Patriot Express Newsletter Edition #131
Fellow Patriots,
Greetings and welcome to the Patriot Express Newsletter Edition #131. Thank you for stopping by to share your time with HFS. I want to extend a big HFS welcome to the newcomers. Do you ever feel like you are in a matrix or a blur of sorts? This week has certainly seemed like we are living through some sort of reality show. Just when you believe you have witnessed something you deem to be the craziest thing ever, something else wins out. Like the old saying said "it's so crazy I can't even make this stuff up."
I have been reading a lot of message traffic on supply chain issues becoming more relevant as we move closer to the winter months and holidays. Will there be hams and turkeys come Thanksgiving and Christmas? Will you be able to afford it? How much pain will the American people endure before they wake up to see what is happening? I read unleaded gasoline cost could reach an average cost over $4 per gallon. Many of you may not have lived through the 1976 - 1980 years of President Jimmy Carter but what we are seeing today is a flashback to the Carter period. Let's pray it improves or the next three years could be extremely painful and trying on our great nation. In the meantime "we the people" will have to suck it up the best we can.
Let us move along...
Hope for Survival now a Satellite Phone Affiliate - The month of October is continuing like September with Patriots jumping on the Satellite Phone deal. I can share numerous reasons why a Satellite Phone fits great in your preparedness plans. I can tell you many reasons why it is a great resource to have day to day. If and when a disaster strikes, I personally want every tool available to me for surviving and keeping my family and friends safe. It is that simple.
Owning a Satellite Phone offers a great communication advantage to a Family Communication Plan. Several of our HFS Patriots jumped on this deal over the past 90 days. Here is a link to more information on this topic. Hope for Survival - Satellite Phone Affiliate If you have decided you want a satellite phone already, go to the HFS website main page or blog page to find a box on the upper left and right sides. They are preloaded with the HFS Code. Check it out here as well :Blog | Survival (hopeforsurvival.com) If you have any questions please feel free to email me at Preparedness101@hopeforsurvival.com These phones are available until they sell out. If you purchased a phone already or plan to do so, watch this short video as Justin walks you through some simple steps to assist you. It's as easy as 1, 2, 3.
Thursday Zoom Rallies – HFS Zoom Rally #71 was conducted with topics covering Article 4, Section 4, the Guarantee Clause of the Constitution, we then switched over to Nano Technology and shared information on Nanotubular, Bioengineering and Teslaphoresis, for biomedical use, and then a discussion on what we have lived through in 2021. We then conducted our chatter that matters session. It was great spending time together for our weekly zoom rally. Thanks to those who attended.
Hope for Survival YouTube - New Patriots will find many helpful videos on canning, food preparedness, security and defense in depth, firearm safety discussions, canning meat, and other important topics. (5) Hope For Survival - YouTube
If you have not already, please consider subscribing to the HFS YouTube channel. We would appreciate your consideration. Because I still work a full time day job, time is limited and I have not been able to set up a routine schedule for recording and posting videos yet. Thanks for hanging with me. Share the link with family and friends. Thanks to everyone who subscribed in the past week few weeks.
HFS Mobile Training:
If you would like HFS to come to your community to conduct training classes or speak on the importance of preparedness feel free to contact me.
Communications: You can now follow HFS social media on the following outlets:
Facebook – Hope for Survival
YouTube Channel – Hope for Survival
MeWe: - //mewe.com/p/hopeforsurvival2
Connect and give me a shout. Share with family and friends.
HFS Digital Football Stick - In the event you have not been a part of the Thursday Zoom Rallies, read my books, or watched my most recent HFS YouTube video on the Digital football and how to build one, you can check it out here. https://youtu.be/x5L0bj6YXyw While on the HFS YouTube page consider subscribing to the HFS YouTube channel. Several folks asked me to do the video to explain how to do the digital football. Since then, several folks commented it was to hard or they didn't have the computer skills to do it. So, if we can get enough interest from HFS Patriots, I will get HFS monogrammed USB Memory Sticks and load the digital football on the stick for you and then mail them out to you. Then all you would need to do is scan all your important documents and load them in the prebuilt folders on the stick I would send to you. The sticks are $25. Here is what they they look like.
If you think you would like to have one of the sticks please email me at preparedness101@protonmail.com in the next few days to let me know your interest. You can order more than one if you desire. They would make a great Christmas gift to go along with one or both of the HFS books on preparedness. NOTE: I have 11 of the 75 ordered sticks remaining.
