Need suggestions for rechargeable power station + mini-fridge/cooler combo in Puerto Rico preppers

Dear r/preppers, as you may know, Puerto Rico's power grid is mostly in shambles and will continue to be that way for quite a while. My family is trying to figure out a way to power a mini fridge/cooler that they can use for drinks and perishables during a work shift (anywhere between 6-8 hours would be fine) in an area that has no power. The power bank can be charged during 1+ hour commutes with a car and also through 120V AC power overnight when they travel back to an area with electrical service. Being able to power a portable fan and/or charge a phone would be a huge plus.

Currently I'm looking at the Anker Powerhouse: http://ift.tt/2yeZXJl

The company mentions being able to "run a mini-fridge for 7+ hours", but from what I've read it's more likely that you're able to run a DC powered thermoelectric cooler and not a compressor-type refrigerator due to the initial power surge.

As far electric coolers/mini-fridges I'm pretty lost.. all I found was a review for the Anker Powerhouse quoting they used an Igloo Iceless Thermoelectric Cooler: http://ift.tt/2gtcjEe

Any suggestions for a power station + mini-fridge/cooler combo would be appreciated.

Submitted October 11, 2017 at 02:00AM by spartanfruit http://ift.tt/2yeZYgn preppers

Emergency Food Supply for a Nursing Home preppers

All the new regulations for disaster preparedness are to be in effect this November. We typically have enough food on hand for a about 9 days. Of course 2/3 of my food supply is in a refrigerator or freezer. We do have a generator but will only run everything for 24 hours. If we limit whats pulling power we can last another day or two.

We are going to keep a "Emergency Food Supply" on hand. We've already figured out how much we want to keep on hand. My question is which brand is best. I am looking at the 12 month supply for one person,(which is a 3 day supply for us) and my budget is $1400. Our main kitchen runs off gas. I do have a house sized oven and stove top, steamer and microwave that is electrical.

Most feasible disasters would be Tornado related or train derailment ( the trains come through about once an hour all day long and at times carry toxic items.)

Any input is greatly appreciated.

Submitted October 09, 2017 at 11:25PM by BigPeder http://ift.tt/2ybSIkW preppers

Honda EU2000i Companion connected to house. How useful and versatile is the 30A plug? preppers

I want to be able to connect a EU2000i to my house to power a furnace blower, refrigerator, and small freezer, and some basic circuits for LED lights. Emergency cooking will be done on propane. Regarding electrical connections, should I get the regular EU2000i or the EU2000i Companion? I still plan on talking with an electrician for details on transfer switches, but I just wanted to start a dialogue on the usefulness of the Companion’s 30A plug first.

Submitted September 28, 2017 at 04:26AM by l1thiumion http://ift.tt/2frAAtp preppers

5000 watt generators that have the best fuel efficiency? preppers

Looking for a generator that can power (intermittantly) a refrigerator and a 1.5 horse power water well pump, and lights, etc.

Was recommended that we get a 5000+ watt generator for this purpose.

Thinking about one of these guys http://ift.tt/2xfw8bE

Honda 5000 watt generator.

Do you think 5000 watts is sufficient, or should we go 7500 watts?

Thank you for your input.

Submitted September 21, 2017 at 07:22AM by harpyeaglelove http://ift.tt/2xfBTpW preppers

Traditional generator vs inverter generator question preppers

Hello prepper community,

Im some what new to the prepper community and would like some recommendations as to what to buy as a back up power source for my house.

I live in Central Florida and have had two years in a row of hurricanes (Matthew and Irma).

We only lost power for a total of 48 hours.

I realized I need a good back up power supply for a refrigerator, some fans and some lights.

I know both the traditional generator and generator inverter have pros and cons but would like to get the communities opinion on what to buy for the next storm.

Submitted September 14, 2017 at 08:33PM by hanzsolocup http://ift.tt/2y9aTpy preppers

Generator capacity/start up order? preppers

Please let me know if I should post this somewhere else. I've got our food/water/medical needs well covered for Irma. Where I am are evacuation is not an issue. So that leaves power, beyond the batteries. We went through 2 weeks combined power outage with Charley, Frances, Jean and Ivan in 2004 with a generator borrowed from my parents, which we figured out how to use then with trial and error and lots of frustration. We have a new one of our own and I'd like to be more prepared, plus it's been a long time. It runs great, have gas, oil and siphon with extra cans of gas and all car tanks full. Have plenty of extension cords so we can place it away from the house and a CO2 detector as well. What I need help with is calculating what needs to be plugged in when, and how much can be plugged in. I just can't make sense of the calculators I'm finding online.

