This post requires a simple declaration: I am not a solar power expert and I have no stake in any solar power equipment company or supplier.

As a Prepper, I am often contemplating how I will respond to situations that bring about changes in my day to day life that I have little or no control over. At the very top of this list is what I would do if the power goes out for more than a day or so. Historically, the power only goes out for extended periods as a result of some calamity that destroys infrastructure. Most other disruptions such as a transformer overheating and blowing out or a transmission line breaking are repaired fairly quickly. In today's economy we also have to be cognoscente of the possibility of not being able to afford to purchase as much power as we were able to do in the past

Whether you lose your job, become injured or ill and are no longer able to work, or suffer a natural disaster that results in long term power loss, having a plan to keep at least a few lights on in the dark is an important consideration for all of us.

Thus far, my backup power solutions have been tailored to deal with the short term power disruption - the power goes out and my grid powered rechargeable batteries kick in and provide limited power until these storage cells are drained, then they become really heavy door stops. Without grid power, I have no way to recharge the backup system.

The cost of simple backup solar systems is dropping like a rock and it may be a good time to consider your options for keeping some lights, a computer and a few other small appliances operating. If cost were not a consideration, then yes it is possible to power much of your home all of the time with an extensive solar power generation system installed on your roof. For most of us, the cost, or the time to recoup the investment may be higher and longer than we can justify. It is possible to acquire a portable solar system that can beat back the dark and then recharge itself the next day to repeat the process every time the sun sets.

Because I am not an expert it wouldn't be responsible for me to detail exactly what you should be buying. I just want to get you thinking about a small solar system that you could set up if the need ever arises. Of course you will need to do some research and speak with solar companies to get their recommendations of exactly what equipment you will need to power 2, 4 or 10 lights, charge cell phones, run a laptop, run a water pump etc.

Before the power goes out, you will need to decide just what equipment you "need" to power and from there you can determine how much electricity your portable solar system will need to produce and store during the time that the sun is up. Me, I need the ability to power some movable "plug in lighting", charge some low voltage gadgets, recharge batteries for flashlights and to run a sump pump on occasion. It would be nice to be able to power the AC but that mission, is beyond the ability of a portable solar system that I can set up when required and later take down when the grid power returns. For me, any portable system needs to be movable so that one person, can realign the solar collectors as the sun tracks across the sky. I do this with my solar oven but a large array of solar panels that aren't mounted permanently on my roof would be more work and effort than I am prepared to commit to.

*To recap, having the ability to produce at least some small amount of electricity on an ongoing basis will make your life a whole lot better if the wall sockets cease to provide juice for whatever reason.

*Achieving this goal is getting cheaper and can be set up, taken down and maintained by a single person.

*Having some power available will make a difficult situation a lot more tolerable.

*Understanding that a portable solar system will not run your furnace, your AC and most of your other large appliances (freezers etc) means that you do not need a field of solar panels and thus do not need a lot of space for the system and that alone will keep the cost reasonable. I have a couple of 12V coolers that can keep some food cold. These low power electric coolers can run a long time before draining a marine or car battery. Being able to recharge these batteries when the sun comes up ensures that I have cold storage on an ongoing basis without having the resort to ice blocks.

*As with all prepping projects, once you identify the need that you must satisfy, the rest of the process of meeting that need becomes pretty straight forward with only a minimum amount of time and effort.

As an example of just how cheap a simple portable system has become, please click here. I am not saying that this example is exactly what you need for your home, but it gives you a place to start and upon reflection, should allow you to see that producing some power for yourself is do-able and probably advisable.

[What have you done today to prepare?]

A lot of space on too many blogs is devoted to creating exhaustive lists of absolutely necessary (according to the author of same) gear that you must obtain to have even a slim hope of survival. While it might be nice to be a well-to-do über-prepper sitting in your fortified retreat atop your mountain of supplies, it isn’t going to happen for the vast majority of us. Not ever.

In fact, I’ve come to believe that many of these lists and the survival sites promulgating them have a negative effect on those people that are tentatively finding their way into the world of survival and preparedness. Many people are simply overwhelmed with the items and quantities they are supposed to obtain, and are defeated before they are fairly begun.

What follows is yet another shopping list. The difference is that this one is short, inexpensive to obtain for the most part, and fits in a backpack. It doesn’t guarantee that you’ll survive, but it will shift the odds in your favour.

3 large contractor grade garbage bags (one clear plastic) - you can make everything from shelters to sleeping bags with these. The clear bag is for obtaining water by transpiration.

100’ parachute cord (or – 50’ cord/50’ nylon rope) - for tying stuff up or together…like a shelter.

Emergency space blanket - Get the heavier reusable version if you can.

