Living without- challenge

[sandsnakes]

Had a visit from the local rodent population who decided that my wiring is the tastiest, if not most terminal, supper in Middlesex

Well I am now into day four of no electrickery makes life interesting when you have to choose what you are going to run from the one socket.

The question I first asked is how did my parents and grand parents manage, the one I now ask is how come we cant? So much of what we do is ‘instant on standby’ when in fact it takes only a few seconds longer to turn the power on and achieve the same result. Plugging and unplugging takes about 5 mins of my time, yet it also concentrates the mind on what I actually need or want. It’s a very informative experiment on all levels.

So I have resolved that for the next month when the floor boards are back I shall try and live for a month uing only one appliance plugged in at a time (I will make an exception for the refridgerator/freezer as its packed full ).

I will keep you all posted.

First thing you notice is that a gas kettle is more useful than an electric one.

Sandsnakes

 

[gregorach]

Interesting idea... It's not actually that long ago that people were more used to going without electrickery - even in the early 80s, we used to expect at least one multi-day power cut each winter in the village I grew up in in the Borders, so everyone was prepared for it and it wasn't really a big deal.

 

[gregorach]

Oh, and there was no mains gas in the village either...

 

[British Red]

We do several days at a time without electricity every year (not through choice).

Fridge and feezer are certainly one thing it is inconvenient to do without. The other I find is the pump for the boiler! Not having central heating or immersion heating is very inconvenient. We are fortunate in having plenty of fires etc. but lack of "hot water on demand" and waking to a cold house in winter is no fun.

It is a very sensible and useful thing to do however. An evening by candle and lantern with a log fire, a chess set and a good book is great!

Red

 

[Chance]

Our water is pumped (electrically) from a well, so we're a little vulnerable.
I got a bilge pump for emergencies; but we don't seem to have the same wire-felling snowstorms as a decade or so ago.
It's still comforting to have a shed full of seasoned and seasoning wood, though.

 

[EdS]

We do several days at a time without electricity every year (not through choice).

Fridge and feezer are certainly one thing it is inconvenient to do without. The other I find is the pump for the boiler! Not having central heating or immersion heating is very inconvenient. We are fortunate in having plenty of fires etc. but lack of "hot water on demand" and waking to a cold house in winter is no fun.

It is a very sensible and useful thing to do however. An evening by candle and lantern with a log fire, a chess set and a good book is great!

Red

Red - is it you that is banging around in my attic? I though it was the mice or rats but you nest sounds more and more like ours.

 

[EdS]

First thing you notice is that a gas kettle is more useful than an electric one.

Not when you don't have gas.

Old copper kettle and log burner works though

 

[British Red]

Red - is it you that is banging around in my attic? I though it was the mice or rats but you nest sounds more and more like ours.

Country living is country living - I can't be in anyones roofspace - mines covered in scaffolding

Might get rid of the chuffing wasps and cluster flies anyway!

Red

 

[Minotaur]

It might be me, but would it not make sense to do an Off the grid sort of set up.

A lot of the lack of Electricty problems, could be solved by a genny, and back up batteries.

Also one of the big things the off grid set have found is that a lot of stuff runs that you do not know about.

We basically build houses the way we have for the last 200 years plus. We know more, we understand more, but we still use the same tech, that gives us the same problems.

It could even be worth looking at a water system, because even the smallest change can save loads long term.

 

[British Red]

I have two gennies ( a small 1KVA for the "must run" stuff - freezer etc. and 2.5KVA for luxuries (TV etc.). I also use a 110AH deep cycle with both solar and mains charger for "portable power" (using wither an inverter, 12V female socket or 12V utility power.

Its sufficient for outages but woefully inefficient. The plans for the new place are to use a distribution panel that can be switched to generator (isolating from the mains to avoid line back issues) and longer term to use PV for minimal electricity (pump, light on low wattage etc.). In a long outage we could use a genny for high drain but have auto cutover from an array (sort of UPS).

Its certainly educational when you have to live through it repeatedly!

Red

 

[xylaria]

The question I first asked is how did my parents and grand parents manage, the one I now ask is how come we cant? So much of what we do is ‘instant on standby’ when in fact it takes only a few seconds longer to turn the power on and achieve the same result. Plugging and unplugging takes about 5 mins of my time, yet it also concentrates the mind on what I actually need or want. It’s a very informative experiment on all levels.


Sandsnakes

When I was little we lived in fishing village in ireland. It was the 1970s power cuts were normal and the TV was primitive cable that didn't work during thunder storms. We just had different things we didn't that involve getting hypnotized by a cathode ray tube. In truth it was healthier, for the mind and body not to have all the technology thats gets in the way of good conversation and children's games. Even on long family camp trips the only plug in appliance I miss is a washing machine. I would say I would miss the internet, but in reality it is a poor substitute for good company. The dark ages meet we stayed in hut with fire in middle of the room, hot water was when you needed it as pot was always on, we weren't cold or hungry. It is a slower life, and it is healthier because of it.

