Prepare for possible electricity outages with these tips and gear, tiding you over until the power comes back on, including a handy power backup for your Vodafone home broadband router.
Power cuts, also known as blackouts, are relatively uncommon in the UK as a whole – especially when compared to some other countries. Even so, if you are affected by a power cut, then the following tips and gear could be helpful. They won’t be applicable to all, as everyone’s needs will be different, but could still come in handy for friends, family and neighbours as well as yourself.
Backup power
A USB power bank is a good way of ensuring your smartphone and tablet never run out of charge. Some pricier clutch bag-sized power banks, such as the Anker 737 PowerCore 24K, can not only charge multiple phones and tablets simultaneously, but also your laptop too (as long as it recharges using USB-C). To give you an example of its capacity, the Anker 737 PowerCore 24K can recharge an iPhone 13 four times over.
If you use a desktop computer, an Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) might be useful. Essentially large car batteries with plug sockets, a UPS is traditionally used to provide several minutes of power to a PC so you can safely shut it down without losing any unsaved work that you may be working on. For other devices, a UPS can provide anywhere from several minutes to a couple of hours of power.
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Bag/suitcase-sized ‘power stations’, such as the Anker Solix range, have become increasingly popular as alternatives to both power banks and a UPS. They can keep several phones, tablets, laptops and even, in some cases, camping-style mini-fridges powered for days on end.
While it’s tempting to see such ‘power stations’ as an alternative to noisier, bulkier diesel/petrol-powered generators available from DIY stores, some models have limitations as they’re really just very large USB power banks. Many can’t power high wattage devices such as hot plates or medical equipment like CPAP oxygen machines, for example, so bear that in mind if you’re tempted by one. If in doubt, check the specifications carefully.
If you’re a Vodafone home broadband customer registered as dependent on your landline for making 999 calls, or have a telecare alarm, you will receive a Broadband Battery Backup. This roughly mug-sized unit can power Vodafone routers for around four-to-seven hours, ensuring that you have both phone and online connectivity (assuming that any power cut hasn’t also affected the network infrastructure in your area). It’s much more compact than a comparable capacity UPS and also has a USB-C port for topping up a smartphone’s battery.
Credits: Alan Lu
The Vodafone Broadband Battery Backup is much lighter and smaller (both in height and depth) than older battery backups from other ISPs, as well as Uninterruptible Power Supplies (UPS). This is preferable for a device which one will, hopefully, only ever have to use occasionally.
Credits: Alan Lu
The Vodafone Broadband Battery Backup is much lighter and smaller (both in height and depth) than older battery backups from other ISPs, as well as Uninterruptible Power Supplies (UPS). This is preferable for a device which one will, hopefully, only ever have to use occasionally.
Let there be light
Candles are an old-fashioned alternative to electric lights. But you may wish to avoid having open flames around, especially if you have overexcitable children and pets in your household. A solar-powered lamp, such as the Goal Zero Crush Light Chroma originally intended for campers, provides both light and a bit of colour too. Bear in mind that its solar panel, which is less efficient than the kind installed on rooftops, can take several hours to charge the light. If you forget to leave it in the sunlight for several hours beforehand, you can top it up using your USB power bank.
For more portability, as well as for light in awkward spaces such as nooks and crannies, a headlamp powered by AAA batteries such as the Energizer Vision HD+ can be exceedingly useful – power cut or not.
If you don’t want to rely on batteries or just don’t want to charge yet another device, glowsticks could be the answer. Familiar to hikers, campers and festival goers alike, they’re featherweight, cheap and some can provide light for several hours. They’re fun and colourful too!
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If a power outage has put your non-Vodafone home broadband router in the dark, you may still be able to share your smartphone’s mobile data connection with your other computing devices. This ‘personal hotspot’ feature, also known as ‘tethering’, essentially turns your smartphone into a portable battery-powered router.
If you’re worried about exceeding your data usage, and you don’t have a Vodafone Unlimited Pay Monthly mobile plan, temporarily turning off features on your devices – such as automatic system updates and photo backups – can help stretch your data allowance further.
Ready, steady, cook
If you often get a case of the munchies that just can’t wait, you may want to have the Trangia Stove 27-2 UL kit on hand. This portable spirit-burning stove with pans, originally designed for campers and hikers, can be used indoors as long you carefully follow the instructions (such as ensuring you have ample ventilation, for example). Alternatively, if you have a gas or briquette-fuelled barbecue grill then you may want to use that instead – if you don’t mind cooking outside in the cold.
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If you’re a DIYer with Makita portable power tools stashed away in your toolbox, you can put its batteries to unexpected use. The Makita DCM501Z is a portable coffee machine powered using Makita power tool batteries. Popular with anglers as well as construction workers, it can make coffee from pods as well as ground beans.
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