Guest and Newcomers
If you are a guest or newcomer to the HFS journey, please check out this link for additional
information offered through HFS. https://www.hopeforsurvival.com/post/guest-and-newcomers-information-page
Hope for Survival books: The holidays are approaching quickly and now is a great time to order and receive copies of my two preparedness books. In the past HFS members purchase books for family members who may be in their early stages of preparedness. It is also a good time to purchase books because all proceeds off the books goes to a local charity to fund food for those in need. The number in need today is high and they will go higher going in to winter as many work seasonal jobs or others who are losing jobs because of no vaccination. HFS donates the largest amount to this cause during the holiday period to help ensure all families will have a good meal over Thanksgiving and/or Christmas. HFS is very appreciative to past purchases of my books to help support this growing need.
You can obtain information on the two HFS books at this link: Survival, Preparedness, Disaster Management for individuals or family (hopeforsurvival.com)
Hope for Survival - How Food, Water, Shelter, and Security Could Save Your Life (Book 1)
Hope for Survival - The Mindset (Book 2)
We must make this brief public announcement to protect the innocent.
Ding, Ding, Ding....Attention HFS readers..... Opinions shared in this newsletter are just that, opinions, and nothing more. Read at your own risk. The owner and author of this site is not responsible for hurt feelings or thin-skinned readers. I do my best to show restraint and respect to the best extent possible. I take as many precautions as possible and try to remain as nonpolitical as possible, however, there are times when I just can't help but point certain things out. Occasionally I use words only Patriots recognize and understand. It's not personal against any non-Patriot. It's just the truth. Sometimes we must pull up our spenders and suck it up. Just saying. Stay the course, read what you want, and avoid the rest. Avoid fear porn as much as possible and the day will be okay. When all else fails… Keep the faith and always have Hope.
Let’s move along and get to some thoughts...
Thoughts for the week –
As most of you know or have figured out by now my favorite part of Hope for Survival is spending time in the field with all our Patriot sister and brothers who are working different projects and simply being good Americans. I also semi-monitor folks popping on to the website as time will allow and I see a person from Los Angeles, CA stopping by a few times per week. If this person is reading please drop me a email let me connect with you to hear your story and how you are doing in California. I would appreciate it much. We have a few folks living here in TN and NC who relocated from Cali and are now part of HFS. HFS has picked up some readers on the western coast in Eugene, OR, Wala Wala, Washington, and down in Arizona as well.
I had the opportunity to spend some time with several of our HFS Patriots over the past week. Last Saturday morning was beautiful for a drive so I headed south to North Carolina to catch up with a few. I also got to meet one of HFS newest members over at Carolina Readiness Supply. It is always an honor to meet face to face and shake hands with American loving Patriots. Do you ever feel the same way? After a bit of a chat I met up with a couple HFS Patriots for lunch and a great discussion covering A-Z on preparedness, faith, hydroponics, canning, gardening, rabbits, medicinal plants, communications and so forth. I think we all left with tired jaws because we certainly made great use of the time we shared. These meet ups are really productive and I personally learn a great deal from other preparers and it also helps to keep relationships across HFS on a personal level. It would be very easy for a person to spend hours behind the keyboard writing and simply see the receivers as numbers and not humans. I never want to become like the Federal Government and our ELECTED politicians who work for us yet see us as voters and numbers. We the people are human. I believe this is where the ship went astray.
For those of you who are located in or near Waynesville, NC and need to spend more time preparing, our Patriot sister and brother over at Carolina Readiness Supply had a very stocked store when I was visiting last Saturday. This will not last. If you need it you better take advantage of this opportunity ASAP. Supplies are dwindling across this great nation. I do believe the train whistle is blowing and about to leave the station. Is your window screen up or down? Are you paying attention to your surroundings?
I also got to have dinner with a neighborhood Patriot brother midweek and we had a nice chat over dinner before I had to depart for a meeting. We had a great meal and conversation on numerous preparedness topics to include him showing me one of his ongoing projects involving his solar setup and pumping water from a backup source....remember "one is none, two is one, and three is better."
Next ....
