Your challenge, should you accept it....

[ForgeCorvus]

I was reading the "What Preps..." thread and this post by Quill got me thinking.

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.

So, is anyone interested in a challenge to assemble a Blackout Box for an otherwise un-prepped person?

It'll give us something to get the braincells working and give us all a prep-fix at zero expense.

If so, I'll add a section on guidelines here (suggestions welcome) :


Photos and a brief presentation to explain your thinking.
No prize save the acclaim of the Board.

[pseudonym]

Did something similar a long time ago, there's a thread somewhere...

Toilet roll
Sanitary pads
cheap mess tin set
Army burner and fuel
Matches and lighter
Toothbrushes and paste
Soap
x2 500ml water bottles
paper plates/bowls/cups
KFS
Space blankets


That's off the top of my head,

Edit: Found the thread:

http://www.uk-preppers.co.uk/forum/view ... Tin#p83289

HTH

[Quill]

so first draft is split into items that are one per kit and then one per person. I've included costs, with anything that doesn't end .00 is an actual price from tesco or home bargains.

One per box
15.00 - Power bank + charging cables
3.99 - LED lantern
3.00 - Roll of bin bags
5.00 - Disposable plates/cutlery/cups
20.00 - Camping stove + butane
20.00 - portable radio
4.79 - batteries for the radio + lantern
10.00 - camping kettle
2.00 - hand sanitiser
2.00 - Wipes
3.00 - matches
3.75 - 80 tea bags
0.99 - toothpaste

One per person
3.99 - Hot Water bottle
2.99 - Head lamp
1.00 - emergency blanket
6.99 - hat + gloves
2.40 - 6 batteries for the head lamp
0.67 - 2 rolls of toilet roll
2.00 - 1kg of instant oats
1.19 - honey
2.25 - 12x500ml bottles of water
0.40 - toothbrush

base kit comes to £93.52 and each person comes to £23.87, so call it £125 in total for one person and then £25 per person after that. For an absolute bare minimum kit I make it just over £30:
2.99 - Head lamp
1.00 - emergency blanket
6.99 - hat + gloves
2.40 - 6 batteries for the head lamp
0.67 - 2 rolls of toilet roll
2.00 - hand sanitiser
2.00 - Wipes
0.40 - toothbrush
0.99 - toothpaste
3.00 - Roll of bin bags
6.00 - 8 nature valley bars
2.25 - 12x500ml bottles of water

[jennyjj01]

I was reading the "What Preps..." thread and this post by Quill got me thinking.

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

So, is anyone interested in a challenge to assemble a Blackout Box for an otherwise un-prepped person?

I like this challenge and not just for 'an un-prepped friend' but also for self and spouse.

You say Blackout Box, but I might go out of scope and do a 'hunker down grab box' for a more general grid down bug in scenario. A single bug in 'go to' box for if there's a need to shelter in place, with no utilities.

Would that be suitably in the spirit of the exercise?

[Quill]

Could make it a weekly challenge through Jan, "just-in-case January" with different topics each week

[jennyjj01]

One per box
15.00 - Power bank + charging cables
3.99 - LED lantern
20.00 - portable radio
4.79 - batteries for the radio + lantern
2.99 - Head lamp
2.40 - 6 batteries for the head lamp

Serious, though trivial thought.....

I have no clue how long any of my torches will run on a new set of batteries.

Also, Every time I need to drag out a lamp, the batteries are in a sub-par state.

Therefore I have no clue how many sets of batteries to set aside.
Therefore, I see a 'speriment coming.

It's a bit like the candle situation in the 70s power cuts. Mum soon ran out of candles and might as well have had none.

I know my Dab radio runs just a few hours on a set. It would gobble batteries up if running the radio for frequent news updates.

[Yorkshire Andy]

One per box
15.00 - Power bank + charging cables
3.99 - LED lantern
20.00 - portable radio
4.79 - batteries for the radio + lantern
2.99 - Head lamp
2.40 - 6 batteries for the head lamp

Serious, though trivial thought.....

I have no clue how long any of my torches will run on a new set of batteries.

Also, Every time I need to drag out a lamp, the batteries are in a sub-par state.

Therefore I have no clue how many sets of batteries to set aside.
Therefore, I see a 'speriment coming.

It's a bit like the candle situation in the 70s power cuts. Mum soon ran out of candles and might as well have had none.

I know my Dab radio runs just a few hours on a set. It would gobble batteries up if running the radio for frequent news updates.

And the battery quality suffers cheap and nasty Vs some better brands


Old manual AM FM radios with a dial use far less power and if old school volume click off don't waste power on "standby" DAB is especially blower hungry

[GillyBee]

And here is some more motivation if you need it.

Transformer shortage threatens UK net zero | Transformer Magazine https://share.google/leQ40jYFZjMpRXabs

[jennyjj01]

Serious, though trivial thought.....

I have no clue how long any of my torches will run on a new set of batteries.
...Therefore, I see a 'speriment coming.

I know my Dab radio runs just a few hours on a set. It would gobble batteries up if running the radio for frequent news updates.

And the battery quality suffers cheap and nasty Vs some better brands
Old manual AM FM radios with a dial use far less power and if old school volume click off don't waste power on "standby" DAB is especially blower hungry

I was surprised you could still get the old fashioned 'manual' radios. Might treat myself.

Andy,
As our go to guy on lamps and torches, do you have a good grasp on which lamps run longest and which are a dead loss. Eg. COB LED work lights, Poundland head lamps etc.
Does a lamp on 'dim' run twice as long on 'dim' or is it way longer or not? That's the sort of 'speriment I envisage.

My batteries are almost exclusively IKEA Ladda, Eneloop like, NiMH.

A battery comparison review would be a whole different topic. But we need to discover just a few go-to brands. I rule out Duracell !

[Yorkshire Andy]

Serious, though trivial thought.....

I have no clue how long any of my torches will run on a new set of batteries.
...Therefore, I see a 'speriment coming.

I know my Dab radio runs just a few hours on a set. It would gobble batteries up if running the radio for frequent news updates.

And the battery quality suffers cheap and nasty Vs some better brands
Old manual AM FM radios with a dial use far less power and if old school volume click off don't waste power on "standby" DAB is especially blower hungry

I was surprised you could still get the old fashioned 'manual' radios. Might treat myself.

Andy,
As our go to guy on lamps and torches, do you have a good grasp on which lamps run longest and which are a dead loss. Eg. COB LED work lights, Poundland head lamps etc.
Does a lamp on 'dim' run twice as long on 'dim' or is it way longer or not? That's the sort of 'speriment I envisage.

My batteries are almost exclusively IKEA Ladda, Eneloop like, NiMH.

A battery comparison review would be a whole different topic. But we need to discover just a few go-to brands. I rule out Duracell !

High intensity led lamps be it cob (chip on board) or the really bright torches aren't the most energy efficient and suck the life out of standard batteries

The most disposable battery friendly lamps use the old school 5mm white leds whilst not overly bright once it's dark a dull white led is plenty


Brighter led lamps dim by strobing the chip set causes strange stroboscopic effect on rotating items...



My go to lantern when rechargeable lamps ain't an option

https://www.halfords.com/tools/torches/ ... AFEALw_wcB


Runs on aa or d cell on d cells it runs for about 30 hours


My funkey olight seeker on moonlite mode which is dim but bright enough at 5 lumen to run for 15 days