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We will build a new house in mid term future and I already had some of the ideas you have said. Other ones, I have to say I didn't think of them. So thank you for the very nice and reasoned explanation.
I don't know if you have thought about it but (as I suppose solar energy is not that reliable in that latitudes) there are "mini" wind generators that in extrem emergency could be mechanically coupled to a bike to generate some electricity. Combined with a good battery for storage could give you from some minutes to a couple of hours functionality for some electrical devices each day.
I have though on using a mix of 3 different technologies (earth warm, solar and wind) in the next house, mainly to be a bit independant of the main stream and to be backed up in case of necessity.
Combined with good isolation and a wood oven you have the cold more or less covered.
I usually have 4x5L gas bottles, one for the gas barbeque, one to cook paellas, one to burn pest plants and one spare bottle. So cooking without electricity is covered for some time too.
If I go for a subterraneous tank (which I think I will do anyways) manual pump in the water tank or a bucket and a rope, just in case there is no electricity.
Maybe another smaller one in high to just use gravity in the garden?
M.D.V.
If something has a solution... Why do we have to worry about?. If it has no solution... For what reason do we have to worry about?
Help me to understand what I'm saying, and I'll explain it better to you
Rating helpful answers is nice, but saying thanks can be even nicer.
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Wind generators are less suitable around here, both because of possible noise, and less favorable wind condition.
I recently bought (not yet mounted) six 300W solar panels that will charge a 24V battery bank proividing LED light all over the house (replacing practically all AC based light), as well as a number of medium capacity ventilation fans. During a couple winter months, especially when the panels are covered by snow, they will not provide enough power, so the batteries are kept charged from the power grid by a unit that also provides UPC for my PC. And for my internet fiber connection - I asked my IPC about their provisions in case of power breakdown, and I was honestly impressed by their switft and complete answer.
For keeping my house warm: I "happened to" end up with a spare basement room of about 25 cubic meters, suitable for being filled with water. One cubic meter of water, raised in temperature by 1 degree Celsius, holds roughly 1 kWh of heat. So 25 cubic meters raised by 40 C holds 1000 kWh. Using the heat pump as a drain, I make that that temperature range run from 40C to 0C. If I need more: By freezing the water; I can in principle pull out anothter 2000 kWh before I have 25 cubic meters of solic ice...
The heat source for this water tank is a set of thermal solar collectors, providing at least four times as much energy for the same collector area as solar cells. They "recharge" my water tank continously throughout the winter when there is a sunny day. The cooler my water tank is, the higher the efficiency. When the tank is close to freezing, any heat from the thermal solar collectors above that temperature (and that doesn't take much) contribute to keep the water tank warm, making conditions very favorable for the heat pump. The thermal collectors are angeled at 60 degrees vertically, so generally, the snow runs off them.
The heat pump also has a ground collector for use if the water tank is close to freezing, roughly 400 square meters at a depth of 1 to 3 meters. I do not yet have any experience to tell when heat collection should switch from tank heat to ground heat or vice versa. I guess it depends a lot on the thermal conductivity of the ground and on the insulaton of the water tank.
The heat pump does rely on electricity. For shorter breaks, up to a few hours, this is not a problem: An accumulator tank in floor circuit has enough heat to keep the house heated for quite a few hours. Throughout fall, and from early in spring, the thermal solar collectors will heat the accumulator tank directly, in case of a power fallout. The circulation pumps of the floor circuits are run from the solar powered battery bank.
Some people think I am going too far ...
In this country, trying to be permanently off-grid makes you a Prepper, in the slightly negative sense. Creating your one-household power grid doesn't really make sense. Preparing yourself for a week without community supplied power makes a lot more sense.
Sidetrack (or is it?):
A few years ago, I became frustrated because I couldn't fix my car myself but had to run to others for help. Then I started thinking of all the other things that I couldn't handle myself... Quite a lot, really! For myself, I created at literally world, my own novel, of how it would look like if I had to manage on my own, all those who "knew" was killed by a virus. I imagined a situation where the only survivors were myself and a few kids. How would I maange? ... After developing this epic, considering all the consequences, I shake my heat at practically all "preppers": Too bad for you, but what you are doing has next to no value in a long term perspective.
You should grade your preparations: Some are for handling a shortage of your favorite peanut butter at the grocery store Some are for a two hour power shortage. Some are for your gas supplier going bankrupt so he can't fill your tank. ... and so on. It is all up to you. The scale goes all the way up to those who become prepper heroes on national TV.
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Thank you for the explanation. I didn't consider the heat pump like this. Although I don't think is so much suitable here as it is at your place. Although we are cold, we are not so cold as you (by far).
M.D.V.
If something has a solution... Why do we have to worry about?. If it has no solution... For what reason do we have to worry about?
Help me to understand what I'm saying, and I'll explain it better to you
Rating helpful answers is nice, but saying thanks can be even nicer.
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Out of all the places in the world the, "Land down unda" is running out of supplies to take care of your, "Land down under."
