POL How Long Can U Last Without Electricity??

[Terriannie]

After Katrina we went without electricity for 2 weeks and it was hard but we dealt with it. Our forefathers went without ALL the time and we will adjust too. (Except for those who need electricity to keep medical equipment going and for those I worry.)

 

[Kathy in WV]

lol... had to pick the last option.
But seriously, of course it's doable. The majority of the worlds population does it every day of necessity. You will too if its your only option. My Grandma had electric etc... but she barely used it. She got up with the sun and if it got dark at 6 she went to bed. Her water came gravity fed from the pond and she boiled/filtered it. She canned her whole garden. She sewed quilts and crocheted rag rugs. She died at 97 and could have worked circles round me! Summerthyme pegged it... the part about going Amish... may not enjoy it but you can do it.

 

[skeptic]

One month. I live 50 miles from a nuclear plant, and after one month the diesel generators that power the emergency core cooling pumps have run out of fuel and the core is melting down.

A frequently forgotten consequence of "grid down" for any reason.

 

[Quark]

WOW!!! Thanks for participating in my first poll......

Also gratifying to see so many old timers, like me...hehheh... speaking up.....

Well I am an old timer, been around since 1998, but lurked for 4 years.....

I still need more canning supplies and a garden and some solar.....

Quark

 

[momof23goats]

if the grid goes down, i could still go on daily most likely forever, got hand pumping water well, got wood cookstove, got wood furnace.
got seeds, but do can everything I can, will make it for a very long time. also got limited power.

 

[Limner]

We've lived for a month without electricity about ten years ago, when a massive snow/ ice storm tore out the electric lines. DD told me awhile back that they didn't really remember it as being that much of a hardship.

I would miss the electric in the summer, for the fridge and freezer.

But we go camping for a week at a time in a tipi and call it a vacation.....

 

[Dafodil]

I agree it depends on the time of year. In the south we would have to deal with the heat/humidity/bugs. When I was growing up we didn't have central air an lived. I guess we could figure out a way to deal with it. I did buy 2 battery powered fans we could use if needed. Food wouldn't be a problem. 2 teens would be an issue, but our neighborhood has a pool I'd just keep them up there as much as possible. We could sleep in the basement or outside if too hot. May want to look into some bug netting.

 

[jed turtle]

lived from '72 to '86 without electricity. (closest neighbor was 3/4 of a mile away, where the snowplow turned around) used a pail to haul water from the old rock-walled well, built a cistern to store rainwater from the roof (for washing), kept the goat's milk in another pail of water lowered into the well to keep it cool, cut my wood with a bucksaw (the first few years anyways, then i got a chainsaw). wood from the woodlot for heat and cooking, water from the well, food from the garden and orchard. pretty straightforward. the pony twitched the poles up to the 14' diameter dome before i cut them up for firewood. sometimes the snowmobilers wouldn't come by for months (remember the oil embargo year?) and if it rained and froze after a big snow, it would be nearly impossible to walk out to the road without snowshoes. so i always tried to keep enough food for at least a month or two on hand. a one-room dome was easy to keep warm with a small sheet-metal stove, even with rather minimal insulation. made my own candles. using them taught me caution, but they were also adequate for a lot of late nite reading.

 

[Mongo]

11. You silly younguns with your new-fangled "electricity!



Seriously, though -
Indefinitely. That's how I prep.

It wouldn't be nearly as convenient and easy as having electricity at my fingertips, but I prep so that I can run my household without it.

Yep.
Considering the span of human existence - electicitiy is new.
Folks living in Arizona might "need" it - without A/C no one wouold live there...
But for most of us - we will do fine.

It's like folks stressing about toilet paper...

 

[Dennis Olson]

As an aside, please don't make your poll PUBLIC. That means that others can see how people voted. Most people here are very jealous of their privacy.

