Are you all prepping for power cuts?

[User112]

BBC reported the other day about possible power cuts this winter due to gas shortage. Other than having a few torch light and candles, are you all prepping with anything else?

I was actually looking for reflective badges for my bag this weekend. I could find nothing in the shops. I remember everyone being given reflective armbands at school.

@RosettaTheGardenFairy
a reflective sign would be best i think

Here is a(n exceptional!) drawing of the layout - vehicles travelling in the direction of the arrows need to turn to follow the A route but without street lighting, those unfamiliar with the area wouldn't know that.

Thankfully it's a very small, quiet road and nobody really drives along B, but A is a concern for me if there's a blackout.

Rosetta what edges your boundaries - fence, hedge or ?

A is a pavement then our garden, the driveway is paved but completely open round that bend (and not possible to close off), B is sort of like a track, but I'm not worried about B.

can you contact council @RosettaTheGardenFairy to make the roads more obvious?

I worry that so many people are going to use candles, they ate so dangerous!

I bought a couple of lantern type torches. They are pretty bright. We have a gas cooker so will be able to warm up food and hopefully boil a kettle. But if the cuts are only for three hours, I think we will be fine.

@MrsLargeEmbodied - that's actually what I thought, but my husband said that was a bit dramatic. Then again, he thinks it's dramatic to have a few extra tins of soup in the house, let alone the 4 months worth of food I've got 🙄hence I chat to you lovely like-minded folk 😁

Think I'll recce round and see if anyone else has a similar set-up with better council signs/bollards etc.

Will also see about outdoor battery powered lighting I think.

candles are very safe if used on non-flammable surface and not near flamnable materials.

we use them inside lanterns. that diffuses the light better and it's safer/contained.

rechargable led is great as well, but you need something to recharge it with.

@bellinisurge thank you 😊
I have a gas hob but had read that if electric goes it’s possible there wouldn’t be gas supplied either, I’m not sure what the reasoning was behind this. I’ve got a very old metal gazebo I could use it under outside if required. Does anyone else know what I mean about gas supply being interrupted with power cut ?

never ever use a camping stove inside.

My husband has a box of tricks that means we can utilise car batteries. We’ve had our chimneys swept and have ordered logs and coal. Greta can kiss my arse this winter

Cycling shop ? We were given some bands that wrapped round anything when my daughter was doing cycling proficiency at school, not sure if that explains what they are properly!

I’m not sure why a propane camping stove used inside would be any more dangerous than a massive six ring propane range.

Can anyone explain?

Does anyone else know what I mean about gas supply being interrupted with power cut ?

Based on my experience of hundreds of unplanned power cuts, it isn’t interrupted.

Gas hobs and boilers often need electricity to light up. Boilers need power to run. Gas hobs can usually still be lit with a match. At least, ours can.

I bought reflective tassels for my bags a few years ago from this online Swedish shop -

www.shop-firefly.com/

Thank you , yes our gas hob electric ignition is broken anyway so always use match or lighter

Why not? I’m not arguing, but risk assessing. There is a camping stove built into my campervan which is plainly meant to be be used indoors. What’s the difference in that one? They seem identical to me.

Everyone should risk assess what they are comfortable with, but they should have the right information. There are people here saying candles are dangerous. Candles? I mean, I reckon our modern MC village keeps Yankee Candles in business! Sure, don’t wander around with them, put them on the floor or balance them in precarious positions around toddlers, but a little basic sense is adequate. I read a list of ‘dangers’ about a heater on here recently, which included that ‘it may get hot’. Be a pretty shoddy heater if it didn’t, frankly!

So, I’m with your husband. I have driven down unlit dark, wiggly country lanes my whole life, and have never once even almost driven into somebody’s car or their driveway by accident. Cars have lights on!

They also have idiots in, and you never know. If you are more comfortable with having solar lights outside, why not, even if it only makes you feel better? They aren’t a too much of pain to install or too expensive. Personally, I’d just leave the car lights on, I think. Assuming its fairly new, and the lights are LED, they probably aren’t going flatten battery in a few hours. Do a dry run and don’t forget them though!

There is a camping stove built into my campervan which is plainly meant to be be used indoors. What’s the difference in that one? They seem identical to me.

I suppose that if an lpg stove is installed permanently, there is a better chance that the risks have been properly assessed and addressed by building regs etc. We have an LPG stove in the house and in our folding camper but both have CO alarms fitted.

Oh Jaysus @Eeksteek you ARE my husband!

When we were discussing it last night his response was: Do you really reckon folk are going to be speeding along a 20kmph road at 50kmph in a total blackout with no headlights on?! 😂

My worry stems from us being a back route for drunk drivers when the police set up a breathalyser cordon on the main road through the village. You can always tell when they're out as our road suddenly has cars at 22:00 which is otherwise rare.

I think battery powered lights to illuminate the house will be the way to go, at least I'll feel my social responsibility will be complete.

@RosettaTheGardenFairy I live rurally, and near us is a house on a sharp bend in the unlit road.

They have a couple of red reflective strips on their gates, and a hazard warning triangle reflective thing further into their drive- as you drive towards their gates all 3 'light up' very effectively - helping to remind everyone to go round the corner.

camping stoves - I think the main concern is the connection. the clip on type I would not use inside. at a push the ones with a clip&screw pipe (like the ones you have for a home appliance) are ok.

ventilation & co2 monitor are vital if you have any open flames in the house.

caravans often keep the gas tank outside to avoid leaking.

oh those look lovely! I'll have to see if they are still shipping to the UK.

I have those for cycling, but good idea to see if they have any for bags.