A little of topic but Aldi are doing a 500 watt generator as one of there special buys for anyone that is interested and at a price of around £60.00 a possible bargain?
https://www.aldi.co.uk/en/specialbuys/t ... generator/
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Small Generator or extra Food
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Maddosammo
- Posts: 295
- Joined: Tue Dec 11, 2012 8:20 pm
- Location: Greater Manchester
Small Generator or extra Food
Sam
Area 9
Area 9
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TwoDo
Re: Small Generator or extra Food
Definitely spend the money on the Mountain House food, in a SHTF situation a generator thumping away will just notify all the many unprepared that "hey, look over here, there is food and fuel here" and it could put you and your family in danger. A generator is a total violation of OPSEC - might as well just hang out a sign.
The only reason I could see for a generator is if, as other posters have said, you need the power to cool medicines. Even then I would probably get hold of some solar panels and a 12v fridge from a caravan - totally silent, less power hungry and if you get an ammonia absorption refrigerator there are no moving parts at all.
Philosophically speaking another strike against the generator is my general feeling that post SHTF one should not fight to continue ones previous high energy lifestyle. There is no way that can be sustained. Might as well just accept that things are going to be different and adapt. Besides the dangers discussed above, there are far better uses for what is probably going to be increasingly rare fuel than to power a house full of electric appliances.
The only reason I could see for a generator is if, as other posters have said, you need the power to cool medicines. Even then I would probably get hold of some solar panels and a 12v fridge from a caravan - totally silent, less power hungry and if you get an ammonia absorption refrigerator there are no moving parts at all.
Philosophically speaking another strike against the generator is my general feeling that post SHTF one should not fight to continue ones previous high energy lifestyle. There is no way that can be sustained. Might as well just accept that things are going to be different and adapt. Besides the dangers discussed above, there are far better uses for what is probably going to be increasingly rare fuel than to power a house full of electric appliances.
Re: Small Generator or extra Food
My thoughts on this are - get the generator.
In the highly unlikely event of you needing to invoke OPSEC - then don't use it, eat the contents of the freezer.
In the more likely event that you save the contents of your freezer during power outages, use the money you would have spent restocking freezer to buy the other food.
In the highly unlikely event of you needing to invoke OPSEC - then don't use it, eat the contents of the freezer.
In the more likely event that you save the contents of your freezer during power outages, use the money you would have spent restocking freezer to buy the other food.
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Macsforfire
- Posts: 18
- Joined: Sun Jun 30, 2013 2:34 pm
- Location: Manchester- Area 9
Re: Small Generator or extra Food
I'm liking that Aldi generator at £60 might end up with a compromise get the best of both worlds. Gunna go with ready made resources for the mountain house it's so much cheaper than mountain house EU even with the international shipping from America.
Prepare- Because dieing is for amateurs.
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Rearfang
Re: Small Generator or extra Food
Not heard great reports of these cheap generators I do have couple of generators one i do use for work mainly to run a circular saw ( tried one of these Aldi ones was struggling to run the saw )
Can get some good bargains on eBay Honda engines best bet
Can get some good bargains on eBay Honda engines best bet
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SkyWatcher
- Posts: 43
- Joined: Wed Jan 02, 2013 11:51 am
- Location: Area 11
Re: Small Generator or extra Food
For me personally, I'd rather have the extra food for me and my family. In a longer term SHTF scenario, a few months worth of extra food versus a generator with no fuel says it all really. And as said before, the starving masses will make a beeline for the noise of the generator and help themselves to everything you have.
Area 11
Better to have it and not need it than need it and not have it. Once the SHTF thousands of other people are gonna want the same as you. What do you think your chances are of getting it?.......
Better to have it and not need it than need it and not have it. Once the SHTF thousands of other people are gonna want the same as you. What do you think your chances are of getting it?.......
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Hamradioop
- Posts: 2089
- Joined: Sun Jan 20, 2013 11:21 am
- Location: Area 1: north wessex
Re: Small Generator or extra Food
If you are buying a generator you need to consider what you are going to run, lights, fridge, ect and work out how much power they require and then buy a generator with a bit more capacity, a 500w generator will run a couple of lights, TV and a Radio. but not a big fridge or freezer
“A nation of sheep will beget a government of wolves.” ― Edward R. Murrow
"Remember Politicians are like babies diapers they both need changing often for the very same reason" - Mark Twain
If voting changed anything, they'd make it illegal.
"Remember Politicians are like babies diapers they both need changing often for the very same reason" - Mark Twain
If voting changed anything, they'd make it illegal.
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badgersden
- Posts: 129
- Joined: Mon Dec 10, 2012 11:13 am
Re: Small Generator or extra Food
Rearfang wrote:Not heard great reports of these cheap generators I do have couple of generators one i do use for work mainly to run a circular saw ( tried one of these Aldi ones was struggling to run the saw )
Can get some good bargains on eBay Honda engines best bet
the problem is not the genny is what wattage they can produce constant run speed for this genny 650w,a circular saw needs 1200 watts to run that's why it did not run,check what wattage your appliances use before buying you will be surprised how much power you need and don't forget purge start up
follow the link for tool wattage usage,personally i would not waste my money on this its 2 stroke so not just fuel but also oil to run it,
http://www.dieselserviceandsupply.com/P ... Chart.aspx
another useful link for household appliances
http://www.genxnow.com/pdfs/Wattage_Reference_Chart.pdf
Last edited by badgersden on Sat Jul 20, 2013 9:25 am, edited 1 time in total.
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Rearfang
Re: Small Generator or extra Food
Yes I know but my point is they not of very high quality
Think first use during non shtf like say a12 hr powercut would be to power gas boiler for heating lighting and freezer o and keep my reptiles warm
Think first use during non shtf like say a12 hr powercut would be to power gas boiler for heating lighting and freezer o and keep my reptiles warm
Re: Small Generator or extra Food
For me the genie, albeit a luxury, would be the way to go.
Probably because I can get food further on and as it is perishable needs replacing anyway.
For me the closest crocodile to the canoe in terms of issues to be prepped for is power outages so for me a genie that can run the freezer, a couple of tvs, dvd player and xbox for the kids and laptop for the mrs is a necessity!
For me prepping is about living comfortably in any situation as opposed to just surviving.
For most of the reasons I prep for (power shortages, snowed in etc) noise would not be an issue and only need a month or so's food supply (where I am now).
I am building up for the more extreme reasons for prep (economic collapse, pandemic, EOTWAWKI etc) so getting more food preps, seeds etc etc but most importantly knowledge and experience in stuff for the post SHTF world.
Probably because I can get food further on and as it is perishable needs replacing anyway.
For me the closest crocodile to the canoe in terms of issues to be prepped for is power outages so for me a genie that can run the freezer, a couple of tvs, dvd player and xbox for the kids and laptop for the mrs is a necessity!
For me prepping is about living comfortably in any situation as opposed to just surviving.
For most of the reasons I prep for (power shortages, snowed in etc) noise would not be an issue and only need a month or so's food supply (where I am now).
I am building up for the more extreme reasons for prep (economic collapse, pandemic, EOTWAWKI etc) so getting more food preps, seeds etc etc but most importantly knowledge and experience in stuff for the post SHTF world.