As the world and national stage escalates and prices soar, many preparers are asking important questions about food storage, water treatment, and alternative power. From generators to windmills, what is the best alternative? I am a firm believer at the end of the day we will have wood and the sun. That would translate to something that burns for heat and something that collects the sun rays and converts it to energy and power. So I have pulled out past information posted on PENL to share again.
By Just In Case Jack
Man, there’s an awful lot of confusion (and misinformation) about portable solar generators.
Seems like every week I get tons of questions about them.
For example:
How do they work? Won’t they be worthless on cloudy days? Will it keep me safe if I lose power? What about a long-term outage? Can I buy a small unit today and expand later? Which solar generator is best?
I get it. These are the very same questions I had.
But the bottom line is:
We all want to know if they’re a reliable source of backup power generation.
That’s why I’ve been digging into this new technology. Sorting fact from fiction.
Looking for answers to all your questions, and more.
So let’s dive into the following solar powered generator topics:
What A Solar Generator & How It Works
Limitations Of Portable Solar Generators
Who Should Get A Solar Generator
Best Portable Solar Generators
Why You Must Have And Electrical Plan B
What Is A Solar Generator & How It Works
Before we can discuss solar generators in a meaningful way, we must first learn the basics.
It’s crucial you understand what a solar generator is and how it works.
Because a solar generator is different than a fuel based generator.
Yes, both convert raw energy into a useable energy source. But, instead of using fuel as the raw energy, solar generators harness the power of the sun.
So, let’s talk about the components that make up a solar generator and how they work.
A solar generator consists of 2 main components:
Solar panel Portable power generator
1 – Solar Panels
Solar panels are the technology that converts sunlight into electricity.
They do this by using the sunlight to knock electrons free from atoms. This knocking free of electrons generates a flow of electricity.
Or more simply put, the sun’s energy excites molecules which creates a flow of electricity. If you get that, that’s all the technical understanding you need.
The bottom line is solar panels turn sunlight into DC power.
2 – Portable Power Generator
A portable solar power generator is also made up of two main components
Inverter Battery
The inverter turns the DC power from the panel into more usable AC power.
Solar generators also include a storage battery. That way, if any of the power captured by the panels is not being used, you don’t lose that power.
Instead, it becomes potential energy stored in the battery for later use.
The battery ensures there’s power available in an emergency.
Solar generators also include various power outlets. These are like power outlets in your home.
They allow you to plug electrical cords, power tools or appliances into the generator.
Solar Generators vs. Fuel Generators
Now we have a basic understanding of what a portable solar generator is and how it works. So let’s move to the more interesting and important topic of WHY.
Why should you invest in a solar powered generator? Why not stick to old technology you’ve always relied on – namely fossil fuels – for your backup power needs?
To answer that question, we must look at the pros and cons of solar generators vs. fuel generators.
Then we can take that information to make an informed decision.
Fuel Is Expensive
We all know too well that fuel is not free.
It costs serious money to fill up our vehicles several times per month.
The reason fuel costs as much as it does is due to a long chain of processes. It takes money to get oil out of the ground and to transport that oil to oil refineries. It costs money for refineries to convert oil into fuel and distribute it to your local gas station.
And of course, gas stations have operating costs as well. Those costs – plus profit taking at each step – plus taxes – are what make up the price you pay at the pump.
And as we all know, those prices go up and down depending on hundreds of variables.
But when you fill up your vehicle, it’s definitely not free.
And if you’re serious about preparing for a future disaster, these costs will add up. If you want to run your fuel generator more than just a few days you’ll need to stock up.
That’s when the cost of choosing a fuel generator starts to seriously add up.
And if you think, “I’ll store a small amount today and stockpile more later” – think again.
Bad idea. That’s what everyone else does.
But fuel is one of the first materials to run out after a major disaster. You’ll quickly discover it’s all gone and if you do find some, it will be crazy expensive due to the laws of supply and demand.
But all these stockpiling expenses melt away with solar.
With solar, your fuel is FREE.
Yes, the portable solar generator itself is not free, but the energy necessary to convert the power is.
So you don’t have the same headaches of stockpiling a massive amount of it ahead of time. Or the ongoing fear of running out amid widespread panic.
You get an emergency power system today, with zero ongoing fuel costs.
This is one of the most attractive features of owning a solar powered generator.
Fuel Can Be Dangerous and Difficult To Store
Ok, back to that stockpiling fuel headache.
