It's Day 6 of the blackout and the word is it might be another week. Since my son is sick and there's nothing else to do I’ve been thinking. Actually, I’ve been doing nothing but thinking and I’ve been getting lots of ideas. It all started from a comment Bou posted: “…but when its below freezing and people don't have power... that is even scarier in my mind.” Holy Crap! I thought to myself (yes Bou, I say Holy Crap too, and it got me in trouble with my son’s teacher, but that’s a story for another day). I hate being cold as much as Bou and never in a million years would I, miss prepared for every disaster, ever have thought or even considered it a possibility. Don't know why I didn't think of it, especially since the very first citywide blackout in NYC occurred on a cold chilly day in November of 1963.
To quote Bones (Bou’s youngest): I would just die from the cold! Especially without the right gear. I hate even cold air conditioning in the summer. But all I need to make sure I don’t freeze to death is 2 sub-zero sleeping bags (one for me and another for my son) and a solar panel pack with multiple connectors and capable of storing/converting enough solar power to run a heater in one room for a few hours, a laptop and a cell phone (the last 2 are essential to my mental stability and well being as a Gemini). Yesterday I briefly tested out a solar powered laptop backpack and a solar power charger (loaners from a colleague at work) . With it I was able to come home and set up my broadband and briefly get online (the pack needed to be charged before using it extensively). It’s now charging, while I’m using my laptop’s own battery to tap this out. If you see this post it means that I successfully charged the solar panel and was able to set up the wifi to get online and post.
The first time I used solar panel chargers was in 2000. I was living in the Philippines, and working as part of the advance team for setting up wi-fi’s in remote areas, with little or no electricity, With the solar panels charging I would also use/charge my satellite phone and laptop.
Spurred on by the fear of dying a cruel frozen death, I did some research and discovered yesterday that with the right solar panel kit I would be able to run a heater for a few hours in the dead of winter. I also came across a solar panel charger for my Treo and found a Hurricane Solar Survival System, for both Bou and VW. If I discover any other interesting solar products, like a solar powered air conditioner (admit it, it makes perfect sense, especially in the South), I’ll share it with you.
wow. I go away for a few days and what happens?
I am really going to have to stick around to help keep things under control I guess.
Sorry to hear about all this nightmare stuff going on in the big Big City. Out here the power goes out a few times a year, especially in the winter, but I am allowed additional power sources you probably aren't (propane, e.g.)
Let me know what you do about those solar panels. I could see myself "isolated" but needing to blog some time.
Posted by: RSM at July 24, 2006 09:03 AM... another week?!?!.. that is just insane... good Lord..
Posted by: Eric at July 24, 2006 09:46 AMThe power going out in the winter just scares me, it's the heat thing and all that.
Luckily (or unluckily) I have family that lives close enough that we could bunk with them for awhile.
Posted by: Quality Weenie at July 24, 2006 11:17 AM*sigh* I tried to leave a comment yesterday and it got eaten by munu... oh well. St. Louis is going through the same thing - except it's because of a wide spread storm. They figure they might have everyone's power on in about a week from now - most people have been out since last Wednesday. Then again the difference is that the area covered a radius of about 50 miles around the city. It's not the same thing they're having to mess with at your end.
Being in the burbs we have a generator. It can run a few things in the event we are left without electricity, although we have to have this house rigged correctly by an electrician because it's not really good to go at the moment. Right now it would be a kluge, but would allow us to have running water.
Tomorrow - after I've started recovering from my trip - I'm going to look into your links on solar panel stuff. It sounds so cool. (so to speak) I keep hoping that your power will come back sooner than they estimate - although it sounds pretty much like that's a pipe dream right now.
Posted by: Teresa at July 24, 2006 11:28 PMI'm going to look into the solar panel charger. My only problem is when we don't have power down here, we have nothing, no cable, phone, water, nothing. No cable means no internet for me. that sucks. But at least I'd still be able to write and my kids could watch DVDs...
Posted by: Bou at July 26, 2006 07:37 AMGeeze, you post this while I'm at mom's house. Wow. some cool stuff... and please let me know ifyou do run across that solar panel air conditioner.
Posted by: vw bug at August 1, 2006 07:11 PM