My Emergency Box for Power Outages and Power Cuts - Back-up Power, Lighting, Heating and Cooking.
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- Опубліковано 4 жов 2024
- In this video, I wanted to share with you my emergency power cut, power outage box. I put this box of back-up kit together out of frustration at the frequency of power cuts we seem to be getting recently and sadly I think its only going to get worse - changing climate causing more extreme weather, forced cuts in supply due to the worsening energy crisis and energy supplies not able to keep up with demand - we need to be prepared.
My emergency box contains a number of useful items my family and I might need if the power goes off - stuff to make life without power a bit more comfortable - lighting, heating, cooking, back-up power and some entertainment.
Get yourself organised, so you don’t need to fumble around in the dark next time the lights go out!
I hope you enjoy the video,
Thanks for watching.
Links
Plano Trunk
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Camping Gaz Stove
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Poweroak AC50 Power Unit
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Olight Obulb
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Olight S1r Baton Torch
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Tealight Candles
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Hot Water Bottle
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Jeramiah’s Song - Dan Lebowitz
Hi folks, thanks for watching. I want to add a very important safety point to this video - please always place tea light candles on a non-flammable surface (like a plate or saucer) - they get hot once the wax has melted and can be a fire hazard - I should have made this clear in the video! Safety first folks!!
Ha! 'Elf-n-Safety'. Trouble these days there's not to much common sense. To think when I was a lad you just reached for a bog standard candle.
Yeah, I've seen tea candles scorch a wooden table. It get hottest at the very end as the last of the wax burns off. Good video! I have to get my kit together too!
I was just coming here to link to this helpful article. I know a few firemen, none of them have anything good to say about candles and tea lights, sadly.
www.europeanfiresafetyalliance.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/31.pdf
Hi Simon get sum fluffy covers for the hot water bottles is a good idea soft and cosse fealing
We’re very familiar with power outages in California, food should stay cold enough to last in your fridge as long as you don’t open the door frequently for about a day, I kept wondering how to cook dry goods on a burner if the “big one” hit after we accumulated months of dry legumes for emergency supplies in 2020 when stores couldn’t keep food in stock for months on end. I had not realized you could buy a table top stove burner that runs off of gas canisters All I could think of up till now was to use our propane barbecue as a heat source for cooking if we ever lost power in an earthquake. Really hope there won’t be too many power outages this winter for you guys; although it’s kind of cool knowing we can survive without electricity with these huge batteries. We have a large foldable solar panel we can use to recharge our battery for small appliances on road trips that are starting to be somewhat more commonly seen these days. That was a very cool video, and you look so happy 🎉 how is Maggie btw? Sending hugs from California ❤❤
"I'm not a prepper, but I'm prepared for certain scenarios, that may or may not happen." ... You're a prepper mate... that doesnt make you a nutter either!👍🏼
If each of us were a prepper, our whole society would be stronger, safer and less fearful which lends to the capacity to be kinder and helpful to others.
First thing when the power goes out in England: "Right, get a kettle on."
Тонкий английский юмор❤❤❤
I got bad news for you. You sir are indeed a prepper. Preppers come in all shapes and sizes.
This is my day to day life. I live in a house that has no electricity for the past 28 weeks . I have a couple of solar panels and deep cycle battery . I cook with gas have a cheap generator for power tool use . Life is surprising fine . Trust me you don't need half of the electric gadgets most people have . We as humans lived happily for thousands of years without electricity . Just eat well and stay warm . Spring isn't to far away 😊
Great video. The great Commie reset is getting closer. Soon we'll all be equally poor apart from those in WEFminster. Now I'm off to get my 17th booster to flatten the curve.
Some glow in the dark tape applied to the box so you can find it in the dark/not fall over it in the dark might be a good addition.
"I've always got wood!" quote of the day Simon!!!
Be prepared, thank you. We lose our power quite frequently.
We used to have problems with power going out, so I spent $20,000 on a 40kw generator, generator house and the wiring. After that, we hardly ever lose power.
