice to purchase something has me looking for analog and or manual equivalents.
I'd dearly love to buy a instapot but I'll opt for a large stainless steel pressure cooker instead.
I've been eyeing one on the Ikea website.

I'm looking at a Dutch Maid manual kitchen processor rather than a electric one.

The GSM is coming and with it massive solar flares.
I fully expect the grid to go down and stay down for a long time.
Failing that a financial collapse will make power supply either spotty or too
expensive.
 
Tank-Girl said:
I'm trying to live without it and these days my choice to purchase something has me looking for analog and or manual equivalents.
I'd dearly love to buy a instapot but I'll opt for a large stainless steel pressure cooker instead.
Click to expand...
Get a thermal cooker. It is basically a very large thermos. You cook food (e.g., stew, soup, etc.) to temperature on the stove, perhaps to a boil. Then you poor it into the thermal cooker and seal it up. It stays at that cooking temperature for hours, without any external power...and without any escaping aromas. I've always figured this might be a good "aftermath" cooker. They are called many things, but if you search "thermal cooker" you should find them. Thermos calls theirs a "vaccuum insulation cooker."

Tank-Girl said:
The GSM is coming and with it massive solar flares.
I fully expect the grid to go down and stay down for a long time.
Failing that a financial collapse will make power supply either spotty or too
expensive.
Click to expand...
I don't know that I fully expect anything. If I did, I would sell my home, and get out of dodge. As it is, I'm not ready to sacrifice my day-to-day lifestyle. If we get closer to real problems, I'll reconsider then. In the mean time, I just take what I think are reasonable preparations as if it is a hobby.
 
Tank-Girl said:
I'm trying to live without it and these days my choice to purchase something has me looking for analog and or manual equivalents.
I'd dearly love to buy a instapot but I'll opt for a large stainless steel pressure cooker instead.
I've been eyeing one on the Ikea website.

I'm looking at a Dutch Maid manual kitchen processor rather than a electric one.

The GSM is coming and with it massive solar flares.
I fully expect the grid to go down and stay down for a long time.
Failing that a financial collapse will make power supply either spotty or too
expensive.
Click to expand...

I have a couple of solar ovens. The Sun Oven gets up to 450, the Solar Sport only gets to 300 but both work well.
 
living without power is not hard to do it just takes a different thought process.
sadly many who are addicted to the 21st century lifestyle will not be able to adjust to the new normality post SHTF and will suffer the consequences.
 
This is how our young people spend their time. This is how their use of power is mostly spent. It's amazing to me how many people have their face in their phone, even when they are in a public place. From infant on. Crazy.
I think with no power, our screen addicts will spend the first few days going crazy with thinking of much else.
 
the screen addicts wont survive any longer than all the other types of addicts do without their own personal fix.
when SHTF people have to be ready but unfortunately most will not be, being prepared is not seen as a vital activity in the techno obsessed 21st century.
in the UK food supplies are finite, about 43% of all our food is imported, about half of that from Europe the rest from all over the world, once those imports stop any food supplies are only a few days from collapse, there are no government food stores, its all in the supermarket delivery depot, on the back of a truck or in a store, once that is gone its all over for the unprepared.
 
Amish Heart said:
This is how our young people spend their time. This is how their use of power is mostly spent. It's amazing to me how many people have their face in their phone, even when they are in a public place. From infant on. Crazy.
I think with no power, our screen addicts will spend the first few days going crazy with thinking of much else.
Click to expand...
It take about three days for my nephews to become human after their electronics are shut down so be ready for some rough days. The thing is that they are regular butts now and just get worse for a bit. One of them considers himself a prepper and will do well enough when the power goes out. The other is too young yet.

I recommend "The Assassination Generation" if you want to understand what is going on with young people and their computer games. The games really mess with their brain chemistry. He suggests no computers or TV till age seven and then restrictions. I was about seven when we got our first TV and they taught us how to use slide rules when I was in school so computers were not an issue.
 
Of course in the USA there has Never been a long term power outage (other than in very small areas due to the weather).
While it is fine to plan for a power outage, it is also very likely that any outage in your area will be of quite short duration.
So in my estimation this prep should be moved well down on your prepping list.
 
While short term power outage is far more likely I am prepping for a long term outage. Both the wife and I have medical devices that require power so although the probability is low the potential is loss of life so it is worth the investment.
 
Caribou said:
While short term power outage is far more likely I am prepping for a long term outage. Both the wife and I have medical devices that require power so although the probability is low the potential is loss of life so it is worth the investment.
Click to expand...

Those with medical devices need power...period. Prep for it! It IS a matter of "life or death," and no amount of preparation is too much!!
 
anyone that has a medical device that needs power even in a short power loss would be top of any danger list.
we had a power cut many years ago where I then lived which shut power off to a lifeboat station so they couldn't be contacted in an emergency, they went to the top of the repair list!
 
My youngest was on a heart monitor when she was a baby. We were given a form to send to the power company so that we were put on the "must" repair first list. We had a storm hit that not only did the tornado take out somewhere around 400 power poles but flooded the fields so bad that they couldn't get the heavy equipmemt in to replace them. 2 weeks with no power. The electric company sent a man with a small generator and 5gal gas can out to make sure we could charge the battery pack on the monitor. We had a genny that we were using for the freezer and battery pack so he left the gas and his number in case we needed more. Suprised the heck out of me but it was much appreciated.
 
VenomJockey said:
Those with medical devices need power...period. Prep for it! It IS a matter of "life or death," and no amount of preparation is too much!!
Click to expand...

V.Jokey this is true. I hope they have solar or generator. Here in Florida we get a good idea of being without now and then after storms. It is amazing how much we need it when its no on.
 
VenomJockey said:
Lots on here about Solar, generators, even wind turbines and water turbines....but what about living with no power at all? The pioneers did it, and quite well, at that! Eliminates a lot of expense, spare parts and hassle. Think about it...what do you really NEED power for anyway? You can cook over a wood stove. You can salt meat, or smoke it, cure ham, etc. Gardening and canning can preserve veggies for year round use. Get up with the sun, go to bed with the moon!

https://www.askaprepper.com/how-to-make-survival-ration-bars-at-home/

http://www.happypreppers.com/without-electricity.html

https://www.backwoodshome.com/how-do-you-live-without-electricity/

Or for "get it and forget it" water turbine power, if you have a fast flowing stream that doesn't freeze over in winter....

https://www.powerspout.com

Or wind turbine....https://singularityhub.com/2017/07/...ntle-breeze/#sm.0000xetw9s21temoug22g15f5y6k2

https://www.motherearthnews.com/renewable-energy/wind-power/home-wind-power-zm0z13amzrob

Both cost far less than backup generators (diesel or gas), and less than solar. But cobnsider going without power, period.....hey, the pioneers did it! :gardening:
Click to expand...

Ah VJ, wish you were still around for me to pester ya about this.
This is what I gear towards.
 
To the OP NO THANK YOU!

For 16 years I've been my own power company and I'll keep on going that way just as long as humanly possible. I have many ways of making power and trying to develop more all the time. Without power I can't build the things I like to to make life a little better / easier.
 
lonewolf said:
I just dont see the need for power in a post collapse world, anyone with power post event will just attract the wrong sort of attention.
keep it simple.
Click to expand...
Have you always lived over there or did you live in the US for a time. If you were over here, can I ask what state?
 
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