Power cuts - are you prepped?

I have an ancient Halfords power pack that I charge regularly. It can run any low power appliance (a light, radio or small TV) and charge a laptop or phone - so, along with a camping stove and blankets I'd be fine.

kissngate

All this talk of power cuts is complete scaremongering and very unlikely to happen. All it does is create panic and then people stockpile. Unless we have an extremely severe winter and no wind to power turbines then power cuts just won't happen.

none of us are in a panic kissngate. We tend to be glass half full people and being prepped is part of that. Just in case. Same as having a bag of paperwork handy in case of fire or flood. It is called being prudent and how many of us have always lived our lives

I have added kindle charging to my list, easy to read in the dark

Just adding that most of my candles are pillar candles. They give out nice heat and are safe in storm lanters

I have a small old phone in my car for emergencies and also have a cigarette lighter socket plug in for it. Could be handy

Not really. We have a box of tea lights somewhere and I will regularly charge my Kindle which has a backlight. I dare say with warning we can survive 3 hours or so. There’s water in the taps and we can always eat a sandwich, or Weetabix.
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Worse happens at sea.

We left the UK because of power cuts during Ted Heath's time as PM. Early 1970s. Dreadful and now it has gone full circle and I think we will get them here as well because the twitheads have got rid of all the coal fired power without getting any substitutes. Typical Australia.

No I m not even bothering to worry about it I have always used a wind up torch (as batteries are expensive) and I d just go to bed
I agree Umstrongran I will find alternatives IF it happens I m certainly not going to stock pile or get my knickers in a twist
I ll deal with if it happens

I didn’t find it terrible in the 70 s nanny8 we had fun with the kids made up games in the dark it was never off for very long long periods
You left the country because of a few weeks of power cuts seems a very extreme thing to do ? well I won’t be leaving the country if it happens I ll just plod on

Maybe nanna8 might come back? Now it’s the same in Oz.
(joke)
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I've never heard of hotspots or powerbanks. Hotspot would be useful at the caravan. Thanks Doodledog. Always something new to learn.

They are thinking of offering money back if we use our appliances at night rather than during the day, fine for washing and dishwasher, not too good for anything else.

If I remember correctly the power cuts in 1971 lasted for far longer than 3 hours, plus we had the 3 day week to save power.

If every business switched their computers off when they went home they would save masses of electricity and money. Ditto their lighting.

I don’t think that most of have been panic buying, I always have my things here as we have a lot of power cuts, heat, rain, wind or no weather problems at all and we can have cuts lasting far longer than 3 hours. The last one we had, due to bad weather was 15 hours.

I’m buying a couple of these.
A source of light and keeps you warm!
Unisex 4 LED Lighted Beanie Cap, USB Rechargeable Running Hat Super Bright Hands Free Headlight Torch Hat, LED Hat for Running Hiking，Gifts for Dad Men Women amzn.eu/d/axc09UG

It’s prepping and it makes sense.
I was totally prepped for covid and lockdown.
It made me feel better as there was something that I could control.
I’ll be doing exactly the same for the power cuts (and I’ll eat my led beanie if they don’t happen).

Thank you for the hot spot info Doodledog. I had no idea

If we feel like it we’ll drive to a friend 10 minute drive away who lives off grid.

I've ordered a new torch - already have candles, tealights and matches.

That's about it.

I tend to agree with Kissngate. Think people are stressing far too much about this - probably will not happen.

Always good to have a few emergency supplies at hand, ie candles, torch, etc. but not to go to the point of purchasing alternative cooking or heating methods, etc. It is not as if we are talking about a total stopping of gas and leccie for days or months - at the most it will be for a planned three-hour session. Think we can all manage to survive for that short time.

The cuts in the early 70's was for three hour periods, and we knew exactly when they would be - all scheduled. So funny now to think what we found important back then. No central heating, most of our heating was gas fires, and I cooked on an ancient gas stove. However, had small children, and it was so important that they still had their bath playtimes each evening, that my friend and myself (different parts of same London borough), would go to each other's house to avoid those blackouts so children could still have those baths!!!! Can remember that the period I most detested for these was 7 -10 pm.

Freezers and even fridges will not be any problem if leccie is off for three hours as long as people do not keep on opening them.

Relax everyone.

Wood burning stove
Firewood
Gas hob
Kindle
Computer can run on battery but is always plugged in (so can run 4 hours on battery when power goes off)
Mobile phone and landline

Forgto:
Gaslighter, so I can light gas burners, when electric ignition isn't working

Battery powered lamp
Torches
Tiny camping stove to heat water for hot drinks and hot water bottles
Candles & matches
Furry throw
Furry cat to cuddle up with

My landline won't work without electricity as we're digital and it goes through the hub.

Veggies are prepped

I am prepared

No, you can be a ‘prepped’ - an American term about people usually known as Doomsday Preppers

I was thinking from prepping; I first learned about it years ago from Mumsnet (Bernini something or other is the best contributors)
They even have a dedicated Prepping forum

Yes, Oops, exactly I was thinking too

growstuff

My landline won't work without electricity as we're digital and it goes through the hub.

That’s why it’s good to know how to power your mobile and use it as a hotspot for watching tv or whatever. It’s a source of information as well as entertainment if you are sitting on your own in the dark.

Oopsadaisy1

No, you can be a ‘prepped’ - an American term about people usually known as Doomsday Preppers

I am not American

Doodledog

growstuff

My landline won't work without electricity as we're digital and it goes through the hub.

That’s why it’s good to know how to power your mobile and use it as a hotspot for watching tv or whatever. It’s a source of information as well as entertainment if you are sitting on your own in the dark.

Just one thing to bear in mind though, you should have a phone contract with unlimited Wi-Fi access, or it’s an expensive option to do this - I connect to my son’s phone as my contract has limited free Wi-Fi each month.