Metal cup for cooking - Or a small aluminum pot, whatever works for you, plus utensils.

Water bottle(s) - a place to keep water you’ve treated.

Lighter + matches and fire starter/ tinder - multiple lighters, matches in a waterproof case.

2 candles - couple of tea lights, or some pink ladies.

Knife (fixed blade) - a good, sturdy, multipurpose blade. Avoid Rambo knives.

Whistle - a signaling device

Compass and Map - generally only useful if you’ve actually practiced using them.

Flashlight (or Headlamp) - I like the shake & charge flashlights or wind & charge types.

Med kit - Don’t forget your personal meds.

Disposable poncho - generally cheap and one use, but if you can’t afford better, get several. It’s easier to stay dry than to get dry.

Sunglasses - Surprisingly necessary in all seasons.

Sunscreen & insect repellent - Makes life merely miserable instead of unbearable in sunny & buggy locales.

Sewing kit - Take twice what you think you’ll require. You’ll wind up needing it.

Paper money and coins - Surprisingly useful in obtaining necessary goods, even in a crisis. Not infallible.

Multi-tool or Swiss army knife - Both if you can afford the money and weight, but one at least.

Can opener - Get a P-38 style one, nothing simpler or lighter out there.

Snare wire - Essential force multiplier

Flexible / collapsible saw - I like the collapsible saw option. Better all round, but more expensive.

Energy bars / dehydrated food - As much as you can afford and stuff into your pack. Look for high nutritional value and low weight.

Water / Water treatment - lots of options, from filters to chemicals - and you always have boiling as an option. Always carry or store as much water as practical.

There you go. If you’ve got that much in a back pack, and a back pack for each person, you’re likely miles ahead of the neighbours. You can add to it as you see fit, and expand your prepping as you are able to do so and see a need for. Do what you can afford, and don’t let the ‘professional’ preppers intimidate you and keep you from doing what you should do to be a bit more prepared.

The final nails in the coffin of our liberty will come between the first Tuesday in November and the inaugurations in January. (Mark my words as though they were gospel)!
Most incumbents know that come November their worthless asses are fired but yet hope (beyond hope) they wont be. So they're holding back their agenda for now.
I'd love to know how much they were threatened or how much bribe money it took to have them turn their backs on "94%" of the citizens in this country and voted yes on the banker bail out, the taking over of the auto industry and the so called "Health Care" (now we got you under our thumb's you peons) bill!
That period of time between the elections and the inaugurations is when the incumbent "loser's" and the "lame Duck" Obamanation are going to cram through stuff like cap and trade, Internet censoring and God only Knows what else to ruin our country for those that pull their little puppet strings! At that point what will they have to lose? (Hopefully their necks).
Come November it's deer season In Wisconsin. This year might be a nation wide open season on traitors as well.
Might want to save some room for nooses on those buck poles!
Northwoods


------------------------------------------
Join the APN Forum at www.AmericanPreppersNetwork.net
Visit the Wisconsin Forum at www.WisconsinPreppersNetwork.net

 

With triple-digit temps and higher humidity levels now due to summer and monsoon, please don't forget about the critters...

Heatstroke tips for Pets

-- Never leave your pet in the car on warm days. The temperature inside a car can rise very quickly to dangerous levels, even on milder days. Pets can succumb to heatstroke very easily and must be treated very quickly to give them the best chance of survival.

-- If you cannot immediately get your pet to a veterinarian, move it to a shaded area and out of direct sunlight.

-- Place a cool or cold, wet towel around its neck and head (do not cover your pet's eyes, nose or mouth).

-- Remove the towel, wring it out, and rewet it and rewrap it every few minutes as you cool the animal.

-- Pour or use a hose to keep water running over the animal's body (especially the abdomen and between the hind legs), and use your hands to massage its legs and sweep the water away as it absorbs the body heat.

-- Transport the pet to a veterinarian as soon as possible.

Tips for a horse

-- Move him to shady area (or erect temporary shade over him) and spray with cool water.

-- Place an ice pack on the jugular vein to help cool blood as it circulates and/or put some cubes in a rag or sock and tie to the top of halter. (If you put a wet towel over a horse's head to cool him down, do NOT cover his nose since they are nose breathers!!)

-- Offer him fresh water and put some close by to drink. Watch for signs of dehydration too (e.g. sunken eyes, panting, dark red or dry, sticky gums, etc.)

Resources:
American Veterinary Medical Association
SAVE YOUR HORSE! by Michelle Staples

Join the "Dealing with Extreme Heat" discussion on AZPN forum -- tips for humans too!


------------------------------------------
Join the APN Forum at http://www.americanpreppersnetwork.net/
Visit the Arizona Forum at http://www.arizonapreppersnetwork.net/