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It was the first snow of the year here today, so I did a test run of my Mr. Heater Big Buddy to make sure it was still functioning. Everything worked out OK except for the fan that's part of the system to help circulate heat.
The fan isn't required for it to work, but it's certainly a nice-to-have. I'd bought some C and D-cell size adapters from Eneloop that use Eneloop AA batteries to run, but the design of the positive terminal prevents them from working in the Mr. Heater. There's such a tiny contact on the positive side I'm not sure they would actually work in anything, but I have nothing else to try them in. I'd tried to standardize on rechargeable AA and AAA batteries so I was hoping for success but I'm glad that I tested it first. Is the Powerex line the best choice for rechargeable D-cells? Also, are there any solar chargers that will work with these that aren't Harbor Freight specials? I haven't seen any solar chargers for the D-cells that look high-quality. Price is somewhat a factor but I am willing to pay for quality. Also on the topic of rechargeable batteries, does anyone have any suggestions for rechargeable 123as? I bought a dozen "Watson" brand 3v rechargeable 123As and a couple spare chargers. They are only 400mAh so I wasn't expecting them to run a light or anything, but I put them in my MSR MIOX and they will not even run that when fully charged. The MIOX was the main plan for using them so it's disappointing. Most other rechargeable 123a batteries I can find are 3.7v which is not what the lithiums run at so I think they would cause damage. Thanks for the great information in this thread so far! |
Mugwumps (all)
Don't know if it's been said but, batteries and for that matter all things that can be ignition sources like a butane lighter should be wrapped in nylon tape (electrical tape) as a moisture barrier to prevent corrosion. If you wrap lengthwise at least one battery in a flashlight it will prevent any electrical contact or accidental contact and drain on the batteries. Same with a 'bic' lighter. Moisture and condensation are enemies to flint and metal. I also wrap my magnesium fire starters in electrical tape - one to prevent wear, second to keep the striker from falling off. As Reaper said food in a plastic container. |
Just wanted to say another thank you to everyone who's contributed to this thread. I've been preparedness minded for awhile but you all have gotten me to think this over from a few new perspectives and I greatly appreciate it!
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Lessons Learned – Eclipse 2017
Lessons Learned – Eclipse 2017
Have a checklist, follow it, and check it at least 3 times. I had 2, one for personal items and one for provisions for the trailer. The trailer one was less important since this was a road-trip with plenty of opportunities to pick up stuff at Walmart. The personal check list is where I dropped the ball. I went over it twice, once as I packed the items and again before walking out the door. Both times I missed the GPSs. Big mistake! The Tahoe's navigation system also decided to go on strike shortly after we hit the road. To view the eclipse, I found a county road 26 miles north of Torrington, WY, that placed us a few hundred feet from the centerline of the eclipse. Without a GPS, finding it would be difficult. Difficult, but not impossible because I had my smart phone. Yep, but no service because of all the people. OK, back to basics. I knew the county road number: 24. But the roads were numbered as streets for some odd reason, there was no county number on any of them. I had to get a little more basic, I remembered the shape of the highway we were on and the fact that there was a long straight stretch with Co. Rd. 24 going off only to the right. Found it, went to the top of a slight rise about half a mile and found our perfect spot! Don't pass up a chance to top off your fuel and carry more extra than you think you'll need, because you'll need it. We topped off (I thought) at Cheyenne before joining Highway 85 leading to our target location. Round trip from the service station was only 204 miles. Normally, pulling the trailer, we easily get 300 miles. On the return leg in bumper-to-bumper traffic, top speed about 10 MPH, at 142 miles we were down to ¾ tank. At Yoder, we pulled over at a traffic control point so I could put the gas from our jerry can into the car. This is the fuel for our gennie which I filled once and topped off once so I should have had at least 3 ½ gallons. But, when my wife first filled the gas can, she put the nozzle all of the way into the can and stopped when it cut off. So we probably only had 3 gallons to start with and it didn't get topped off in Cheyenne. So, at Yoder, we only had one gallon left. Not enough. A sheriff deputy told us that the fire department had planned ahead and had extra fuel available. They gave us enough to get the Pine Bluffs and saved the day. Golf1Echo learned not to take a manual transmission vehicle when you are going to be faced with 75 miles of 10 MPH bumper-to-bumper traffic. The next morning, at our camp site, he kept walking around in clockwise circles. :D I'm sure that there is more and if I remember it I'll add it later. The fuel situation is the important part. I was taught, when faced with an evacuation, to only take enough fuel to get you to an area out of danger where topping off will not effect your neighbors' ability to get fuel also. Doing this may well leave you stranded in a bad location. Double it. And, in rural areas, don't pass a gas station without topping off ALL of your fuel containers and generator, if you have one. Pat |
Traveling up into Wy for the eclips was similar to an evacuation from a disaster as the powers that be had no control over the numbers nor had they made accommodations for the crowds ie porta potties ( there were literally no trees up where we went to view),no water stations, no aid stations, emergency vehicles had challenges responding, etc...With 580,000 people in Wy and an estimated 1,750,000 people descending on them their infrastructure was taxed. http://trib.com/news/state-and-regio...d97b23109.html
