Solar Power For Preppers

In spite of the rosy picture painted by the politicians and news media, the economy, indeed the world, is in a very dangerous place.  The future looks bleak for those unprepared or unaware of the events likely to take place over the next few years.  But there is an already large and growing number of people who have awakened to the reality of the world in which we live.

They are called Preppers by many, and ridiculed as doom and gloomers by the sheep and corporate controlled media.  It is a sad view of reality to consider that prudent people who prepare for the future need a condescending name for the still asleep sheep to laugh at.  In the end, the laugh will be on those who do not heed the words of the Preppers.

While most people rightfully focus their efforts on food, water, and personal protection, far too many people are putting their debt currency into metals such as gold and silver before seeing to their energy needs.  Don’t get me wrong, everybody needs some silver and gold because there is a 100% chance that the US Dollar will end up worthless.  But electricity is required to have any kind of life at all, and you can‘t generate it with gold and silver.

There is absolutely nothing wrong with having a gas generator to power some of your appliances in a grid down scenario, so long as you have gas on hand to run it.  But what all people should make a priority in their preps is the ability to generate power with no outside fuel sources, such as gasoline, needed.

There are two ways to go.  Wind and Solar.  Both have their plusses and minuses.  Oddly enough, they offset to some degree and a combination of the two could fill your energy needs 24 hours a day, rain or shine.  If you have your home and are planning to stay put, you should look into both.  The best you will be able to do with any excess gold and silver is to buy energy…if it is even available at all.   Just as gold is far better than Federal Reserve Notes, being able to sustain your standard of living by generating your own power is far better than gold.

Because most preppers are financially challenged, probably because the financial challenge is what woke them up to begin with, the ability to generate power may seem out of reach.  As they are average people, they may also believe themselves to be technically inadequate to build the system required.

So what is the best investment in power generation that one can make, regardless of what happens in the future?

A simple solar power generator that can power some basic necessities.  They are somewhat portable, and while you can get backpack solar generators they lack the power to really do much because of your limits is transporting batteries.

For purposes of prepping, my recommendation is that you invest in a solar panel, a couple of batteries and some 12 volt appliances and lighting.  If you re only going to run 12 volt DC appliances, you can save hundreds of dollars by not having to purchase an inverter.  As an aside, you can also run the appliances in your car should something happen to your solar panel.

If you do a search on Google you can find many 12 volt items available, such as frying pans and toaster ovens, and even coolers.  And they are for the most part reasonable priced.  A frying pan  or toaster oven will cost about $30, the cooler can be about $100.

To build a solar power generator for 12 volt DC appliances, you will need these things:

1)  A solar panel
2)  A charge controller
3)  One or more batteries
4)  A 12 volt adapter

It is possible to build a suitable solar panel for about $150.  The cells, usually coming in a kit with wiring accessories, can be had on Ebay for about $50.  A little wood and plexi-glass, and some paint for the panel and you are good to go.

The charge controller can be had on eBay for about $20.  It is a cheapo version and you can spend more if you have the resources to get a better one, but you don’t really have to spend more to build a functional generator.

The batteries are the heart of the generator.  They store the power. If the panels put out more power than you use, the excess charges the battery for later, or prevents discharge if already at capacity.

The 12 Volt DC adapter is available at any auto parts store for about $15.  It will hook directly to the battery and your appliances will plug into it just like they would the cigarette lighter.

Your solar generator will work somewhat like the charging system on a car.  In your car, you have a battery for starting it, and all electrical accessories get their power from cables that run to it.  Once the battery starts the car, it’s job is done until the next time you need a boost of amps to start it again.

What actually powers the accessories is the alternator.  The power generated by the alternator, which is usually in excess of 100 Amps at 13.5 volts, runs through the battery to the accessories.  The effect is that the alternator serves the dual purpose of running the accessories and at the same time keeping the battery charged with its excess power.  Your car battery dies if the alternator is not passing current through it, or if the accessories take more current than the alternator can put out.

Effectively, your solar panel is the equivalent of the alternator in the car.  So long as your panel(s) put out the power required to run your appliances, the battery will stay charged and its reserve capacity left unused.     If your panel is capable of producing enough power to run the appliances, the batteries will not discharge until the sun stops shining and the panel can no longer create the power needed.  At that point, the batteries take over and use the stored power to run the appliances.  When the sun rises the next day, the batteries will again charge so long as you use less current than the panel generates.

For an investment of less than $500 you can have a solar generator and cooking appliances that can be used anywhere, any time.  With or without a grid.   With or without a fuel source.

The ability to generate power, especially to cook with, should be right after food and water on your prep list. The more power you can generate, the higher you can maintain your standard of living regardless of what happens around you.

If you don’t have the ability to generate electricity, the rest of your preps will seem empty.  A small solar generator can fill many needs, when there may be no other way they can be fulfilled.

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