3825-87867
3825-87867's JournalCouple ideas for heat and lite in an emergency
Here in Western Pa power goes out in summer storms more often than winter.
Instead of recycling an old one, I keep an old car battery (actually 2 of them) charged as much as it can (doesn't have to be full or be able to start a car) with an electric charger BEFORE the emergency. Battery chargers can go for $25 to $100 depending on load capability. I've had a couple for years so they are always ready. I bought some bright LED Strips from Amazon. It's easy to connect them to the battery as they are 12 volt. Buy some clamps and/or use black electrical tape. They use virtually no power and a 4 foot or longer string can light a room almost daylight-like.
Even old car batteries can have 300 to 600 CCA Cold Cranking Amps (New 500 to 700 needed to start cars) that translates to 3000 to 7000 watts of continuous power depending on the condition of the battery.
I also have three power inverters (45 bucks each that can provide 110 vts @500 watts for using 60 to 100 watt electric light bulbs (NOT LED Bulbs). You can get inverters that will put out 100 to 1000 watts from car batteries. Put these in a (Mechanics) clamp light (has that aluminum reflector bowl around it) and you'd be surprised at the amount of heat a single bulb gives off. You can also use 12vt lights from an auto store that use less wattage and don't supply as much heat but will last longer.
Put the batteries on something safe (board, floor, counter top etc. NOT something metallic) when in use.
Almost ALL inverters will also charge phones and run radios or even smaller portable TVs. Get an app that lets you watch TV on your phone. There are also items that attach to the phone that allow you to watch "Over the Air" (OTA) Local TV Local Channels to keep informed in your area. They run around $35.
The car battery lasts well over 12 hours continuous with a lot of light bulbs on and with care (off and on times) can last a day. With decent inverters you can even use a microwave to heat water which can also give off heat somewhat longer. You can also get those small auto heaters to provide limited short-term warmth, BUT they use up a lot of watts!
Total investment over a summer was about $200. Have had to use this setup a number of times the last 10 years. Worth the trouble and investment.
After the emergency, make sure to recharge the car battery(s) as much as can be done. Then keep checking it every month or so to make sure it's charged in case you need it again.
There are lots of ways to help you keep warm and lit and even help provide warm food and water capabilities on the net. Check them out.
Good luck.
It's 2024 and Joe decides , maybe a lifetime presidency...
for Kamala? Or Hunter?
The Republican Reps and Senators aren't thinking very far ahead. Don't pass any legislation that allows trump to do what he wants and just maybe the Democrats in 2022 and 2024 or 2026 and 2028 or longer will decide they don't have to leave office...ever.
AND..they can do whatever they want in Congress and those who opposed convicting trump in 2020 -
can't.do.one.damn.thing.about.it!
SO, go ahead you assholes. Prop your feet up. Get out your crayons. Ignore the law. Stop paying attention. Acquit the POS. We need 50+ years of Democratic Rule.
To paraphrase Gold Hat from John Huston's 1948 film "The Treasure of the Sierra Madre":
"The Constitution, to god-damned hell with The Constitution! We have no laws. In fact, we don't need laws. I don't have to show you any stinking laws, you xxx-xxxxx.............!"
2016 and 2020 Trump Debates!
After watching trump in those debates, how he interrupted his own republicans and Hillary then Biden in 2020 and kept talking even after he was told to basically shut up, does anyone think him being a witness at the Impeachment Trial would be ANY different?
It would be a spectacle for the ages! Probably would get all the media off like crazy!
Probably end in the same kind of farce as before.
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