 

[NC Susan]

we did this a few years ago when a hurricane disabled the whole region. Only 2 business were open, Flame broiled Burger King and gas grill Waffle House and they were cash only and limited menu.
not one ATM, cash register, grocer, gas station, or street light for days.

( ...and we are in a city house, totally all electric...... we would be totally dependent on a P-38 (Speaker issue version 1945*) and a shelf full of cans and a swimming pool for water )

http://www.georgia-outfitters.com/page52.shtml#photos

VINTAGE P-38s & P-51s FOR SALE
JUST LIKE YOUR DADDY OR GRANDDADDY HAD - CLICK HERE​

PHOTOS OF P-38s & P-51s THAT WILL GIVE YOU AN IDEA OF THE HISTORY & DEVELOPMENT OF THE ARMY'S GREATEST INVENTION.​

Below are links to a pdf document of the actual patents for the first P-38s from the United States Patent and Trademark Office:​

Samuel Bloomfield, Patent Number 2412946, Can Opener​

John W Speaker, Patent Number 2413528, Pocket Type Can Opener​

John W Speaker, Reissued Patent Number 22934, Pocket Type Can Opener​

ORIGINAL WWII P-38s FROM GOVERNMENT CONTRACTORS BLOOMFIELD's, ANDROCK & J W SPEAKER.
These are the earliest versions of P-38s that I can find and although they look identical to Korean and Vietnam war era and the modern versions of the P-38 there are distinct differences between them. On the WWII versions only the very tip of the can cutting blade is sharpened through a grinding process rather than by stamping which is typical of later P-38s. Another big difference is that on the Bloomfields there are no locking tabs to keep the blade open or closed so the can cutting blade just flops back and forth which must have caused many more cuts and torn pockets than the later versions. The Bloomfields and J W Speaker P-38s have a rib that runs along the entire length of the main body of the P-38 and while the Bloomfields have no manufacturer or year markings, the J W Speaker has "Speaker U.S.A. 43-44" stamped on the inside of the body of the P-38 rather than on the outside like every other P-38 I've ever seen. The Washburn P-38s do have the manufacturer's name (US ANDROCK) imprinted on them but no year marking. The rib on the main body of the Washburn P-38 also runs the entire length of the body but is slightly rounded at the very bottom. All these WWII P-38s are made from a slightly thinner metal and so feel just slightly lighter than the later versions. Other than these differences these WWII P-38s look identical to the modern P-38s and unless you knew what to look for you wouldn't be able to tell them apart. I was very happy to get them so I could add them to the website P-38 collection. Remarkably they were all still in their original paper wrappers.

(Note of 08/02/06 Recently I found a couple of Bloomfield paper wrappers that have Bloomfield Mfg. Co Chicago U.S.A. on them rather than just Bloomfield's Chicago U.S.A. The P-38s inside appear to be identical to the other Bloomfield P-38s but a little more refined in their appearance so may be later production. )​

 

[Double_A]

I can last a long time w/o electricity. It will not be pleasant, it will not be easy. Electricity and water are the two most vital things as without these everything becomes very hard and frankly it is water that is life/death factor.

 

[Chair Warmer]

It's not MY living without electricity that worries me as much as the gas station, grocery store, banks, and businesses (jobs).

And I've lived through a whole winter before without electricity and I didn't like it not one bit, but I did survive it.

 

[colonel holman]

Yeah, huge bottom line here: it is not how would you do without electricity; rather, it is how the world around you will do. The collapse would be enormous if it is grid-wide and total. Your problems would be not your getting by, but them not getting by.

 

[timbo]

I've said it before......................you have about 90 days of utter chaos where you want to be as invisible as you can be. By then at least 2/3 of the population of the country will be dead. Back to the population of the early 1800s. Don't know how we are going to deal with all the bodies though. The dogs will be stuffed for sure.

After that, if you survive, your chances of making it for your regular lifetime goes up exceedingly. We can all live without electricity. Wasn't that long ago that microwave ovens were luxury or even non existent. So asked an African or Indian or Pakistani how he/she is doing right now.

