anyone else seen this?

[katilea]

5 day Blackouts!!!


http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/go ... gory%20p$3


for those of us that don't have generators what can we be doing to survive a 5 day blackout?

My biggest problem is I won't be able to charge my mobility scooter/chairs back up, so even in daylight and no snow I'll have no power (after using them the first day after electric went off) to get my dogs out or to a local shop (if they do manage to open) for stuff. ..wish I could ride a bike! ..and after batteries being flat for 5 days without charging its going to affect them working as well, meaning I'm gonna have to fork out for new batteries for both (around £500 to find)

Best get that camping gaz bistro stove sorted quick!

[Briggs 2.0]

We had these warnings last year, and the year before and the media were spinning their new buzzword of Brown Outs. (Thread on UKP for more info).

[poppypiesdad]

Ground mounted solar panels to trickle charge them saving the batteries or and I know you might not be able to , not using the battery one and go for manual one . Yes I know and understand your current position .

[featherstick]

5 day Blackouts!!!


http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/go ... gory%20p$3


for those of us that don't have generators what can we be doing to survive a 5 day blackout?

My biggest problem is I won't be able to charge my mobility scooter/chairs back up, so even in daylight and no snow I'll have no power (after using them the first day after electric went off) to get my dogs out or to a local shop (if they do manage to open) for stuff. ..wish I could ride a bike! ..and after batteries being flat for 5 days without charging its going to affect them working as well, meaning I'm gonna have to fork out for new batteries for both (around £500 to find)

Best get that camping gaz bistro stove sorted quick!

Katilea do your utility providers know that you are more vulnerable than the general population? I believe there is a mechanism to let them know and a statutory requirement on them to put extra measures in place for more vulnerable users.

Added - just had a google - here is the First Utilities webpage describing their scheme:

http://www.first-utility.com/help/__ka1 ... y-services

[katilea]

5 day Blackouts!!!


http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/go ... gory%20p$3


for those of us that don't have generators what can we be doing to survive a 5 day blackout?

My biggest problem is I won't be able to charge my mobility scooter/chairs back up, so even in daylight and no snow I'll have no power (after using them the first day after electric went off) to get my dogs out or to a local shop (if they do manage to open) for stuff. ..wish I could ride a bike! ..and after batteries being flat for 5 days without charging its going to affect them working as well, meaning I'm gonna have to fork out for new batteries for both (around £500 to find)

Best get that camping gaz bistro stove sorted quick!

Katilea do your utility providers know that you are more vulnerable than the general population? I believe there is a mechanism to let them know and a statutory requirement on them to put extra measures in place for more vulnerable users.

Added - just had a google - here is the First Utilities webpage describing their scheme:

http://www.first-utility.com/help/__ka1 ... y-services

Yes British Gas have this on their records.. problem is if I've no electric how do I tell them? my minicom has to be plugged in to work and if its whole street area then everyone is going to be in same situation. Will BG realise that I'm one of the people in a blackout area? There's lots of elderly in this area so sure I won't be the only one. What if the local GB area office is in the blackout area too and can't access their computers to get a list of their vulnerable customers in the blackout areas?

[bettersafethansorry]

Hi just my 2 cents. Nice cheap Thing I do is I've picked up couple of £9.99 phones from supermarket and put £10 on each. The battarries last ages so I charge regular so In a blackout I have key numbers stored in these phones and also a "back up" battery powered charge cell that claims to give any phone a full charge again I paid about 5er on ebay. All in all the tin contains....
2 charged but switched off phones loaded with credit.
1 extra power cell charger
Mini book of contacts.
Waterproof lining
Pack of duracells

Cost £49 approx.

This way you can contact anyone with 0 power.

[featherstick]

Yes British Gas have this on their records.. problem is if I've no electric how do I tell them? my minicom has to be plugged in to work and if its whole street area then everyone is going to be in same situation. Will BG realise that I'm one of the people in a blackout area? There's lots of elderly in this area so sure I won't be the only one. What if the local GB area office is in the blackout area too and can't access their computers to get a list of their vulnerable customers in the blackout areas?

Sounds like you need a "powercut buddy" - someon you know locally who knows to come around and see whether you're ok in an event - snowfall, etc. I used to do it for some neighbours before we moved.

[sniper 55]

Not a cheap answer I know but what about a wind generator? A friends been looking at them and they look like they may work well enough to charge your batteries. I've seen home made ones with a car dynamo, I'm sure someone on here will know a lot more than I do about them.

[Yorkshire Andy]

Problem is wind generator's only work when it's windy.. Get a winter high pressure system and it won't work.

Solar is iffy due to short dark grey days...

And a petrol / diesel generator is noisy / needs servicing/ can be hard to start and need to store fuel

[katilea]

I got a couple of little solar ones off Amazon to try as I do get good sunlight in kitchen window on good days then round the back, it did well with my mobile phone. Dunno if it would charge a Macbook as well yet, but we've had very grey overcast days here lately.

so its not just daylight that makes the solar panels work? .. the sun has to be shining directly onto them?

My camping stoves have arrived anyway and have a small Kelly Kettle so we'll at least have hot water and something to eat, as stocked up on tinned soups and stuff, so food wise I could survive but not sure how long the lanterns for example would last if a powercut went on longer than one night and didn't get chance to recharge them again between powercuts.

I don't have room to put a windmill thing up for wind powered electric and house is rented I doubt they'd give permission for an event that might happen once? Don't really have space for a generator either as you someone said if its noisy then neighbours may complain or will know I had one and be round all the time wanting to use my electric if there was a 5 day cut.. not that I'm mean or anything but given they all know my disabilities and I've lived here 10 yrs none of them think to call in the rest of the year to see if there's anything I need or just an attempt to 'make friends' or anything beyond an Hi or nod in the street. ..and I do hate fake people who are only your friend when they need something you have, or can give them!