Apologies if this is incoherent, but wondering if people have given thought to "halfway" prepping. What I mean by this is preparing not for a total blackout but instead for less of critical things, like no internet, reduced food, expensive energy, etc. Basically not a black and white situation for everyone (though likely for many) but just general decline for most.

Hey everyone, wanted to share my recent DIY mobile solar power station build! My goal was to build a heavy-duty, high-capacity mobile rig on wheels that could easily power high-draw appliances like a portable AC and electric kettle, all for a fraction of the cost of commercial "solar generator" setups like Jackery, Ecoflow or Goal Zero.

​Here is the full component breakdown and specs:

​Core System Specs:

​Battery Bank: 5,120Wh total energy (4x Kunlun Mini 100Ah 12V LiFePO4 batteries in parallel).

​Inverter: Giandel 2200W Continuous Pure Sine Wave Inverter (with solar controller input).

​Charge Controller: Renogy Rover 40A MPPT Charge Controller (mounted on side, configured for Lithium).

​Monitoring: TR16 Battery Monitor with QWORK Shunt (coulomb counting programmed to 400Ah).

​Safety & Fusing: 2 AWG pure copper main feeds, 250A ANL main fuse, 50A inline fuse on the charge controller battery line, and a 275A main disconnect kill switch.

​Enclosure: Craftsman rolling system box with telescoping handle for total mobility.

​Build Highlights:

​Mobility: Everything is mounted directly to the rolling Craftsman box, keeping 5kWh of battery capacity mobile without needing to haul heavy separate components around.

​Proper Shunt Integration: Routed all negative loads and charger grounds through the QWORK shunt's P- stud so the TR16 monitor accurately tracks net charge/discharge current.

​Safety First: Isolated the positive line with a 275A rotary kill switch and an inline 250A ANL fuse block before reaching the inverter terminals. Included a dedicated 50A inline fuse on the positive run between the battery and the Renogy Rover controller.

​Testing & Performance:

​Kettle Stress Test: Stress tested with a ~1,470W electric kettle (~135A DC draw). Voltage held rock solid without excessive sag, and cables stayed well within thermal limits.

​AC Unit: Planned usage is running a Hisense portable AC (~700W–800W continuous). Based on initial draws, expecting around 5.5 to 7 hours of continuous runtime on a single charge.

​Total Cost: Built for roughly ~$1,200 total—giving me over 5.1kWh of stored energy compared to commercial units that charge $3,500+ for less capacity.

​Happy to answer any questions on the wiring layout, components, or testing! Let me know what you think!

What are your go to ways to heat or cook without power assuming you need to be inside?

TLDR: Costco Products to buy this week for a rural country family in Wisconsin USA

We live deep in the country and make a Costco run every 2 months or so. It is a 2.5-hour round trip. It is just my husband and myself, plus two dogs. We have many fridges, freezers, huge pantry, tons of MREs, 2 wells -1 for house water, and 1 filling our very large ag pond with fish and aerators in it. Also have several generators, including a whole home Kohler unit. We heat with propane, and that was filed last week, with another tank being delivered next week. We are very used to making things last since we only grocery shop every 8-10 weeks. All that said, we have used up a lot of our normal food stock, besides the half a beef and 100lbs of venison, so we need to make a big (exensive) trip to the city this week. We have a normal checklist we take. On top of that, I'm wondering if, due to shortages or hot deals, anyone can recommend anything in particular to load up on this week. (Located in Northern Wisconsin, with frigid winter weather arriving soon) Thanks in advance.

Has anyone bought a faraday bag from Amazon and tested it in some way? Wanting to store handful of flashlights, kindle, smaller electronics but not sure if I can save money with the cheaper versions

What specific things would you prep if you were in Europe with a baby nowadays to make sure the baby is well taken care of during times of crisis?

Quite a few posts on battery backups for keeping phones and essential devices charged. Instead of worrying about battery banks, what about just relying on your car for charging phones?

I started grabbing a few extra things whenever I go grocery shopping, in case we lose power or a storm keeps us home for a few days. Not buying everything at once.
So far I’ve got a case of bottled water, Campbell’s tomato soup, Bush’s baked beans, Jif peanut butter and Ritz crackers. All stuff we eat anyway, so I’ll use it and replace it as we go.
We already have a power bank for our phones. Also checked our usual meds and first aid kit.
The bigger purchase was a VTOMAN FlashSpeed 2400. We went back and forth on spending that much. Mainly wanted backup for the fridge, with room to plug in a few smaller things too. Recharge speed was another thing I looked at. We didn’t want something that would take forever to charge.
We haven’t tested it with our fridge yet. We are planning to try it one evening and see how much battery it uses.
Still figuring out how we’d heat food without power, so I’ve included things we can eat as they are. Peanut butter and crackers are easy enough.
Just adding a little at a time for now. We might need to put the Ritz somewhere separate or they’ll be gone by the weekend.

