Blackouts – what are they and how to prepare for a power outage?

Increasingly, we encounter alarming news regarding blackouts. What exactly is this phenomenon and is it really a threat to us? How to prepare for it? Read our short guide, in which we explain in a matter-of-fact way:

• what is a blackout;
• what are the consequences of a blackout;
• how to prepare for it;
• and what will be useful during a power outage.

Blackout – what is it?

Power outages usually occur as a result of renovation work or work inside the power grid. There are also occasional failures, which after a few moments are repaired, and we return to normality. We usually know the cause of the power outage, how long the power outage will last, and when – more or less – we can expect a return of power. With a blackout, it’s a little bit different.

First of all, a blackout is a longer power outage that covers a larger area. This is a serious system failure that can occur suddenly and take much longer to fix. It is also impossible to be sure when it will be put right. This is the fundamental difference between a simple power failure and a blackout.

Consequences of the blackout

A simple power outage can quickly and easily make us a little nervous. The TV, internet, lights, or induction cooker do not work. We are able to cope somehow for a few minutes or even two or three hours if we were not prepared for such a turn of events.

On the other hand, a blackout can simply last much longer and make our daily activities more difficult – that’s why it’s so important to prepare well in advance.

How to prepare for a power outage?

Perhaps you watched the American series “The Office”, and remember the scene in which Dwight deliberately starts a fire in the office to show co-workers that they are not prepared for such situations? The panic among the characters of the series was funny, but it also carried an important message – it is not worth succumbing to emotions in crisis situations. A clear head and a good plan of action can help you quickly deal with trouble. It is no different in the case of a blackout.

Yes, a long power outage can be a burden, but we are able to prepare for it. It is worth having a few basic elements covered that will enable us to wait much more calmly for the return of power.

How to prepare before a blackout

1. Consider buying devices that will allow you to accumulate electricity in advance – a power bank or battery and converter will definitely come in handy.
2. Make a supply of water and food that does not require heat treatment and that can be stored outside the fridge. Also think about animals and prepare a supply of feed for them.
3. Stock up on candles and a torch – in winter it gets dark much faster, so an additional light source will certainly come in handy.
4. Keep your documents and home medical kit in an easily accessible place – that is, somewhere that you can reach easily in the dark.
5. Withdraw some cash from a bank or ATM.

Devices that will be useful during a power outage

An additional power source for devices during a blackout will be worth its weight in gold. What’s more, many of these types of solutions will also be used on a daily basis – not only in crisis situations.

One such device is a power bank. You can use it to charge your phone, tablet, smartwatch, and even a laptop. The market is full of power banks with different power ratings and capabilities, while we especially recommend devices from Green Cell. In this brand’s offer, you will find the highest quality power banks – individual models provide up to 72 hours of additional operation of devices!

It is also a good idea to buy a voltage converter. It is enough to connect the device to a 12 V battery – the converter will generate a voltage of 230 V, which, in turn, will power any electrical equipment. The converters are equipped with standard sockets, but often they also have USB ports, thanks to which you can charge your phone or tablet.

When choosing a converter, pay attention to the fact that it has the so-called pure sine wave. Thanks to this, there will be no voltage fluctuations!

However, the converter alone is not enough to talk about an emergency power generator. You also need an AGM (or car battery). AGM batteries tolerate frequent charging and discharging very well, making them a really efficient means of energy storage.

Their capacity is very diverse, and they are mainly used on boats or in holiday cabins. However, they are also adapted for use at home! For example, to power a gas furnace for 3 hours, we need a battery with a capacity of 75 Ah and a converter of 2000 W. The same devices will also allow us to maintain the operation of the fridge for up to 6 hours.

As you can see, with good preparation and the right devices, it doesn’t seem as terrible as it did at the beginning. Remember that staying calm is very important – in a state of panic and alarm, we will not do anything properly, and we can even do more harm than good.