[MY340i]

Likely that there will be blackouts in the UK this winter in the evenings.

What to purchase?

-battery powered radio
-candles
-torches
-portable stove?

[moonshine]

Originally Posted by MY340i

Likely that there will be blackouts in the UK this winter in the evenings.

What to purchase?

-battery powered radio
-candles
-torches
-portable stove?

I'll move into my van when the lights go out its sitting in the driveway.
lithium batteries, Solar, gas stove, central heating and hot water, LED lights throughout, Wi-Fi, tv

[Tengocity]

I'd been thinking about this, but more from giving a back up in case of weather related power cuts, as being rural the risk of a sustained one is larger.
I've gone for a double camping stove so we can still cook, candles, had head torches already. Wood burner gets installed later this week, so we can heat parts of the house at least.
I thought about a small diesel generator, but decided against it. I've got a car jump starter which has USB sockets, so we can charge devices from that.
Longer term we will fit Solar panels and battery, and that will be quite helpful hopefully.

[robbiep]

Solar panel array and 8kW/h battery.

Oh wait, we got them installed last February.
I seem to recall being mocked by quite a few on here at the time !

[sahajesh]

Is it likely though? It's a warning and may only apply in certain areas.

[Consett Mag]

Originally Posted by robbiep

Solar panel array and 8kW/h battery.

Oh wait, we got them installed last February.
I seem to recall being mocked by quite a few on here at the time !

Looks a pretty good choice now! I've had a 4kw solar rig for 11 years and it works well. We can't store the power though, so it's not quite the complete safeguard.
Scary times.

[SimonBMW1]

support more sanctions on russia ppl.
All its done is push the west bills up, cause energy rationing etc.
Best thing to do is get an invertor/backup supply. Ive seen them in other countries.

The Uk and Europe is well and truly f*****
Russia are not struggling due to sanctions. We are

[JR1664]

Originally Posted by MY340i

Likely that there will be blackouts in the UK this winter in the evenings.

What to purchase?

-battery powered radio
-candles
-torches
-portable stove?

The National grid said its unlikely. Where did you get likely from ?

You also forecast a nuke dropping on Ukraine in the next 4 weeks. It must be a bundle of laughs in your house.

[Watsey]

If blackouts become a reality I'll just use our camping equipment - twin burner job and gas bottle, portable power pack (very handy for powering the broadband router), battery lamps, head torches, etc.

I think it's unlikely but we'd get by if needs be.

[KRS_SN]

Hour long blackouts were common when i grew up.. the family would sit together and just have to chat. If no family neighbours would come out and huddle for a chat.
I understand its different if its cold but on the plus side then there aren't god awful mosquitoes.

[TimMcC]

Originally Posted by Consett Mag

Looks a pretty good choice now! I've had a 4kw solar rig for 11 years and it works well. We can't store the power though, so it's not quite the complete safeguard.
Scary times.

Both solar and battery will be unusable in a blackout unless you have the right equipment to physically disconnect from the grid in that scenario.

[Zippeh]

3.6kwh array and a 9.2kw battery - I also have a socket in the garage meaning i can draw from the battery in a powercut. Not the full switch over (which i might look into) - but enough for me to keep router going and lights etc.

Also had a wood burner downstairs fitted this year.

[335dX]

What are you all talking about?

Do you really think if this becomes reality they would switch off at teatime? Christ on a bike.

It would be over night or early hours…

I do worry about you lot sometimes.

[Tengocity]

Originally Posted by 335dX

What are you all talking about?

Do you really think if this becomes reality they would switch off at teatime? Christ on a bike.

It would be over night or early hours…

I do worry about you lot sometimes.

Why would it get switched off over night? The whole point of a blackout will be to conserve gas usage surely, in which case why do it when no one is using it anyway? I'm not saying it would get done a dinner time, but it's going to have to get done at a time when it's actually going to achieve something.

[Tengocity]

Originally Posted by sahajesh

Is it likely though? It's a warning and may only apply in certain areas.

I don't think it's likely, but I'd still rather know my plan if it does come around. Most of the stuff I need anyway for camping, but none of its expensive. If it does come around then you can be sure it'll sell out in days!

[sahajesh]

Originally Posted by Tengocity

I don't think it's likely, but I'd still rather know my plan if it does come around. Most of the stuff I need anyway for camping, but none of its expensive. If it does come around then you can be sure it'll sell out in days!

For you it makes sense to think about this, given your location.

For the majority of the others though, it will just result in more panic-buying nonsense. No doubt bog roll will sell out again

[Tengocity]

Originally Posted by sahajesh

For you it makes sense to think about this, given your location.

For the majority of the others though, it will just result in more panic-buying nonsense. No doubt bog roll will sell out again

Certainly more likely from weather related events! I'd hope with all the hydro power up here it's less likely from energy saving issues, but that's probably naive and wishful thinking.

[GOF_430d]

From what I read in the media, if there is a very cold snap in Europe in January & February [we import gas from Europe due to limited storage in the UK] then the gas supply may have to be restricted between 4 & 7pm to favour electricity generation and industry.

This is a worst case scenario.

I vaguely remember the blackouts in the 60s or 70's [I know they happened just can't remember when].

[MY340i]

are usb powered blankets any good?

[MashinBenzin]

Tesla for warmth and Netflix/YouTube.

[F30Andy]

Shedding as they call it is a huge problem for some of my friends and relatives in another part of the world.

They have mastered using power generators which kick in as soon as the grid shuts off (which at the moment it is doing around three times a day for up to two to three hours at a time.)

Will certainly be speaking to them for advice.

[GOF_430d]

If the worst case scenario comes to fruition then I'll fire up the BBQ get the ozone depleter [aka the patio heater] out of the summer house [its more like a shed tbh] and sit in the garden with all the camping gear we've bought but rarely use whilst dangling my feet in the tepid water of the hot tub and drink beer & cider - sounds like most of the holidays we've been on recently.

Only drawback is that I'll have to talk to the wife - must remember to keep my headphones charged.