Staying warm without electricity?

[hermeticcharm]

Like other people said you could use heat packs. Here is an episode of snakebytes and they show how they package there snakes for overnight shipping. You could do something similar to this with a box or tub, some Styrofoam, newspaper, and heat packs as long as it was only for a few days. Providing water and ventilation of course.

edit: forgot the link, lol

also if you want to skip ahead to see the shipping set up its at about 3:20

http://snakebytes.tv/index.php?optio...d=80&Itemid=14

[lps2]

you could go with a hefty UPS... but for one that will last days (depending on how much power your heating elements are using) you might as well buy a little generator...

Here is a pretty good UPS, I have a similar one for my servers and holy crap it weighs ~60lbs (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16842570017)

but you could get a small Honda generator (they are almost silent... my father wants one soo bad for tailgating) so $1000 or so retail.. but i found one for a good deal less
<http://cgi.ebay.com/HONDA-EU2000I-PO...=p3286.c0.m14>

But yeah, the stove thing should work

[redpython]

see if there is a local harbor freight. you can get a gas generator that can power your whole house for $750.

and if you subscribe to their email list, they'll send you 20 % off coupons.

[NorthernRegius]

I'm lucky I have gas & electric in this home. I put a dedicated vent free gas heater in my snake room, so no worries. You can work with that wood stove or see about a free standing gas or kerosene heater rated for indoor use too.

[L.West]

I actually bought a small gas generator when I used to have fish tanks but never had a need to use it. I attempted to get that out last night during the power outage - I got it started and all but it just didn't seem to run very smoothly sort of like surges would happen and I was afraid if I used it it would damage my RHP's in my enclosures.

It's a shame - I have a nice little generator but am afraid to use it. I may have to have someone with some knowledge about generators show me how to properly use the darn thing - I was reading the instructions in the dark trying to get the thing up and running - I had to mix oil with the gas and such.

Also, I was told that once you use a generator - you have to start it and let it run every month after that - what a pain that would be - is this true.

[Dianna]

Thanks so much for all the replies folks!

At the prices that have been mentioned (750$-1000$) there is NO way I can afford to get a generator. I am (as a lot of people) finding myself suffering with our current economy. I lost all the over-time I used to be offered AS WELL as taking a pay cut. I won't continue on with my sob story, but I definitely can't spend money on a generator lol

Looks like I'll be using the wood stove/heat pack method Hell, if I lost power for long enough, I'll just bring my baby girl to work with me. Wouldn't my co-workers love me

Also, thank you hermeticcharm for the video link!

[NorthernRegius]

I actually bought a small gas generator when I used to have fish tanks but never had a need to use it. I attempted to get that out last night during the power outage - I got it started and all but it just didn't seem to run very smoothly sort of like surges would happen and I was afraid if I used it it would damage my RHP's in my enclosures.

It's a shame - I have a nice little generator but am afraid to use it. I may have to have someone with some knowledge about generators show me how to properly use the darn thing - I was reading the instructions in the dark trying to get the thing up and running - I had to mix oil with the gas and such.

Also, I was told that once you use a generator - you have to start it and let it run every month after that - what a pain that would be - is this true.

While I was in the Air Force, we had & used gas generators allot. We also had million in sensitive weather equipment we were running, so we used UPS to regulate the power & prevent surges.

We did "ops-check" the generators either once a quarter or twice a year, but that was as much for us to have practice as anything.

DO MAKE a NOTE that if you leave gas in it for long periods, you should use a fuel stabilizer or keep it empty & have fresh gas at hand for it.

[Prophet]

What about the hand warmers at walmart?

[Prophet]

I actually bought a small gas generator when I used to have fish tanks but never had a need to use it. I attempted to get that out last night during the power outage - I got it started and all but it just didn't seem to run very smoothly sort of like surges would happen and I was afraid if I used it it would damage my RHP's in my enclosures.

It's a shame - I have a nice little generator but am afraid to use it. I may have to have someone with some knowledge about generators show me how to properly use the darn thing - I was reading the instructions in the dark trying to get the thing up and running - I had to mix oil with the gas and such.

Also, I was told that once you use a generator - you have to start it and let it run every month after that - what a pain that would be - is this true.

You were either a) trying to run it too hard and the rev limiter was kicking in (aka trying to get too much juice)
Or b) had bad gas.

[Mike Cavanaugh]

This is the easiest question ever!!! just move to FLORIDA!!!