I saw a post on a different prepping sub that alluded to the prepping industry and different companies basically convincing *new* preppers that they need certain things that may not be a priority or marketing items as needed when you can get something similar that serves the same function at a fraction of the cost.

Can we come up with a list of things that people who are just starting their prepping journey should start buying at a fraction of the price than what some companies are trying to convince them to buy? For example, in the post I am referencing, someone encouraged someone to get an $8 knife instead of $75 knife because they are similar enough to each other. As a new prepper, riddled with anxiety from the extensive list of items to buy, I keep reminding myself “you pay for what you get.” I want to know when that is not always the case.

Items that seem to be the most basic and urgent: Water containers, knives, LAMPS AND HEADLAMPS, portable fans and chargers…. literally the basic things a new prepper would think of before they can start approaching this with a leveled head.

Edit: can someone with enough karma word this better and post it in the other prepper subreddit? I’m tryna shop rn

I’m looking for ideas of what to feed chickens for those who live in very snowy and cold regions over winter, if feed suppliers run out or total collapse happens.

Trying to think of perhaps creative solutions to having chicken feed for over winter. Where I live it’s basically cold and snowy for up to 5 months.

Animals like cattle is simple. They can thrive off of hay and dried grasses (and they can literally go out in the snow and search for snow covered grasses). But animals like chickens, it’s not as easy.

Any ideas?

Would compressed or pelletized lawn clippings work?

Obviously capturing bugs in summer and fall and storing them for winter is going to be a good idea. But you would need a lot of bugs for a 5 month stretch of chicken feed.

Hey Friends,

Saw these on sale at Walmart. Good price but curious if anyone has experience with these types of clear jugs? I know I will need to cover them to prevent light from getting in but for the cost savings that seems to be an easy fix. Any other watchouts/red flags?

https://www.walmart.com/ip/seort/14980909594

I'm looking to get one or some power stations to keep the fridge and freezers cold during power outages. This would be a case of running each unit for an hour a few times a day, just to keep things frozen during a short-term outage. The freezer may not need any juice if it doens't get opened in that time frame, but I want to be able to run it just in case.

What is the preference: one high-capacity station (around 2000 W/1500+Wh) or multiple small stations?

Years ago my husband and I decided to start filling empty milk jugs and water jugs with tap water in case something happens to our current water source. Now I’m starting to become aware in actual prepping and I’m reading that all of that water is no good because it was just a plastic gallon jug, unsealed. Can I still use it for bathing if boiled and cooled? I’m sure drinking is unsafe at this point but I don’t want it to completely go to waste.

Please be kind to me. I’m just starting to freak out about the news and I don’t have anything saved up..

What’s everyone using to help organize your deep freezers? I love having a deep freezer but had how unorganized it is and how much I have to dig through to find stuff.

Talking about water storage options in our suburban life, my wife suggested a water cooler-style device like we have at the office (and some people have at home), and buying and storing jugs of water for that.

I’m sure others have thought of this before. What’s the upsides and downsides? Reason not to do this?

My husband is a healthcare provider, his job is very demanding and he is dedicated to doing the job well. we live in an outer metro area of a big city.

We were discussing scenarios where a decision would have to be made to either evacuate within the first 48(-72?) hours or commit to sheltering in place come what may.

Obviously if we suddenly evacuate that would mean abandoning his job. Something we don’t want unless it was absolutely survival necessary.
Also I do understand that sheltering in place is preferable for several reasons, in most scenario.

The scenario we were discussing was if there was a major grid failure aka a long term blackout, with no definitive end in sight. Cascading utilities failure, communication down, gas stations not pumping out fuel, supply chain failure etc.

We were talking about how ugly it could get, and how long term survival might be better away from the city. But unless you commit to evacuation early, the highway will be impassable.

So how would you decide if or when to just abandon your job and home and get out?

edit: thanks for all your responses. It gave me food for thought.

We do have a destination in mind if we do evacuate out, we wouldn’t be tossing ourselves onto the shelter less wind. But of course, our home is better stocked (we are prepared for 2-3 weeks before needing to gather more resources locally, but I’m building up for longer duration) .

