Dr. Watson (Nigel Bruce): “How does the, the thing work?”
Sherlock Holmes (Basil Rathbone): “Electricity: The high priest of false security.”
—From the film The Pearl of Death (1944)
In an ideal self-reliant world, we would all have simple low-tech alternatives to every electronic and electrical device and system that we’ve become dependent on in our modern lives. We get a taste of this lifestyle when camping, backpacking, vacationing abroad, or traveling to out-of-the-way places with more primitive services in terms of electrical provisioning and gadgetry. We can make up for a certain amount of technology with well-practiced survival skills that are routinely used and proven. However, this aim of primitive simplicity, while a worthy element in an overall goal of simplification, isn’t particularly practical, even in a fully off-grid, back-to-basics, self-sufficient purist lifestyle.
Consider what it takes to both power and maintain all of your electronic items. When possible, buy 12-VDC-compatible electronics, so that you can power them with your alternative power system or when you are on the road.
Four important criteria for electrical and electronic equipment and tools are: necessity, efficiency, reliability, and cost-effectiveness. Incorporating all of these factors into a home self-sufficiency plan provides an optimum mix and the best use of your time, money, and efforts, for you, your family, and your community.
MAKE A LIST OF ELECTRICAL NECESSITIES
It is helpful (and eye-opening) to make a list of “must-have” electrical and electronic items for actual survival, then add the optional “nice-to-have” semi-essentials and, finally, the luxuries.
With each passing decade, there is a diminishing number of old-timers who can recall an era of simpler technology, let alone a nonelectric or nonelectronic lifestyle. We can learn from history by “turning back the clock” to see how best to use appropriate electrical technology as it has impacted our lives, by looking at modern conveniences such as lighting, refrigeration, water heating, space heating and cooling (including electric fans and air-circulation systems of all sorts), electric (and fossil-fueled) cooking, water pumps (especially well pumps), clothes washers and dryers, dishwashers, microwave ovens, vacuum cleaners, irons, and much more. Turning back the clock means simplifying our lives, reverting to some hand- or treadle-powered tools and appliances, and reducing the amount of electrical current that we use daily. Not only are repairs easier, but lower electricity usage also means that alternative energy systems (such as photovoltaics) can be scaled smaller, reducing cost.
A useful way to prioritize your checklist for electrical self-sufficiency is to think of which conveniences you would find most inconvenient to live without if your current system were to fail, either due to normal wear and tear or power failure or any other issue(s) that might render your current appliance or tool inoperative. For each item, consider how many months, weeks, days, hours, or even minutes you could go without. This exercise will help you to establish your priorities.
Think about the electrical and nonelectrical items in your house. What electrical and nonelectrical tools, equipment, and supplies are needed for maintenance, cleaning, repair, replacement, or other servicing that maintains the value of each item? For example, carpeting is not an electrical item, but acquiring and maintaining a vacuum cleaner that keeps your carpeting serviceable, and the tools that keep your vacuum cleaner serviceable—even if these are only rarely needed—are all part of the system. Bags and belts are often part of the provisions in the nonelectrical department, but what about spare bulbs (if your vacuum uses one) and spare cords (if the current one were to get damaged or frayed)? If you wanted to vacuum something outside your house or outbuildings, do you have long-enough extension cords on hand? How about outlet strips to add to the end of an extension cord that would power both a soldering iron and a mechanic work lamp for a nighttime emergency repair on a car or truck?
Let’s back up a bit and consider what constitutes a real need, according to Abraham Maslow’s classic hierarchy of needs (snipurl.com/27k81pc is a good reference to keep in mind). The most crucial items in Maslow’s list include air, water, food, sleep, excretion, and homeostasis (such as relative stability of light, temperature, humidity, and other atmospheric and environmental parameters). Fortunately most folks don’t require CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) or concentrated oxygen technology to breathe, but dependence on respiratory equipment is a concern for a significant percentage of the population, particularly the elderly. Similarly, medical equipment that uses utility grid power or batteries that are biological necessities must be on the “crucial” list.
