What are your plans for electricity post SHTF?

[Justus]

Umm, there are no electricity plans post SHTF....

Seriously, there is an eventual end to the resources needed to produce it. My Great grandfather lived without it, seems that if properly prepared nothing is preventing me from living that way too.

It's gonna suck but that's how I expect to do it.

That's sort of where we are at.
2 weeks (max)with a genny until the freezer food is eaten or preserved and then we're down to a couple small solar/wind set-ups for keeping the 2-way radios usable.

 

[ThrottleJockey]

I've got some ideas for when electricity is the only option, but basically do without it the way mankind did for, ohhh, thousands of years.

 

[actaeon277]

There is SHTF, and there is TEOTWAWKI.
Sounds like you guys are talking about TEOTWAWKI.
Small 3 days without power, no problem
After a week, neighbors grumble.
Mostly, you have to worry about neighbors that don't know you, but are close enough to know you have power.
The longer the power loss though, the worse it gets.
That don't even include the .gov, or homeowners association showing up with a posse "for the greater good".

 

[mrjarrell]

Here's a source for a number of gasifier projects. Most are downloadable as .pdf files.

Wood Gasifiers - Generate power with wood!

 

[melensdad]

I'm sure we can do without it, but it sure makes life a bit easier.

Please define your version of SHTF. Are you talking world collapse of all power grids? No access to gas/natural gas/diesel?

 

[vzdude]

Onan generator that is very, very quiet. Exhaust runs through the wood stove pipe. Good, as long as it's cold outside, otherwise will just run during the day. Reminds me..... Need more wood.....

 

[ThrottleJockey]

Onan generator that is very, very quiet. Exhaust runs through the wood stove pipe. Good, as long as it's cold outside, otherwise will just run during the day. Reminds me..... Need more wood.....

DO NOT attempt to run two different types of exhaust through the same pipe/chimney! They weigh different amounts and one will force the other down into your home killing everyone inside.

 

[RobbyMaQ]

My only real concern for electric is water and my well pump. But even then I have a pond I can draw from. Just means alot of boiling/treating. We can do without. I do have a propane generator for short term, but at least it is not worth the effort to have battery backups & alternate power for anything long term. Everyone else in history did without prior to the 20th century, I see no reason why we couldn't do the same.

 

[vzdude]

DO NOT attempt to run two different types of exhaust through the same pipe/chimney! They weigh different amounts and one will force the other down into your home killing everyone inside.

It's in a garage. Don't plan on using both at same time. Just appearance. Thanks for the info though. I may try a small exhaust pipe inside a larger flu pipe to be able to use both simultaneously , if absolutely necessary.

 

[rlspach]

8kw propane generator + 1600 gallons = a couple months to figure it out. We can do heat and water without propane or electricity though if push comes to shove.

 

[Arthur Dent]

Please define your version of SHTF. Are you talking world collapse of all power grids? No access to gas/natural gas/diesel?

Really any situation where electrical power is no longer available, whether by cost inflation or power grids are down long term, and access to fuels for generators would be limited.

Also if you take shelter in an underground bunker. Fuel storage, venting exhaust gasses, etc.

 

[ThrottleJockey]

I've got 3 kids, a wife and an exercycle to keep the batteries topped off

 

[10-32]

It's in a garage. Don't plan on using both at same time. Just appearance. Thanks for the info though. I may try a small exhaust pipe inside a larger flu pipe to be able to use both simultaneously , if absolutely necessary.

Battery operated carbon monoxide alarm. $20
AA batteries $5
$25 spent to save your life,
PRICELESS....

 

[churchmouse]

DO NOT attempt to run two different types of exhaust through the same pipe/chimney! They weigh different amounts and one will force the other down into your home killing everyone inside.

Great point TJ...and so true. Small hole in side wall with a steel or aluminum sleeve to prevent a fire. Run exhaust through the wall and muffle it down. Many ways to do this with out sacrificing power or hurting the motor.
A buddy has his exhaust ran into a steel 5 gallon pail with home made chambers in it. Works just like a pistol silencer. No tax stamp needed for this.....

 

[Survivalcookie]

Oil lamps, and a bunch of miserable kids. If things are real bad keep one room with windows boarded up for light at night..and go to bed early. I have always counted on no electric when making doing my prepping.

 

[CountryBoy19]

there's two parts to a generator - 1. the motor, which turns the - 2. stator, or the actual electrical producing part. you can hook up that end to any type of drive shaft, like possibly a steam turbine.

Unless you have a DC generator that you're running into a power inverter it's going to be very hard to "jury-rig" something that will maintain constant RPM's to give you the right frequency.

Another option would be to build a bridge rectifier if it's an AC generator and then hook it to an inverter.

Neither of those is a great option though...

 

[Indy60]

4500 watt Onan with a transfer switch for 6 circuits for the main stuff that matters. Furnace blower (nat. gas), fridge, sump pump, satellite TV. Good to go until the gas runs out! Back up heat is a wood burning firplace and keroseen heaters.

 

[vzdude]

Battery operated carbon monoxide alarm. $20
AA batteries $5
$25 spent to save your life,
PRICELESS....

Already there. Thanks ! 32x30 garage, one on both ends. Plus 2 smoke detectors with broadband gas sensors.

 

[jeremy]

My Plans...

I plan on burning Illegal Immigrant Garden Gnomes in a magic ritual that will restore electricity to the World...

 

[ClydeB]

My Plans...

I plan on burning Illegal Immigrant Garden Gnomes in a magic ritual that will restore electricity to the World...

Don't forget that new show on TV called Revolution... They got magical pendants that product electricity when you press the button. Like to have one of those. In the mean time...

I have a small gas generator. A honda E3000is, and a few gas cans with stabil. More for the short term week or two of electricity needs. Longer than that? Solar panel and some marine batteries. Nothing that would run major appliances. But would keep some power to some small LED lights and other small devices when I got tired of hand cranking.