But my concern is the population density of being by an urban center, currently. Even with a home defense plan, I don’t like the odds against sheer numbers if large groups of people get hungry and frightened enough, and decide to just go door to door (not even a matter of if you are keeping a low profile) out of desperation.

My family is buying enormous containers of powdered eggs, butter, peanut butter, and I feel like this is unnecessary. During the pandemic we sustained ourselves perfectly fine through large grocery orders every month. We never used any form of powdered food. Is powdered food more valuable than I'm assuming, or will grocery stores still be accessible in an end of the world scenario? Is it impossible to know?

I made a post earlier and got a few responses from some of you. Although this question is more for the conspiracy subreddit, I particularly want to hear the thoughts from the people here if that’s ok.

I’ve been seeing posts and videos on either TikTok or Reddit that either directly or indirectly talk about specific things that would make someone want to start prepping and continue learning about prepping. The videos and posts, however, have become less niche and are coming from people who don’t typically talk about these things as their main form of content and same with the audience it’s reaching.

I’ve been chalking it up to my algorithm being aggressively “stuck” or something but regardless, i really don’t think it’s just my algorithm anymore.

I have genuinely have looked around at my highly educated family and diverse friends and wonder if other people are seeing what I’m seeing and they’re slightly more desensitized?

I want to know… is anyone else seeing what I am seeing?

Completely unrelated: remember how we had that national emergency notification testing thing. That was unsettling and so was how everyone acted like it was a monthly lock down in grade school. Imagine if they told us about it this week and we had that same test in a week from now, for the first time. We’d be panicking with everything going on. Finally, there’s always the niche conspiracies that float around to kinda add a little more skepticism and uncertainty… for example all the different 2027 conspiracies.

Lastly, all the other countries are being warned. haven’t we been warned yet? They could give the same vague, blanket excuse??

I’m curious about everyone’s thoughts on any aspects of this post. Am I late to the game with these thoughts and you’ve been prepping because you had all these thoughts way before? I can’t tell if any of this is valid or if I’m unstable beyond the average prepper?

For context: I’m in my twenties, I’m a new mom to a 1 year old and I have taught kinder before my baby. My algorithm has been/was mostly geared towards that. Also, I don’t search this stuff typically.

I see little to no point in stockpiling things like rice. Instead focusing on proteins, essential fats, and vitamin/nutrient dense foods. Three reasons for this.

1. There are no essential carbs, our bodies function just fine without carbs. There are essential fats, proteins, and vitamins. And we need enough daily protein to stay fit.
2. Carbs cause an insulin response that just makes you hungry again.
3. Carbs are the easiest food to come by.

The primarily carb foods I do stockpile are for three reasons. Vitamin dense, comfort food, and/or I grow them. But I think buying rice is silly.

Hey all,

I am looking to convert my spare bedroom into a storage room for preps. Right now I’m looking to either purchase or build a gravity “FIFO” canned goods rack so I can stock from the top and use the oldest cans first.

Is there anyone that sells something like this? Or has anyone ever made one themselves? I would appreciate any advice or suggestions!

Best!

I was looking into propane, gas and solar panels for off grid power. every option has problems (which of course it does, it isnt nuclear where you can get more energy out then in.)

but that got me thinking about chemical generators something that burns, combustion or other wise generates electricity. A more efficent way of storing electricity compared to the other options. Even then what about something like a steam engine? Wouldnt that be more ideal then gasoline?

I'm in a homeless shelter so my options regarding prepping is quite limited. Fortunately I have a bin worth of wheat berries locked in an office as well as a cupboard of pantry food that is locked as well. Plus some hygiene stuff + prep books in my room that I share with only 1 other person (lockable) idm sharing with her if it comes to it.

I also have a raincatcher in our courtyard that I sealed from actual rain w 500L water + 50ml bleach.

We have a grill that's for everyone and I have pots and stuff to start a fire.

In the case of an actual collapse I have some items and am getting more to use in order to defend my things.

Basically my main question is how long would 50kg of wheat berries last a person, and how much peanut butter and tinned meats will I need to go with the wheat to create a balanced meal? I can't get more as the shelter owner was mad at me with storing the wheat, she forgave that but I can't push my luck.

I mean like sulfur, salt, ammonium nitrate, things of that nature.

I'd also throw in some supplemental silver, and platinum and nickel catalysts, and some of those new-fangled Rowow Ion Exchange Membranes.

Things that are most useful as building blocks for more complex things.

Why are youtube videos (other than the affiliate links) and other social media sources so saturated with tactical and survivalist clutter? I don't mean basic items .. i mean all the other gear that basically seems more like collecting hobby...