Good supply of batteries of various sizes for more powerful lanterns for indoor use and flashlight for outdoors use on your property .
Thank you , Simon .
🐺 Loupis Canis .
You are a preper whether you want to be or not .Nothing wrong with being prepared
I love the way the Brits say 'aluminium'. I feel like a little magic was taken from American English by its exclusion
Great video and a reminder to get it all together, thanks, Simon, "a bloke in the dark." lol
The deck of cards is a great idea.
I'd add puzzle books (crosswords, sudoku etc), pens/pencils, colouring books for kids
Great idea Simon, and timely since it seems to be getting darker in Winter. One thing I would suggest - 'Glow in the Dark' tape or paint on the Emergency Box, so you can find it in the dark without tripping over it.
I'm late jumping in, having just found the channel. My solution is to keep a flashlight by the bed. And of course I have a mini one (Rovyvon) on my keychain, one in the kitchen, and a small collection in the office lol
The sensible man! 👍✌️🇬🇧
A very interesting and helpful “Be Prepared” video. One item I would add to your kit is a rechargeable headband light. You can slip this,on find your way about and it leaves both hands free to do jobs.
I got a good chuckle out of this.
Dad power went out. I got ya! (puts water on for a hot beverage)
Great idea for keep a kit all together rather then fumbling around trying to find everything in the dark.
When I read "Simon a block in the dark" I lost it completely 😂😂😂
Your videos always bring the atmosphere of an interesting trip. We had a difficult day today. Thanks from Ukraine. Thanks to the power outages, I read more good books.
Землякам привет! Держитесь!
@@Sara45499Дякую за підтримку.
My local Home Bargains have 4 of those Butane cylinders for £3.99 at the moment 😉
Not called Home Bargains for nothing! 😉😁
The power bank and decent torches aside, we've had kit like this under the sink since the 1970's. As well as the pack of cards we also had a box of dominoes and some rolls of Toffos. Timely vid, thanks.
Toffos, brilliant. Haven't heard that in ages 🤣
Great advice! Due to recent powercuts (they were replacing poles and took power down 4 or 5 times in one month - we were given a massive power box and solar panels to run hubby's oxygen, a fan, lamp and charge our devices. I'm always thinking of such things because we are in a rural area and earthquake country. So we'd have no heat but do have a gas grill, with a long lighter just in case. Flashlights tucked in each room and keeping the floors free of trip hazards at all times. Hubby also keeps a full week's supply of medications at a minimum, we have clean, filtered water as well as lots of accessible food.
You are lucky to have a home. Super lucky to have all that stuff.
A lot of good Tipps. Not only by Black outs . Also for the Car in Winter in Traffic Jam or accident. I add two Sleeping bags Thanks Simon for the Video
Most models of those portable gas cookers are not recommended for indoor use - well ventilated areas only! Read the instructions on the one you have!
Also bare candles can be a fire risk - take precautions to avoid spills!
Another great video Simon - full of useful tips!
Yes I was wondering too about the use of gaz stove indoor
We've used ours many times in the kitchen during power outages and have never experienced a problem. We have a CO monitor nearby, however, just to ensure that we're aware of the presence of CO.
Sorry to hear about the power situation there.
You know, I so need to do something like this for myself. Thanks for giving me some ideas
I also have some Baofeng UVR 5 transceivers for use in case the cell phone network goes down.
This is a super late comment, but remember that some houses need electricity to pump water to the faucets. Store water, and count on at least three liters of water per person / 24 hours.
We have a fairly extensive setup for power outages. We have two gasoline generators, oil lanterns, battery powered lanterns, butane, isobutane, and propane fuel and stoves, fire starting gear as well as hardware to process firewood if needed, and a large battery backup. We're pretty set here at home. It came in handy a year or so ago when almost the entire state of Texas was without power in the winter.
Is alkylate fuel such as Aspen 4T available in the US? I'm using that with great success in my Coleman stoves and lanterns inside tents but also inside the house. Without complaining from my girlfriend about smell.