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Nope. Makes little sense. I keep a stock normally just because me andmy wife can be quite lazy or busy and not doing grocery regularly, also I prefer buying when I can choose the best offer instead of buying with impending necessity.
But that usually covers 2-3 weeks with decreasing comfort (i.e. food choice).
GCS d--(d+) s-/++ a C++++ U+++ P- L+@ E-- W++ N+ o+ K- w+++ O? M-- V? PS+ PE- Y+ PGP t+ 5? X R+++ tv-- b+(+++) DI+++ D++ G e++ h--- r+++ y+++* Weapons extension: ma- k++ F+2 X
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Is this the virus that everyone is talking about that the Chinese invented to retaliate against our trade tariffs with them?
"One man's wage rise is another man's price increase." - Harold Wilson
"Fireproof doesn't mean the fire will never come. It means when the fire comes that you will be able to withstand it." - Michael Simmons
"You can easily judge the character of a man by how he treats those who can do nothing for him." - James D. Miles
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It's a curious form of retaliation to unleash it on their own residents first.
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...probably due to a Windows Update bug.
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All that paper gets rough after a while. Just saying.
It was only in wine that he laid down no limit for himself, but he did not allow himself to be confused by it.
― Confucian Analects: Rules of Confucius about his food
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From which occacion do you have your experience, and for how long did you store the paper?
How was it stored - plastic wrapped, or otherwise?
How long time after acquisition are we talking about - months? years?
At which time would you consider it so bad that it would be better without it?
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The missus bought two AAA batteries for the remote to watch Netflix.
Does that count?
A Fine is a Tax for doing something wrong
A Tax is a Fine for doing something good.
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Cp-Coder wrote: Which made me wonder: Are any of our members stocking up on non-perishables as a precaution? Not a prepper, but fully stocked.
Buying during sales in bulk, which most Dutch people do. Also nice to have a little stock for when you get flu/sick/it's raining/or dont wanna walk.
Bastard Programmer from Hell
If you can't read my code, try converting it here[^]
"If you just follow the bacon Eddy, wherever it leads you, then you won't have to think about politics." -- Some Bell.
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Just goes to show we have as many idjits as everyone else - some silly pillock started a rumour on FB/Instagram or one of those SM tools and all the tolls went out and loaded up on dunny paper.
Thankfully SWMBO keeps the pantry full and we can wait out the stupidity.
Never underestimate the power of human stupidity -
RAH
I'm old. I know stuff - JSOP
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Nope, I can just keep using a wire brush in lieu of TP. For other items, I've got some canned goods stocked up, but I'm not otherwise concerned about it. Our greatest risk, having nothing at all interesting to offer foreigners, is the annual River Run, in which thousands of bikers descend on our area. They mostly hang around Laughlin, NV, which is across the Colorado River from us, so I don't bother to partake of the festivities. I don't have a motorcycle, so what would be the point?
Will Rogers never met me.
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I'm not deliberately, no. Though if I notice that something I regularly buy is very low on stock in the supermarket, I might buy it now rather than wait till I need it again. However a quick search reveals that things like anti-bac handwash is now available online (but running out!) at around £50 for a normal sized bottle (normally 99p from the supermarket). These people won't get Covid but they might starve to death. Darwin was definitely right. Meantime hundreds more people have died of flu this year than coronavirus, not to mention the thousands dying on our roads or from obesity- or smoking-related diseases. Rather than wearing masks and not shaking hands, more lives would be saved if people looked up from their phones before crossing the road.
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You're right, I should stock up on smokes.
And maybe bacon; not that I'm expecting a shortage, but with all these new preppers, prices might go up.
Bastard Programmer from Hell
If you can't read my code, try converting it here[^]
"If you just follow the bacon Eddy, wherever it leads you, then you won't have to think about politics." -- Some Bell.
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My country rarely embarrasses me (let's not mention the cricket) but sometimes it outdoes itself.
cheers
Chris Maunder
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I always thought that Australia was *great* at cricket!
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Clothes, but no cigar!
Ba-tish!
Anything that is unrelated to elephants is irrelephant Anonymous
- The problem with quotes on the internet is that you can never tell if they're genuine Winston Churchill, 1944
- Never argue with a fool. Onlookers may not be able to tell the difference. Mark Twain
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I guess the tobacconist evape-orated.
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Yup - must've gone up in smoke!
Anything that is unrelated to elephants is irrelephant Anonymous
- The problem with quotes on the internet is that you can never tell if they're genuine Winston Churchill, 1944
- Never argue with a fool. Onlookers may not be able to tell the difference. Mark Twain
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Ashes to Ashes ...
"I have no idea what I did, but I'm taking full credit for it." - ThisOldTony
AntiTwitter: @DalekDave is now a follower!
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tux to tux.
I'd rather be phishing!
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Only two things are certain in this life: Death and Tuxes.
"I have no idea what I did, but I'm taking full credit for it." - ThisOldTony
AntiTwitter: @DalekDave is now a follower!
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Quote: tobacconist
Hadn't heard that word in eons. Is that still a thing?
Language evolution is interesting. Is anyone visiting a chemist rather than a pharmacist nowadays?
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