this post was submitted on 20 Nov 2024
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We're dealing with some stormy weather here (Vancouver for me, but it covers a wider area) and so a patchwork of homes across the region are having power outages. Crews are working to restore it

So on that note, what do you like to do?

  • ways to prepare, what to buy, a favourite flashlight from [email protected]?
  • how you pass the time
  • any stories that come to mind?
(page 2) 36 comments
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[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago) (1 children)

I basically start collecting everything that has power and can provide power. Basically I just check on my laptops, power banks, phones, the bag of random batteries, estimate how long I can keep going, and try to reasonably save power regardless: Shutdown instead of sleep for laptops, mobile data off on phone if not needed, prefer dedicated flashlight over to phones, fetch other options like candles.

Kills enough time that the power gets restored during that time. Then I think of how unprepared I was, how I am going to improve it, and then never do it. There's a bag of old 18650s from power banks and laptop batteries under my bed for like 2 years. I don't know what state they are in now. I know I measured their capacities, disposed of dead ones, put good ones into the bag, planned to use it for a giant power bank, but did absolutely nothing with it in the end.
I should probably dispose of them at this point. They all had like 60% of capacity anyway and years of use.

And then I also think about the bag of batteries from dad's disposable vapes. They're rechargeable, but it's possible they were overdischarged and shouldn't be used anymore. On some the wires running along those batteries were partly melted too.
I should dispose of that too. So much damn waste.

In the end after each power outage I turn to the web, obsessively looking through power banks, get amazed by those with built-in mains inverter, but in the end don't get anything as it isn't necessary.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago)

This one sounds the closest to my experience. Maybe I'll make a list now so I don't forget the important items

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 month ago

Remove enterprise UPS battery backup system from home lab and use it to charge my hand held gaming consoles and phones. This was in Texas when ice storm knocked our power out for over a week

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 month ago

Watch TV via the agm batteries and eBay inverter that I got a couple years ago.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago)

Bitch that the power's out.
Connect phone to laptop to drain for juice.
Sleep.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 month ago

Sit in the dark and enjoy solitude for once.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 month ago

In order. Turn off the main breaker Turn off the breakers for HVAC and hot water heater Unplugged my car charger Wheel out the generator Power on the generator Plug the generator into my house Put my security camera that can see the street light on one of my screens so I can see when power comes back on. Resume activities

If I can get all that done in less than 10ish minutes my WiFi and computer don’t even power down.

To resume I just unplug the generator and then flip the breakers back to the on position.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 month ago

The best light is the cheap usba plastic bulb ones that plug into any power bank. They last forever on battery power and provide decent enough light.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 month ago

I recently bough a new flashlight, a Wurkkos FC11C to be exact. It's pretty good for the price, and it really can't hurt to have a good flashlight around. I made a post about it in [email protected] about it, and there are some other posts too.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 month ago

Use the batteries.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 month ago

Haven't delt with that in a long time. Closest I had was maybe an hour or less because I live close to an elderly home and they usually get power restored real quick. I just stayed on my phone, which thankfully was charged, as I went with my parents to get candles. Never got candles since power came back so quick.

Longest I was without it because of an outage was around 2014 maybe, in winter. Cold days/nights spent in the living room, probably using the fireplace for the first time ever since I lived there. Used my phone and probably had other means of keeping myself entertained. Don't recall much about it because it was a decade ago. Neighbor across the street was an amazing person because she let us take an extension cable cord thing from her house to ours when they got power back. I do remember watching a video when all of the sudden the power came back, though.

As for what I'd do now, probably cry and hope my Steam Deck/laptop/phone are charged. Also probably get batteries for a radio CD cassette mini boom box thing I got from a thrift store recently and play music, plugging in my headphones. I've got enough CDs to last a short while.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 month ago

I am always amazed that power outages are such a common experience in north America. In more than 55 years here in Europe I have experienced exactly two power outages, one that was planned when they were working in the substation for this street, and one incident that took out a whole part of the city for 20 minutes. The latter one was so extraordinary that it made the national evening news.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago)

My parents bought this portable power bank and it cones in very handy during these storms (also in Vancouver area). It we can charge devices, plug in a lamp, or even a portable induction cooktop.

That said, during a power outage I'll mostly play board games, listen to music, play my guitar, or read.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 month ago (1 children)

Out by RCH here. Nary a blip. You good?

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 month ago (1 children)

We're good! It came back on for us earlier. The crews are working hard out there

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 month ago (1 children)

Beauty news -- they do prioritize well, at least. My work group (remote) still has a peer out in Sooke with issues, but that's a lot of greenspace and loooong cables. CobbleHill just came up as well. Islander communities will be out the longest, but the BCHydro map will get rid of most of those measles by day's end I think. I think they're doing well in a bad situation, but I have the luxury of saying so in comfort, so Grain of Salt and all.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 month ago

Agreed, the map made it seem like a lot of separate incidents were all happening at the same time. I'm impressed with how efficiently they're working through it all

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago)

Some things that can help:

  • Bottled water and dry foods
  • First aid kit
  • BBQ or camping stove with their fuel
  • extra fuel for your vehicle
  • Backup batteries for phones and computers
  • A radio, something hand charged or solar
  • Playing cards, books, board games and puzzles
[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 month ago

That's why I keep a pen and paper. For power outages.

Apart from that, if there's light:

  • some exercise
  • kirigami
  • wash clothes (by hand)
  • eat random (edible) stuff which I would otherwise use to cook
    • cooking needs electricity

No light:

  • sleep
[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 month ago

The best light I have actually had to use during a power cut is this:

https://www.wexphotovideo.com/phottix-t200r-rgb-led-tube-light-3112051/

I was cleaning my walk in closet and the power went out, I was in the zone and needed to keep going to get it done, so I grabbed one of my two lights and kept going.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 month ago

Read a book, usually Asimov.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 month ago
[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 month ago

I sit on my phone until the power comes back on. Rarely lasts for more than an hour. I think I've had more outage time from them doing maintenance than from weather.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 month ago

Dunno, haven't had one in many years. Don't think I had one longer than a few minutes ... ever. Guess I'll find out if it ever comes to that.

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