Blackouts coming soon?

Reed_Richards

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82098463#Comment_82098463

I had to look that up but it's a great law, even if Ian Betteridge wasn't its first proponent.

bazdvd

i remember the blackouts, as a kid they were great fun and nice to see all the candles lit everywhere.

We didnt have a phone back then nor did most people.

Cant remember any stories of those that died.

Swipe

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82098568#Comment_82098568

I always remember the black and white portable TV hooked up to a spare car battery.

TroubledTarts

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82098568#Comment_82098568

I don't think people had machines at home to save their lives they were probably in hospital full time.

But yes simpler times I am told by grandparents passed. Quite simply the just get on with it come what may attitude, didn't have a lot but laughed a lot.

bazdvd

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82098614#Comment_82098614

my dad was a car mechanic and used to hook up car headlights to a battery. One year he took a few to the local working mens club as they were still serving bottled beers.

most ISP routers are low power and could be run off a battery if a phone line is that important.

tim_p

How many people are set up to run their router off a battery?

bazdvd

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82098669#Comment_82098669

At the moment hardly anyone but the likelihood of blackouts happening is very very small.

most of us have mobile phones these days and even if your battery dies its only for 3 hours. Better than than the whole grid going down for days.

Years ago we had zero warning if the power went off, at least with a few hours notice you can be prepared

WiserMiser

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82098702#Comment_82098702

A mobile phone is no good if there's no signal because your local tower has been knocked out by the same outage. There's no requirement for them to keep working, many go off and stay off until about ten minutes after the electricity supply has been restored.

Every second counts if your house is on fire, you've had a stroke or heart attack, or fallen off the roof. After three hours you won't need an ambulance, you'll need an undertaker. Similarly, it won't be much fun if a burglar or violent intruder has broken in. A lot of harm can take place in three long hours.

Years ago (for well over 100 years, ever since they were invented) landline phones have been unaffected by power outages. They were connected all the way by copper wires, and the exchange had a large lead acid battery to keep it operational at all times.

And how can you make preparations to call an emergency service when you can't make or receive phone calls?

silverwhistle

Get yourself a satellite phone if you are that worried about it.

bazdvd

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82098735#Comment_82098735

If BT had a backup system all those years ago dont you think companies now do the same. Most offices use an UPS in case of a power outage and large companies will have a backup plan in place.

You are over thinking it all

Fibre optic lines do not require power unlike the old POTS systems. A UPS for a home router is less than £50 so not a lot if you need it in an emergency

• Cell towers: Most towers have battery backups or generators that last a few hours.
• Emergency calls: Phones will roam onto any working network provider to connect emergency services.