Lights

[hobo]

Long term you need to change your usage habits..... Or even your lifestyle ("go to bed when its dark" kind of things)

LED (or other low-drain lighting) running from a battery-bank (solar and/or wind charged) is the way to go....... If you have the skills and the cash

+1

[23pioneer]

Long term you need to change your usage habits..... Or even your lifestyle ("go to bed when its dark" kind of things)

LED (or other low-drain lighting) running from a battery-bank (solar and/or wind charged) is the way to go....... If you have the skills and the cash

+1

Dark at 15.30hrs in winter up here in Orkney, even i cant sleep that much, would love to try though

[gm_prepper]

i have an led/solar setup using these
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/12v-LED-STRIP ... 4aaa15b3fe
on a fully charged car battery you can get around 150 hrs of light.
you will need a constant current constant voltage regulator but these do not cost much.

I've got a very similar setup including in my trailer tent for various trips, as long as ye can bring in enough charge off the solar panels to keep a decent batt charged (mines a leisure batt) then there's so little draw from the leds that they're run for days without charging batt, so leaves it open for various other bits like phones, I use my Galaxy like a pc with most of the apps I can downloaded for use offline including map packs like Backcountry Navigator. and Various books. not suggesting it as a primary tool but comes in handy. Also got a stereo wired up to the batt when needed.

[stevegray]

Just got 4 garden lights from Morrisons. black plastic casing. removable spike. £1 each. 600mah AA removable batery. on off switch. Much better quality than the ones I was looking at in B&M. Not ideal by any stretch, but enough to see by in an emergency.

[Moony]

Main problem with Gennies is they are really only a stop-gap measure, Post Katrina loads of people ran gennies so they could have their lights, fridges and AC.....For a short while, then the fuel ran low. Anyone remember the footage of the gas-lines? Long queues of people with several plastic fuel cans hoping to get something to feed the genny with?

Plus, you have lights and that distinctive sound of one running..... Whos house you think everyone is going to visit ?

Long term you need to change your usage habits..... Or even your lifestyle ("go to bed when its dark" kind of things)

LED (or other low-drain lighting) running from a battery-bank (solar and/or wind charged) is the way to go....... If you have the skills and the cash

I think the problem with gennies during Katrina was people thought they could just run the genny and carry on using everything they normally would. With the genny running flat out most people ran out of fuel within 24/36 hours (non-stop). Those more sensible people who ran the genny only when needed and only to power the items needed were the people who managed to keep it going until either power was restored or at least the queues at the gas stations were more managable. They were also the people who got knocks on the doors from the neighbours who heard the gennies running and asked if they could recharge a phone / tablet / batteries, which could be a good way to make friends with the neighbours if handled properly

Relatively short-term SHTF, ideal, if it was longer term this could turn into a liability.

[hobo]

2 x Coleman Duos + Rechargeable Power Cartridge (which I can, in turn, recharge from my solar/battery set up)
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Coleman-CPX-Duo ... m_sbs_sg_2
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Coleman-CPX-Rec ... d_sim_sg_1

Heard back from Coleman that the panels have rechargeable AAAs which can be easily replaced. That's a big plus IMO. Though it'll take me over budget by £15...

Haven't heard back from Freeplay about how many lumens the new Indigos can put out so I'm not making a decision yet.

BTW, my solar/battery set up is, at present 4 x 5w panels which can link together and 2 x Gazelle Batteries http://www.itmustbegreen.co.uk/acatalog ... zelle.html

Other than light, my only other power needs would be iPod, mobile phone, Nintendo and AA/AAA battery charging.

[jansman]

Thanks for that link Hobo. I think( for me) solar is the way to go.

[gm_prepper]

I come across the follow which looks pretty useful but as yet can't find this model in the uk.

http://www.etoncorp.com/en/productdispl ... -red-cross

[hobo]

I come across the follow which looks pretty useful but as yet can't find this model in the uk.

http://www.etoncorp.com/en/productdispl ... -red-cross

Thanks! Will have a look at that! My emergency windup radio is an Eton nor though I can't remember the model. Will pop by later with info.

[hobo]

I checked and I have an Eton Scorpion Green.
Specs are on the same site as this: http://www.nevadaradio.co.uk/clearance- ... lay-model- which reminds me of the one gm_prepper pointed out - except for the weather alerts.