Not only will stockpiling fuel put a significant dent in your pocketbook. It’s also challenging to store it safely and for the long haul. Liquid fuels are highly flammable. Gasoline fumes are highly explosive. And diesel is dangerous as well.
So they are not something you want to store in bulk anywhere near your home. Sure, storing a small gas can or two in your garage for your lawnmower is fine. But not several large barrels of the stuff. For that, you’ll want to keep it far away from where you eat, sleep, and live.
Instead, you’ll need to store these fuels in a backyard shed or a fuel tank on a rack.
Doing this adds even more hassles and more costs.
Plus, backyard sheds are not known to be air-conditioned spaces. So now you’re exposing combustible fuels to extreme hot and cold temperatures – not good.
And it might even be illegal for you to store a lot of fuel. Local laws rarely allow bulk storage of fuels in residential neighborhoods. And even if you could, you still have the issue of fuels having a limited shelf life.
So now you’ll have to treat the fuel every so often with a fuel stabilizer. Or you could put a fuel rotation plan in place to use old fuel and replace it with new fuel.
The bottom line is storing a lot of fuel for a long-term backup plan is one big ol’ headache!
But with a solar generator, you avoid this entire issue. You can safely store a solar generator almost anywhere. In your basement, garage, portable garage, bedroom, bathroom, wherever….
It’s there for when you need it, safely tucked away wherever it makes sense.
The sun is “storing” your fuel for you. You just have to capture that fuel as it passes by – day in and day out.
Fuel Stockpiles Eventually Run Out
Another fatal flaw with fuel generators is fossil fuels are not a renewable resource.
Once you use up all your fuel, you’ll have to get more. And if you can’t get more, your backup power generator becomes a big expensive paperweight.
Your plan B just came to an end. You’re dead in the water. You’re up a creek without a paddle.
But the sun’s rays (from our perspective) is an infinite power source. Sure, the sun will stop shinning someday – it does technically have a finite amount of fuel.
But we’re talking billions of years from now (5 billion to be exact). So for all intents and purposes, it will never run out.
With a solar powered generator, even if you run short of power today, you’re never completely dead in the water. There’s always more energy to capture and convert tomorrow.
Gives a whole new meaning to lyrics “The sun will come up tomorrow…”. Of course, cloudy days will “rain on your parade.” But in time those will pass as well.
Fuel Generators Are Noisy
We all know fuel generators are noisy buggers.
There’s a reason why campgrounds restrict generator usage times. Noisy generators can wake an entire campsite.
But, with a solar generator, you can throw those restrictions out the window. You can quietly generate power whenever the sun is shining without making a peep. And this no noise setup is not only handy for campgrounds. It’s strategic in the event of a prolong widespread disaster.
In a long-term power outage, the last thing you want is to notify your neighbors you have a generator.
You don’t want those who don’t have power (but would love some) to start snooping around. If someone knows you’ve got a generator you can bet someone’s going to want it.
This goes double for a situation where power is out indefinitely. But with a solar generator, you avoid this entire racket altogether.
Fuel Generators Create Fumes
Finally, with traditional fuel generators, you have to deal with the fumes.
The way fuel generators work is with lots of mini explosions. These small explosions create a lot of energy. But they also produce a nasty byproduct – poisonous fumes.
These fumes are harmful to breathe. That’s why you should never let your car warm up in an enclosed garage. These poisonous fumes can kill in dense amounts.
Usually, these fumes release into the atmosphere where they can do less immediate harm. The poisonous fumes become diluted in the atmosphere. But, solar creates zero fumes. It’s a zero emission technology. Making solar generator’s a “green” technology as well.
The Limitations of Portable Solar Generators
Ok, so if I stopped writing here, you’d walk about with only half the story. You’d be missing what you need to make an informed decision. But here at Skilled Survival, we don’t do that.
We provide you with all the information you need to figure out what’s best for you and your family.
That’s why we want you to understand the limitations of solar generators in their current form.
Their Output Is Somewhat Limited
Portable solar generators are not complete home grid power replacements.
If that were the case, we’d all be buying and living off solar generators, right?
Sure, some large, expensive solar array systems on a roof can offset all your energy needs. But that takes several thousands of dollars and permits and contractors.
Instead, we’re talking about a portable backup power generator at a much lower price point.
These units do capture a fair amount of energy. But not enough to replace the amount of energy a typical household uses daily.
