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Post by bracknellboy on Oct 23, 2022 18:09:31 GMT
Thinking about buying a portable generator to plug in during any power cuts. Waste of money or will these things cost double come winter? ah well....whether the cost of something is "worth it" or not is always a very subjective thing. - What probability do you attach to the risk of their being power cuts ? - How worried are you about the risk of power cuts - What sort of problems would they cause you and how important are they? E.g. Is anyone in your household dependent on medical equipment that requires a 230V domestic supply, or is it more of a problem of inconvenience? - What do you expect to be the cost of using it? If it runs on diesel, what do you think the price of that will be, or is price simply not important because of the risk to you or the importance you attach to continuity of supply? - do you have a problem with the concept of using candles? or oil lamps ? (I spent the early seventies bought up in a household with paraffin lamps and candles thanks to the miners). Will these thing cost double come winter ? If there isn't a threat of power cuts, no. If there are power cuts, I'm sure 'double' will be an underestimate. How much value do you attach to 'hedging risk'? I'm sure none of that is helpful, but I tried.
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james100
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Post by james100 on Oct 23, 2022 19:11:46 GMT
Thinking about buying a portable generator to plug in during any power cuts. Waste of money or will these things cost double come winter? I was interested in an Anker Powerhouse for a while but think I'll leave it... bracknellboy covers everything to think about. My plan will simply be to 1) keep all powerbanks charged for phone / tablet (got a few big ones already) 2) torches and rechargeable lights 3) hot water bottles and blankets 4) gas cannisters for camping stove and an extra for the BBQ. Electric car getting a "fingers crossed" strategy for now 😁
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Post by overthehill on Oct 25, 2022 9:01:01 GMT
Natural Gas price today is 20% less than it was on 25oct2021.
The ships full of gas waiting off Europe’s coast
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Post by Deleted on Oct 25, 2022 9:08:00 GMT
If only the people thinking about buying geni-sets were thinking about insulating their houses, turning off lights and other equipment the world would be a better place and the prices would continue to come down.
Those who decide to buy yet more ways to consume fossil fuel energy just force the price of up.
Not understanding basic thermodynamics and economics is just part of the human condition I guess.
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registerme
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Post by registerme on Oct 25, 2022 9:16:52 GMT
If only the people thinking about buying geni-sets were thinking about insulating their houses, turning off lights and other equipment the world would be a better place and the prices would continue to come down.
Those who decide to buy yet more ways to consume fossil fuel energy just force the price of up.
Not understanding basic thermodynamics and economics is just part of the human condition I guess.
To be fair, and sadly, you can lay that criticism at the feet of nearly every government too. Eg the UK. We have a productivity problem right? Insulate every home in the country (start with social housing, then do it on a means tested basis etc), reduce energy consumption by x%, increase national productivity by x%. Do we do it? Naah....
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Post by Deleted on Oct 25, 2022 11:01:10 GMT
Democratic governments only do what their constituencies push for. Voters are dumb, they want to burn more FF, not protect their children or warm their houses.
Blaming democratic governments is a cop-out.
The problem is us, not them, there is no them, only us. We are the stupid ones and we should stop letting us off.
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Post by crabbyoldgit on Oct 25, 2022 11:40:51 GMT
So I went online to find my disconnection code but it did not require the house number to obtain it, which would indicate the entire substation is what will go, not individual phases in my case. Bugger so plan of throwing an extension lead over the wall to next door is out.
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mogish
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Post by mogish on Oct 26, 2022 17:21:45 GMT
Power cuts.... motorhome (12 rolls of insulation fitted)ready for most eventualities,sort of like going on holiday without the diesel costs!
I know it may have terrible consequences for some people, but a little thinking ahead and if power is off for a hour or so it can actually be a bit fun. Better conversations, play games read by headtorch etc. Longer term as a country we need to be more energy self sufficient. I believe welsh government have started their own energy company with hopefully cheaper costs past onto welsh communities.
