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Power and Light

Keep power and light when the grid is down

The grid is the first thing to go and the last to return. Keep a way to make and store power, layered light, and a plan to send and receive word when the phones are down.

Start with the full guide

Field guideStockpile Essentials Field GuideThe master checklist: 239 items across 16 categories, the shelf life class of each, and the 20 multi-use items that cover the most jobs. 39 pages.Open the field guide Master guideBlackout guideWhat to do in the first 45 minutes, the first 3 days, and beyond: water, food order, heat, power, comms, and medical.Open the full page ChecklistPower outage gear checklistWhat to have for an extended outage, from cash and backup power to water, lighting, fuel, and communication, with product picks.Open the full page

Have a plan for when the phones fail

Cell networks jam or fail early in any disruption. A pair of radios, a weather receiver, and a written check-in plan keep a household coordinated. The full radio, satellite, and Faraday build is.

Type

Event

Skills 1

Skill Crayon candle for emergency light One crayon gives about 15 to 30 minutes of light

Guides 7

Guide Blackout guide: first 45 minutes, first 3 days, and beyond Fill every container with water first; a bathtub holds 40 to 80 gallons Guide EMP (electromagnetic pulse) sources and effects A high-altitude nuclear EMP can potentially cover an entire continent Guide Faraday-protected emergency electronics: the sling bag and the grab-and-go kit Two builds: a Faraday Defense 10L sling bag, or a Milwaukee Packout case with every device in a Faraday bag or jacket Guide Home backup power system (ETHOS battery and LUXPower inverter) 3 x 48V ETHOS 5.12kWh modules (15.3kWh) with a LUXPower 12kW hybrid inverter Guide Off-grid solar power setup under $850 EcoFlow DELTA 3 Classic (1024Wh) plus Zoupw 400W panel, combined under $850 Guide Power outage gear checklist Pick: Anker 548 Power Bank, 60,000mAh, over 10 full device charges Guide Solar power basics Best battery choice: lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO4); MPPT charge controllers are more efficient than PWM

Spare parts lists 2

Parts list Spare parts: Lighting & Off-Grid Utility When the grid goes dark, light and fire become daily work. The parts that fail are tiny and always forgotten. Keep them deep. Parts list Spare parts: Power & Batteries Backup power fails at the small connections and controls. Keep the batteries, terminals, and fuses that keep a bank or a solar setup alive.

Audit questions

From the walk-around audit. Honest answers show the gaps.

What stops working instantly?
What fails within hours?
What fails after several days?
Do you have batteries, a generator, solar, or a hybrid system?
How long can it realistically run critical loads?
Do you know the actual runtime, not the advertised one?

Score this in the audit

Common mistake

A power station you never test, and no plan for when phones die.

Skills to learn

size a solar setup · program GMRS radios · conserve a battery bank

When it matters

Blackout Winter storm Wildfire and evacuation Water outage Nuclear and radiation EMP Rising prices and shortages

Power and Light

Skills 1

Guides 7

Spare parts lists 2

The checklist

Power, Light and Comms Keep power, keep light, keep contact

Audit questions

When it matters