If your water supply depends on pumped water from a well, then having even a simple backup like a one- or two-gallon well bucket (snipurl.com/27kepnt) and an appropriate length of rope, plus basic electrical and plumbing tools and supplies, wire, etc., to keep a well pump and domestic water system working might be inexpensive peace-of-mind investments. Even those fortunate enough to have a gravity-fed water system that doesn’t depend on any water pumping for domestic water needs might still want to look at their systems for water filtering and purification for potable water and flow controls for garden and orchard irrigation, pets, livestock, etc.
The gadgetry in your kitchen and pantry used for food storage, preparation, and disposal is likely to be one of the largest parts of your electrical appliance and equipment list. Although you might not be able to fully repair and service as many of these items as you’d like, having tools and supplies such as a few spare electrical cords, circuit testers, volt-ohm meters, etc., can afford some of the more basic repairs if you’re in a situation in which you need to repair your equipment yourself.
If you use humidifiers, dehumidifiers, or other gadgets to help you get to sleep, sleep well, or wake up, make note of those systems and what is required to keep them functioning. If your waste water/gray water and/or septic/sewer system requires any sort of maintenance, keep in mind the tools and equipment you need to keep those systems working effectively; it doesn’t take long for a backed-up septic system to become a high household priority!
That’s just a very quick overview of the “crucial need” category. As we progress to the less crucial areas of Maslow’s pyramid, we find less urgent needs that are still immediate, such as safety, security, grooming, income/employment, health and property maintenance, etc. Electrical systems in this category can include everything from livestock fence chargers to motion-detecting video surveillance/intrusion/alarm systems, combined photoelectric-ionization smoke alarms, carbon monoxide and ozone detectors, security timers, home automation systems that control vacation lighting, etc.
Of equal importance are any items in the support category that keep your family’s income and cash flow in the green, regardless of whether you work at home or commute, in which case the entire automotive sector becomes higher in priority. Don’t forget to peruse your garage for items that support your transportation needs, such as battery trickle chargers, tire pumps, road safety flashers, etc.
The grooming and health maintenance category includes items like electric toothbrushes and razors (a watt or two each, but often plugged in 24-7), and hair dryers (these typically use about a kilowatt, but are only on a few minutes a day). Nonelectric backups for these bathroom gadgets are often simple and inexpensive, and replacements and spares don’t usually break the bank.
The next level of items in Maslow’s need hierarchy are more intangible, such as family, friendship, intimacy, peer respect, career, achievement, and creativity. While these are more long-term, systemic needs, they also should be addressed in any complete plan for sustainable home self-sufficiency. Electronics here would certainly include our personal electronics such as computers, tablets, smartphones, televisions, radios, games, and peripherals. These devices have become more and more important not only to our social lives and home entertainment, but to our livelihood as well.
If your livelihood—or even just basic communication with the rest of the world—depends on your home computer network, consider investing in an uninterruptible power supply (UPS) with enough capacity (rated in volt-amperes, or VA) to safely close files, quit applications, and power down the system including modem, router, powered USB hubs, etc., for each computer workstation in your home. A UPS is cheap insurance, for your data and lost time as well as for minimizing potential hardware damage due to power surges, brownouts, etc. UPS systems are available at all major office supply stores, computer stores, and many large hardware stores. APC is the industry leader and makes some of the best.
If your essential communications equipment also includes a smartphone and/or tablet, consider a portable solar charging system. Modern photovoltaic (PV) technology makes a quick backup battery charge through a sunny window an easy way to provide vital communications backup (for home or remote use) as well as lower your monthly utility charges. Ready Made Resources (readymaderesources.com) is just one company that sells PV battery chargers ranging from five watts on up.
For backing up data, USB thumb drives are now very affordable and transportable for vital files. Download and print manuals for all vital electrical and electronic devices for when power systems and/or network connections fail. Spare USB headsets with boom mikes (for Skype, Google+ hangouts, etc.) can keep your communications going. Keep spares, tools, and equipment needed to maintain any ham radio or walkie-talkie gear.