Our generator is a Champion 46595 3000 watts This is what I'd like to connect and when: *REFRIGERATOR HOUSE 115v 5amp 24 HRS? (Do they need to run all the time?) *REFRIGERATOR GARAGE 115v 6.5amp 24 HRS? (2nd fridge-we helped our neighbors without generators last time) *BOX FAN to move A/C air ?v ?amp 24 HRS (Cheap Wal-Mart style box fan) *KITCHEN A/C 8000BTU 115v 6amp DAY ONLY-12 hrs (WATTS INPUT 660 from label) *4 LIGHTS (incandescant) ?v ?amp Evening (Plug in lights, regular 60watt bulbs) *SUMP PUMP 1/4 hp 115v 8.5amp EMERGENCY ONLY-to lower level of pool if flooding *BEDROOM A/C 8000BTU 115v 6amp NIGHT ONLY-12 hrs (WATTS INPUT 660 from label) *CPAP 110v 2.5amp NIGHT ONLY-10 hrs *CHARGING DEVICES ?v ?amp NIGHT (6 cell phones/tablets-all have regular wall plugs-will use power strip)

I don't know how to convert volts and amps to watts, if that is even what needs to happen. I don't know what the volts, amps or watts would be for the lights, cell phones or tablets either. I'm trying to figure out if we can run those listed above at the times listed above, and if we need to narrow the list. I'm thinking I remember that one of our main issues was with having to start/plug in things in a certain order. Can anyone help? TIA

Submitted September 06, 2017 at 01:24AM by justme_mb http://ift.tt/2f0tX1k preppers

Generator capacity/start up order? preppers

Please let me know if I should post this somewhere else. I've got our food/water/medical needs well covered for Irma. Where I am are evacuation is not an issue. So that leaves power, beyond the batteries. We went through 2 weeks combined power outage with Charley, Frances, Jean and Ivan in 2004 with a generator borrowed from my parents, which we figured out how to use then with trial and error and lots of frustration. We have a new one of our own and I'd like to be more prepared, plus it's been a long time. It runs great, have gas, oil and siphon with extra cans of gas and all car tanks full. Have plenty of extension cords so we can place it away from the house and a CO2 detector as well. What I need help with is calculating what needs to be plugged in when, and how much can be plugged in. I just can't make sense of the calculators I'm finding online.

Our generator is a Champion 46595 3000 watts This is what I'd like to connect and when: *REFRIGERATOR HOUSE 115v 5amp 24 HRS? (Do they need to run all the time?) *REFRIGERATOR GARAGE 115v 6.5amp 24 HRS? (2nd fridge-we helped our neighbors without generators last time) *BOX FAN to move A/C air ?v ?amp 24 HRS (Cheap Wal-Mart style box fan) *KITCHEN A/C 8000BTU 115v 6amp DAY ONLY-12 hrs (WATTS INPUT 660 from label) *4 LIGHTS (incandescant) ?v ?amp Evening (Plug in lights, regular 60watt bulbs) *SUMP PUMP 1/4 hp 115v 8.5amp EMERGENCY ONLY-to lower level of pool if flooding *BEDROOM A/C 8000BTU 115v 6amp NIGHT ONLY-12 hrs (WATTS INPUT 660 from label) *CPAP 110v 2.5amp NIGHT ONLY-10 hrs *CHARGING DEVICES ?v ?amp NIGHT (6 cell phones/tablets-all have regular wall plugs-will use power strip)

I don't know how to convert volts and amps to watts, if that is even what needs to happen. I don't know what the volts, amps or watts would be for the lights, cell phones or tablets either. I'm trying to figure out if we can run those listed above at the times listed above, and if we need to narrow the list. I'm thinking I remember that one of our main issues was with having to start/plug in things in a certain order. Can anyone help? TIA

Submitted September 06, 2017 at 01:24AM by justme_mb http://ift.tt/2f0tX1k preppers

Solar power generators? preppers

I want to utilize solar energy now plus have it on hand in case of emergencies -- don't own a house or anything, have ZERO knowledge of electricity, batteries, and these things...