I am of the opinion that modern man has got it seriously wrong. We aren't meant to live in little boxes isolated from others. We aren't meant to work 8 hours + a day to pay for gadgets, energy bills, and the little boxes that keep us enslaved in a vicious cycle of wanting better bigger gadgets and boxes. When a group of people had spent a year in living in round houses in 1970s a journalist asked them what they most missed about the modern age they said after a good pause "welly boots". Health care is pretty important, washing machines liberate your day, i am not too sure about the value of anything else that is plugged in.

 

[firecrest]

As a kid we didnt have central heating so Ive always been able to tolerate the cold. When I was a student (dont laugh!) I couldnt afford the hot water as well as any heating the only electricity I used was for the oven and kettle.
Ok I say I couldnt afford it, what I really mean is that I went to college on Blackpool sea front and the money went on alcohol, fairground rides and gambling on them 10p sliding shelf machines.

But not necessarily in that order

 

[xylaria]

As a kid we didnt have central heating so Ive always been able to tolerate the cold. When I was a student (dont laugh!) I couldnt afford the hot water as well as any heating the only electricity I used was for the oven and kettle.
Ok I say I couldnt afford it, what I really mean is that I went to college on Blackpool sea front and the money went on alcohol, fairground rides and gambling on them 10p sliding shelf machines.

But not necessarily in that order

Talk about getting your priorities right.

 

[HillBill]

It may be worth getting used to no electricity for a bit. According to scientists were due for some solar storms in the next few years which have a good probability of knocking out the grid with the electromagnetic waves that will reach us. They believe it could be permanant.

http://www.newscientist.com/article...rt-90-seconds-from-catastrophe.html?full=true

http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/Space/Story?id=7384952&page=1

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,478024,00.html

http://esciencenews.com/dictionary/solar.storm

http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=12507

http://www.infowars.com/huge-solar-storm-could-shut-down-us/ (This site doesn't tell the truth apparently so don't believe it, even though it says the same as the others)


How long would it take to rebuild the whole planets grid?

( just for clarification this aint conspiracy. NASA agree so for any of you who thinks i'm talking poo poo have a look see before making comment)

 

[Colin.W]

As a kid central heating was not heard of, our hot water was by means of a back boiler behind the log/coal fire in the lounge, Dad would bank the fire up over night and shut down the damper so it would last and we would have hot water to wash with in the morning, we used to keep our bedroom doors open a little so the heat from the fire would keep the chill off the air in our bedroom over night

 

[sandsnakes]

My idea is not to go off grid though I may invest in a generator for the freezer. The idea is to pare it down to a working minimum with only one thing ever working at one time (apart from refridgeration) think of how many times you boil a kettle and watch it while the tv is on. Extend this into other areas and you begin to see a pattern of use that squanders your own money and time.

I dont live in the wilds, I do have all of the modern suburban trinkets, including hot and cold running rats, but what do I actually need to use, have on to maintain this level of existance and comfort?

Sandsnakes

 

[Barn Owl]

Boiling tatties on the coal fire,toasted bread by the fire,griddling pancakes on the fire,reading by candlelight,hot water bottles for your feet in bed...

No 'lecky is nothing new to us up here.

 

[Barn Owl]

As a kid we didnt have central heating so Ive always been able to tolerate the cold. When I was a student (dont laugh!) I couldnt afford the hot water as well as any heating the only electricity I used was for the oven and kettle.
Ok I say I couldnt afford it, what I really mean is that I went to college on Blackpool sea front and the money went on alcohol, fairground rides and gambling on them 10p sliding shelf machines.

But not necessarily in that order

Same as us all linz...about 20 yrs later...:You_Rock_

 

[xylaria]

My idea is not to go off grid though I may invest in a generator for the freezer. The idea is to pare it down to a working minimum with only one thing ever working at one time (apart from refridgeration) think of how many times you boil a kettle and watch it while the tv is on. Extend this into other areas and you begin to see a pattern of use that squanders your own money and time.

I dont live in the wilds, I do have all of the modern suburban trinkets, including hot and cold running rats, but what do I actually need to use, have on to maintain this level of existance and comfort?

Sandsnakes

The parents in law, boil the kettle once and fill a thermos. Don't tell my kids this but in exasperation on school holidays I have thrown the main fuse to stop them getting hypnotized by cathode rays. They think there is power cut, and we go out and have great time.

If you only have one appliance on at a time, like a cooker or a TV I presume there would a better use of that appliance. Like I cook better if I am not watching neighbours at the same time, I type quicker and better if I don't have the wright stuff or the radio on in the background. When camping when you are cooking on fire that is all you are doing, the activity receives more of your attention, and is more relaxing. Life is less busy and crowded. I'll give your experiment a go.

 

[Tengu]

When out and about, Im realy extravagant with energy. I have a laptop powered by the car battery.

theres so many 12v things out there.

I recently cut out my auxillary freezer, use much less energy now.

I have the computer on a lot, and that uses a fair bit. I wish I could find a flat screen. (I prefer my CRT though)

I dont have many gadgets in the house

Nor a TV.

I use about 6 units a day