Written By Aaron Mandelkorn
What is Powering Your Prep? It’s the idea of ensuring self-reliance, security and vitality in any situation; and doing so while keeping the lights on and communication systems up and running. For many preppers and self-sufficiency enthusiasts, food and security are at the top of the list. Often the need for electricity is overlooked. At Off Grid Depot, we feel electricity should be on the top of everyone’s list. Our goal is to help people sustain reliable electricity during a grid down scenario and for this reason we have created the Top 5 Rules to Power Your Prep:
Can you create a system that both needs as little as possible but gives plenty? Can the inputs and outputs coexist in a sustainable way? There are a variety of energy options out there that can provide you with reliable electricity and the answer is often YES! Solar, wind and waterpower systems are traditional sources of options that need little from you but give back much more in return. Biomass, gasification and geothermal energy are options as well. When considering energy options it is important to look at the resources available to you, and decide which system will give you the most reward for your dollar. One way to create options is to embody a Permaculture mindset in design of your off grid energy system. Using the principles of Permaculture can lead to some creative and ultimately, sustainable means of energy use. Two principles weave perfectly into a discussion on creating options: Each Element performs multiple Functions and Each Function is supported by multiple Elements.This means that anything you are using energy for should hopefully have multiple functions that support your life, the same way that anything you get energy from should have multiple elements that support it. Utilizing some or all of the principles of Permaculture, at least in the design stage, can create many options for power generation.
If your main plan for a grid down situation is relying on a generator to power your prep you face many challenges. Have you thought about all the inputs needed to make that generator run for the long haul? How is your fuel supply? Do you have the parts necessary to repair the generator as needed? What’s the backup plan for when you run out of fuel or parts? If you think that generator is your fail safe plan for powering your location, cooking, and keeping warm or cool, think again. When that generator fails you are dead in the water unless you have a backup plan. Powering your prep means diversifying your power sources and focusing on redundancy. Every option has its pros and cons which is why diversity is key. Combining multiple power sources multiplies the pros while minimizing the cons. Typically when one source of power is lacking, another is abundant which is why backups of backups is a requirement for keeping the lights on while others are in the dark. A great example of this iscombining a wind turbine and solar array to an off grid system. When the sun is shining the wind turbine typically just sits there motionless, but when the weather turns bad and the solar isn’t producing, it is often windy. You come out ahead because you have diversified your inputs and have created backups.
Originally from South Florida, Aaron Mandelkorn escaped the zombies and now calls rural Central Colorado home. He is the Owner and Solar Expert at Renewable Energy Outfitters, helping people go Off Grid with solar, wind and micro hydro energy systems. His most recent acquisition is a 1983 Conversion Van that he is turning into a undercover bug out vehicle, fit for his family of three. Always happy to talk energy, Aaron can be reached at Off Grid Depot, , where he offers a variety of products and system packages designed to power your prep.
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