Survive without light in the heat: useful tips

Power outages this summer have become a serious problem for Ukrainians, especially in today's world where we depend on electricity for almost every aspect of our lives. From refrigerators and lighting to the Internet and kitchen appliances, electricity is an integral part of our daily lives. In situations where the lights in homes go out, it is important to have a plan of action to ensure comfort and safety for yourself and your family.

How to provide power for devices and gadgets if there is no light

There are many options for where to get light if the electricity is cut off. Everything depends on needs and financial capabilities. One of the following devices can save you:

Powerbanks

A power bank is a compact device that allows you to charge various gadgets, from smartphones to tablets. Especially powerful power banks can charge even laptops, which makes them indispensable for those who work remotely or often travel.

If you want to buy a power bank, pay attention to the capacity of its built-in battery, which is measured in milliampere-hours (mAh), because the higher this indicator, the more devices you can charge.

Charging station

The charging station is designed for charging various electronic devices, such as smartphones, tablets, laptops, players and others. They can have different wattages and can run on different energy sources, such as the fixed power grid, solar panels, car cigarette lighters or batteries. In situations where there is no light, this is one of the best options for maintaining the operation of household appliances.

Manufacturers offer different models by power and, accordingly, by price. The most compact ones with a power of 300 W are relatively cheap, from 2 to 5 thousand hryvnias, they can provide power for several small gadgets and a laptop. More serious ones, with a power of up to 600 W, can support the operation of several laptops, a router or a boiler at once. If you have a larger budget, you can buy a 1000 W or more power source that can power a refrigerator and even a washing machine.

Generator

The generator is a powerful backup power source that provides maximum comfort during power outages. Unlike the charging station, the generator is noisy and cannot be used indoors. It needs petrol, gas or diesel to run. That is why such installations should be placed on the street.

Generators are suitable for powering large electrical appliances such as refrigerators, televisions and even heating systems. Although the generator is more bulky and requires regular maintenance and fuel, it is a reliable solution during long power outages.

Inverter

An inverter is a small device for converting direct current (DC) to alternating current (AC) used by most household electrical appliances. Inverters are often used in cars, where they can power laptops, phones, lights, and other devices while driving or in the event of a power outage. They can also be connected to batteries or solar panels to provide an additional power source.

Inverters come in different capacities, which allows you to choose the best option depending on your needs. They can be an element of autonomous energy systems and significantly increase the level of comfort during long-term blackouts.

Lighting

Different types of lighting devices can be used to provide lighting in conditions of no electricity supply:

Lanterns on batteries and accumulators

Lanterns that work on batteries or accumulators are among the most common and easy to use means of lighting. They are easy to transport and provide sufficient lighting in a small area. The batteries can be easily changed, and the batteries can be recharged, which ensures constant access to light.

Solar lanterns

Solar lanterns use solar panels to charge built-in batteries during the day and illuminate the surrounding space at night. They are environmentally friendly and do not require replacement of batteries. Convenient for use both at home and outdoors, for example, in the country or in a country house.

LED lamps on batteries

LED lamps on batteries have a long service life. They are environmentally friendly and provide bright and stable lighting with low power consumption, which makes them ideal for long-term use during power outages.

How to keep food in the heat?

When the lights are turned off regularly and for a long time, the refrigerators cannot withstand and the food can spoil. Keeping food without a refrigerator is not an easy, but a formidable task.

So that products do not disappear without electricity, you can use portable refrigerators, thermal boxes or thermal bags with cold accumulators.

Portable refrigerators

Portable refrigerators are designed for storing food at a low temperature. They are ideal for use in places without access to the power supply network: in the car, fishing, on a picnic, etc. Some models also connect to the car cigarette lighter, which provides the possibility of long-term storage of food and drinks during trips. It is they who can short-circuit your home refrigerator for a while.

Types of portable refrigerators include:

Compressor: they are almost no different from a household refrigerator, only they work from the on-board network of the car, they are able to store products at a constant low temperature, which makes them ideal for long-term storage. They can even freeze food.

Thermoelectric (piezoelectric): use thermoelectric cooling technology, which provides less power, but allows them to work without noise and vibrations, to keep products fresh for a long time.

Thermal boxes and thermal bags

Thermal boxes and thermal bags are small insulated containers specially designed to keep the cold inside. They are ideal for temporary storage of products, keeping them cool for a long time.

You can keep the required temperature inside the box for a longer time thanks to the use of cold accumulators. If you do not have special cold accumulators, they can be replaced with ordinary plastic water bottles, frozen in advance. Just fill plastic bottles with water (you can add salt to the water) and put them in the freezer. When they freeze, use them as cold accumulators in thermal boxes or thermal bags. This is a simple and cheap way to store food without electricity.

How to cook food without light

In houses with gas, even without light, no one will remain hungry. But if the house has an electric stove, then many problems arise. And here the following cooking options can help you:

Derived (tourist) stove on gas cylinders: note that some cylinders are refillable and some are not.

Gasoline tourist stoves: after buying a gas canister, you can cook food on the balcony, but not in the room.

Bonfire on the street: a method of cooking is available to everyone, if there is no firewood, you can collect brushwood.

Barbecue: it will also come in handy, you can unite with neighbors to save time and firewood.

You can also use the following tips:

Cook food for 1-2 servings: it is better to cook and eat foods with a short shelf life immediately.

Canning, honey, crackers, bars, condensed milk: it is better to choose products that can be stored for a long time without temperature restrictions.

Ultra Pasteurized milk is suitable even for long-term storage without refrigerators.

To store fruit and cheese, wrap them in paper and store in a cool place.

And remember, food should be easy and quick to prepare. The easiest option is to boil pasta, add stew or canned food. It's quick and filling.

How to work and provide the Internet without electricity

People who work remotely are very dependent on the electricity supply, and it is not always possible to find co-working spaces or cafes with a generator. But it is possible to find a way out, even from this situation.

For a personal computer, you will still have to purchase an uninterruptible power supply or a charging station. If you have a laptop, the situation is simplified, because it has a built-in battery that will provide several hours of power, and then you can connect the device to a power bank.

The Internet will also work without electricity, for this you only need to connect the router to the power bank. If there is mobile Internet, then it can be distributed to a laptop.

How to survive the heat when there is no electricity?

In the heat of more than 30-35 degrees, it is very difficult to cool down without electrical appliances. Fortunately, there are many ways to cool your home without an air conditioner:

Open the window and close the curtains, so you can reduce the amount of solar heat in the room.

If desired, you can stick a special solar protective film on the windows.

Wet towels and sheets should be hung around the room to cool the air.

Use portable fans that run on batteries or accumulators.

Drink plenty of water to avoid overheating.

How to stay in touch?

With poor mobile communication, phones drain quickly. Use power banks sparingly, because you never know when you will be able to charge them.

Agree on a communication schedule in advance with the people with whom you communicate most often. Tell them when you will be in touch. This will help save charge and stay connected.

Turn off your phone when not in use, or at least turn off mobile data.

In order not to find yourself without a charged gadget, use telephone in turn.

We hope that our tips will be useful to you, and you will be able to survive this incredible heat without any problems.