@@TOAOZuur I have never looked for that specifically but I know that the liquid Coleman fuel is available. There are some fuels such as "HEET" which is largely Methyl Alcohol that are available as well. Interestingly it's sold as a gasoline additive but works VERY well in alcohol stoves like the Trangia.
Love the Cabelas teeshirt. That's my playground.
Nothing wrong with being a prepper. Great video.
I agree! Unfortunately the word has taken on a kind of negative connotation among some folks, but it never hurts to be prepared for a power outage or any other situation, whether natural or manmade.
Well, like you said I have all that stuff, but putting it into ONE kit is brilliant. I'm off to make that happen! Thanks Simon! I can always count on learning something from you!
I personally won't put tea light candles or any sort of candles directly on the desk for fire safety reason. Candle holder/a plate/heatproof mat are great. Especially if you've got kids/pets at home, try to keep them away from fire.
Thank you. All the best. 👍🐾🐾😎
Where I live we have hurricanes a lot. So I keep a bug out bag packed at all times with 30 day food supply, cooking utensils and stove and plenty of oil lamps and battery powered lamps. I also have a solar charging panel with USB port to charge phones and most of the electric lamps I have. Being prepared is smart!
A battery powered radio, solar, crank, battery is SUPER important and useful.
.....a bloke in the dark. Good stuff as always brother, thank you!
Hi Simon love your Stuff, currently making a .50cal ammo box wood burner from your video a while back, I have been prepping for this sort of stuff for a year or so now and I think a vid on home water collection and filtration/treatment would be very beneficial to your subscribers. A serious note to everyone is if you think it’s bad now, it is going to get an awful lot worse, the planned power cuts will be the tip of the iceberg, water, food, they are all coming. Be prepared people!
I built a power box years ago for taking camping with a suitcase type Solar panel, so we could run lights in out tent and charge our devices. I still took them with us when we were off grip camping in our Motorhome as a back up, and to run lights in our drive away awning. The Panel was for back up in case I need to add it in to the other panels on the van if the weather was really dismal. Which was never needed. So now both are powering my Wife's Summer house I built for her and am just needing to finish off. So when we have had Power cuts that are going to last a bit we just jump in the Motorhome.
Lol love the start..
Been thinking about making my own power cut emergency box these past few weeks. Thanks for the ideas 👍
Yey! mags is back!
Ironically I am watching this during a power cut!!! The watch is worth my phone’s battery life. All the best Simon Cheers 👍🙏❤️
I also bought some cheap garden solar lights which are charging in the garden right now and not switched on. I also have some small screw in wall hooks. The plan is to have, basically, fairy lights running up the stairs and also in my daughter’s bedroom. For ambience rather than illumination. But to make it less foreboding. I’m old enough to remember the 70s black outs. While it was thrilling as a kid, I know it was worrying for my parents. We stayed in one room with candles and a radio. Which reminds me, I also have a couple of radio ls in my power cut box.
Good one Simon. I’m going to follow your lead . Thank you for the simple but wise advice. 😊🇨🇦
A Trangia stove fueled with Bio-Ethanol is also great for cooking indoors.
Great vid 💯
Hi, you can plug the the modem in your power unit to have access to Internet. Extended power outages are a daily routine here, so we got a UPS setup. The old fashion way using a couple of large car batteries. Keep up the good work...
Good ideas in that create. Thanks for doing that
I also like to be prepared even though I am not really a “prepper.” I try to keep my stuff in separate easy access bags of things I might need in the first three minutes, first three hours and the first three days. Thank you for your insights on having an organized bag (box.)
great suggestions, thanks Simon👍
Simion thanks for that short video
That was cool and really effective
Keep cool and peace ✌️
My Mom, Depression era USA - they put bricks in the fireplace, wrapped in towels/rags put in the bed to warm it especially at the feet. NO water, just heat from the fireplace =+ FREE --- Just got a hurricane lamp 12 candle power + heat ----------- STAY warm !!
Great idea to keep all together. Also wear your beanie indoors, so your head doesn't get cold. 😉
That was a public information film brought to you by Simon, a bloke in the woods lol. Too many houses being built which the grid can't cope with. Good video.