 

[BertaBurtonLake]

I've said it before......................you have about 90 days of utter chaos where you want to be as invisible as you can be.

Agree 100%.

 

[Doc1]

Easy answer

How long can I last without electricity? Easy answer: The rest of my life!

Best regards
Doc

 

[blueridge]

As always - It's the WATER that's the main issue for many/most - at least for those tied to the public water system which is RUN BY ELECTRICITY.

 

[Dobbin]

We did about 5 days in the December 09 ice storm. Owner had his generator, but used it only a few hours each day to keep the freezers and refrigerator frozen.

He recharged his LED Lantern which was "my light" at night. As it was December, it got dark EARLY like about 4:30 p.m. And got light in the morning LATE, like about 7 a.m. My peace of mind was ENTIRELY reliant on that light - I can do dark with Owner near me, but I'd rather the light. (No offense intended if you see this, Owner.)

He refilled that generator twice a day, although it didn't take him too long. More a "topping off" if you ask me. Although after three days and two 5 gallon cans, it was time for him to go out and get the cans refilled.

I don't see him "making it" for any length of time without access to a gas station.

I think he bought some Solar Panels - some discussion here earlier when he purchased.

Dobbin

 

[peekaboo]

We did about 5 days in the December 09 ice storm. Owner had his generator, but used it only a few hours each day to keep the freezers and refrigerator frozen.
Dobbin

I've read this before from other people and from people who didn't have a genny lost everything in their freezer and frig in the winter storms.

My first thought has always been if its that cold outside why didnt they just put the food outside to stay cold????

 

[BertaBurtonLake]

I've read this before from other people and from people who didn't have a genny lost everything in their freezer and frig in the winter storms.

My first thought has always been if its that cold outside why didnt they just put the food outside to stay cold????

Common sense is not that common anymore. People will die for lack of knowledge, to 'coin a phrase'.

 

[Chair Warmer]

I've read this before from other people and from people who didn't have a genny lost everything in their freezer and frig in the winter storms.

My first thought has always been if its that cold outside why didnt they just put the food outside to stay cold????

When I lived through a winter without electricity, I tried to store food in a back room that didn't have any heat. Many winter days got warm enough to spoil the food quickly. And over night the food would freeze. Winter temperatures fluctuate far too much to depend on using the winter cold for food storage.

As Joe pointed out, I also could not have survived the winter without access to a gas station and a grocery store.

We had to haul water in the car from miles away, buy propane for the camp stove, and make several trips to the grocery store during the week because I couldn't store food very long, if at all.

For perishable foods like meat, we'd have to cook and eat as soon as we arrived back home with it.

.

 

[bad_karma00]

11. You silly younguns with your new-fangled "electricity!



Seriously, though -
Indefinitely. That's how I prep.

It wouldn't be nearly as convenient and easy as having electricity at my fingertips, but I prep so that I can run my household without it.

Ditto. It's nice to have, but we're equipped to do without it. Won't LIKE it, mind, but we'll survive.

 

[BertaBurtonLake]

When I lived through a winter without electricity, I tried to store food in a back room that didn't have any heat. Many winter days got warm enough to spoil the food quickly. And over night the food would freeze. Winter temperatures fluctuate far too much to depend on using the winter cold for food storage.

As Joe pointed out, I also could not have survived the winter without access to a gas station and a grocery store.

We had to haul water in the car from miles away, buy propane for the camp stove, and make several trips to the grocery store during the week because I couldn't store food very long, if at all.

For perishable foods like meat, we'd have to cook and eat as soon as we arrived back home with it.

.

Jiminy Crickets! I hope this has changed for you.

 

[Beth]

I answered 'indefinitely,' which is true from a personal standpoint, but I doubt I'd last long without my meds, maybe a year or so without Divine intervention. (I have a year's supply and can't get more.)