Most American homes have ALL the following devices:
a refrigerator
a heating and cooling system
several TVs
lights everywhere
a deep freezer
multiple computers
smartphones
C-Pap (or other medical related devices)etc. etc. etc.
To date, portable solar generators are not capable of capturing that level of power. And to be honest, they cannot produce as much power as a comparably priced fuel generator.
So you’re spending more money up front to produce less sustainable power. Bummer, I know.
So you have to weigh this against all the pros of solar powered generators.
Now, remember, the upfront costs may be more, but you have to think about the long-term costs as well. Plus, all the other positives of a solar generator.
But no matter if you choose a fuel generator or a solar generator for backup power, you’ll have to prioritize.
For example, you need to figure out which appliances and devices are essential and which ones are not.
Remember, you’re purchasing an emergency backup power system. That means you’ll have power for a few emergency necessities.
And NO, bing watching Game Of Thrones is not a necessity.
They Cost More Upfront
We touched on this already, but solar generators are an investment. The best ones do cost a few more dollars upfront.
But don’t forget traditional generators have ongoing fuel costs you must consider.
So the more you use your solar powered generator, the more affordable it becomes. This is especially true when compared to a traditional fuel-based generator. Plus, there are so many intangible costs to consider as well such as:
- the cost of running out of fuel
- excessive noise
- fuel storage safety concerns
- harmful fumes
So you have to think long-term and big picture.
That’s how you decide whether the upfront investment is worth it for YOU.
Recharging Is Not Instantaneous
It takes time for a solar panel to recharge a battery.
Solar panels are not an on and off device. The power they capture fluctuates based on the power of the sun.
Solar panels are affected by the angle of the sun to their surface. If you set your panel in a fixed position and let the sun move across the sky, you’ll get a curve of power production.
It will start out small, ramping up to peak, hold peak power conversion for a while, and then back down to zero.
The hope is you can produce enough power over this time to run your appliances and charge by solar your battery. Then use the stored backup battery power from sundown to sun up (overnight).
Again, you’ll have to look at the appliances you need and how often to use them. This is all about smart power supply management!
Of course, the more panels you have, the more power you can produce in a given time frame. But if you charge your battery too quickly, you’ll need more batteries to store any excess energy.
But expansion is not always as simple as buying more panels or batteries.
Many Units Cannot Be Easily Expanded
Components in the ready-made solar generators are not typically designed for easy expansion.
When you buy a ready-made portable solar generator, you can’t easily upgrade the inverter. You can’t add a bigger battery (at least not internally). Nor can you increase the photovoltaic surface area or install a better inverter.
Some models do allow you to add more solar panels to increase the speed of recharging. But eventually, you’ll hit the upper limit of the inverter in a ready-made generator.
So for the most part, you get what you get with a ready-made solar powered generator.
If this is a big concern of yours, you should check out some DIY solar generator options (covered later).
Repair Can Be Difficult
Solar panels and power generators are not devices that are simple to repair. They take unique components and serious expertise to fix.
In the case of solar panels, it’s typically more cost effective to buy new ones as opposed to trying to repair them.
Fortunately, newer solar panels are extremely durable and are difficult to break. Most of the ones built nowadays can even handle extreme hail storms.
So the odds are low that you’d need to repair a portable solar generator repair. But if you do, it’s not going to be as easy as changing a tire or replacing wiper blades.
Who Should Get A Solar Generator
So now that we’ve covered all the aspects of solar generators, it’s time to figure out if they make sense for YOU.
Of course, that depends upon your situation and your survival plans.
And since I cannot answer that question for you, I’ll provide some general thoughts instead. To give you some general guidelines on when a solar generators purchase is good and when it’s not.
If you consider a solar powered generator as an emergency back up and not a full replacement, then they are a good purchase. They are not a direct replacement for your homes power consumption. If that’s what you were hoping for, you’re mistaken. Heck, even a sizeable nonportable fuel based home generators struggle with such a task. And those cost tens of thousands of dollars.
A reasonably priced portable backup generator system (solar or fuel) requires prioritization.
Prioritization Questions:
Do you want one to run a small refrigerator in a crisis? Great a solar generator may be able to do that, but that will be about all it can do.
Do you want to run a CPAP machine and charge a few smartphones? Great, but then running a freezer as well won’t be possible.
