Hurricane survival and batteries, the verdict

[ltiu]

Hurricane Ike.

Lost power for about 3 days and 18 hours. Got power back last night. Went through my battery inventory and the number of batteries I used up (as in used down till it is dead < 1volt reading with no load, not including partial used batteries):

1) AA rechargeable - used 18 in various area lights, ROP and battery operated electric fan.
2) D cell primary - used 8 in my battery powered electric fan as no A/C and hot and humid.
3) AA alkaline - used 8 in my Energizer EnergiToGo cell phone charger as it won't take rechargeables.
4) AAA alkaline - used 4 in my battery operated radio and speakers.
5) RCR123 rechargeable - used 4 in my SureFire 6PL that I use as a bike light.
6) C cell primary - used 2 in a my RiverRock NightFire Cree.
7) AA lithium primary (L91) - used 1 in my L1D.
8) CR123 primary - used none.

The verdict: AA rechageables are the most used followed by D cells. My battery operated electric fan is my best friend, not my flashlights.

 

[Eugene]

If I might offer a suggestion or two.
Replace the C cell light with a D or AA powered one, makes no sense to have one device that uses its own battery type. Then you don't have to stock C cells anymore.

I'd probably try to do the same with the AAA's, find radios and speakers that can use AA's then they can be powered from some of the AA rechargeables.

basically rank your use the other way, list least used then see if you can eliminate them. As you elininate different sizes you can then store more of the most used sizes.

 

[ltiu]

If I might offer a suggestion or two.
Replace the C cell light with a D or AA powered one, makes no sense to have one device that uses its own battery type. Then you don't have to stock C cells anymore.

I'd probably try to do the same with the AAA's, find radios and speakers that can use AA's then they can be powered from some of the AA rechargeables.

basically rank your use the other way, list least used then see if you can eliminate them. As you elininate different sizes you can then store more of the most used sizes.

Good suggestions.

Hard to "Get Rid" of what I already have. Made good use of what I already had.

I got my C cells (total of 48 cells in my stockpile) for 25 cents each On-Sale, 2013 expiry.

I got the C cell Cree RiverRock LightFire because it looked cool, MOP reflector and had a Cree. So I made good use of it because I already have it. Besides, this Cree based light is sooo efficient. The 2 C cells in there have been in there for a while and have been in-use for a while before the hurricane.

The AAA radio and speakers - These are Sony Walkman type radio and portable speakers. Really small. I got these for running/picnic use. But didn't really use it for running/picnic until now for the hurricane. I already have it and I made good use of it. I actually have rechargable AAA, but these were all being used in my bike blinker lights and my Petzl Tikka headlight

I could have gotten single AA to single D cell converters and forgo the use of D cell alkalines in the battery operated electric fan.

 

[Marduke]

You can use converters to use AA cells in D and C cell applications. The runtime is obviously going to be less, but the economy can't be beat, and it makes a good backup.

You can get 1xAA, 2xAA, 3xAA, and 4xAA to 1xD parallel converters of varying style and quality, and 1xAA to 1xC

 

[ltiu]

...and 1xAA to 1xC

Hmmm, I am skeprical about the 1xAA to 1xC converter. The length of the AA is longer than a C.

 

[shadowjk]

My energi to go fires up on 1.35 volts per cell, and continues working down to 1.0 or 0.9V as long as you don't interrupt it, so it works with freshly charged nimh, or ones that have just been boosted slightly

 

[Marduke]

Hmmm, I am skeprical about the 1xAA to 1xC converter. The length of the AA is longer than a C.

Just a tad. Most devices that use C cells have big springs which have plenty of cushion to absorb the tiny bit of extra length.

 

[Juggernaut]

:wave:What kind of battery operated fan did you use? Pic.s

 

[ltiu]

:wave:What kind of battery operated fan did you use? Pic.s

http://www.homeandbeyond.com/prod-0...=86451217&zmas=17&zmac=45&zmap=sku-0172764-00


http://www.thegreathardwarestore.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=741635&click=2744


Cheap! But man was it a life saver for those hot humid evenings without the ac.

 

[ltiu]

My energi to go fires up on 1.35 volts per cell, and continues working down to 1.0 or 0.9V as long as you don't interrupt it, so it works with freshly charged nimh, or ones that have just been boosted slightly

Hmmm, my experience with Eneloops are that EnergiToGo stops charging at 1.3v.

Maybe it depends on the phone. I have a Samsung. What phone do you have?

 

[Black Rose]

Cheap! But man was it a life saver for those hot humid evenings without the ac.

The remnants of Ike came through here on Sunday.

Holy crap was it humid. I can't imagine what it was like being where you are.

 

[ltiu]

The remnants of Ike came through here on Sunday.

Holy crap was it humid. I can't imagine what it was like being where you are.

And I betcha you guys don't have AC where you are, with or without power.

 

[qwertyydude]

One thing you could also try is to have a spare car battery on an automatic float charger in a safe location, a hobby level quick charger and appropriate battery holders sealed in a plastic bag near the battery. That way you can have upwards of 100 amp hours of capacity which should be able to charge numerous flashlight batteries on the fly.

You can reduce the need for a giant stockpile of alkalines that can go bad. Just keep a set of LSD nimh on a normal rotation. In an emergency you can then recharge the dead ones in less time it takes to use them usually about an hour, while using the good ones.

I like the pro-peak prodigy II charger. It has a switching and boosting power supply, so it's efficient. And it can charge nicd, nimh, li-ion, lipo, and lead acids.

 

[ltiu]

One thing you could also try is to have a spare car battery on an automatic float charger

Good idea.

Another good idea is to go get a generator. $600 gets you a decent one.

 

[qwertyydude]

I'd say the generator is the best way to go, you can get cheap ones too at your local auto store. They're cheap and work, only problem is they're loud, but in an emergency I'd rather have that than nothing. Remember your priority is to save the food in your fridge so get one with at least enough capacity to do that.

 

[jchoo]

Be careful with loud generators. Although you may not mind the noise, that unmistakable sound is a magnet for looters and thieves. Remember, they're without power too.

 

[ltiu]

Be careful with loud generators. Although you may not mind the noise, that unmistakable sound is a magnet for looters and thieves. Remember, they're without power too.

A lot of people died AFTER Ike due to carbon monoxide poisoning. Fear of losing their generators to thieves made people run their generators inside.

 

[Marduke]

Sounds like the perfect place to put a big sign that says "This generator is bobby trapped. Do you want to find out how?"








*Note to the hypersensitive: I am not advocating to booby trap a generator, just to put a sign up that says otherwise.

 

[Black Rose]

And I betcha you guys don't have AC where you are, with or without power.

We have a portable AC unit for the times when the glaciers recede

 

[turbodog]

I'd say the generator is the best way to go, you can get cheap ones too at your local auto store. They're cheap and work, only problem is they're loud, but in an emergency I'd rather have that than nothing. Remember your priority is to save the food in your fridge so get one with at least enough capacity to do that.

If a fridge's worth of food is your sole goal then a generator is foolish. Why spend the time, money, and aggravation babysitting a genset to save $100 worth of food? You'll spend $20/day in fuel for a typical generator, and that's assuming you already have the fuel and don't have to drive and get it.