We have plenty of water, shelter, food, and other needed preps, but meds are my weak area, I'm sorry to say. DH doesn't have my physical challenges so he could continue indefinitely - God Willing.

It is what it is.

 

[Chair Warmer]

Jiminy Crickets! I hope this has changed for you.

Yeah, it's changed. It was the first year I was married to the ex. I learned a lot from that experience!

 

[Rastech]

If you have snow and ice outside, you can build an ice house to buy time for frozen food (layers of big blocks of compressed snow and ice around it).

If it is long term, then build an underground ice house, and fill it with compressed snow/ice blocks in the depths of winter - if it is a particularly cold night, open the door and let the cold in, otherwise seal it up.

How do you think they had Summer icecream in Elizabethan Britain?

There would be a big market for ice for pre-refrigerator uses too (it used to be a pretty big industry).

I didn't mind living without electricity, which I did for a while. One of the most important uses I got set up for, was to be able to run an electric blanket, to ensure bedding was always warm and aired. In a permanent situation, that would get designed around anyway (for example when there were big inglenook fireplaces, before electricity, beds used to be in a 'cupboard' bed by the fire, with a seat built into one side close to the fire, and a door in the back of the seat to be able to get into the bed, also there were warming pans too, as well as hot water bottles made from fired clay).

I'm going to get set up with a small solar PV arrangement, combined with a small wind generator I am designing (something quite new), which will be handy for LED lighting, charging the Netbooks and laptops, radio batteries, etc., and maybe expand it to enough power to run the fridge freezer and occasionally the water tank immersion heater (though I'm thinking of a water heater or pre-heater to function as the dump load for excess power).

I don't actually care if the wind and solar setup doesn't function for that long, as I see it as just a handy temporary 'comfort zone' feature to allow other people to relax watching a film or listening to music, until 'home made' music and other forms of entertainment start to be reinstated. Depending upon events, things would soon gravitate towards what is doable and sensible, and fun, and a sense of humour, will, as always, remain important.

Water is key, and fortunately where I live has never had a shortage of good clean spring water, mostly available in easy carrying distance, but I do have a borehole, and I may rig up a wind pump for it at some point. No panic though.

 

[Chair Warmer]

If you have snow and ice outside, you can build an ice house to buy time for frozen food (layers of big blocks of compressed snow and ice around it).

If it is long term, then build an underground ice house, and fill it with compressed snow/ice blocks in the depths of winter - if it is a particularly cold night, open the door and let the cold in, otherwise seal it up.

How do you think they had Summer icecream in Elizabethan Britain?

There would be a big market for ice for pre-refrigerator uses too (it used to be a pretty big industry).

+1,000

This is the best way to store food in a more constant cold temperature.
Ice in an insulated cooler will keep food from spoiling for up to several days, even in the summertime.

 

[American Rage]

City lot. Have fireplace, hope to get a chainsaw this summer, plus fireplace tools. My real weakness is water, I haven't decided yet if I want to get some 240 gallon containers or sink a small cistern into my backyard. Also, a composting toilet might not be a bad idea. Of course that would mean me rebuilding the outdoor shed that I was going to tear down. Food is cheap and easy, light is anther matter.

I'm lucky in the fact that I live in one of the most conservative States in the Union, not one county voted for Obama, and I also in a very conservative city within that State. Finally, our State economy is mostly based on agriculture, oil and gas, independent businessmen and women, and finally do-it-yourselfers. The bad news is that in any major nuclear confrontation, I'd be ash in a flash and not even a fallout shelter would likely help me.

 

[Quark]

Hi Peeky:

You must not remember the big Kentucky Ice storm... Someone here or on another site had their neighbor hood (whole county) power down for weeks.... So they tried putting their food on the porch ) was still freezing out, when a rouge pack of skunks came at night and ate a bunch of their food (chewed threw coolers or boxes)... When the skunks were full the proceeded to spray all of the food that was left over with skunk juice!!!!!!!!!!

Major appetite turn off.....