Do you want a way to have some lights at night and be able to use your microwave several times a day? Perfect.
So you’ll need to think about your energy needs in a holistic way. You’ll have to prioritize.
For example – one of the best solar generators can provide up to 1,500 continuous watts of power. That about enough energy to charge the following devices:
- cell phone
- tablet
- a few lights
- a small appliance
- or a critical medical device
Obviously, this depends on the energy needs of all these devices when added together.
Or maybe, just maybe, with proper power management, you could power your freezer NDEFINITELY.
If you can do this, you’ll never have to worry about your food reserves going bad.
But the point is a single solar generator cannot do it all. If you want to get it all, you’ll have to buy more solar generators. But that comes at a significant cost increase.
One way to be strategic with your limited power is to invest in solar lighting. That way, you won’t lose any of your solar generator’s power to light. Solar lanterns have built-in solar panels and use LED lighting technology. Now, your emergency lighting needs are met by a separate self-sustaining solar device.
Here’s a post about solar lanterns that sounds interesting to you.
So the bottom line is this:
You must fully understand what a solar powered generator can and cannot due. That’s how you make it a wise survival investment.
Best Portable Solar Generators
Ok, so after all that, if you’re like me, you’re still interested in the power of solar generators.
The pros more than outweigh the cons, and now it’s a matter of finding the best solar generator for you.
But this technology is relatively new and it's expanding rapidly.
So it’s no small feat to figure out which ones are worth your hard-earned dollars.
Many new solar powered generator brands and models are cropping up every month. However, we’ve done a ton of research for you. Looking for the very best solar generators available on the market today.
The ones you should seriously consider for your back up energy and survival needs.
Goal Zero Yeti Lithium Portable Power Station
The Goal Zero Yeti is an excellent solar powered generator. But most of these models don’t come with a solar panel (sold separately).
They have several models and sizes to choose from:
So while the Yeti 3000 has more power capacity but also costs more money. But the Yeti 400 is more affordable and more suited for smaller devices and tasks.
All the units include two AC outlets (300W continuous, 1200W surge), three 2.4A USB ports, and two 12V output ports.
The weight of each unit varies based on the model but ranges from 17 lbs for the 400 series up to 75 pounds for the 3000 series.
Inergy Kodiak 1100 Watt (1.1kWh) Power Bank Solar Generator
The Inergy Kodiak Solar Generator is another popular option in the survival and preparedness world. That’s because it’s one of the only units to include an external battery bank connection. This allows you to add more batteries to the Inergy Kodiak to store even more backup power for an emergency.
Some of the basic features of the Inergy Kodiak are:
Its an ultra-lightweight option at about 20 lbs.
Expandable with deep cycle lead acid batteries
Solar charging – minimum charge time 2.5 hours
1100 Watt-hour lithium-ion battery and is rated for up to 2000 cycles
It’s another great solar generator option worth taking a closer look at.
Note: solar panels are sold separately with this unit.
AIMTOM Portable Solar Generator
The AIMTOM Portable Solar Generator is the most affordable option on this list, but it also has the most power limitations.
This unit is perfect to charge a few devices around a campsite, but it won’t work as well for backup emergency power.
It’s rated for 155Wh with two 110V/ 100 watt AC outlets so it’s more of a badass portable solar charger than a solar generator. However, it can provide power for small home appliances (max 100 watts), laptops, CPAP, etc.
The AIMTOM has three 5V USB output for phones, iPad, GPS, mp3, camera, RC helicopter, etc.
And three 12V output ports (max 180W, with a cigarette socket) for car devices and more.
Plus, there are also three ways you can recharge it.
You can use a supported solar panel (not included), a car charger or an AC wall charger.
The AIMTOM only weighs 3.48 lbs and includes an easy-carry handle. Designed to be a travel-friendly power station. Take and use it pretty much anywhere.
Note: this solar powered generator doesn’t come with a solar panel (sold separately).
DIY Solar Powered Generator
Now if you want a solar generator, but you don’t like the price, you could always go the DIY route.
However, this is not a project for the faint of heart. It should only be attempted by those who are proficient in the world of DIY.
Or put another way, this is NOT a DIY project you should cut your teeth on.
The good news is there are blueprints available on how to build a DIY solar generator system. These blueprints are a step by step solution to build one for a fraction of the cost.
