In the event of a breakdown, here are our suggestions for devices to have on hand

Winter or summer, a power outage can be only a minor inconvenience or become major and prolonged in the most serious situations.

Almost anyone can experience one, especially as extreme and unpredictable weather conditions push the limits of power grids.

According to a recent government report, American electricity consumers experienced an average of seven hours of power interruptions in 2021. In February 2021, Texas was plunged into darkness by a cascade of power grid outages that left people without power, in the cold, for several days.

Basic preparations for a temporary outage are inexpensive, some of which can be enjoyed all year round. It is therefore generally worthwhile for most households to take some precautionary measures.

An uninterruptible power system

As a replacement for a noisy and polluting gasoline generator, uninterruptible power supply systems (SASC), often associated with an inverter, are preferred both inside and outside the house. Those that I present here bring together two essential functions: that of surge protector (against surges, variations due to storms for example) and that of mobile electrical storage with lithium batteries.

Great advantages, it can be used as a SASC for your computer station or your home theater and as a portable energy Source in the event of a breakdown, when camping, in a recreational vehicle and moreover being rechargeable by solar panels (optional) .

Let’s forget here the inexpensive, but inefficient SASCs in the lead-acid chemical sector which offer a decent surge protector, but only a few minutes of autonomy to power a computer station. A significant detail is that these lead-acid batteries do not last two years on average and require you to constantly replace them.

After several lead-acid type SASCs for my computer station, the next SASC will be powered by lithium.

Prices for a SASC start around $300 and increase with storage capacity and power. Online, three brands stand out: Bluetti, EcoFlow and Jackery. If you’re looking for maximum power, then consider the EcoFlow Delta Pro model with a capacity of 3600 Wh, on wheels, weighing 48 kg (or 105 lbs).

EcoFlow Delta 1800 W on Amazon.

SASC listing on Best Buy.

Portable charger for mobile devices

Very useful for recharging your favorite device as needed at any time, these chargers are capable of recharging large phones like the iPhone 15 Pro Max or the Google Pixel 8 Pro twice from empty to full. Prefer 10,000 mAh models from well-known brands that offer fast charging and recharging speeds.

A powerful flashlight

Pair a lithium battery with eight light-emitting diodes (LEDs) and you not only get a very powerful 45,000 lumen flashlight with a range of up to 800 m and a long battery life, but also a portable USB charger. 60 watt C for your mobile devices.

Like this AceBeam X50 2.0 45,000 lumen waterproof lamp with T modeurban… not to point into anyone’s eyes or even into your neighbors’ windows. You certainly won’t make any friends, but a nice gift to give on Father’s Day. Price: over $500.

LuminAID Inflatable Solar Sensor Lantern

To light up a room in the event of a power outage or simply to brighten up your outdoor evenings while camping, on the terrace or at the swimming pool, these solar-rechargeable lanterns are inflatable and float on water.

Rechargeable headlamp

Along the same lines, a handy rechargeable BioLite headlamp frees your hands for all your crafting.

Here are some additional gadgets and electronic devices, to which we obviously add basic elements such as a first aid kit, reserves of drinking water, food and medicine to deal with the consequences of a prolonged outage.

Nobody likes breakdowns, but if you’re poorly equipped or well prepared, you hate them even more.