Prepare ahead of time for winter power outages
Cox News Service
August 31, 2008
My trip to chilly Nova Scotia has me thinking about winter.
But even if you're not heading north like me, it's not crazy to start thinking about preparing your high-tech equipment for the cold months. Power outages are close to certain — at my house, here in warm Atlanta, I can depend on at least two each winter caused by icing on power lines.
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You can take advance steps to make those dark days and powerless nights easier to handle. If you wait until the first outage, you'll find that stores are out of lights, batteries and other needed supplies. So let's get your shopping started.
Light: Candles are dangerous and flashlights, while important to have, aren't the only or even the best way to go. Buy a couple of battery-powered fluorescent camping lanterns (please don't get the dangerous type that uses fuel). A couple will project broad swatches of light to ease cooking and reading.
Batteries: Get regular batteries — not the rechargeable kind. A regular will hold its charge for at least two years when stored unused. Some people advise putting them in the refrigerator, but they'll do fine in a box at the top of a closet. Buy plenty.
Radio: I've found radio news to be the best source of information during a storm. It's great for learning about road and school closings, as well as the all-important forecast. If you really want to do things right, also get a battery-powered weather radio or an AC model that has a battery backup.
UPS: My UPS — uninterruptible power supply — helps out in unexpected ways during an outage. I use it as a supply of AC that lets me charge my laptop computer and cellphone. It also can keep a DSL or cable modem running for two or three days if there's no other load on it. I have four separate UPS units and I wish I had more. Since a UPS is essentially a big battery that uses a converter to supply AC, it can come in handy for devices such as cordless telephones, whose base units need a power source.
More on telephones: Every home needs a regular wired telephone. Even when the electricity goes out, phone circuits usually remain operational. Since you can't depend on a cordless phone, wired phones can literally be a lifesaver. There should be one in the bedroom and one in a central location of the house.
Get the answer: Many of us now use an answering service provided by the telephone company, or rely on cellphone voice mail. But an answering machine can be valuable during an outage. Here's why:
When you leave home for work in a home without power, you'll spend the day wondering if the power has been restored. The answering machine can tell you when the power goes on. Just plug it into the AC outlet. If you call and the answering machine picks up, you'll know the power is on.
Safety: There are several things not to do in a power outage — and they're a lot more important than keeping warm.
One, never use a charcoal or gas grill inside the house. The grills can create carbon monoxide fumes that can kill you.
Two, if you have a portable electric generator, consult a licensed electrician before using it. Ask the electrician to create a master switch that will let you use the generator without sending electricity out over the lines outside your house. Power company linemen have been killed thinking they were working on a dead line and grabbing a live one instead.
Follow these tips and, while you may be a bit chilly when the lights go out, at least you'll have enough light to watch your family shiver.