How much wattage would one need for survival needs? Is 400 or 500 watt (#4 and 5 on this list) enough to charge lights and small devices, not refrigerators or ovens obviously.

What else should I consider besides portability for survival situations?

Advice is welcome from anyone with experience using solar power generators or easy to put together solar kits.

Submitted June 27, 2017 at 09:11PM by mstallin http://ift.tt/2tgDglx preppers

Insperation from overlanding preppers

They say insperation can come from anywhere. I think that's true. I also love overlanding. For those that don't know what it is, it is basically vehicle dependent travel to remote destinations where the journey is more the goal than the destination. Those who choose to go overlanding live out of their vehicles for moths (or in some cases years) at a time. I also think there is a lot that preppers can do that is already being done in the overlanding community, and not necessarily requiring 4 wheel drive.

One that comes to mind, and seems to come up a lot in the prepper community, is refrigeration. This can be handy for not only extending the life of food such as milk, eggs, and meat, but also for storing medications. As more and more Americans become dependent on various drugs to live, storing these drugs properly can literally be the difference between life and death. You don't need a fancy 4wd to put a 12v refrigerator in a vehicle, and you don't need a super large one. You can put a small one in the trunk of a mid sized car. They are surprisingly efficient once they get down to their set temperature pulling very little from the battery. Do plan on spending around $500 though, or about the price of a handgun.

Adding a second battery to a vehicle is also a great idea. This is true regardless of the type of vehicle. Not only can you jump start yourself, but you can charge electronics and run accessories (such as a small fridge or extra lighting) without killing your main battery so you can still start the engine. This doesn't need to cost a fortune either. If you are frugal you can do it for around $50, or you can spend upwards of $200 for "smart solutions". Either way, haveing an extra battery in your vehicle opens up a whole world of options to make a SHTF scenario a bit more comfortable.

No matter what type of vehicle you have, maintain it and learn to recover it. By this I mean there is a chance you are going to get stuck. Mud, snow, flat tire, whatever. Learn how your vehicle performs and take steps to deal with those situations. Each vehicle is as different as the person behind the wheel, but at least learn the basics.

As Americans we love our cars. We just do. In most preps, the first avenue of "bugging out" is by vehicle. Why not spend some time to give your vehicle the best chance to be able to do that?

Submitted June 13, 2017 at 04:24PM by ABrownCoat http://ift.tt/2s5H5ay preppers

Salt curing meat - One prepper's perspective preppers

Recently /u/bobwhite946 posted the following:
http://ift.tt/2pOA52g . This brought some things to my memory. In the comments of that post I said: "Traditionally salt curing was done in the late fall when temperatures were dropping. The meat would be salted and, quite often, smoked as well. They were wrapped in cheesecloth and stored in the coldest place possible that wouldn't freeze. That could mean an attic or perhaps a springhouse. Keeping the meat below 38 degrees is ideal and could be achieved in much of the United States during the winter. Even places as far south as South Carolina can have storage cellars around this temperature throughout the winter. There's a reason North Carolina became famous for its hickory smoked hams."

I said this because I remember my grandmother doing this with hams in the fall. Not every fall because we weren't often there, but it's an indelible memory nonetheless. The meat was considered long term storage because it would last until spring when there might be a new lamb or kid [goat, not people :) ] to have for Easter. If times were rough, though, ham was for Easter because it was the only available meat. My grandma kept her hams in the springhouse which stayed surprisingly cool even in high summer in South Carolina. In winter it was a fun place to go. The springhouse kept the well head from freezing and kept the meat, eggs, milk, and butter cold enough without using a refrigerator which was good because they didn't own one until the early 1960s, except during the war years (that's how she described them) when they had one while living in military housing. She preferred the springhouse.
But to the meat... She would salt all types of meat. Dry rub it, let it sit while she moved to the next bit and then back around to the first piece. It would take a whole day to salt one pig. Just dry rubbing in as much salt as you could over and over. Some hams got sugar rubbed as well. For every two rubs of salt, one rub of sugar. She could process about 10 turkeys in a day, or 2 dozen chickens, but she preferred canning birds to salting them. Same with beef, but my grandpa liked salted beef so she'd do enough to keep him happy. After the day long salting, the meat would wrapped in cheesecloth and be hung up in the smoker, which was really just a small,almost airtight, she's my grandpa built. (This was also a fun place to play in when it wasn't being used.). He'd build a fire with the greenest wood he could find and start 'em smoking. Weather conditions affected how long they had to smoke. I never quite understood the weather part of the equation, but I was a kid and once they were smoking, my bb gun was more interesting. Anyway, that's how Grandma did them. While I never measured the temperature in the springhouse, I'd hazard a guess that it wasn't much above 38 degrees from mid-November through early April in the southeast corner of South Carolina. This method of curing meat may not keep meat for years, but it'll get you through the lean times.

