Are you preparing for not-so-good-times ahead

[JD4570]

Hmmm... I've got a question. Do you have an idea of what kind of nuclear weapon Iran is developing? One of their scientists claimed it could cripple the U.S. . Just one weapon. Only one type I can think of and it scares the bejeezes out of me. An E.M.P. weapon. An electro-magnetic pulse would knock out all power and electronics not protected by something like a Faraday cage. I'm not talking weeks or months, I'm talking about years. I know that is extreme, but so are the people possibly developing it. They are apocalyptic in their beliefs. Never the less the ones that think they've prepared to an extreme have only enough to get them started. Underground bunkers, don't see the point in them unless you live in a desert. Arsenal of weapons, eh could be useful if the crap does hit the fan. That's why I learned to live as my ancestors did. Simply without depending on infrastructure.

 

[Bullitt]

I think it is good that you are trying to live self-sufficiently. Do you have wind or solar power? It would be nice to have the capability to have power off the grid.

The disasters you named are very remote possibilities.

 

[ChicksterJo]

I'm not even worried about Iran nuking us. The probability of a major earthquake setting off in So Cal is probably greater than the chance of Iran having a chance to nuke us. Well, that's just my opinion. But I guess we all agree that preparation is a good thing

I saw some really nicely priced solar panels from a distributor is Florida. Also, I need to learn some "putting up" skills. So a good pressure canner is on the list of items to get. When we buy our land we will be living like pioneer style, most likely. I have been learning some basic 'prepper' skills but mostly it has been in the realm of being a cheapskate and saving money. I don't know when the not-so-good times will turn into the REALLY not-so-good-times!


Oh and does anyone know how many watts would be needed for just a few items running, like a small refrigerator, a couple of CFL's, and a laptop? The inexpensive solar panel I mentioned must be purchased two at a time, and they are in the 180 watt - 240 watt range each.

 

[Bullitt]

I'm not even worried about Iran nuking us. The probability of a major earthquake setting off in So Cal is probably greater than the chance of Iran having a chance to nuke us. Well, that's just my opinion. But I guess we all agree that preparation is a good thing

I saw some really nicely priced solar panels from a distributor is Florida. Also, I need to learn some "putting up" skills. So a good pressure canner is on the list of items to get. When we buy our land we will be living like pioneer style, most likely. I have been learning some basic 'prepper' skills but mostly it has been in the realm of being a cheapskate and saving money. I don't know when the not-so-good times will turn into the REALLY not-so-good-times!
Oh and does anyone know how many watts would be needed for just a few items running, like a small refrigerator, a couple of CFL's, and a laptop? The inexpensive solar panel I mentioned must be purchased two at a time, and they are in the 180 watt - 240 watt range each.

You don't have to live exactly like the pioneers. There is no reason you can't have running water, including hot water, and electricity, and be off the grid.

Here is a guy who shows you how to do it.

http://www.youtube.com/user/solarcabin#p/c/34F7ECFEEB05659B/8/fJsDOD0dTQI

 

[ChicksterJo]

Oh I should have clarified. We will most likely have septic system and running water. The septic system I think is required before building in the place we are looking to buy land.

For us we have not prepared much physically, in terms of having shelves and shelves of canned or dried goods. But we are mentally preparing ourselves and that has helped a lot in realigning our priorities...we do not buy many unnecessary things now because we are focused in on moving out of here.

 

[JD4570]

Hey Bullitt, I have wind power for my water, a windmill, then I'm installing a solar water heat made from galvanized pipe. I won't give up my hot showers mind you!

Electricity will come later.

 

[Bullitt]

ChicksterJo, I am glad you will have running water and flush toilets.

When I think pioneers, I think without running water.

JD4570, will that solar water heater work in the winter?

Did anyone take a look at that video? The price is coming down on solar and wind power. I saw on Craigslist new Sharp 224-watt solar panels for $235 each.

Four of those panels, which would be 896 watts, would be $940.
I saw on Craigslist 600 amp hours worth of batteries for $400.
You need a charge controller, which you can get for $100.
You need a 12 volt DC to 120 volt AC inverter to run your regular AC lights and appliances. I would say a 1,500-watt inverter with 3,000 watts surge would be needed so you can run anything in the house. About $200.
Wiring -- let's say $100.

That is $1,740 to have a system that could provide most of your household power. You might need a generator to supplement your power and battery charging until you added more solar panels or a wind generator.

You could start with one solar panel, a charge controller, one battery, and an inverter, and you could add on when you could afford it. So for around $700 you could have a solar system that could power many things in your home, including a water pump.

I really like the idea of being off the grid.

 

[ChicksterJo]

That is the price I was seeing on the distributor from Florida. Around $250-$300 for a 210 to 240-watt panel. That is pretty good!

 

[Bullitt]

Solar and wind technology is getting better and more common, so prices are coming down. We have all the natural energy we need on Earth with wind, water, sun, and heat from the ground. We just have to learn to capture that energy.

 

[JD4570]

Bullitt, the answer is absolutely. In fact I might modify it to use the heat coming out of the fireplace to keep it warm at night or an overcast day. Probably will use a copper tubing coil. I sure would be using a lot copper tubing for different things!