What Preps are you doing this week? Part 13

[Medusa]

I'm a little late, but Happy New Year everyone! I think (hope) that we will miss the worst of any snow but it is looking a tad nippy. I have ordered a load of wood for tomorrow, we have been using the woodburners to heat the house rather than the oil heating and are getting a little low as we have been tardy chopping pallets recently. We wouldnt really struggle for anything apart from bread which I can make if needed and the battery banks have been checked and topped up as required. Mostly keeping an eye on my Dad to make sure he is warm enough and not trying to be frugal with the heating and doesnt go out if it gets icy, he is 86 and still thinks that he is invincible!

[Frnc]

Bit cold. I could dial up the boiler temperature (which is 58°), or turn up the thermostat, but that heats 9 radiators, and I'm mostly in my bedroom. So I'm using my 700W Dimplex electric radiator, with the Tapo plug monitoring kWh used, and set to auto-off after 10 minutes. So every time I feel cold, and turn it on (using my phone), electric heating only costs me 3p. I also have it set to go off every day at 21.30 as a backup. I didn't even know these Tapos could do all this, I bought my first one to simply monitor kWh. But they have several ways to act as timers. You can set as many ons and offs as you want, or tell it to run for a certain amount of time, or use the auto-off, and set how long that takes.

[pseudonym]

"won" on my PBs so:

Bulk military rations of

Cheddar Cheese Flavour Spread

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/187540696057

And if you need biccies for that:

Cheese Oat Biscuits

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/187667774632

Bought another lot.

[Quill]

Made up a blackout box a few weeks ago for a relative with a powerbank, charger cables, LED lantern, windup radio/torch, headlamp, batteries and a small camping kettle for the stove. Not perfect, but a lot better than nothing.

[Yorkshire Andy]

Made up a blackout box a few weeks ago for a relative with a powerbank, charger cables, LED lantern, windup radio/torch, headlamp, batteries and a small camping kettle for the stove. Not perfect, but a lot better than nothing.

To be fair that's all most people will need for a short term kit..

We could all knock out a list ranging from a small bag to holdall to a kit that would spill out an 8ft square shed

Basic led lighting is fine and far safer than a candle

Power banks well that's a 4 page essay in itself from tiny 2000 mah to 2kw and everything in-between before musing over battery types


Lot does boil down to one simple thing.... DOES IT WORK?



If they drive I hope you included a car adapter for topping up the power bank

[Quill]

If they drive I hope you included a car adapter for topping up the power bank

Ruh roh

[ForgeCorvus]

Made up a blackout box a few weeks ago for a relative with a powerbank, charger cables, LED lantern, windup radio/torch, headlamp, batteries and a small camping kettle for the stove. Not perfect, but a lot better than nothing.

To be fair that's all most people will need for a short term kit..

We could all knock out a list ranging from a small bag to holdall to a kit that would spill out an 8ft square shed

Basic led lighting is fine and far safer than a candle

Power banks well that's a 4 page essay in itself from tiny 2000 mah to 2kw and everything in-between before musing over battery types


Lot does boil down to one simple thing.... DOES IT WORK?



If they drive I hope you included a car adapter for topping up the power bank

OK, this has given me an idea.

Anyone up for a challenge ?

[jennyjj01]

Made up a blackout box a few weeks ago for a relative ,,,,

We could all knock out a list ranging from a small bag to holdall to a kit that would spill out an 8ft square shed

OK, this has given me an idea.

Anyone up for a challenge ?

Up for it,but mine will feature more than just blackout requisites.

One instant thought is...... How do I keep all the stashed batteries charged in a box it and forget it prep?

[Frnc]

Speaking of batteries, just charging 12 from my BOB I seem to have overlooked. Or maybe forgot to note I'd done the annual charge. No biggie, they hold their charge well, and don't take long. Spreadsheet also says I need to replace four non-rechargables. These will be replaced with rechargables. Amazon Subscribe and Save reminded me, as it shows 8 due for delivery in a couple of weeks. I would have skipped them, but will get them now I've seen that. Also had Milton down, but I'm skipping those, as I have a full box. Will peruse the spreadsheet for any others.

The ones in my BOB came with handy plastic cases. Others are kept in ones I bought - these also fit AAs, so are obviously bigger. But the ones in the BOB are more compact.

[tco-lincs]

I've focused on medical preps this week, increased the number of the usual tablets but also invested in a pulse oximeter, rehydration salts, more bandages, steri strips etc. I should now have enough to cover most basic eventualities.