Edit: I misspelled a word.

Submitted May 07, 2017 at 09:05AM by Somebody_81 http://ift.tt/2pmMwQi preppers

Need help determining how many watts my inverter charger should be. preppers

I have a small home off grid. The only power source I have is a DuroStar DS4000S portable generator. I wish to purchase an inverter-charger in order to be able to run appliances continuously for atleast 12 hours or more.

I think this kind of explains what we are trying to do...

What's the difference between an inverter and inverter/charger? An inverter simply converts DC (battery) power into AC power and then passes it along to connected equipment. An inverter/charger does the same thing, except that it is connected to an AC power source to continuously charge the attached batteries when AC utility power is available. In the case of a power outage, the inverter will automatically switch to battery power to provide power to connected equipment.

So the basic idea is to use the generator to recharge deep cycle batteries. This allows us to shut off the generator. Then the inverter-charger will convert the electricity for use to said appliances.

I'm not sure how many watts the inverter should be. I've done some research already, but I'd really appreciate some help making sure my calculations and my understanding on how everything should work is correct.

And my first question is how many watts does my inverter need to be?

I have a Frigidaire FRT21P5AQ9 refrigerator. Part number 240379012 on page A-5 of PDF link for anyone who wants to double check. The specs are Wattage 140 to 185, Amps (running) 1.1 to 1.6, Voltage 115 VAC (127 VAC max) that needs to be constantly running. (I have diabetes and need to keep my insulin cool).

I also have a GE JGBP35WEA7WW Gas Range. The specs are 120V; 60Hz; 5A.

I used this " "DC to AC amperage conversion run through an Inverter" calculator to help determine the amount of Watts for each device but I'm not sure if I'm using it correctly.

For the fridge I put the max volts (127v) and max amps (1.6A) and I got 203.2W. And for the stove, that'll only run when I'm cooking, I put 120V and 5A and I got 600W. So together that would be 803.2 watts I also have a number of other devices, but unfortunately I don't have the model numbers for these devices with me right now. They'll include a boom box radio, a cellular phone charger, some lights, etc. Can someone help me determine the minimum and maximum watts needed for the inverter-charger I purchase?

Actual product recommendations for inverter chargers and deep cycle batteries would also be helpful. Thanks in advance!

Submitted March 12, 2017 at 06:19AM by Xybernauts http://ift.tt/2mVaNPz preppers

Pot-in-pot refrigerator preppers

http://ift.tt/1PSbCvX

Submitted March 11, 2017 at 06:57AM by WhiteDynamite666 http://ift.tt/2mamw8C preppers

Making an "refrigerator" out of clay pots, sand, and water. Could this work on a much larger scale? preppers

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nctr9xJIxUs

Submitted March 10, 2017 at 10:26PM by GreatLakesPrepping http://ift.tt/2m8BAU5 preppers

Making an "refrigerator" out of clay pots, sand, and water. Could this work on a much larger scale? preppers

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nctr9xJIxUs

Submitted March 10, 2017 at 10:26PM by GreatLakesPrepping http://ift.tt/2m8BAU5 preppers

Question- Basement Cold Room preppers

I recently bought an old house, built in the late 30s, which still has the original cold room off the basement. It's right underneath the front porch and doesn't have much insulation besides a heavy wood door separating it from the rest of the basement.

Based on the temperature and climate here, I'm wondering what foods can and can't be stored in there long-term. It definitely stays cold and feels like walking into a refrigerator, but I'm in Southwest Ohio and the winter temperatures have varied a lot... like from 10 degrees to 60+ within a week. Can fluctuation like that affect home canned or dehydrated foods in the cold room?

Any thoughts or advice on this would be much appreciated! Please pardon me if it's a dumb question. I am relatively new at all this and still learning.

Submitted February 04, 2017 at 11:22PM by otherusername35 http://ift.tt/2k7wfw8 preppers

Anyone using compact batteries instead of a fuel generator? preppers

I was looking at the "Goal Zero 23000 Yeti 400 Solar Generator", just because that's what The Wirecutter web site recommended. Anyone using one of these?

