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Think about all the small gear, tools, supplies, generators that depend on electricity... from those tiny dot batteries to powerful 3 phase generators. My preparedness is dependent on the use of batteries, fuel and electricity.
Just the number of flashlights I have is an indication of dependency. Even my hand crank radio needs electricity to operate. I have some solar (100W) but that's not very much. It would take me about 12 hours to fully charge my two group 27 batteries, so in a practical sense that's really 2 days. I will be expanding my use of solar at some point. I can build batteries, but having access to materials is required. The best batteries will probably last 10 years.
I'm not sure I could do without some electrons coursing through my life now. Is there anyone who is NOT dependent on some form of electricity? I know I'm not that person.
Extremely dependent. Just wait until the power is out for a couple of days and feel how uncomfortable that is.
I've got a whole house generator so I am fine if the electricity goes out,. but if we are talking about Putin messing up our internet which will mess up the utilities, then probably the natural gas will also have problems and my generator won't work.
Location: East of Seattle since 1992, 615' Elevation, Zone 8b - originally from SF Bay Area
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We have a 6,0000 watt generator, and a 2,000 watt inverter generator, plus a travel trailer on the side of the house with two 11 pound propane tanks (full), two 12 volt batteries, and a 100 watt solar panel with inverter. In the last power outage (8 hours) I used the gas fireplace for heat, and alternated between the refrigerator and freezer every hour, plus the TV/Cable on the inverter generator which is pretty quiet and runs a long time on little gas.
I'm completely off grid with a solar power system.
That said I still use electricity to run the freezer and fridge, the well pump and the lights. So I do have a 5500 watt duel fuel generator for backup.
Don't have a tv, I can charge my phone in the truck.
I have a lot of hand tools and since I blacksmith using traditional methods, can make pretty much anything I need.
I use a lot of kerosene lanterns if I'm outside in the dark, and I have a couple battery powered headlamps if I have to work on something in the dark.
Researching and working out my solar rig as I write this.
Weather is beginning to break so I can start prepping the land and pinpoint exactly where I’m putting the panels and such. I’m so done with “the grid”. Those thieving scumbags can suck it.
Tired of being ass raped every month. I do have multiple gas generators for emergencies.
Lotta off grinders by me use generators for all their power needs. The gas cri$i$ is killing them.
None of them run them 24/7 but even a few hours a day is murdering them now with the prices. Yeah screw that. Screw the grid and screw the greedy government and power companies.
We raise our own meat so there is a lot of emotional and sweat equity in our freezers. I built a DIY solar array to power them independently of the grid and they have been running that way for a few years. The solar equipment has paid for itself in lower electricity bills.
If the grid went away and never came back again our system would continue to run until enough of the components failed and could no longer be replaced. I guess in that situation we would have to run the pressure canners 24/7 until all the meat was preserved.
"Take away my hot water, I'm going to kill someone."
Our first solar upgrade was a solar hot water heater. We've had free hot water for 10 years and the system has paid for itself many times over. Most of the cost was subsidized by tax credits. If the sun is out I can turn it up to 150ish and the water comes out of the tap hot enough to scald the chickens for plucking.
Looks like the Amish maybe the most likely not to use electricity.
Oddly enough, the Amish use electricity, they just don't use it "directly" except for refrigeration (due to laws regarding refrigerating milk).
They use diesel generators to power air compressors that their tools run on.
It's indirect in a few ways: 1) not grid, 2) not "directly" powering their tools.
They also use the diesel generators to charge batteries for their buggy lights.
I think if you want to go to a totally electricity-free population that isn't taking advantage of it by looting and pillaging, you'd have to find one of the few tribes in South America that have had no human contact, or North Sentinel Island. I'm pretty sure that most of Africa and Asia has electricity, even if it's not grid they have solar or generator power.
"FYI... Solar IS still electricity dependency."
I don't disagree, which is why canning is our backup.
I’m pretty dependent on electricity but not the grid. I have a grid tied solar system with battery backup that can pretty much run my entire house, except for the central air. I can run the air with my system but not 24/7.
Power goes out in the neighborhood, and my system switches over seamlessly and instantaneously. Unless a neighbor comes by asking about the power, I’d never know there was an issue.
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