Sure, the blueprints cost a few dollars, but just think of all the money, time, and headaches you’ll save.
Why Everyone Should Have An Electrical Backup Plan
Some people believe all technology is dangerous.
Thinking all technological advancements are moving us all further away from a culture of self-reliance. And instead, moving more towards a culture of helpless fools.
It’s an idea captured perfectly in one of my favorite quotes:
“What we call survival today is what our great-great-grandparents called everyday life.”
And mostly they are right. Here are just a few of the technologies that make us less self-reliant:
The Power Grid The Food Distribution Network Corporate Farming Food Manufacturing Interstate Delivery Grocery Stores Refrigeration The Water Distribution Network etc.
These “advancements” have made us more dependent on these advancements for our survival.
Take one of them away, and all hell breaks loose. Because when these “societal advancements” fail, few people have a real plan B. They have no way to survive without help and handouts.
Sure, in ordinary life, technology is beneficial. When things are functioning smoothly, it’s awe-inspiring. But that’s the problem; that’s precisely what makes it so dangerous.
Modern-day technological systems are as convenient as hell. But they come at the cost of our self-reliance
We become conditioned to helplessness. In times of severe trouble, the real costs of these technologies will become known.
The pain, suffering, and loss will be horrific. Now imagine a widespread, prolonged blackout. How many people could survive a few months without power? Sadly, not many.
But not all technologies are bad.
There are a few technologies being developed that do the opposite. Ones that make us MORE self-reliant!
One of those technologies is the solar generator and that’s why you should invest in one.
The Final Word
The solar powered generators available today are impressive and worth the cost of admission. They are the future of self-reliance that welcomes this sort of technology.
Getting a solar generator (or a traditional generator if you prefer) in place is critical.
You have to have a backup power plan for everyday emergencies and blackouts. And if you’re like me, you’ll want to have a longer-term blackout power plan in place as well.
Therefore solar powered generators deserve a place in that plan.
Remember: Prepare, Adapt, and Overcome,
“Just In Case” Jack
Here is two additional articles the PENL posted in the past months.
Solar Generators - Patriot vs Titan (hopeforsurvival.com)
Propane vs Gas Generator: Which is best? (hopeforsurvival.com)
And that is it for my thoughts this week. Let's move along now to some preparedness and other news for the week.
Preparedness News –
1. From Bernie Carr - Apartment Prepper - Shortages are Getting Worse: Prepare Now – Apartment Prepper - I know we all don't live in the apartment environment but the author offers some good advice on ways to cut corners in preparing.
2. From Jill Winger - The Prairie Homestead - How to Store and Use Bulk Pantry Goods • The Prairie Homestead - I often hear complaints of preparers trying to identify new locations to safely store resources because of quantity. Keep in mind when identifying locations for storage one must consider climate, storage security from rodents, bugs, and thieves. We all like to have easy access to use our resources in order to rotate dates.
3. From Linda Loosli - Food Storage Moms - 25 Items I Recommend For Your Spice Rack - Food Storage Moms - Ahh, a simple addition some often overlook. When your menu consists of beans and rice, rice and beans, beans, rice, and then beans and rice again, wouldn't some flavoring be nice? You can pick up lots of spices on bargain stores such as Big Lot, Dollar General, and other bargain type locations. With a little more work you can grow your own. Don't forget this important addition to your food plan.
4. From Hillsborough Homesteading - Homemade Recipe For Fire Cider for Colds and Flus (hillsborough-homesteading.com) - Maybe I have been asleep on this one. Over the past few months I am seeing more and more conversations on fire cider. This is an addition I have added to my resource planning. You may want to add this to your printed library.
5. From R.B. - Survival Blog - Seed Harvesting Tips for Survival - Part 1, by R.B. (survivalblog.com) - I know many preparers purchase #10 cans to put away for future need. What many fail to recognize is the number of seeds they are missing or losing out on daily when they purchase and prepare vegetables in their meals and do not extract a portion of seeds to save for future use. This is a great article to help you along.
Other News -
1. From Tom Ozikmen - EPOCH Times - Food Prices Hit Highest Level in a Decade (theepochtimes.com) - iI don't want to say "we told you so" because this is a serious issue for many. Yet, here at HFS we warned members a year ago of the coming food crisis and cost increases by as much as 70% by Oct 2021. It is here now and it will continue to worsen through the winter. Many Americans will either starve or freeze to death because they must decide between food, heat, medicine, or health insurance.