As an addendum, you might want to make another list that includes items that can be used with or without utility grid or even off-grid power. Examples of these hybrid electric and nonelectric items might include grain mills with a hand-crank option, battery or hand-crank flashlights and radios, small solar battery chargers, solar-charged anything that you use routinely, food dehydrators with a nonelectric heat source, etc.
ELECTRICAL SAFETY
Before making any changes, additions, or alterations to your home electrical and electronic systems, routines, practices, and procedures, note all safety warnings on components, maintenance supplies, and tools. For example, having a well-ventilated environment for soldering will minimize lead exposure. Making sure that all your wiring projects meet all applicable building codes and safety standards and honor both the spirit and letter of those codes and regulations will reduce fire hazards. When installing or wiring electric components, double-check everything before applying power to make sure no components are installed backward (i.e., reversed polarity), which might cause an explosion and/or fire. When opening any high-voltage circuit enclosure, wait a few minutes, then use an insulated wire to discharge electrolytic capacitors. Play it safe, live long!
ELECTRICAL EFFICIENCY
If you’re in a situation in which you’re going to be rationing electricity, it’s imperative that each of your devices be as efficient as possible so that you get the most out of your limited supply.
Look at your list and rank how long you can tolerate going without a particular item. Place the items with the shortest “can’t do without” times at the top and start searching for the most electrically efficient candidates for each item. Since efficiency is typically correlated with well-thought-out design, saving kilowatt-hours often translates to saving money on premature replacement costs as well, since electrical components that don’t squander their incoming power on waste heat usually outperform their more most wasteful counterparts in terms of life expectancy as well.
RELIABILITY
If you choose equipment and appliances that are well built and designed to last a long time, the need for maintenance, repair, and replacement can often be minimized. In addition to relying on consumer reviews, ratings, and reports, a good rule of thumb to follow is to buy the simplest device you can. A device with one moving part will last longer than one with dozens or hundreds.
Another factor to consider is the stability, likely longevity, and historical track record of the company that manufactures the product, as well as those who make all the various subcomponents, so that when it comes time to replace or repair either part or all of an electrical item you’ll be confident the vendor will be around to provide assistance.
Check reviews online as well as recommendations from friends, relatives, and others in your community that might have long-term experience with any tool or gadget on your list for consideration.
COST-EFFECTIVENESS
Buying cost-effective electronics is trickier than it might first appear. As anyone who has ever purchased a cell phone or a computer printer will attest, ongoing costs can quickly surpass initial purchase price, as in the example of monthly usage and data charges for cell phones and printer cartridges for printers. The often-overlooked ongoing cost of the electricity and replacement costs to run a device can also rapidly outstrip the price of the item. A case in point is the incandescent lightbulb, which typically requires replacement ten times as often and costs four times as much in electricity compared with a compact fluorescent bulb.
If you want to measure how much your present 120-VAC appliances are using, devices like the Kill A Watt can help analyze actual electrical use and help you to make informed decisions about what items to upgrade to more efficient and cost-effective alternatives. The win-win-win combination of efficiency, reliability, and long-term cost-effectiveness generally go together, and can often offset slightly higher initial purchase prices.
BACKUPS AND SPARES
Keep in mind that all tools and technologies eventually wear out, some sooner than others. Relying on any one specific device, gadget, or system for crucial needs is just silly. Multiple backups of both the same technology and different technology are recommended for any system in your life that is vital to your well-being and survival, and not just electrical items, of course. For example, if you have (along with a well-stocked drill index) a utility power drill, consider having a cordless drill and perhaps a good old-fashioned brace and bit.
SHARED RETREAT OR NEIGHBORHOOD TOOLS
As for having multiple backups of the same technology, consider how convenient it might be to borrow one from a neighbor by prior arrangement. Imagine what a great backup system you’ll have if you make friends with like-minded neighbors and slightly more distant community members (for less frequently needed tools) and plan—in advance!—to collaborate and share equipment as needed.
