There is much talk of impending doom if we have a bad winter, the National Grid are seeking emergency power supplies, two nuclear power plants with faults are being brought back on line at 75% capacity to keep heat down and prevent cracks.
The Russians hold much of the gas supply which could be problematic too.

Are we heading for a perfect storm (scuse pun) this winter or will Blighty hang on by the skin of its teeth yet again?

Cold, wet, miserable and no internet, doesn't bear thinking about, anyone on here prepared for the worst? I have a small generator to hand or the boiler won't light, meaning no heat or light.

I remember the power cuts back in the '70s  SD4 HSE Lux Orkney Grey,Full size spare tyre,Ugly kid glass.

I have wooly hat, gloves and a jetboil

Gas fire in lounge and I have seen both the perfect Storm and the day after tomorrow so I'm well prepared

I have a plumbed in Lister generator and solar panels and a log burner so should be alright!

Last edited by 3disco on 18th Oct 2014 6:34 pm. Edited 1 time in total

8kw log burner in the lounge (with shed loads of logs in storage) - When that gets going full tilt it is like a furnace

We just leave the lounge door open and the heat drifts around the house. Electricity is another matter of course. LL.B (Hons) - University of Derby
LOT (Lord of Time) - University of Gallifrey

Such a shame when we have so much coal..and about to close our last underground coal mine..and all this shale gas...why would we need to import anything?

Coal bunker is full

Can cook on multifuel stove as well as it heats whole house.

Electricity is the problem but is does generate a small amount of electricity to run the stove fan

I think some blame has to go with the privatisation of the energy industries. Under the nationalised energy industries we had secure, cheap energy and investment in those industries. The old CEGB. Had plans I think for 10 new nuclear power stations. Upon privatisation these plans were dropped. Those power plants would have been pretty useful now.

It's interesting to see now that power companies are being paid to bring old plant back on line, install back up diesel generators and actually pay companies not to use electric if needed. It really is madness. Mind you, might not be a bad winter but I bet there will be a few politicians sweating at the moment. Black outs will surely cost votes. Black MY2013 SD4 GS Auto, Wood Company Armrest, Freel2 sticker.
Gone MY2010 Freelander 2 Manual TD4.e S, Alaska White.

With living"Out of town" and subject to different criteria, one has to use the old scout motto
Be Prepared.
Cook by bottlled gas (2x 19kg lasts all winter)
8kw multi fuel stove a great focal point and bum warmer ..!
(3 foot thick walls keep out the weather and radiate heat back after a while ..)
No electric means You Have to Talk to People........no internet no B****y Facebook..!!!
Emergency comms available via the car and Emergency generator for (Amateur Radio )
Lastly sufficient supplies of carefully hidden alcohol to treat coughs and flue for the duration..  Wales
Were the mud is thicker, and the ruts are deeper.
(And we have the water to wash it off, and more on the way..! )
Sd4 and chrome Ar*e piece, Auto box for best fun
09 Xs Gone
12 xs Gone
HSE with Leather seats and 4 years warrenty.. staying for now !

I'm prepare for a bad winter .. I bought a Freelander 2  Do it now ! Your a long time dead !!

3disco wrote:

I have a plumbed in Lister generator and solar panels and a log burner so should be alright!

I'm also prepared with built in generator and mains supply isolator . Hopefully it won't come to that ! Jaguar x-type sport gone
Jaguar x-type 2.2d sport one of my best cars ever sadly gone
Freelander 2 GS auto 2008 most unreliable ever ! gladly gone
Freelander 2 GS manual 2013 only time will tell !

Most solar panels are set to anti-islanding which means they wont operate in a power cut, so as not to reverse energise the supply.
they can be set to work off grid but need to be fully disconnected from the mains At work
At home

"I can't always believe facts I read on the web" - Charles Dickens

winner by default of the tractor vs caravan race

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Iliacus wrote:

3disco wrote:

I have a plumbed in Lister generator and solar panels and a log burner so should be alright!

Will your panels work with the generator? AFIK all panels require an external 240V/50Hz supply to get the phase correct on the inverter. Is your 1950s generator from the milking shed up to this and have you tried it?

If it does work I might look into getting a genny but something a little more modern. I don't think the Lister would go down too well on the caravan sites.

Major fire tonight at Didcot B power station

I wonder if Martin will launch Freel2 in paperback

There's a few hiccups with power stations lately. It just goes to show how "fragile" the UK's energy policy is. There's a good website called the grid Templar. It shows how the UK's energy is produced. Last couple of days wind has been doing really well but as it's all random wind can't be relied on 24/7. Black MY2013 SD4 GS Auto, Wood Company Armrest, Freel2 sticker.
Gone MY2010 Freelander 2 Manual TD4.e S, Alaska White.