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Just as the storm is getting really loud and violent you see a tremendous flash, hear the great BOOM and then the lights go out. Failure of the power grid through natural causes or infrastructure failure is the most common emergency we face. The bad news is with the lack of a cohesive energy policy, coupled with an aging power grid desperately in need of modernization, it is likely to only get worse.
We have not built a modern nuclear power plant in the U.S. since 1974. The latest round of EPA rules are slated to shut down 208 coal-fired power plants over the next five years. While natural gas is becoming cheaper and more plentiful the Feds are not issuing permits to explore on federal land nor are they issuing permits to build new gas or coal-fired power plants. Can anybody see where this is going? Experts predict that at a minimum rolling brown-outs and black-outs are going to become the norm sooner rather than later. It will be kind of like living in a third world country where the power comes and goes seemingly as it pleases. What really happens is the power is diverted and distributed at the whim of various bureaucrats who decide which people really need lights and when. Charming prospect, isn’t it? Our bureaucrats handle everything else so well, don’t they? Can anybody answer what one of the key factors is that keeps the third world third worldly? Hint: what happens at your office or business if Reddy Kilowatt stops flowing out of the little plugs on the walls?
In January of 2014 Judge Jeanine Pirro did an hour long special on this very problem:
Judge Jeanine: "Lights Out: Danger to U.S. PowerGrid"
So, how do we prepare for this? What are the chances the power grid will survive intact and deliver reliable energy if the poopie impacts the proverbial Rotational Wind Velocity Enhancer?
In an emergency energy needs can be broken down into a few basic categories:
Cooking, food preparation and refrigeration
Safety and comfort – lights, fan or AC, warmth
Communications
Transportation
Let’s start with the most basic scenario – the lights go off at home and you have a freezer full of food about to spoil. Here is where every home should have the one thing Lowes and Home Depot run out of first when a storm is coming ashore along the coast.
Portable Generators
Portable generators come in all sizes, shapes and power ratings (as well a price ranges.) Basically, you probably want to buy the largest generator you can afford. They start at a little over $100 and go up into the tens of thousands if you want to power your entire 10.000 square foot McMansion. Generators are rated for their peak generating capacity in Watts. For example, our UST gas portable generator is rated at a healthy 5500 watts peak output. That is quite a bit in the portable generator crowd. But when you read the fine print in the manual they tell you continuous power draw should be no more than about 4400 watts. You will achieve the peak if you hook up a bunch of high draw appliances and everything starts at once. The continuous run is what you draw in Watts after everything you want to power is turned on and stabilized.
We hook up our freezer and refrigerators first, then lights and fans (it’s usually warm in Texas when the storms hit) then everything else we might want. It is very important to calculate the power draw from what you wish to run and make sure you do not exceed the peak rating of your generator. Plug appliances and lights in one at a time and monitor the voltage meter on the generator panel. If it drops below 120 volts and stays there you have too much stuff hooked up. Below is a chart to help you calculate your need. Or use the calculator at this site where you can enter your appliances and find out what size generator you'll need. https://www.diy-experts.net/wattage-calculator/
Don’t push your generator to capacity. Running it at peak load will greatly reduce your run time per gallon of gas and may cause problems with some of the appliances you are trying to power. For example you’ll see the light work in your Freezer even though it is not getting enough power to kick the compressor on. Most generators have an onboard volt meter so monitor it and make sure it is stable at 120 volts with everything turned on.
Don’t hook directly to your house wiring unless you have an Isolation Circuit installed. If you do you, you will send most of your power back into the grid and if the grid power comes back on with your generator plugged in you will fry the unit and potentially start a fire. We suggest keeping a large tote full of heavy-duty extension cords handy and run directly from the generator to the appliances we want to use.
Generator Fuels – The most common is regular gasoline but models are available that run on propane and diesel. In fact, all of the units large enough to power a whole house are usually non-portable diesel units. Diesel’s primary advantage is that it doesn’t “spoil” over time so you can lay in a large enough stock to run your house for weeks or months.
