Posts tagged "basics for preppers"

Prepper Basics – Solar Powered Equipment For Disaster Prepping

 

Being able to use the awesome power of the sun has become more and more popular and that is no different for preppers. As a new or experienced prepper when you sit down and look over various fuel sources you realize that there is only a finite amount. This is especially true in a disaster or doomsday scenario. This makes using solar power an ideal option and a real advantage to any prepper. Using solar power can be ideal for not only long term doomsday prepping but also very useful in any power outage situation.

 

A solar power system will contain three basic components which include solar panels, charge controller, and batteries. Rays from the sun hits the solar cells of your solar panel or Photovoltaic (PV) panel from there the power is transferred to a silicon semiconductor. From there your power is converted into direct current or DC electricity , it now flows through your connecting wires and will end up in your storage battery.

First thing to do when you consider purchasing equipment for your solar power system is to target which items in your home you want to power and how many watts you will need. Maybe you just want a small or simple system for use during a short-term type of disaster for items like rechargeable batteries , small lights , or laptops or maybe you are looking at something more permanent and more advanced. Once you figure out what kind of system suits you best you can build a solar power system to best fit your needs. You can always start off small to keep your investment manageable and then expand on it a little at a time.

There are various types of Solar Equipment for you to consider. Each has there own advantage and use. Here is a break down of some types of solar equipment for preppers to consider.

 

 

Solar Panels

Starting out with a simple solar power system may want to start with a basic set of Photovoltaic panels. These Photovoltaic panels can be used to set up three different types of photovoltaic power systems. These systems are stand alone , grid tied , and grid connected with stand alone capabilities. You can get a detailed outline of the solar panel equipment needed to each of these three Photovoltaic power systems and how to use them here.

Solar Generators

These are great alternate options over your basic diesel and gasoline generators. They are of course very energy efficient because they require no fuel for them to run , they don’t produce any of the dangerous fumes, and they are very quiet units. They can be a bit of a larger investment but they can last for as long as 25 years and they require no addition cost once purchased to run them. These can be great no only for preppers in a disaster scenario but can be used regularly to help reduce your current electricity bill while maintaining the unit.

Solar Battery Chargers

These are great for preppers and ideal for a doomsday or survival scenario to recharge much needed batteries. These units come in different forms some which use a trickle charge and some that can be connected to solar panels for quicker charging and even provide small scale lighting for a limited time. It is important to be sure the unit you choose can charge a variety of battery sizes and is setup with smart capabilities to not over charge your batteries. These units can be waterproof making them ideal items to add to your bug out bag.

Mobile Solar Power System

These units are also great for a preppers bug out bag. Being able to utilize fold-able solar panels will give you a mobile option to be able to power small devices. Just keep in mind that these fold-able solar panels that are 35 watts or greater will provide 6 volts of power so to get 12 volts of power you will need two panels wired in a series.

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Posted by Prepper - June 5, 2012 at 8:40 am

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Important Questions For A Beginning Prepper

 

So you have come to the conclusion that you want to join in on the prepper movement and become a prepper yourself. You want to be able to feed and protect you and your family should a survival scenario ever present itself. Every one has there own reasons for becoming a prepper and we all have to start somewhere. It can at times be overwhelming when trying to gather information on what you should do and need to have as a prepper.

We have put together some important question that beginning and even current preppers need to ask and answer. Having a game plan to begin with is very important and can make your prepping go a lot smoother. It is also important to remember that being a prepper is a process for novice as well as advanced preppers. Being a prepper is a journey so don’t burn yourself out by trying to do everything at once.

We believe sitting down and answering these key questions will make becoming or being a prepper much easier and more productive.

What am i prepping for ? – It is important to identify what kind of event you are prepping for. Whether it be a some type of doomsday scenario or a more short term problem like storms. This is essential for determining your level of prepping needs.

Type of Food/Water reserve i need to have ? – Once you have answered question number one then you can move on to what kind of food and water reserves necessary for the type of event your going to be prepping for.

To Bug In or Bug Out ? – Making plans for doing both is always encouraged. Also remember that bugging out should be some what of a last resort unless you have a secure bug out location already prepped. Being out in the elements can be very tough especially for your untrained family.

Am i prepared to defend my family and property ? – Having a great stock pile for you and your family is important but being able to protect it from something goes wrong is just as important. In a disaster or doomsday situation being able to protect your family and property could become a must.

Will you be able to produce light and or electricity ? – This can be an important area that many tend to over look. Having and knowing how to use various options could be extremely important such as solar equipment and rechargeable battery options.

Will u be able to heat your home ? -  This is of course more important depending on your area but winter and cold weather is a worry for many. Having and knowing how to use alternative heating options is a must.

Can we stay clean ?  – Another area often over looked by many preppers is personal hygiene and sanitation. Stocking items needed to keep you and your family clean and sanitized will be important in an extended event situation.

