Electricity

Here you will find articles on reducing electric needs, as well as generating your own.

NB: Always check with local building codes to make sure what you want to do is legal and up to code.

Exploring Off-Grid Power Solutions for Preppers

Exploring Off-Grid Power Solutions for PreppersWhen it comes to prepping, one crucial aspect to consider is power supply. In a disaster or emergency situation, having access to reliable and independent power sources can make a significant difference in your ability to stay connected, powered up, and self-sufficient. Off-grid power solutions provide preppers with the means to generate electricity and meet their energy needs even when traditional power grids are compromised. In this article, we will explore various off-grid power options that can empower preppers to thrive in challenging circumstances.

1. Solar Power

Solar power is one of the most popular and accessible off-grid power solutions for preppers. It harnesses the energy of the sun and converts it into electricity. Here are some key points to consider:

How Would a Nuclear EMP Affect the Power Grid?

The detonation of a nuclear weapon at high altitude or in space (~ 30 km or more above the earth’s surface) can generate an intense electromagnetic pulse (EMP) referred to as a high-altitude EMP or HEMP. HEMP can propagate to the earth and impact various land-based technological systems such as the electric power grid. Because of the extreme differences in views among experts regarding the potential impacts of HEMP on the electric power grid and the potential societal implications, the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) launched a three-year research project in April 2016 to investigate the potential impacts of a HEMP attack on the electric transmission system and to identify possible options for mitigating impacts.

How Long Would Society Last During a Total Grid Collapse?

What happens when the lights go out? It's likely that you've experienced a power outage that lasted a few hours, but few people have experience with days or weeks long power loss.

On our Northern Ontario farm we were affected by the Northeast blackout of 2003 (click here to see the Wikipedia article). While that blackout was fixed within 2 days, it did make many people stop and think. On our farm we already had several generators, and the ability to switch over to them. Since we lived on well water and a septic system, the power outage had nearly no affect on our life. We switched over to the generators and started them every few hours to pump water, cool the fridge/freezers, and cook food. Since this happened during the summer, heating was luckily not an issue.

We have also gone through several blackouts during the winter that were just as long (or longer), but much more localised. Again, they had little impact on our day-to-day living.

We now live on our catamaran and provide all our own electrical power. This means that we are not affected by grid blackouts, with the exception of cell phone service and grocery shopping. 

Cheaper, Better Batteries in 2023!

It looks like CATL (Contemporary Amperex Technology Co., Ltd.) has finally cracked the issues with sodium-ion batteries. Sodium is the main element of sodium chloride, which is common salt, and is the most abundant mineral on Earth. It is easy to refine from salt deposits, or even from ocean water, without the by-products of hazardous chemicals that lithium mining has.

Starting in 2023 CATL will begin full production on sodium-ion batteries that surpass the 200 watt/hours per kilogram power storage of lithium-ion batteries. They are cheaper to make, are less harmful to the environment, and use readily available materials. Unlike lithium, sodium is a stable element and is not combustible. Sodium-ion batteries also work without the heat problems of lithium-ion, thus making them safer, and allowing them to be 80% charged in 15 minutes.

Power 101

A great many people want to produce their own power, but have no idea where to start.

Before you can look at the sources for your power, you need to know how much you will need. Everybody is different, and every house is different. A selection of different appliances can make a large difference in your requirements. Even having identical appliances but in a different region can make a difference.