1. Can someone point me to instructions for calculating how much maH one would need to , for example, run a refrigerator?
2. For bugging in, would it be better to just buy some boat batteries and an invertor?

Thanks.

Submitted January 31, 2017 at 07:28PM by loac http://ift.tt/2kn91F1 preppers

Up to 185,000 people still without power after thunderstorms in Saint Louis. preppers

A good friend of mine is experiencing a grid down scenario right now, living without power for two days. Link Here. The food in their refrigerator is spoiling and had to be moved to a refrigerator at their work. There is no hot water and it has been sweltering hot and humid since the storm. Ameren Missouri is still trying to fix the grid as I type this. This scenario is pretty common in the area, but my friend realized too late that a few precautions would have made this scenario easier to deal with. First, having a backup generator would have saved them hundreds of dollars in groceries (they just stocked up from Costco). The gas stove is still functional, but it is electric start so the oven part of the stove is complicated and potentially dangerous to light with fire, making it less usable. Hygiene is difficult at best, the hot weather has made cold showers a little easier to deal with. I want to ask the community what kinds of preparations they have for aftermath of a storm of this nature, how they deal with inconveniences and maybe some hacks they would like to share to deal with a loss of power for a few days.

Submitted July 14, 2016 at 11:28PM by yuppiecruncher http://ift.tt/29M8dEp preppers

Lower cost shelter then say a container to convert, although smaller it gives basic quarters, used sleeper for trucks. preppers

Here's my reasons why it could work for those on budgets,

1. Lower cost.

2. Sleepers come pre-wired for 12V, making a solar set up really easy

3. Room enough for 2 adults and a couple of kids.

4. Durable, these things must meet D.O.T. standards for the highway.

5. Portable, can be mounted on a small trailer or attach wheels and hitch.

6. These things are built to give drivers a bit of comfort.

7. Everything is pre-existing, ventilation, wiring, lighting, storage, mounting, beds, newer versions have even more comforts like refrigerators that are pre-wired into the sleeper.

I believe the cost vs the loss of space can be worth it because there are many reasons these things are very usable for shelter, consider the fact that parts would not be too hard to obtain, need a light find an abandoned vehicle, need a part (pre-survival mode), you can find it at the dealership, get a hole in it, patch it with a beer can and some goop, these things are built to last, be in all kinds of weather, and give a basic level of comfort for extended periods, a wall/door system would be the only project that would need to be done to cover the access hole for the sleeper, prices range from a few hundred to a few thousand.

http://ift.tt/1XYqyQQ

Submitted May 29, 2016 at 08:27PM by piugattuk http://ift.tt/1qUCfuy preppers

5 Proven Ways Our Ancestors Preserved Meat Without Refrigerators preppers

http://ift.tt/1RYA0Qc

Submitted April 13, 2016 at 07:05PM by PreppersSurvive http://ift.tt/1Yts6Qp preppers

Preppers Card Game preppers

Hey guys, I'm currently in the process of making a board/card game based on the idea of prepping and apocalypse. Before you ask, yes I am aware of the deckbuilding game and this is not quite the same thing.

The game proceeds in two phases. The first phase is about building up your resources and prepping. You'll work your day job while accumulating equipment, food, and building cards that all have their own special effects. The apocalypse can happen at any time, so you need to stock up as quickly as possible. You also never know what kind of apocalypse is going to happen. Zombies? Meteors? Economic Collapse? After that, you need to complete whatever special conditions that apocalypse requires you to or run through the entire apocalypse deck to win. You can choose to work together or separately.

What I'd like help from the community on is what sort of things a prepper would have stockpiled. The three main categories of items are Food, Equipment, and Shelter.

Most Food items are uninteresting things like canned beans and TV dinners. However, some provide a bonus, like energy drinks making you better at fighting.

Equipment is going to be things like multi-tools, shovels, backpacks, vehicles, etc. Their effects on the game world will be much more varied and interesting.

Finally, Shelter cards are going to be more permanent parts of you r backyard/basement bunker. They'll provide a less dynamic, but constant source of advantage. Examples are hydroponics, refrigerators, solar panels, etc.

Submitted January 22, 2016 at 05:50AM by Skandranonsg http://ift.tt/1JmAT4t preppers