A cold dark winter...

bad2thebone · 03-09-2022 10:38am #1

Looks like we're heading for a winter we haven't experienced before. Power cuts, fuel hikes, energy hikes.

Time to prep, I'm going to have to get load's of candles. Supposedly they taxed candle's in recent times, so I suggest people try to prep for black outs. Terracotta pots and candles make great heater's. I suggest people find ways to make themselves and their loved ones warm and have a comfortable winter. Its not going to be nice for people already struggling.

Leg End Reject · 03-09-2022 10:49am

There's a thread on CA with some helpful tips.

SEPT 23 1989 · 03-09-2022 10:53am

As a child of the 80’s I imagined the year 2022 as a futurist heaven flying cars etc not poxy candles and terracotta pots

Jim2007 · 03-09-2022 11:09am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058261702/a-cold-dark-winter

There are a lot of us that have experienced it, inflation up to 20% and unemployment at about 19% too.

First tip - don’t rely on candles, look around the second hand shops or house contents auctions for an oil lamp - reading, sewing, knitting, tying flys and most other pastimes by candle light are crap.

Buy yourself a power station about 300 watt hours, you should be able to charge your devices from it, get a couple of laptop charges or boil the kettle from it.

If you want internet during the blackout, think about buying some kind of hotspot

if you are a meat lover, think about good quality corned beef…

bad2thebone · 03-09-2022 11:46am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119564132#Comment_119564132

Same here, and supposedly less work and more automation.

I've 4 Ash trees since last year dried out,I'm ringing some of them this weekend.

You can also use big terracotta pots and more candles. Fridge full of cleaned out Pollock lol around ten bass,all legally caught and not undersize. I've access to a pier that's never fished and it's full of coalies and whiting during the winter. The benefits outweighing the risks, for some strange reason I'll embrace the challenge rather than endure it. I can adapt but I empathize with people who have large families and will be pinned to their collar's.

We'll get through it.

freshpopcorn · 03-09-2022 11:55am

Do we need to stock up on toilet rolls?

mojesius · 03-09-2022 12:10pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119564378#Comment_119564378

Don't forget the sliced pan

Ger Roe · 03-09-2022 12:12pm

For internet during the blackout .... my router is 12v and I have ran it before, during storm associated power fails, on a 12 motorbike battery. I have one on standby wired with a modem power input plug.

growleaves · 03-09-2022 12:48pm

Candles could burn the house down you'd want to be careful

Jim_Hodge · 03-09-2022 12:57pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058261702/a-cold-dark-winter

Forget candles. Rechargeable LED lamps are good for anything from seven to twelve hours and, at 1000 lumens, two will light a large room sufficiently to read by them. Cheap to buy, cheap to fuel and safe while giving superior lighting.

Doe Tiden · 03-09-2022 12:58pm

Winter is coming!

StevenToast · 03-09-2022 1:01pm

Will Eamon Ryan let you burn turf ?

Leg End Reject · 03-09-2022 1:08pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119564724#Comment_119564724

Stupid question, where do you buy them?

No harm having one or two around in case we do get power cuts.

thedart · 03-09-2022 1:11pm

What riding that will be done this winter will be untold.

New Home · 03-09-2022 1:11pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119564811#Comment_119564811

Argos, Lidl/Aldi, MrPrice, €2 shops, camping and outdoors supplies, etc.

Leg End Reject · 03-09-2022 1:13pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119564831#Comment_119564831

Are they torches or like a lamp?

New Home · 03-09-2022 1:16pm

Both. I'll get you a few links in a sec.

BrianD3 · 03-09-2022 1:28pm

Thinking of getting an off grid 12v DC to 230 V pure sine wave inverter. Nothing huge, 1000w would be very useful. I have a few spare car batteries plus cars that are off the road that run fine.

I think I could power my kerosene boiler and central heating pump as well as plug in lights, TV, broadband, laptop etc for a considerable period using a car with a full fuel tank.

MEGA BRO WOLF 5000 · 03-09-2022 1:38pm

And not one post on how the government has failed us all.

Forget rolling blackouts. People won't be able to pay to keep the lights on.

New Home · 03-09-2022 1:42pm

@Leg End Reject

This is the sort of thing you can get. Most of these take a good few hours to recharge, so it would be much easier to stock up on rechargeable batteries and use those. Another useful thing would be a power bank or even better a solar charger (think mini-solar panels with a usb cable. Might take aaaages, but it'd be better than nothing).

https://www.argos.ie/static/Product/partNumber/5022612/Trail/searchtext%3ECAMPING%2BLIGHT.htm

https://store.adventure.ie/luci-emerg-emergency-light-ireland-solar.html

https://store.adventure.ie/luci-base-light-tent-lantern-outdoor-indoor-lanter.html

https://store.adventure.ie/luci-lux-pro-lantern-solar-lantern-ireland.html

https://www.charlescamping.ie/store/index.php/catalogsearch/result/?q=rechargeable

https://outdooradventurestore.ie/search/rechargeable?s=rechargeable

New Home · 03-09-2022 1:45pm

Some solar chargers/power banks (as examples):

https://www.phonesonline.ie/collections/solar-chargers

https://gadgetman.ie/home/2212-solar-charged-power-brick-ireland.html

fun loving criminal · 03-09-2022 1:52pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119564724#Comment_119564724

The whole thing sounds so backwards. What can we do about freezer food if there's power cuts?