Quark

I've read this before from other people and from people who didn't have a genny lost everything in their freezer and frig in the winter storms.

My first thought has always been if its that cold outside why didnt they just put the food outside to stay cold????

 

[Quark]

Ouch on the Nuke scenario, any chance you are next to Majic roket plant or Heel /afb??

Quark

City lot. Have fireplace, hope to get a chainsaw this summer, plus fireplace tools. My real weakness is water, I haven't decided yet if I want to get some 240 gallon containers or sink a small cistern into my backyard. Also, a composting toilet might not be a bad idea. Of course that would mean me rebuilding the outdoor shed that I was going to tear down. Food is cheap and easy, light is anther matter.

I'm lucky in the fact that I live in one of the most conservative States in the Union, not one county voted for Obama, and I also in a very conservative city within that State. Finally, our State economy is mostly based on agriculture, oil and gas, independent businessmen and women, and finally do-it-yourselfers. The bad news is that in any major nuclear confrontation, I'd be ash in a flash and not even a fallout shelter would likely help me.

 

[Quark]

Hey CW:

Time for some tactical precooked canned bacon!!!

Quark

When I lived through a winter without electricity, I tried to store food in a back room that didn't have any heat. Many winter days got warm enough to spoil the food quickly. And over night the food would freeze. Winter temperatures fluctuate far too much to depend on using the winter cold for food storage.

As Joe pointed out, I also could not have survived the winter without access to a gas station and a grocery store.

We had to haul water in the car from miles away, buy propane for the camp stove, and make several trips to the grocery store during the week because I couldn't store food very long, if at all.

For perishable foods like meat, we'd have to cook and eat as soon as we arrived back home with it.

.

 

[Quark]

HAhahahaha Doc ya kill me.... Where have you been hanging out? Mis you at Cory's place...

To the last bullet eh???? Be sure to save one for your self my friend.....

Quark

How long can I last without electricity? Easy answer: The rest of my life!

Best regards
Doc

 

[American Rage]

Ouch on the Nuke scenario, any chance you are next to Majic roket plant or Heel /afb??

Quark

Nope, different base.

 

[Quark]

Hey Joe:

I have seen drawings of horse/ people contraptions that you get into and drive a big wheel, like for a old water driven grain mill, and your owner could hook it up to a small genny. Then you could have continuous light!!!!

Question is can you walk while you sleep???

Quark

We did about 5 days in the December 09 ice storm. Owner had his generator, but used it only a few hours each day to keep the freezers and refrigerator frozen.

He recharged his LED Lantern which was "my light" at night. As it was December, it got dark EARLY like about 4:30 p.m. And got light in the morning LATE, like about 7 a.m. My peace of mind was ENTIRELY reliant on that light - I can do dark with Owner near me, but I'd rather the light. (No offense intended if you see this, Owner.)

He refilled that generator twice a day, although it didn't take him too long. More a "topping off" if you ask me. Although after three days and two 5 gallon cans, it was time for him to go out and get the cans refilled.

I don't see him "making it" for any length of time without access to a gas station.

I think he bought some Solar Panels - some discussion here earlier when he purchased.

Dobbin

 

[Dobbin]

Question is can you walk while you sleep???

Well, in a way, yes. Equine can sleep while standing, but don't have REM (Rapid Eye Movement) during this "sleep." Based on human observation, researchers have concluded that horses don't "dream" during this type of sleep. I think I can verify that, although it would be a difficult thing to prove without going into the same testing that they used to establish the connection in human subjects.

Two or three nights a week I feel the need to sleep laying down, usually when the "external conditions" seem right, i.e. quiet night, no wind or noise from the nearby woods, Owner not necessarily looking for an early start the next morning. (Which if I know about it can put me on edge.) And my light "on" of course. Hence my interest on my page about "sleeping laying down" which is a goal, but one not always achieved. Laying down is my most satisfying and restful sleep and I think I can say I dream. I once kicked out a board of the stall during one of these - I don't remember the dream or perceived threat now but I understand the reaction. Owner was not pleased.

