What Preps are you doing this week

[Yorkshire Andy]

The best generator I ever saw related to prepping was owned by a couple of Off Gridders in Devon, it was a totally refurbished twin cylinder Lister diesel type unit with big brass heavy flywheel / pully turning two alternators 12VDC. proper Heath Robinson but utterly reliable. Good luck finding a replacement but could you please make apost on what you choose to get and why ?

This is even less 'prep' like. Having discussed the lights go out thread by itsy and the water/toilet nightmare conversation that followed we have decided to 'look' at replacing our ancient but incredibly reliable genny. This is major for us. Big Bertha has lived in her shed for years and with a bit of love and attention has ALWAYS come to our aid for days at a time. Replacing her will be a mammoth undertaking (not least because the shed was built round her)

Finding a genny that will run for days, reliably, without forcing me to sell body parts to pay for it is a scary prospect

Those lister engines are stupidly reliable and always seem to want to start regardless of time they sit abandoned and even in the cold....... Just ensure that the dog pin on the cranking handle is free and well greased or you'll be wanting a Sam splint for your broken arm!

How big a generator you looking I love the Honda suitcase 2kw jobbies but would have to sell both kidneys for the gas converted one I guess 45kg propane tank would last ages

[FEISTY]

This is even less 'prep' like. Having discussed the lights go out thread by itsy and the water/toilet nightmare conversation that followed we have decided to 'look' at replacing our ancient but incredibly reliable genny. This is major for us. Big Bertha has lived in her shed for years and with a bit of love and attention has ALWAYS come to our aid for days at a time. Replacing her will be a mammoth undertaking (not least because the shed was built round her)

Finding a genny that will run for days, reliably, without forcing me to sell body parts to pay for it is a scary prospect

Can't think of anything more "prep" like. I would love a generator, but the whole thing is a bit scary at the moment, particularly the idea of storing enough fuel to keep it running. If Big Bertha is incredibly reliable, why are you thinking of replacing her? You know the old saying, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it." Two generators, on the other hand, can't hurt. Big Bertha and a companion Lister, perhaps. Wonder how much you pay for those?

[Yorkshire Andy]

One thing with older generator sets is they are not stable / regulated unlike more modern Inverter based units....

Which is fine on a building site for power tools such as drills but most domestic appliances are packed full of electronics which really do not take kindly to the kicking a old generator units can provide (voltage / frequency / ampage spikes) due to the inherent design and fuel (stale fuel can cause poor running and jumpy running leads to spikes..)


http://www.electricgeneratorsdirect.com ... rator.html



the lister engined generators are home made and bloody noisy in comparison to a modern generator those who have ever seen a sky van in a shopping precinct showing off the new sky hd super dooper summer offers look at whats powering the van / tv (often chained to the front wheel)

http://www.justgenerators.co.uk/pages/HondaEU20i.htm

these are stupidly quiet 52db at 7m

my small site generator is closer to 70db

but it all depends what your planning to run off it obviously...

Its always wise to buy bigger than what you need as many appliences are run on an induction motor which needs an initial high current to start say a induction pressure washer water pump is rated at 2000 might need 4-5000 watts to start

[Yorkshire Andy]

As for this weeks preps I've had a busy week got my father's car serviced at last having discovered that a full dealership service history = a now unremovable sump plug thanks to them rounding it off and me and a friendly mechanic been scared of applying any more force.... Had to borrow a extraction pump off him ( traded a bottle of wine for his assistance and a loan of a wallpaper stripper)


Been and treated myself to a new winter jacket
http://m.debenhams.com/webapp/wcs/store ... A002_-1and linerhttp://www.tog24.com/mens/jackets/mens-softshe ... green.html

(awaiting a replacement outer jacket as one of the poppers were broken that should be here Monday (their other shop had one in stock) I'll name the store i used if they live up to their promise


And ordered a Sam splint for my fak and treated myself to a edc legal svord mini peasant

That's me skint lol

[ForgeCorvus]

Yorkshire: Let us know what you think of the mini-peasant..... I've been threatening to get me one

[Le Mouse]

I had Fire Warden training at work this week. It was all pretty much common sense and the Senior Fire Warden and I will be properly on the case with keeping our workplace as safe as we can. It's made me think about my own home and how it is not very fire safe - I need to clear away clutter, particularly in my bedroom. It'll be an awfully big project, but it is one that really needs doing.

My allotment has been feeding me a bit more - courgettes and salady things. Lovely! I've been planning for next year, looking at the idea of hanging baskets for tomatoes and suchlike.

[DustyDog]

Just doing the usual, buying extra tins of food, toothpaste, shower gel, mostly extra food. I do like the sound of those big thumping lister gennies, but in the mean time there is a small, 2.2kw, gennie on Amazon, small, but it has got good reviews and only £199, aye it is a generic make, 'trueshopping' but for that price??? Those big old diesels though...

[Yorkshire Andy]

Took my new "shopping" bag for a walk loaded with my EDC kit..... and went shopping........

http://www.tog24.com/backpacks/daypacks ... kpack.html


yes it took a decent amount of shopping... is fairly comfy but the back isn't well ventelated unlike my Camelbak mule but £20 cant fault it...



Saving grace though was i had my EDC with me today when we got one of those biblical downpours (to the point the roads flooded level with the pavements storm drains from the shop downpipes coundnt cope nor the downpipes or gutters ) Mr flash git took shelter with several others in a bus shelter........ regatta packlite type Jacket and trousers on... and onwards i went... (on and my lowa combat are definitely water proof and the backpack kept my shopping dry too

the mesh external pockets n the bag were ideal for stashing the waterproofs after they got wet when i stripped off leaving tesco since the sun had come out....

[jansman]

Just got back off my Hols. I have spent the last 4 hours processing beans , tomatoes, courgettes and onions. Up to speed now and looking forward to serious fishing next week!

[Decaff]

Added another KG of penne pasta to my stores, have another 1 KG bag of rice in the freezer which will be put into a jar tomorrow and then into my stores, added 30 sponge/scourers into my stocks, bag of dishwasher salt and 1 box giving 10 wash loads soap powder.

At last my new fridge arrives tomorrow, been very very difficult going without a working fridge for a month but hurrah, the end is in sight!! Have to say though that the bottles of water frozen in the freezer (4 bottles used in rotation of 2) and then put on the top shelf of the fridge really did make a difference and milk, butter, cheese and ham was kept cold and was safe to eat. Grapes on the other hand did not do so well and they went off really quickly. Bottles changed over first thing in the morning and last thing at night was key to keeping the temperature down, any bottles of drink were cooled down in the freezer before being put into the fridge which also helped keep it cool. A good lesson there and of course not having a filled to the brim fridge with snacky/picky food has saved me money which will now be used to add to my stocks!