Several years ago, after looking at our finite resources, we arranged with neighbors to share the cost and maintenance of grading caterpillar tractors, garden tractors, a log splitter, a rototiller, and other gardening equipment by carefully deciding how we would select, purchase, share, store, and maintain this equipment. Now we’ve all reaped the benefits of these self-sufficiency items for many years without each having to have one that sits dormant most of the year or season in the garage, shed, or whatever. This actually enabled us to have greater rather than fewer resources, both financially and otherwise. With the money we saved, we were able to duplicate the smaller, less expensive tools that it would be a nuisance to have to borrow—a win-win combination. It also allowed us to purchase more reliable, high-performance, cost-effective shared equipment than we would have been able to afford on our own.
Obviously this approach will be less useful if you live on your own private island or are miles from your nearest neighbor, but it’s always a good idea to know your neighbors and see where the altruistic spirit might lead in terms of collaboration. Try starting a conversation off with “If you ever need to borrow a . . .” or, if you prefer not to lend out your tools, “If you ever need help with . . .” It’s a great way to not only build friendships but also minimize needless expenses. Does every house on the block really need to have its own snowblower?
120-VAC ELECTRICAL PROJECTS: TWO IMPORTANT RULES
Don’t be a hero. If you are unfamiliar with electrical wiring, or have the slightest doubt as to your understanding or ability, always consult with a licensed electrician before beginning a project that could possibly endanger you, your family, your home, or your community. Electrical fires from improper wiring can burn down a home just as easily as matches and gasoline. Also, common household voltages are often lethal if they travel through the heart. Why take chances if you’re not sure? Get expert advice and play it safe.
Turn off the circuit breaker! Before doing any work on common alternating current (AC) house wiring projects, always make sure the circuit breaker to the circuit you are about to work on is off; plug in a lamp and a circuit tester to make doubly sure that all electricity is off. Every member of the family needs to be told that you are working in wiring and to not touch the circuit breaker box. Use a piece of masking tape over the applicable breaker switch levers with a “DON’T TOUCH!” warning boldly penned on it. Note that in many jurisdictions, formal “lock-out/tag-out” procedures are required for any commercial electrical project.
HOW-TO VIDEOS AND TUTORIALS ONLINE
It would take another book—or more—to detail even an abbreviated assortment of “how-tos” for the most common wiring projects, including 120-VAC and all the myriad electrical and electronic projects one might consider. Take advantage of the wealth of videos online (Google is your friend here) as well as your public library and whatever other resources you might have. Do you know an electrician? Start there! Be sure to do due diligence. You may discover and explore options you might not have considered. Always ask for help when you’re not 100 percent confident about what you’ve wired, or if you are about to wire something new.
YOUR HOME ELECTRICAL TOOL KIT
An ordinary metal or plastic tool kit can serve as a convenient way to keep common tools and supplies together and handy. Even if you have another tool kit for general construction projects, having a separate kit, kept in an easy-to-access location, just for electrical projects can be quite helpful and convenient. A tool kit like this might include—but not be limited to—the following.
There are some tools and supplies that you will need for making AC home wiring repairs, and to do tests or enhancements. These include:
Circuit tester—for quick checks to see whether an outlet is activated; common indications in addition to correct wiring are open ground, open neutral, open hot, hot-ground reversed, hot-neutral reversed (see snipurl .com/27kdcxy).
Volt-ohm meter (VOM)—for measuring AC or DC voltages, resistance, and DC current (see snipurl.com/27kddfz).
Continuity tester, a.k.a. “beeper”—for checking unpowered circuits for electrical connectivity (see snipurl.com/27kdftv). One that makes an audible tone when the circuit is closed is very handy when testing long runs of wire to save running back and forth when you’re the only one working on a project, and it’s a good backup for the VOM (and vice versa).
Insulated jumper wires with insulated alligator clips on both ends—you should have a half dozen or more for making deactivated circuit tests and measurements with a “beeper” or VOM (see snipurl.com/27kdsyv).
