10 Really Useful devices for Bugging in during a blackout
Once you’ve read the Super Cheap Items for a blackout, its time to move on and look at the next level of preparedness.
There are a number of gadgets and devices, both basic tools as well as some really good tech that will make your life much easier
So heres the list.
1. Lifestraw/water filter
2. Pen knife/pocket knofe
3. USB Power Banks
4. Mobile Phones
5. Portable Power Station
6. Can Opener
7. Mobile Phone
8. Portable Camp Stove
9. Small Space Heater
10. USB Blender
The Different Prep packs
1. The Super Cheap Prep pack
2. The advanced Hygiene Pack
3. The Food pack
4. The Gadget Pack
5. The Entertainement Pack
6. The Long Term Survival Pack
Multitool or Army Knife
This is not a boy toy or a tomboy toy. Every adult in the first world and the developing world should have one. However I emntion this becasue I know so many people that just do not have one and therefore it is top of the list.
These tools can save lives. From scissors. to small saws to needle threaders The use of the knife blades and the can openers are obvious.
The more complex the tool you buy, the more options you will have. I have use tools with screwdrivers and rope cutters when Ive had a broken down car in the middle of nowhere.
This tool is not an if, its a must.
“We are not preparing for the world we live in – we are preparing for the world we find ourselves in.” – Michael Mabee
Once you got a solar panel on a roof, energy is free. Once we convert our entire electricity grid to green and renewable energy, cost of living goes down.
– Elizabeth May
Portable Power Station
The days of Solar Power and portable electricity costing a second mortgage are long gone. While these items remain expensive, they are now less than the cost of a cheap used car
Portable Power Staions in the Uk start at anything from £80 and the lowest energy items are around the £80 to £150 range. However I recently find quite an awesome 600Wh station for under £300,which is about half of the cost of the branded items.
The really good thing abiout these items is that they can be charged from a residentiual socket in preparedness for blackouts, with solar panels or even from a vehicles 12v point.
If you get one to get through difficult winter nights and still use your car for work during the day, then its possible to recharge while travelling. They dont take that long to charge either, some in less than two hours, so if you have a sympathetic boss, perhaos theyll let you charge while at work.
Are you a bit more of the survivalist prepper type? Then consider a solar panel. Remember modern solar panels work on light rather than heat, so even if its winter and there is daylight, you will be able to get some charge.
In families where there are elderly, disabled or very young members, this is truly an investment in wellbeing. From being able to do some really basic things like keep some lights on, keep a refrigerator running for medicines or use medical equipment at night, these are the way to go.
USB Blender
Great for smoothies, and a little luxury in all the prepping, but if you have a baby and need to blend food, or need to mix something really quickly one of these are great.
I bought mine from Aldi, but you can find one on Amazon too.
Portable Solar Power Bank
These are the gadgets that got me going. I have one that I keep on the dashboard of my van. It pwers up from sunlight during the day and its available when I need a power top up for my phone or other USB device. It costs nothing to charge them and they can be recharged either from sunlight or through mainstream electric charging. Click on THIS LINK to see what suits your pocket.
Mobile Phones
If You dont have a mobile phone, chances are that you wouldnt be reading this anyway. To survive the difficult winter and any disaster situation a mobile phone is much more than a communication device.
They are really useful as storage devices for information. What about all those “how to” books and videos that you need for an energency situation. – Store them on your phone.
Provided there are still satellites, many modern Cellphones can still navigate using satellite technology. Your phone is invaluable and the smarter the better.
If youre reading this becasue youre a war prepper, checkout how to preserve your phone by making a faraday cage for it.
Can Opener
I know. You already have a multitool or a pocket knife, but there are so many reasons to ahve a very basic army supply can opener.
Firstly not everyone in your group can use a pocket knife at the same time. if someone is left handed, get them a basic left handed can opener, just makes life so much easier.
Things go missing get lost, especially if you have to leave a place quickly. Just do it, get a few of these, they cost like £1.50 each.
Water Filtration
There are several ways to clean the available water, when you suddenly find that your usual water resource is unavailable. Its not a huge leap to understand that without power, Water pumps cannot keep the elixir of life flowing.
Even in an extended energy blackout, access to water can become an issue and the bigger the city, the more dangerous things get when people need water.
There are two fundamental approaches to water. Once youve gathered it (More about that in another blog), you will need to ensure that it is drinkable.
One appraoch is purification. That involves adding a few drops of bleach to the water to kill all the invisible pond life in it and the second multilevel filtration. I’ll also show you how to make a filter of your own and how to purify in another blog, but this one is about gadgets.
So for around £20 you can get a really affordable piece of water filtration kit that may well save your life and that of your family. Depending on the size of your family I would recommend getting more than one kit.
If you really want to push the boat out and get a few extra bits in case of contingency, then consider some water purification tablets. However you will want some bleach as part of a home survival kit and you should be fine with that, for a start anyway.
If youre on your own or anticipate that youll be moving on foot, to travel during a crisis, then a LIFESTRAW is the item to acquire. COnsidered the holy grail of Prep survival, you cant go wrong.
USB Hand Warmer
A Usb Hand warmer acts as both a power bank and a handwarmer depending on which mode you switch on.
Of course you can use it to warm any part of your body, but the name of the gadget speaks for itself, and suffice to say its really great.
I was forst given one of these as a gift, and have since added to the collection. I have found that the handwarmer warms up hands fabulously AND still provides a significant charge to my phone.
Mobile Camping Stove
The reason this device makes all the difference is that you wont find yourself having to barbeque outside using a home nade rocket stove.
In an energy crisis/lockdown situation you will have centred the family into a single room to maintain warmth anyway, so cooking in the kitchen where it may be colder, will still be dry. Depending on your circumstances and your budget will depend on whether you choose a single or double burner stove.
Dont forget though that the more burners you have, the more fuel you use.
Shop around, I managed to get one that was on end of season sale for £9.99, they start around £15.99 on Amazon.
Small Space Heaters
So you have a portable power Station OR youre trying to save on heating anyway?
Apart from generating warmth from making small spaces even smaller, and using renewable sources to create heat, you will be left with what oprions remain in terms of technology..
Small plug in space heaters make a huge difference, especially if youre alone in the box room of a house or if there are several in a room and you just need to take the edge off. These gadgets have taken the shelves by storm and are extremely power becasue they allegedly cost a lot less to heat a room than conventional heating methods.
Try one out by buying one here.
Can Opener
I know. You already have a multitool or a pocket knife, but there are so many reasons to ahve a very basic army supply can opener.
Firstly not everyone in your group can use a pocket knife at the same time. if someone is left handed, get them a basic left handed can opener, just makes life so much easier.
Things go missing get lost, especially if you have to leave a place quickly. Just do it, get a few of these, they cost like £1.50 each.
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