Jim_Hodge · 03-09-2022 1:54pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119564811#Comment_119564811

Amazon have a wide selection

Jim_Hodge · 03-09-2022 1:57pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119565087#Comment_119565087

Not sure why you quoted me or what it has to do with candles or LED lanterns. A freezer is good for many hours if kept closed - no different to when there are scheduled electricity outages for maintenance or new connections on the line.

fun loving criminal · 03-09-2022 2:00pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119565115#Comment_119565115

Well using candles and lamps is backwards.

Freezer is just a general question, anyone can answer, not just you.

Jim_Hodge · 03-09-2022 2:02pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119565129#Comment_119565129

And how do you suggest the average house is lit if there's a power cut?

freshpopcorn · 03-09-2022 2:21pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119565129#Comment_119565129

If there's a power cut you keep your freezer door shut.

The fuller your freezer is the longer it will stay frozen.

From what I know you could get about two days out of a full freezer.

Capt'n Midnight · 03-09-2022 2:27pm

AFAIK the "if else fails" plan is 4 hour rolling blackouts in areas by letter rather than days offline. Don't open and close the fridge / freezer during them.

4 hours is survivable if you have your mobile phone charged. Most have a decent torch built it. Jumper, scarf, gloves and woolly hat and. Knew I should have bought those Aldi electric blanket with sleeves hoodie things.

You can hotspot from your phone, USB cable to laptop means phone gets charged too.

Paraffin lamps aren't as bright as you remember. And paraffin isn't cheap.

tom1ie · 03-09-2022 2:31pm

Make sure you have:

headlamp torches (keeps your hands free)

spare batteries

rechargeable lanterns that give 360 degree light.

battery bank to recharge phones laptops and lanterns.

If/when power goes out fill up containers/bath with tap drinking water. Prolonged electricity outage may equal no water due to pumping stations having no water.

Get a camping stove for cooking with extra gas canisters.

Have you an alternative heating source? Portable gas heater with a propane tank- old school but works.

tom1ie · 03-09-2022 2:33pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119565142#Comment_119565142

You can get 360 degree camping lights. These give up to 30hrs+ of light and you recharge them from a power bank or when power comes back on.

Jim_Hodge · 03-09-2022 2:35pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119565288#Comment_119565288

That's what we were talking about but he thinks it's backwards for some reason.

tom1ie · 03-09-2022 2:39pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119565304#Comment_119565304

Oh right sorry I didn’t read back through the whole lot.

The camping lanterns are a great option I think and relatively cheap- for the moment.

Atlantic Dawn · 03-09-2022 2:43pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119564467#Comment_119564467

Was thinking of this the other day, what kind of backup power would mobile phone towers or cabled broadband in the event of power failure in the area they are in? It's all well and good having backup power in your home for broadband but if the infrastructure goes out too it's of little use.

tom1ie · 03-09-2022 2:43pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119564188#Comment_119564188

Just on the internet thing- if there’s managed blackouts whole circuits will be dropped back at the substations. This will knock off internet provider cabinets plus towers if they are on the circuits getting knocked off.

thedart · 03-09-2022 3:38pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119564959#Comment_119564959

The voltage drop will shut off the inverter pretty quick. Good idea in theory.

I’ve wore the shirt.

03-09-2022 3:40pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119564378#Comment_119564378

You won’t be able to afford food so no poo to worry about

BrianD3 · 03-09-2022 3:51pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119565621#Comment_119565621

Thanks for that - I need to do more reading on this before spending money.

cj maxx · 03-09-2022 4:21pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119564724#Comment_119564724

I was looking at those , do you mean table lamps?

corner of hells · 03-09-2022 4:26pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119565087#Comment_119565087

It's going to be an artic winter, just throw everything out in the snow, think Stalingrad.

Jim_Hodge · 03-09-2022 4:41pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119565855#Comment_119565855

Just an example

LE Rechargeable Camping Lantern, 1000 Lumen Camping Lights, 4 Modes Emergency Light with 4400mAh Power Bank, Water Resistant Tent Light for Camping, Hiking, Fishing, Power Cuts and More : Amazon.co.uk: Lighting

Cluedo Monopoly · 03-09-2022 4:42pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119565880#Comment_119565880

I am buying a sniper rifle so...

Cluedo Monopoly · 03-09-2022 4:43pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119565952#Comment_119565952

I have bought LE camping lights before. Decent quality.

Jim2007 · 03-09-2022 4:50pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119565339#Comment_119565339

Internet provides have their own generators, or at least they should have..

JL555 · 03-09-2022 4:56pm

From previous power cuts during storm I have learned my lesson, especially since moving out rural a couple of years back, average outage for me is 36hrs.

I have 2 x 12v battery for well pump and basic lighting in the garage.

1 x All Powers 2000w powerstation - laptop, coffee machine etc. can recharge this with solar/car and always have it on stand by

2 x All Powers 300w powerstation, can recharge these with solar/car and always have it on stand by : these keep all devices charged up plus the fibre modem going. ps, I also have a rechargeable TP Link mobile WiFi device, with half decent range within the house.

loads of rechargeable and battery powered lanternerns, lamps, enough to light inside the house and 2 weather proof for outside .

Have stocked up earlier than usual on hardwood (kiln dried) and other solid fuel, an anticipated rush is starting already.

Jim2007 · 03-09-2022 4:57pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119565019#Comment_119565019

Anyone one who seriously thinks the Irish government is as significant that they can influence world events to that extend need their head examined.

Jim2007 · 03-09-2022 4:59pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119565087#Comment_119565087

Well assuming you have a decent freezer and the seal on the lit is intact you should be able to survive 24 hours so long as you don't open the lit. Rolling blackouts will most likely be for 4 to 6 hours at a time.