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I started thinking about this a bit after Sept 11th. Technology was the only think I knew, so I decided to diversify my skill-set. I started by reading Phil G
by cyberge99 5y ago
I started thinking about this a bit after Sept 11th. Technology was the only think I knew, so I decided to diversify my skill-set. I started by reading Phil Gingrey books and building a metalcasting foundry as step 1. From there, I built a crude generator based on a lawnmower motor, a pulley and an automobile Alternator. This coupled with an inverter provided power for as long as I could fuel the motor.
Securing fuel for the motor, let me down the dark side of thought which is either protection or "just take it". I bought guns and learned how to use them (safely!).
Of course, later I learned about gardening and self-sufficiency and being off grid. While I've never been off-grid, I started to do thought exercises and preparation. I was never a "prepper" per se, but I learned the basics because the early 2000s created a lot of global uncertainty.
Circling back to tech, I started to learn morse code so I could HAM.
Power + communication + protection and food are the basics (not necessarily in that order).
I have some survival books and Wikipedia downloaded on a disk in a faraday box, but I'm not sure how long I'd be able to access it - it largely depends on the type of event.
A significant power outage is all it would take to simulate technology life in a disaster scenario. My servers/homelab wouldn't be of much use in a disaster, but being able to read would be tremendously useful and valuable.
- armagon 5y agoThat's impressive that you actually did something. Generating power with a lawn mower? Would never have thought of that.
- Jtsummers 5y agoSmall motors have a variety of uses in this kind of scenario, fuel limited of course. They can provide electric power, but also power your mills and other machinery. They're also (relatively) easy to maintain and repair, not a skill everyone has, but a skill nearly everyone can learn. Of course, since it is fuel limited you'd want watermills and windmills, along with other manual (human or animal) powered systems, for driving machinery most of the time. Now, if you can get a diesel system going then you have the possibility of using biodiesel which would alleviate some parts of the fuel problem, assuming you have a source to produce the biofuels from.
- cyberge99 5y agoI may have posted this before, but here are pictures of the generator[1] and furnace[2]. As a bonus, I completely forgot to mention my homebrew ethanol still[3]. I applied for a small fuel producers license from the ATF/TTB which required me to denature it so it could only be used for fuel purposes. [1] https://chrisbergeron.com/2008/08/24/homebrew_generator/ https://chrisbergeron.com/2008/08/24/homebrew_generator/ [2] https://chrisbergeron.com/2008/01/21/metalcasting_furnace/ https://chrisbergeron.com/2008/01/21/metalcasting_furnace/ [3] https://chrisbergeron.com/2007/08/07/ethanol_still/ https://chrisbergeron.com/2007/08/07/ethanol_still/
- generalizations 5y ago> Securing fuel for the motor Use a diesel motor and grow vegetable oil. Or culture the right kind of algae.
- 83 5y agoYou can also build a wood gasifier and run a diesel engine/tractor off wood fumes.