Tim Horton
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Post by Tim Horton on Jan 18, 2021 3:40:27 GMT 10
Somewhere I was reading a post about flashlights, and that morphed into other things as subjects go..
Last summer I made a couple 7 day emergency candles.. I used a small jam jar, about 4-6 oz.. A section of long dinner candle cut to the jar length.. And pored solid vegetable shunting around the candle.. The videos I see they use a pint jar.. Too big a mass of fuel for me to start with.. Hence the smaller jar..
I was cautious when I did a test burn.. I put the jar in a small stainless bowl, set the bowl in one of my HOBO stove shells with a cover, and burned it over the fire pit.. The stove shell protected the candle from wind yet providing good ventilation.. The bowl to contain the candle if it were to break the jar and spill liquid fuel..
It actually burned about half the jar in about 48 hours.. And would have burned completely if I had been on hand to tend the wick.. Left alone it drown the wick with no attention..
For my next test.. I'm going to use 2 sections of candle, or wrap bare wick material around the candle for extra wick and light.. Also will use a short jar like the small jam jars only bigger diameter..
To use in the house, I would put the jar in a pan like a metal pie plate, just incase of a spill..
Anyone done this.. ?? Experience, tips, tricks, thoughts, ideas... ?? ??
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frostbite
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Post by frostbite on Jan 18, 2021 11:58:15 GMT 10
Candles are so yesterday. Mine only get used these days as wife repellent....she sees me lighting candles to set the mood and runs for her life I use led lights recharged from my solar panel.
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Post by Stealth on Jan 18, 2021 12:05:40 GMT 10
I remember reading somewhere about a similar candle concept for use in (smaller) greenhouses during winter. Apparently they can keep the warmth up just enough to assist with preventing frost inside them. I thought they're a pretty good idea for situations where you need light but don't want to drain batteries. They'd also be pretty good for providing low lighting indoors at night that's a bit less obvious than a bright white LED light flashing around as you move.
Cover up your windows and even if light does seep through it shouldn't be AS obvious. But in saying that, I've never tested the theory. I use candles quite often at home but rarely for lighting. The few times I have used them purely for lighting though, I find that it's much more calming and easier to wind down at the end of the day because it's not super bright. That could be just a 'me' thing though heh.
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spatial
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Post by spatial on Jan 18, 2021 15:32:44 GMT 10
Thanks for the reminder, something I should look at again. Made candles as a kid, that was too long ago to remember.
I still purchase candles from thrift stores and some times get bargains at charity stores- full jar candles dirt cheap. Also a good place for candle holders etc... I also have a good few boxes of the mini tea light candles.
My main back up lighting is the old hurricane lantern with lamp oil - they go for ever and are safe and easy to use, been around since 1780, storing vast amounts of lamp oil is a bit of fire risk. My broom cupboard has about 20 1l bottles stuffed in here. Candles might be safer.
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Tim Horton
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Post by Tim Horton on Jan 19, 2021 6:28:17 GMT 10
So many replies have mentioned the "candles are so yesterday" theme.. I have no experience or knowledge to use solar. I personally seeing solar as a thing that can fail, then how would I fix it ?? But then I am quite stone age in some ways..
So... I also see this little experiment as one of many levels of lighting, one level complimenting the next level. Also a level that is cheap, easy, uncomplicated.. Batteries die, solar can break or cloud over. KnowwhatImean..
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Post by Stealth on Jan 19, 2021 7:01:46 GMT 10
If you have two solutions you have one, and if you have one, you have none! I definitely think that you need more than one option when it comes to prepping. I actually need to get my act into gear and buy a battery for the huge, clunky solar panels that I have for my battery box so that I can even begin to use solar for lighting etc. I also need to learn more about how those set ups work because I think I expect more than they're capable of lol.
In Australia we're pretty lucky. Depending on where you live and your set up, you can get by on solar alone most of the time because we have so much sun. But in winter time I'd hazard a guess that if you were entirely off-grid you'd need back ups like candles and lamps to keep you ready for the middle of the night emergency after it's been raining for a few days with no sun in sight.