The benefits to driving a faster more full efficient vehicle were negated by the traffic between the stick shift and the turbo it made driving miserable in those conditions. Reminded me of the accordion of the early ruck runs and the front rotors will need to be turned or replaced now. Seeing a similar model vehicle with a blown clutch and it's occupants waiting for AAA was not comforting. The adventure really made me think about fuel for a bug out situation. It took every bit of a full tank and some extra to get the 280 miles up to the viewing area and burned about three quarters of a tank traveling a fraction of that distance going back aprox. 50 miles. I was able to fuel up in Torrington on the way up however PSM was not going back as the Vol Firemen directed our traffic around the gas pumps. So I would have considered a couple of 5 gal tanks extra fuel before the event but to fill the tank it would have been 3-5 5 gal cans which I would consider a minimum now and the spout to fill with as well. As mentioned the cellular signal was bizarre, while the phone would show one level signal the minute you sent a number it would drop off, fortunately we got in a couple of calls early and linked up well driving back we used radios. Insightful adventure where the failures are poignant. |
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One more thing about carrying extra fuel, the CARB fuel cans made it difficult to add fuel from them. I had a long funnel that fit through the restricted filler neck hole . . . in the garage back home. We jury-rigged a funnel with a water bottle and hose that we use to add water to the trailer. I now have a proper funnel in the trailer and both vehicles.
Pat (The firefighters below are adding extra fuel to the Tahoe. One is pumping and the other is holding the flip-up door open with a pen. I could have offered them my makeshift funnel but they were having so much fun. :D) |
Following up on fuel, I live in the DFW area. As part of my job, I get a new car every 6 to 12 months. Yesterday was the swap out day and I got a new vehicle with 43 miles and basically no gas. When you drop below 40 miles remaining, our cars no longer show how many miles left to drive on the display, they just tell you go get gas. I drove maybe 12 miles looking for gas, but I didn't have enough gas to wait and get gas. I was thinking about PSM's thread above. Every station had either 30 cars in line, or has no gas left. I had to return the car and get my old one back as I returned my previous one with 7/8 of a tank.
The DFW area was in full scale panic mode yesterday, with Google phone alerts telling people to get gas, along with news reports showing 5 lanes x 15 deep at Costco. There were runs on food too. Some stations got replenished overnight but most I saw today still had no gas. Some people didn't come into work today because they had no gas. |
Saw plenty of tankers refueling stations in West Texas today.
TR |
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Pat |
http://www.itstactical.com/intellico...ricane-harvey/
came across a good AAR for not only responder but those awaiting rescue. I went to Alabama once and twice to New Orleans after Katrina. I wished I had read this AAR Also from the same site is preparedness if caught in a mob http://www.itstactical.com/intellico...rban-uprising/ Move at right angles to the mob sounds like a logical tips. Anyone here who've been caught (prepared or unprepared) in the midst of an urban uprising care to share their lesson learned? I lived through a city/province wide ethnic cleansing riot in the 90's. As ignorant as I was, it was by sheer grace I survived. It did not compute in my head what was going on or the scale until few days later. Now I truly appreciate the mob mentality and how you can be seen as their cause of grievance just for being there and look "different" |
It's hard to develop a brand new mindset quickly without making some stupid mistakes. Preparation both mentally and physically isn't something you can put off to the last minute. Important to have water, food, meds, and a full tank of gas (all the critical stuff) as a matter of habit. Also critical is to know how to get out of Dodge on routes that won't be choked by the hoards. If you choose to bug in (shelter in place) or bug out don't wait until the last minute to make your decision. The recent horror stories of traffic jams, no gas, and an approaching calamity should be vivid reminders. That said, it's not wise to exhaust your time worrying about things that probably won't happen. Obsessing is not planning. I live in a quiet rural town, but well within the driving range of the potential maniacs of DC. Being ready for the great whatever is a matter of course.
This is good gouge, frostfire. Thanks for sharing the post. |
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Simple lack of situational awareness & not keeping my head on a swivel. The movement at right-angle to the 2 jaws of the closing vice was done instinctually, not because of any tactical acumen on my part - but it worked. (I got some great prints out of it, but the CBR NCO said that my exposure didn't count for recurring mask test - it does clear the sinuses though.) |
^^^all remember if you get caught up in a massive movement of the mob you are going to have to go with them while sliding to the side (edge) before making your right angle exit.
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Does anyone have experience with this app (Voxer) - specifically for communicating with clan for/during emergencies?
Interested in thoughts, observations, usefulness, experiences. Features • Walkie Talkie and Messaging • Built for iPhone, Android, and Web • One-on-One or Group Chats • Hands-Free [PRO] • Team Management [PRO] • End-to-End Encryption https://voxer.com/plans-and-pricing |
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