Small (sixteen- to twenty-five-foot) tape measure—for measuring wire and cable (remember to leave enough for slack and a few start-over recuts, especially if you’re new to electrical projects).
Electrical pliers/wire cutter with built-in wire strippers (see snipurl.com/27kdr0z)—for common wire gauges (10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20); these sometimes include crimping and bolt cutting in the same tool (see snipurl.com/27kdrql).
Utility knife with a retractable blade (see snipurl.com/27kdq7n)—typically with extra blades stored in the handle, for lengthwise scoring of Romex insulation (household wiring such as 14-2, 12-2, or other common insulated multiconductor household wiring).
Scissors—useful for cutting off excess exterior plastic insulation and/or interior paper filler strands from Romex cable.
Wire nuts for joining wires—in various sizes (gray, blue, orange, yellow, red, etc.).
Spare 120-VAC duplex outlets (see snipurl.com/27kdpuw)—remember to use only GFCI outlets (see snipurl.com/27kdpqm) for any exterior, bath, kitchen, or other locations with nearby plumbing. When in doubt, consult with a licensed electrical contractor.
Spare single-pole, single-throw (SPST) wall switches—Morris makes an illuminated version for dark spaces (see snipurl.com/27kds93).
Utility handsaw with tapered blade (see snipurl.com/27kdo97)—for starting, widening, and shaping holes in drywall.
Tools for making low-voltage DC wiring repairs or enhancements include:
Anderson Powerpole connectors and crimping tools—for high current (e.g. alternative-energy home power systems). These connectors, housings, parts, tools, and accessories are vastly superior to and safer than the “cigarette lighter” variety of connector.
Low-wattage soldering iron (see snipurl.com/27kdte7)—such as a twenty-five-watt fine-tip chisel point for fine work, like circuit boards, small wire connections, etc.
Medium-wattage soldering iron (see snipurl.com/27kdtie)—for example, forty watts for braid on coaxial cable shield that soaks up more heat before solder will flow. For some higher-wattage and/or remote purposes, you might consider a cordless rechargeable and/or butane-powered soldering iron.
Solder—such as 60/40 leaded rosin core.
SOLDERING TIP
If you’ve never done any soldering, practice on a few noncritical projects well before you need to do a repair on a more crucial household item. In addition to basic safety, the most important goal of each soldered joint is a nice smooth, shiny connection, rather than a dull irregular one, which usually indicates poor electrical contact and can even be a fire hazard in some cases. A well-soldered connection optimizes current flow.
An alternative to soldering for some low-current, low-voltage applications is to have a crimping tool and a box of crimp connectors. Get an assortment of both loop-ended and open-ended prong connectors in a variety of sizes to match various wire gauges. Be sure to get the proper size connector and the appropriate crimping tool as specified by the manufacturer.
Flux—usually only needed for heavy-gauge wire projects, if rosin-core solder is used for most other small-scale soldering tasks.
Sponge—an old one to wipe the soldering iron tip after each use to keep it clean and shiny.
Desoldering “solder sucker” tool—if you’ve ever soldered the wrong items or just added too much solder and need to start over, you know that these little vacuum gadgets are invaluable for rework of any kind.
Desoldering copper braid—as a complement to the desoldering tool, a spool of this copper braid can also be invaluable for wicking away mistakes and/or excess solder (see snipurl.com/27ke3rr).
Electrical tape (see snipurl.com/27kdvuk)—usually black vinyl.
When splicing multiconductor cables, solder and tape one pair of wires at a time, staggering each pair lengthwise so that there’s no large bulge in one spot. Distribute the bulges down the length of the splice, then spiral additional electrical tape over the entire collection of splices, covering the exposed wires
Masking tape—for temporarily positioning items while soldering, etc.
A variety of heat-shrink plastic insulating tubing—buy an assortment of diameters and colors. These assortments are available inexpensively via eBay.
Needle-nose pliers (see snipurl.com/27kdw3t)—for making tight, clean bends in wire. Making a closed loop on the end of each wire and linking them together mechanically before soldering saves lots of fumbling.