Run Time – This will depend on the load, generator capacity in watts and tank size. Our 5500 watt unit will run for nine hours on a 4.5 gallon tank at an average draw of about 4000 watts. We keep the tank full and another 5 gallons in reserve. Refresh the fuel every 6 months. Pour your back up into your car tank and refill the gas can. Smaller units take less fuel, larger units use more. You can stretch your run time by only running the freezer a couple of hours in the morning and a couple in the evening which should still keep everything frozen if you keep the door closed most of the time. Keep lights off when you don’t need them and only run the appliances you absolutely have to use. In other words, do all the stuff you should be doing all the time to not waste energy.
It is also helpful to start the generator once a month and let it run for 30 minutes. This will keep all the bearing surfaces lubricated and ensure that when you pull the rope in an emergency you’ll hear the satisfying sound of the motor running.
Generator Safety Tips:
Make sure you have a ground fault circuit interrupter to prevent shock
Look for a large gas tank – when it runs out, let the engine cool. Pouring gas when the portable generator is hot can spill on the engine and ignite!
Don’t operate in a wet environment or you could risk shock
Never try to power the house by plugging the portable generator into a wall outlet; this will cause a backfeed and could electrocute you, your neighbors and electrical workers!
Pull the generator outdoors to run! Don’t try to run it in your garage or house. It generates high levels of carbon monoxide and can kill you in a hurry.
Here are some great sources of information on generators
Selecting the best generator: https://offgridsurvival.com/emergencygenerators-selectingtherightgenerator/
http://www.generac.com/Portables/
http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/generators/buying-guide.htm
Other Sources of Alternate Power
Propane – Is convenient, clean burning and readily available. It will run lanterns, stoves and space heaters. While you will need specialized appliances to run it they are reasonably priced and commonly available on Craig’s list. Propane cooking and heating can be an important part of a shelter-in plan as well as your bugging out rig. For consistency you can also buy a generator that runs on propane and concentrate on one fuel stock.
Gasoline – Our portable stove is a Coleman Duel Fuel which will run on regular unleaded fuel, Coleman Fuel or white gas. Lanterns are also available in this configuration. From a planning standpoint anything that you can use to take the load off your generator can extend your total run time weather sheltered-in, bugged out, or living in your camper, tent or refuge cabin.
Wood - The advantages of wood are obvious, especially if you have a wood burning stove at home or a specialized wood burning grill/stove like the Volcano grill pictured above. If you are camping or using a cabin in the woods it will be available everywhere. Remember that it takes 6 to 12 months for freshly cut wood to “season” for burning. If you are clearing dead fall that wood is probably ready immediately. Gathering wood in the city, if you are sheltered in, is a bad plan. If you plan on using wood in the short-term then gather or buy it now and store it properly. Here is an excellent article on firewood storage:
http://www.wikihow.com/Store-Firewood
Transportation – keep your cars above ½ tank of fuel at all times. Keep your back up fuel cans full and fresh.
Planning is key to having the energy you need when an emergency occurs. The time to stock the wood, the fuels and to buy the appliances you need is now…not 20 minutes after the storm comes ashore!
Articles on Solar and Wind Power Solutions:
http://www.off-grid.net/section/energy/
http://homeguides.sfgate.com/five-things-need-live-off-grid-79744.html
http://www.ecodirect.com/Portable-Solar-Power-s/663.htm
Volcano wood grills and stoves: http://www.volcanogrills.com/
Concerned about an EMP? Maybe you should read about Faraday cages.:
http://science.howstuffworks.com/faraday-cage.htm
Quick Faraday Cage for Under $10
National Geographic - Faraday Cages
http://www.tngun.com/emp-protection-with-homemade-faraday-cages/
Information on light and heat:
Emergency Light, Heat, and Fuel Plan
SMART THINKING SAVES LIVES - MOTHER NATURE ALLOWS FEW MISTAKES:
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