Nice one, we have stoves, candles, lots of batteries, oil lamps, battery lamp etc. If I can’t use my computer for a bit I’m not too worried. 👍
Love your vids Simon as usual. Greetings from Tunisia.
Great idea Simon. But. The tea lights that you put on the sideboard, the aluminium cases get very hot, not good when the lady of the house sees the damage
With the smaller Maglights, you can unscrew the front and use it as a base for a very long lasting battery candle, not that we have had a power outage here in Cheshire in quite a few years.
I like the Cabela's shirt
Interesting and informative.
Nice one Simon . Some good sensible advice there 👍. Take care .
Great idea I have seen is a head torch wrapped around and turned in on an old 2 litre plastic milk carton that has been filled with water. It’s less scary for kids than a torch light. The light dissipates through the water in the carton which has a handle for carrying around. Another thing I have (and my in-laws now have) is an old fashioned dial up phone for an alternative landline. Yes, I know that the power out might affect the phone company as well but it might have a reserve generator so the landline is still operating.
Love it. Great idea.
Great idea Simon as ever well prepared ...Thanks for sharing
..hope we dont get many cuts this winter...
My power goes out I'm like okay no problem I'm going back to bed
I'll deal with it later if it's not back on after I get back up that's when I'll deal with it
And I totally understand about being prepared thank you Simon for a good video as always
Sounds like an awful lot of wasted energy. Id just stay in bed
🎖🥉🎖
@@orenmontgomery8250 medals for staying in bed who do you think i am john lennon😂
@@bronoun8884 to be fair, I didn't have to leave the recliner to give you the "medal" either. 😁
😂😂 Or the pub is always another option 😉
Thank you, Sir
Some good ideas, I have torches all over my house which help as I am blind in one eye. I just need a stove top kettle. I have a portable CD player and plenty of batteries and I keep some CDs with the player too. I also keep a pack of cards and have a travel game or two that only need one person to play (I am a singleton).
Tea lights should always be in a holder, the aluminium foil is just to keep the wax together. They get extremely hot and will burn the surface they are on, wood plastic ect. Put them on a small plate or glass jar to be safe.
Very good point Shaun - I should have mentioned the fire risk in the video, I’ve added a pinned comment pointing this out now 👍👍
Dollar Tree….tea light/votive candle holders.
Great little useful vid, thanks
Yep, you're literally a prepper mate. But nowt wrong with being a prepper. Be prepared not scared.
I’m ready, I have all the necessary stuff. People where I live laugh at me saying I’m stupid, never will the power go off. I have candles, matches, water, plenty food and the stove like you, then I have blankets to keep warm. I have seen the schedule of when and where power will go off. Up to three to four hours at a time a few times a week, after 4 pm.
Hi Maggie! I’ve had a very large black dog in an extended power outage. I found that a small led light clipped on the collar prevents crashing over a sleeping black dog in the dark. I have a wood stove that burns pellets, but it requires a small amount of electricity. To work in a blackout, I have a propane generator, since propane stores a lot longer and safer than gasoline, although a power bank like yours would work as well. I have a stove like yours, I also have an IKEA hobo stove that uses twigs. You don’t really have to modify these for them to work, you can just use the IKEA silverware holder. I highly suggest these, especially folks on a tight budget. You have to burn them on a safe surface, I use bricks around the house.
One important thing I suggest if the temperature is very cold for an extended blackout is to shut off the water and drain the pipes to prevent frozen water pipes.
I've had to do this a few times, so glad there were candles in the house, but one time nothing to light them with, had to run down to the shops for a lighter, so always keep a lighter now lol
I often do wonder, bk before street lights when they had the lamps instead, just how eerie it would have been at nights, especially during the cold winters.
I still believe in a good old log fire though, but in council houses they made them fill up or close the fireplace, which I think is just wrong, we are all far too used to using electricity and forget about the basics, this goes for food too, we should all be growing our own, yeah most definitely. 👍🏼
Great video, reminds me to work on my kit. Be safe.