Diagonal cutters (see snipurl.com/27kdwzw)—commonly called wire cutters or “dikes,” these are designed for cutting wire, but are also useful for many other tasks, such as cutting plastic cable ties. Be careful not to exceed their capacity or you will surely break or deform their cutting jaws.
Miniature vise or soldering jig—a fishing fly-tying vise is ideal, but a homemade jig will suffice. Such a jig is usually made with coat-hanger wire and a pair of alligator clips that can be clamped into a machinist’s vise. This jig is used for holding wires and components in place while soldering (see snipurl.com/27kdxb4).
Vise-grip pliers—as an alternative or adjunct to the aforementioned jig.
Various lengths of wire—such as scraps of twelve- and fourteen-gauge wire from prior projects, plus other speaker or multiconductor wire, as space in your tool kit allows. If you accumulate too much scrap wire, move some of the larger lengths to a labeled box or storage containers.
Screwdrivers (both Phillips and straight slot in various sizes)—an assortment of small, large, long, and stubby varieties is helpful.
OTHER HELPFUL ITEMS
Nickel–metal hydride (NiMH) battery charger (e.g., this DC-to-DC charging rack: snipurl.com/27keqiu) for AA and AAA batteries and enough batteries of each size to power all your household items that use them, plus a few spares. Look for items that use these standard batteries. I recommend that you go through your house, garage, outbuildings, cupboards, drawers, and vehicles and make a detailed list of how many batteries you need. It might surprise you how many your collection of gadgets uses!
LED flashlights (small, preferably adjustable, with a stand for hands-free work)—for working in dark spaces. Other options for when you’re in a pinch: LED headlamps and key-chain LED lamps temporarily held on with carefully adjusted vise grips.
Tie wraps and other fasteners such as Romex staples—for dressing, attaching, and enclosing wire and connections. If you are working with 120-VAC or alternate energy (e.g., 24-VDC) home power wiring, be sure to adhere to all applicable building codes and safety standards. Consult a licensed electrician and/or authorized renewable energy expert to make sure you’re playing it safe, and that you’re getting the best economy for your investment in time, money, and resources. I generally prefer Anderson Powerpole connectors for all 12-VDC wiring.
Small folding optical magnifier—for inspecting solder joints, fine wire connections, etc. If you plan to do a lot of soldering or fine close-up work, consider buying an inexpensive illuminated magnifying workstation.
Metal coat hanger—pulled apart, ends cut off, then rolled up into a coil to be used as a “fish wire” to grab loose ends of wire pushed or pulled through wall spaces to reach outlets, switches, lamp fixtures, etc.
Telescoping inspection mirror (see snipurl.com/27ke9na)—for finding and inspecting wires, etc., in those same wall spaces.
Magnetic stud finder (see snipurl.com/27kdiaa).
Set of jeweler’s small screwdrivers—these often seem to come in handy.
Fold-out set of Allen wrenches
Indelible markers (fine point), pens, pencils, small notepad and/or sticky notes—these can be handy when labeling connections of multiconductor cables, etc.
Sandpaper (around 120 grit), an emery (fingernail) board, a small wire brush—and other items for cleaning dust, paint, and debris off connections and terminals.
Support items (e.g., ziplock bags, recycled vitamin bottles)—for batteries, small electronic items, etc.
For those with additional technical expertise, there are lots of great high-end tools (some of which are expensive), such as watt meters (see snipurl.com/27keotj), handheld digital scopes (see snipurl.com/27kemyl), and back to the low-tech realm . . .
Duck Tape—how could we forget this ubiquitous aid to handy folks?
As you gather your assortment of electrical and electronic repair tools and supplies, consider the full implications of YOYO time: Are you prepared to live off the grid, and once you are living in that mode, can you power, repair, and maintain your electronics for an extended period of time? Do you have all of the requisite references, in hard copy? Do you have the batteries you will need, and the requisite photovoltaic battery chargers? Stock up, and practice maintaining what you own.