A transformer blew up half an hour ago, knocking the power out to our neighborhood. DD1 is currently doing math problems by the light of a 12vdc LED array plugged into an old 450 amp "Power On Board" portable car battery jumpstarter and I'm using my wireless notepad to connect to the internet through our wireless router and DSL modem powered by a Xantrex "Powerpack 400Plus" which is kept charged by a 30-watt solar panel.

-Blast

NICE! Gotta love being prepared. Unless maybe you're 8 and not getting out of homework. :-)

Yep, DSL for the win. I have a stopwatch running to see how long I can power the modem and router. DD1 finished her homework and is in bed so if need be I can use that powerpack along with the 12vdc plug for my netbook to go well in to the night...or me and DW could go to bed early.

-Blast

My high speed cable stays on during power outages, as long as my in-house components are powered.

Boom chicka wow wow! Blast for the win!

Well, Blast, my preps for power failures are much simpler .
There is only one option on the menu : go to bed early ...

And it is my favorite option, LOL.

I play piano or read during power outages. I have plenty of LED lights to illuminate those activities if it's too dark to see. Also, sitting in the dark and listening to long-forgotten favorite songs on an MP3 player is fun.

Generally, my response is: all is as it should be. Nothing to see here. Move on.

My interweb is fixed wireless, so I doubt I would have service for more than a day. The landline phone would keep going, though, along with basic internal power (based on solar in the short term and a small genny thereafter. I'd have a crude dial-up account running by that point, to feed my addiction. Then there's the wood stove, the library, and the old six-string for heat, light, and entertainment. Mostly a nuisance, unless it was -38C outside.

For Blast, though, I would provide a caution (an old proverb I believe), which runs something like of "going to bed early to save candles isn't economical if twins are the result."

nice to read that someone out there is really prepared.

After 2 hours and 10 minutes I still had 60% of the charge left in the Xantrex. DD1 finished her math worksheet after 30 minutes, but I didn't check the power left in that battery.

Anyone know of a 12vdc wireless router? Google didn't turn up anything but I wasn't looking too hard. The energy lost from converting back and forth between AC and DC annoys me.

It's a cloudy day today so it'll be a good test to see how well my solar panel can recharge the 400 amp battery. My panel is flat against a south-facing, 2nd floor winder so it isn't optimized for sun exposure. Results will be posted this evening...unless me and DW go to bed early again.

-Blast