In the 19th Century, "horse sweeps" were widely used as a power source before the advent of the internal combustion engine. A circular frame, it was pulled around by as many as 8 equine or more, although there were two, four, and 6 horse versions also. Here's a pix.

I honestly don't know if I would be able to nod off while in the pull. A sweep might be difficult because the power shaft comes out radially from the center gears and I have to step over the shaft at each turn. This might require continued attention. You can see the shaft passing off to the left in the pix above.

The other aspect, which is not usually covered is that equine while nominally rated at 1 horsepower, in reality and for any length of time cannot provide that much. A parallel for humanity. Humans while on an exercise bicycle can provide up to 2.3 horsepower for short duration, although the longer the duration, the less available. Most average humans while riding a bike can provide a mere 1/10th horsepower for any length of time. Google Gossamer Albatross (first human powered flight) to see more on human horsepower capability

Makers of horse sweeps took this time/horsepower allowance into consideration when rating their sweeps. An 8 horse sweep might provide 4 horsepower continuously and not tire unhealthily.

Sometimes when pulling the hay ride wagon if we're off the road I can "drift" a bit, but Owner is always there pulling left or right on the reins. And I am at ease with him at the driver's seat. We are a team. (although he would not admit it.)

Hope this answers any questions. You please me by asking. Equine are certainly a "lost technology."

Dobbin

 

[Quark]

Reply to Joe on Horse sleep

Hi Joe:
I know I can always rely on you for a thorough response to my questions, just like Mr Ed...

You are most welcome for the interaction time....

I feel I could be closer to an equine than humine in my thinking.....

I am lucky, I get to dream, some times they are quite pleasant, others nots so good.

Major windstorm here, tarps blowing everywhere. Just my luck the power will go out... knock on wood...

Quark

 

[fi103r]

+ another one with Straycat

new fangled lectricity perzactly

 

[Cag3db1rd]

I'm lucky in the fact that I live in one of the most conservative States in the Union, not one county voted for Obama, and I also in a very conservative city within that State. Finally, our State economy is mostly based on agriculture, oil and gas, independent businessmen and women, and finally do-it-yourselfers. The bad news is that in any major nuclear confrontation, I'd be ash in a flash and not even a fallout shelter would likely help me.

that sounds exactly like my state.

Well, electricity is only a convenience here. It powers my husband's tv and ps3, and small electric appliances that we are fully prepared to do without if necessary. I have a Powersource 1800 to run fans and led lights. I have a wood stove that will be easy to install in my kitchen. We're working on water storage right now. I'm pretty adept at washboarding. I'm also prepared to can a whole lot of food on top of food I've been canning. I'm happy to say that if the internet is still in existance, I can still run it some each day. I have a netbook. it is easily powered by my solar genny. I've been downloading videos and saving any kind of information that I think I might need. We also have board games, puzzles, and books. I already homeschool, so that's not an issue. We have bikes to get around with, plus a garden wagon for hauling stuff.

Not long after I got married, my husband and I got an old house... the one before this one. Our first summer there, from early may until late august, we only had water service. No electric, no gas. It was eye-opening what it takes to keep going. I was grateful for the cold water, let me tell ya. I would drink lots of water, spray my face with a mist then fan it with a small cloth fan I got at the asian market, and keep my feet in my daughter's kiddie pool. I showered in the afternoon, when the water was warmed by the heat in the house, but cool enough to feel good. I kept pheli in that kiddie pool as much as i could. I have to say, NEVER UNDERESTIMATE THE VALUE OF WATER. Even if it's not drinking water.

 

[Jubilation T. Cornpone]

All of my ancestors that I've been able to trace pre-nineteenth
century were from Baltimore.
They had no electricity, and survived, or I wouldn't be here.
I'm sure it was a life of much labor and drudgery but,
we do what we have to do to survive. or not.