Energy Blackouts more likely!

[Deleted User]

I am also concerned about this, I grew up with regular power cuts but rarely see them nowadays and started to feel a bit underprepared if it happens this winter so I've kitted myself out with some basic backups for this scenario.

I'm not a fan of candles due to fire risk so I won't be using them.

What I do have is:

1. Rechargeable LED torches throughout the house and bedrooms
2. A couple of camping lanterns - rechargeable will last a good few hours
3. USB power banks for recharging small devices like phones
4. Two big camping power banks (160 and 240 Wh) with mains output, Jackery and Beaudens
5. Small generator for extended outages so I can recharge all the above 

I've got gas hob and elec oven so as long as I've got gas or elec I can cook.

For heating and hot water I'm thinking I could re-wire the boiler with a 3 pin plug and run it from the generator or a power pack.

sevenhills

How would power blackouts work, would they be by country, county or local authority area?

MWT

half_empty said:

We had a fire for heating, we don't now, central heating. We have a freezer now, we didn't then (our freezer is good for 24 hours no power). We have computers and other devices that rely on batteries, the most we had then was a clunky lamp on a massive battery. Home internet goes down, not sure how they prioritise street cabinets but they will be off the same supplies as the lighting but with home routers off, no use anyway.
At least I can fire up the bbq to cook on.
No way going to be running candles.

Need to look at the other parts of the chain, not just the street cabs and your router, you may be fine but a power cut elsewhere may have affected you ISP or their interconnects etc.... ... and yes there are precautions in place to maintain power to whatever is deemed essential, but it depends how long a cut lasts of course.

For the rest, modern solutions for modern problems, not something for everyone I freely admit, but Solar PV and a big battery will go a long way to covering the cuts if they do not go on for too many hours/days.

Verdigris

MWT said:

For the rest, modern solutions for modern problems, not something for everyone I freely admit, but Solar PV and a big battery will go a long way to covering the cuts if they do not go on for too many hours/days.

That depends on the DNO allowing you to "island" your house, in a grid failure. At the moment the DNOs seem somewhat reluctant to allow islanding. I doubt this incompetent government will have given it any thought, so there will be not pressure for change.

MWT

Verdigris said:

MWT said:

For the rest, modern solutions for modern problems, not something for everyone I freely admit, but Solar PV and a big battery will go a long way to covering the cuts if they do not go on for too many hours/days.

That depends on the DNO allowing you to "island" your house, in a grid failure. At the moment the DNOs seem somewhat reluctant to allow islanding. I doubt this incompetent government will have given it any thought, so there will be not pressure for change.

I've not encountered this as a problem with UK Power Networks for example, I had problems getting G99 approval with the right equipment (G100 compliant).

I've not actually even heard of resistance to islanding, or for that matter specific approval for islanding, it is simply a technical requirement of the system, that it not export during a power-cut.

If you've got any references for this I'd be keen to see them...

Verdigris

Well perhaps I have misunderstood, but when I looked at the Western Power website with regard to getting a G99 connection it seemed to preclude islanding. You hear plenty of stories in the media about DNOs dragging their feet over simply changing the main fuse, for example. DNOs should be positively encouraging distributed supply and storage, not hindering it.

gt94sss2

half_empty said:
Home internet goes down, not sure how they prioritise street cabinets but they will be off the same supplies as the lighting but with home routers off, no use anyway.

The Openreach fibre cabinets contain back up batteries which will keep them running for a while.

[Deleted User]

MWT said:

half_empty said:

We had a fire for heating, we don't now, central heating. We have a freezer now, we didn't then (our freezer is good for 24 hours no power). We have computers and other devices that rely on batteries, the most we had then was a clunky lamp on a massive battery. Home internet goes down, not sure how they prioritise street cabinets but they will be off the same supplies as the lighting but with home routers off, no use anyway.
At least I can fire up the bbq to cook on.
No way going to be running candles.

Need to look at the other parts of the chain, not just the street cabs and your router, you may be fine but a power cut elsewhere may have affected you ISP or their interconnects etc.... ... and yes there are precautions in place to maintain power to whatever is deemed essential, but it depends how long a cut lasts of course.

For the rest, modern solutions for modern problems, not something for everyone I freely admit, but Solar PV and a big battery will go a long way to covering the cuts if they do not go on for too many hours/days.

I was thinking more direct impact at the home (I know there are many power plans in place for infrastructure and it has fallen over when least expected....). We have fibre to the home meaning power off, comms gone. Back in the 70's it was interesting as a kid (didn't have a phone then anyway), not anymore with connected lives and freezers and electric pretty much needed in the home.
I don't know anyone with a solar panel/battery set up.

Wonder if there will be announcements for times to power down hard drives?

reminds me. Running out of rubs for the meat for the BBQ. Better get some panic buying in.

[Deleted User]

Fairzo said:

We used to live in a cardboard box. But we were 'appy.

Cardboard box!? You were lucky! We lived in a hole in the road, and had to cover ourselves with leaves and twigs to stay warm!

LateStarter

DeletedUser said:

Fairzo said:

We used to live in a cardboard box. But we were 'appy.

Cardboard box!? You were lucky! We lived in a hole in the road, and had to cover ourselves with leaves and twigs to stay warm!

Oh I so envy you being able to afford a hole.