For longer term, use those outside solar path lights, charging in the day, take inside at night. Watching the tarp video again too. Need to practice tarp tents thanks
Not a fan of candles myself tbh.
We use a phone charger power bank and run LED camping lights which use very little power.
Ours were extremely cheap and give plenty of soft light. A couple of them in our large lounge room and she who must be obeyed can keep on doing her crochet or whatever.
Another thing we have is an adaptor for one of my 18v Lithium cordless tool batteries which turns it into a couple of USB ports as well.
I always try and find multiple uses for things and have a couple of lights/torches that run off them as well.
Another thing that I have seen are lights that plug into power points. When the power is on they are off but when the power goes down they switch on using an internal battery.
Just enough light to see your way around which can be handy if it's dark and the power goes out unexpectedly.
I'm very happy to see that you're not jumping on the "solar generator" bandwagon as they seem to be being pushed by every man and his dog.
I looked into them but have decided that I will likely buy a good quality pure sine wave invertor petrol generator at some point just for the fridge/freezer and as a charging source.
I'm not even sure that it will get much use or is worth it as our power here is very reliable and it's a lot of money to just have sitting around.
Nothing wrong with being a little bit prepared. And I love the deck of cards. It will help you stay busy and the darkness won’t seem as long. There’s a lot of games that can be played with a deck of cards lol.
great video and i watched a video of yours that was a year ago on onetigris hot tent and loved it i bought one and was looking for videos on here and found yours thanks for all your videos
Since retirement I am now living the wilds of Welsh Wales, in a 250+ year old cottage. It does have mains electric, but it comes from overhead lines, and, I am on the very very end of the line. There are not many weeks that I don't get at least one power cut. Sometimes it is off for a few days. My only heating is from my log burner, but i can cook and bake on it. It also has a water jacket and heats all my hot water. I have no solar but am considering it.
Great video.
Reminds me to do one for our house😀
Hi Simon, great video. My dad always encouraged us to be prepared for traveling and living at home. Having a dedicated kit for different scenarios has gone a long way. Several things stood out from your kit though, hot water bottles for heat, and a dedicated tea kettle, nice. As for the tea candles, like with other candles, I would advise using them in a container; to reduce the chance of knocking them over and accidentally starting a fire. I will be updating my kit, by taking in some of your ideas. Thanks
Good tips , thank you .
Good information
"....a bloke in the dark...." OK ;o) Good kit Simon, thanks for more good ideas. Cheers!
Yes, they laughed when I brought a camping stove to work, for hot coffees and stews - Covid hit !! I was isolated on breaks ... Now threats of power cuts or a broken boiler. Out comes the trusty gas cooker for heat or a cuppa. Have a few spare in storage. And taken delivery of a 28 parcel of gas cylinders. I prepared :)
I've been waiting for this video from you Simon, thank you.
Great video! Thanks!
Ace show mate
I would suggest getting a 60w-100w portable folding Solar panel to charge up the power station and other electronics during the day (take advantage of the Sun)...also add some rechargeable batteries and charger...It got my friends through weeks to months of no power in Puerto Rico after hurricanes Irma and Maria...Stay well.
Don’t forget a glow collar or tag for your black dog. You don’t want to trip over him/her in the dark.
Awareness goes along way especially when others that think the same way offer tips to smooth out the bumps of life's challenges. Thanks for sharing
Great idea.
I use Lucy lights for outages.
They're solar powered, so I just leave 3-4 of them in a window and they're ready to go and easy to reach.
A full charge lasts 6-8 hours depending on which one you have.
Great video, sadly this is the norm in South Africa for roughly the last 10years 😢. But it’s def good be be prepared 👍🏽
I'm going to get one because my cousin has one, a diesel generator. Last power outage we had I went around there they had lights, the fridge was going, tv and Nintendo.....it was like there wasn't even a blackout.....still keep a torch to see when setting it up but yeah, always thought they had a brilliant set up for such occasions...