No power!

[Bubbles]

Has anyone on here gone for a completely zero reliance approach - no electricity necessary.

If so how do you solve the communications issue if any?

I'm building to it but still have to keep up with the modern world.
Any tips on full self reliance.

[preppingsu]

There are plenty of solar chargers for mobile phones out there. Try Maplins.

I don't think landlines plugged into a phone socket alone need an electricity source, unless they are wireless or have an answerphone. I'm sure someone who is more qualified wil be along later to correct me.

[Bubbles]

Misses the point I think. I mean no electrical power as in back to basics - the important skills that everyone seems to have lost

[ForgeCorvus]

My workshop has no mains supply and its a PITA to string extension cables over 200 feet so I run it mostly Handraulically

Old style tools like carpenter's braces, big saws and planes (and keeping them sharp!) make a lot of difference

I also have a handcrank pillar drill thats proved its worth


Power-Down comms give you basically two options:
Open, such as Semaphore, Morse (by flag, lamp or noise-maker), Smoke-signals, painting on walls, etc
Or
Closed, like message drops, runners (bikers, gallopers etc), tug-lines.....

All of these either let everyone know or rely on you knowing where the other party is (or where they will be at some point)

[dangerman]

This is the issue I've been skirting around. Communications seem to be a bit difficult when you consider that the phone networks (everyone seems to say) will be the first to go down.

I'll be going for the HAM radio option as soon as I can. Get my licence and all that, get a nice cheap radio off amazon. And a ladder to climb to increase range. The Boafeng ones work off the normal batteries so a home made or cheap solar charger will keep it going indefinitely.

[Bubbles]

Very nice FC. I've never been much of a carpenter but I love hand tools.
It's always going to be a highly valued skill to repair.

I have the same fears about comma. Just hoping someone had a fantastic new idea

[Briggs 2.0]

A generator changeover switch runs my home's heat, hot water and lighting without mains electric.

If running the generator is not possible and I need comms then HF UHF/VHF rig runs off 12v batteries.

Back up HF transceiver has wind up charger.

[Wingfoot]

I've certainly got a way to go before im anywhere near close to being off grid , but I have a number of deep cycle batteries & a couple of solar pannels, so ive made a start.

My understanding is that modern smart phones will be rendered useless for communication if ever the grid goes down & then stays down for an extended period of time, they will still have some use as a data storage device & a camera for an indefinite period provided you can keep them charged while off grid.

As the other guys have already said Ham Radio is a good option & the one im currently exploring.

The cheap Baofeng radios are hard to beat & will quickly show you the value of ham radio for keeping in touch should the worse ever happen, with a few cheap accessories you can easily keep them charged off grid.

Wf

[junmist]

I have a nice collection of hand tools though I also have battery tools as well. Are you really ready to go completely no electric!!!! You will need a composting toilet. Candles, oil lamps, fire to cook on and heat water with, a hand pump for water, old hand washing machine and of course no car as the petrol pumps need electric and that is only of the top of my head with out me think about it

[grenfell]

Generators, solar , wind and batteries are all usable in the event of losing the grid but rereading bubbles original post I'm not sure as to whether he means covering blackouts or a situation where one completely walks away from electrical usage . For the latter , as others have said there are hand tools etc and simply looking back as to how people lived and coped two hundred years ago would be the answer. Communication doesn't have to rely on electronic devices , we could write words on paper , put it in an envelope and send it to someone else or maybe just walk over and have an actual conversation.
Perhaps a greater deprivation for having to cope completely without electric would be that refrigeration would be out of the window , freezing isn't of course the only form of preservation but it is a very useful and convient one.