2. From Toby Cowern - The Organic Prepper - The 7 Pillars of Urban Preparedness - The Organic Prepper - This is a great article for preparers to consider. If you read book 1 in the Hope for Survival series you will have your bases covered as we covered the same points in detail. It never hurts to hear or read the same points reinforced again.
3. From Tyler Durden - ZeroHedge - 15 Common Dynamics Of SHTF Collapses | ZeroHedge - Festus sent me this article and it is worth your time to cross check your current mindset. TD makes some great points to the reader for consideration. I would specifically recognize points #3, 5, 6, and 12. HFS has continued to recommend preparers focus on the cause and effect scenario. Preparers tend to focus on the big picture and never give consideration to how it will impact them locally. They fail to realize many situations they can't change and spend hours per day stressed and focused on the big picture and fail to give focus to how it will impact them locally. I don't wish what could be ahead on anyone. Having experienced and witnessed much of these situations in my former life, many Americans will fail and die because of stress caused by situations they can't control. The ramifications of SHTF that reveals death, demise, disease, violence, remnants of civil war, economic collapse results, starvation, and on and on will be more than many citizens can handle. The more a person or family prepares the more secure they become mentally. If your situation allows you to eat a meal and sleep at night will be a plus. How well you prepare today will determine how well you survive a SHTF situation. The atrocities I witnessed where man turned on man was at times beyond comprehension. It is war. War is violent and unforgiving. Driving through neighborhoods and seeing the heads of men from the home posted on mail box stumps was mentally challenging as a witnessing bystander. What could drive a human to commit such violence to another human. My personal unanswered question remains to be how many Americans will survive the mental aspect of SHTF vs lacking preparedness resources.
4. From Theodore Roosevelt Malloch - American Greatness - The Great Divorce: Divided We Stand › American Greatness (amgreatness.com) - Sometimes it certainly seems it would be easier to divide this great nation so the different ideologies could live in peace and those who desire to prosper could do so.
5. From Tyler Durden via Eric Snowden - ZeroHedge - Snowden: Your Money AND Your Life | ZeroHedge - This is a long article but very much worth your time. This should give some clarity on the differences in cryptocurrency and other monetary systems and then allow the reader to get a better understanding of what Festus and I have been talking about as far as a government managed system vs the owner of the hard earned funds. (Thanks Festus for sending this my way).
Drum roll...........
That's all my Patriot brothers and sisters.
Prayers - Please keep our great nation, our elected leaders, military and first responders in your thoughts and prayers. We pray for good health and wisdom. Please pray for our leadership to find answers and guidance to the problems facing our great nation. May your faith remain strong and answers to the unknown provided. God is good and may our prayers blanket and protect you and your circumstances. I pray for each, and every one of our Patriots.
May we pray for all the blessings and things in life to be thankful about and continued hope for revival around the world. We must continually pray for the unsaved, our family and friends who live each day without the protection for eternal life and salvation.
Please pray for our Patriot sister and brother in Huntsville, AL who are going through the dreaded Covid now. We pray for quick recovery and strength coming out of it.
Please keep our Patriot brother in Huntsville, AL in your thoughts and prayers as he recovers from emergency surgery. He has been released to go home for further recovery.
Many HFS Patriots are in touch situations and having to choose between the Covid-19 vaccine or losing their jobs. Please pray for wisdom and discernment as these folks move forward with a decision.
We have Patriots with personal prayer needs and/or family members with prayer needs as well.
As we have prayer needs for answers to health and family matters we also have prayers of thanks for recent health answers and recoveries.
We all must pray strong and often for the citizens of our great nation. Many of our sisters and brothers are struggling daily with things they witness, encounter, and are surprised with out of the norm. Many times we are in unchartered areas, however, we still must keep our faith and focus on the big picture. Our prayers and faithful strength together will be required often to battle the evils being thrown upon all of us minute by minute.
As Patriots we must stay strong and never give up. Our home, community and nation needs us now more than ever. Stay focused on your local community and things that will impact you around the nation. Don't allow the events around you to create fear in your life. Build your own self-reliance and focus on hope. Remember we are a blessed nation and we must continue to be great people today and make a better tomorrow. Keep charging.
Blessings,
Bravo Echo Out,
Preparedness101@protonmail.com