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keitha
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Post by keitha on Oct 26, 2022 18:21:32 GMT
I think that's it then, you're in H. If you look at the OP's link, it shows exactly what you've described. See the graphic just below the Level 1 grid. Time to buy some candles :/. how many though, go to local DIY etc shop and ask for 4
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keitha
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Post by keitha on Oct 26, 2022 18:25:11 GMT
Power cuts.... motorhome (12 rolls of insulation fitted)ready for most eventualities,sort of like going on holiday without the diesel costs! I know it may have terrible consequences for some people, but a little thinking ahead and if power is off for a hour or so it can actually be a bit fun. Better conversations, play games read by headtorch etc. Longer term as a country we need to be more energy self sufficient. I believe welsh government have started their own energy company with hopefully cheaper costs past onto welsh communities. It will have to go some to beat Octopus for me. The majority of my usage is on GO at 8P, and the standard export payment is 15P
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travolta
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Post by travolta on Oct 26, 2022 18:48:27 GMT
Thinking about buying a portable generator to plug in during any power cuts. Waste of money or will these things cost double come winter? Def worth it . I 've had them for years . Saves your freezer from defrosting .
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angrysaveruk
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Back and to the left..
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Post by angrysaveruk on Oct 26, 2022 18:53:49 GMT
Thinking about buying a portable generator to plug in during any power cuts. Waste of money or will these things cost double come winter?
Only thing you really need power for is heating and cooking. I have installed a wood burner in our living room which is probably the best thing I have ever purchased. Basically I live near a big forest and can pick up about 10Kg of burnable wood every time I walk there - which is most evenings. Each 1 kg of wood produces about 10 MJ of heat which is equivalent to 2.7KW/H (running an electric oven on max for an hour). So I am basically getting about £15 a day free or £450 a month free heating from fallen branches I pick up on my walk. Beside a wood burner which has a cooking plate ontop for cooking as well as heating, the best thing you can buy is one of those mini stoves that run off butane - you can cook, boil water for warmth etc etc. Alot more useful than a generator and cost about £20*. You get one of those you can survive for a week and warm yourself with a couple of butane cans that cost a couple of quid each.
* I am not the only person who is aware of how useful these camping stoves are and prices have been going up alot on ebay and amazon. If it hits the fan these will be a life saver.
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registerme
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Post by registerme on Oct 26, 2022 20:24:57 GMT
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keitha
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Post by keitha on Oct 26, 2022 20:45:16 GMT
Having hidden posts from a swathe of posters (Nothing personal just need to be able to read the forum quicker) this may have already been mentioned... Smart meters can be cut off remotely, usually not used but technically possible. People with essential needs for electricity supply are usually registered with the relevant provider (as opposed to supplier) and protection/back up is provided in the case of protracted outages. The school of though that the smart meter listens in on your conversations and watches your behaviour are however not true. the problem with that would be that only smart meters could be disconnected. Which apart from being unfair, would further discourage people from having a smart meter.
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mogish
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Post by mogish on Oct 26, 2022 20:58:55 GMT
Thinking about buying a portable generator to plug in during any power cuts. Waste of money or will these things cost double come winter?
Only thing you really need power for is heating and cooking. I have installed a wood burner in our living room which is probably the best thing I have ever purchased. Basically I live near a big forest and can pick up about 10Kg of burnable wood every time I walk there - which is most evenings. Each 1 kg of wood produces about 10 MJ of heat which is equivalent to 2.7KW/H (running an electric oven on max for an hour). So I am basically getting about £15 a day free or £450 a month free heating from fallen branches I pick up on my walk. Beside a wood burner which has a cooking plate ontop for cooking as well as heating, the best thing you can buy is one of those mini stoves that run off butane - you can cook, boil water for warmth etc etc. Alot more useful than a generator and cost about £20*. You get one of those you can survive for a week and warm yourself with a couple of butane cans that cost a couple of quid each.
* I am not the only person who is aware of how useful these camping stoves are and prices have been going up alot on ebay and amazon. If it hits the fan these will be a life saver.
Hence the motorhome post. It's on my drive. Costs next to nothing to cook my dinner etc if the house power gets cut of for an hour or 2. I also have some camping stoves, not butane but petrol, bit dodgy to use in the house but great as a back up to everything else. I've got 2 Coleman's, last time I looked they were about £90.
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