Make sure to learn how to use it before you need it. I'll be glad to help you find instruction in your area if you want; PM me your zip code if you do.



I like the way you think.

I like to keep a coupla big igloo coolers handy - darn useful. Right up there with some buckets and tarps.

UPS= uninteruptible power supply.

A self contained unit consisting of batteries, battery charger, inverter, and automatic changeover circuitry.

Commonly used between the wall socket and some important electrical load such as a PC.
In case of power failure it will continue to power the load for perhaps 10 minutes.

By use of smaller loads a longer run time may be obtained.

Very large UPS units need installing by a licensed electrician.
Small ones simply need plugging in.

Some lower end UPS's you can't extend the run time without the circuitry overheating, but larger ones you are generally safe.

We just hang lanterns from the ceiling lights, kids think its fun. When we visit Amish country we notice that all the houses belonging to the Amish look juts like our houses now, the only way to tell them apart is at night the Amish will have an LED lantern hanging in the center of the living room instead of the normal lights we are used to. We basically do the same, just hang one up like that.

Wait, the Amish use LED lanterns?

There are all kinds of Amish and Mennonites. I believe it is the Old Order Amish who shun modern inventions. I'm not sure what the "New Order" ones are really called, but they use cars, power tools and LED lanterns.

All the ones around here seem to be the "New Order" ones. They have a car repair shop, and a shed-building business with power tools, as well as doing natural farming. They also have their own school, and invite outsiders to visit their (church) meetings. They still wear the plain clothes and the women and girls wear those little net caps, longer dresses and dark stockings. All of them seem like very nice people, and their children are composed and well-mannered.

Sue

Here near us they have LED lanterns, LED lights on their buggies, their schools have solar panels that charge a battery sitting under a desk that poweres the copier for making their papers. Their belief is to not be connected to the outside world. They have the technology but have their own means to sustain it (solar/wind/etc) rather than relying on others.