What do i have to offer for trade ? – In a survival or doomsday scenario having items that can be used to trade for supplies you may not have could pay off in a big way. Ask yourself what items you will be able to offers others in a trade transaction. Things of convenience may be wanted in trade during these types of situations.

Will i be able to stay in communication with outside world ? – In many prepper scenario’s TV, Radio’s, or even cell phones may not be working options for staying in contact and knowing what is going on around you. Having and knowing how to use an alternative communication method is important like a HAM radio (a preferred tool inside the prepper communities) etc.

Hopefully answering these important questions will help you become a better and more efficient prepper. Get your prepping game plan put together and stick to it and as you gain better and more useful information adapt it to fully support the needs of you and your family.

 

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Posted by Prepper - May 28, 2012 at 8:34 pm

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Prepper Basics: Alternative Cooking Methods for Survival

 

As many preppers from beginners to seasoned put together a food stockpile they put a lot of emphasis on the types of items and amounts of items they need. While these are certainly important details to take into consideration far too often preppers over look the important aspect of how these foods will be prepared. In a doomsday or survival situation whether you are in your bug in location or on the move your unlikely to have the use of your electric or gas stove. So having some available alternative methods for cooking your food is extremely important.

We will go over some alternative ways to cook your food besides the typical everyday stove. Not having the everyday comforts of a kitchen and its appliances can be a scary proposition to some but many alternative cooking methods are quite simple and can even be fun. Knowing these alternative methods can also be the difference between hunger or a hot meal.

Here is a preppers list of alternative cooking methods which may prove useful in a survival situation.

 

Open Fire/Camp Fire – One of the oldest time honored ways of cooking food is over an open fire or camp fire although only useful in an outdoors scenario. There are many ways of cooking using your camp fire from using a tripod for hanging pots and pans over your fire to using stones or wood to create an elevated cooking surface above your fire etc.

Wood Burning Stove – While only useable in your bug in location because of size and weight a small natural wood burning stove can be an excellent alternative. It provides an excellent high heat cooking surface , just be sure to remember your cookware needs to be heavy duty because of the high heat (like cast iron pots and skillets). Also if this is your preferred backup be sure to have an appropriate wood stockpile.

Solar Oven – These are great portable units which can be used to cook using just the power of the sun. They are less ideal for things that need to be cooked quickly or being used in bad weather. But they can be amazing tools and give you the ability to prepare a great hot meal in a bad situation with out any fire or fuels.

Pocket Stoves – These are very small and extremely portable little devices. They are limited size wise but can be used to heat several cups of boiling water in a short time frame for things like soups , noodles, dehydrated foods, etc. You can also cook anything which can be cooked inside of a small sized tin cup. These units use fuel tabs and will burn from 5 – 15 minutes.

Camp Stoves – These are a more bulky then the pocket stoves but offer more versatility and use different types of fuel sources like propane or liquid fuel. These can be stored to use as a last ditch method if everything else fails. Since they rely on a more bulky fuel source they should be considered for a last case scenario because once your fuel source is exhausted it likely won’t be easily replaced.

Charcoal Grill – Another alternative method used for outdoors type of scenario the charcoal grill is reliable and easy to use. You can cook just about anything on them with very simple cooking equipment. They do require charcoal and a type of lighter fluid for use but they can also be used to safely burn wood once your charcoal reserve has been used up.

 

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Posted by Prepper - May 7, 2012 at 8:30 am

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Prepping The Basics – Food and Water

 

It is easy for many beginning preppers to want to jump into things by purchasing all kinds of gadgets and more modern mail order gizmos. Although you may one day need these things and they are fun to purchase and experiment with they are not the basic essentials. When the time comes you may end up needing all sorts of things like guns and various gadgets but there is one thing that is certain you will need and that’s food and water.

So remember when planning on ways to invest your prepping dollars to concentrate on the prepping essentials and basics like food and water before moving forward to other items. It is extremely important to not get caught up in the hype of less essential items and not put enough prep into these two most basic of things. Here are some basic prepper information to remember when prepping these basics.

FoodIt is recommended to have on hand at a minimum 6 months worth of food and up to 1 year being a safer goal. Get all the food you can prepped including freeze dried foods , canned foods , MRE’s and other food items that offer a long shelf life and are safely packaged. It would also be a plus to have some plan in place to be able to grow a minimal amount of food items to help extend your food stock pile.

WaterWhen prepping your water supply remember that 1 gallon of water per peson per day is the required amount for survival and 2 gallons of water per person per day is recommended. You can help to estimate your water needs by tracking how much water you drink and other wise use per day , you will quickly learn how fast water seems to be used up. Be sure to properly prepare your water supply accordingly remembering how essential a component it is.

Once you have the most important basic’s prepped properly then you can feel more comfortable about moving on and adding other items off your check list. Having enough or more then enough of the basics will insure that you get off to a proper start in becoming a solid prepper !

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Posted by Prepper - April 17, 2012 at 9:45 am

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