I'd like to investigate hurricane lanterns as well, but that's more for the ambiance. As I mentioned before, I've used candles for lighting at night to wind down on rare occasion and it's actually quite nice to have the warm glow of candle light instead of bright harsh housing lights. That being said, you need several candles to get the area lit up reasonably well. Back in ye olde days, you'd probably only have one candle where everyone was and that was all you got, but with everyone in the house disinclined to be sitting in the one space it means more candles which raises the cost. I'd expect a hurricane lamp throws off a heck of a lot more light than a single candle.
On that note, I've heard of people using old chest freezers that they've ventilated to use as fuel storage for such things as hurricane lamps etc. as they keep everything in one place and are a bit more temperature stable. That's an option too... As well as an old esky to store candles so they don't go wibbly-wobbly in hot weather!
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doglover
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Post by doglover on Jan 19, 2021 10:29:40 GMT 10
I believe there is still a place for candles in the modern world. I have many scattered around the house, and they really are great to get in a mellow mood. And hey, who dosent want a little more romance in their life? As stealth said above, one is none, so having multiple options for light is just good prepping sense.
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Post by SA Hunter on Jan 19, 2021 16:25:52 GMT 10
I stock and use candles in my preps - they are not my only source of light/heat, just one of a few.
Better to have and not need, than need and not have!
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spatial
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Post by spatial on Jan 19, 2021 18:46:40 GMT 10
I'd like to investigate hurricane lanterns as well, but that's more for the ambiance. As I mentioned before, I've used candles for lighting at night to wind down on rare occasion and it's actually quite nice to have the warm glow of candle light instead of bright harsh housing lights. That being said, you need several candles to get the area lit up reasonably well. Back in ye olde days, you'd probably only have one candle where everyone was and that was all you got, but with everyone in the house disinclined to be sitting in the one space it means more candles which raises the cost. I'd expect a hurricane lamp throws off a heck of a lot more light than a single candle. On that note, I've heard of people using old chest freezers that they've ventilated to use as fuel storage for such things as hurricane lamps etc. as they keep everything in one place and are a bit more temperature stable. That's an option too... As well as an old esky to store candles so they don't go wibbly-wobbly in hot weather! Chest freezer is a good idea. Hurricane lamp cost between $10-20 and around $8 for oil. Get the non scented oil for indoor use. Citronella oil is good to keep bugs at bay. Bunnings and most outdoor shops. I have seen oil in supermarkets and Miter10. I keep spare wicks. Oil lanterns were the main source of lighting prior to electricity. If there is a power outage and internet off, by pure magic everyone ends up in the same room.
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Post by spinifex on Jan 20, 2021 7:43:50 GMT 10
Tilley lamps (ie pressurized kerosene) can provide good, bright, alternative light. For those who find the sound of hissing gas relaxing.
I hear they can run on diesel with a bit of tweaking.
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Morgo
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Post by Morgo on Jan 21, 2021 21:24:39 GMT 10
I have a stock of candles but I'd have to have a lot of things go wrong or be pretty desperate to use them.
LED torches are my go to and I have a decent collection of the mid to upper end models from various makers, there would be enough sitting on my shelf right now to give me light every night for many weeks with out recharging any of them. One of them, with 8x18650's in it, would probably last over a week on its own on a lower output setting. Not to mention the makita 18v flood lights I have with a bunch of the 18v batts, that would be another week or two with out recharging.
Given I have solar and deep cycle battery capabilities I can easily recharge all these.
Honestly the only time I see candles being of use to me would be many years after the end of the world as we know it when all my batteries are finally dead.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jan 22, 2021 0:26:02 GMT 10
Not tried this idea, Ive got a few dozen of those 12 nd 24 hour emergency candles bought online, ive tried the 12 hour candles out and they do a good job, not tried the 24 hour candles yet. Blackouts id probably use the coleman lantern first as its rated to last over 400 hours on the low setting, 1/3 of that on regular setting, should really test that out though, might buy another.
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norseman
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Post by norseman on Jan 22, 2021 6:38:40 GMT 10
Small 12 volt batteries and mini LEDs are my go to now days! Just too easy! No heat, no flame, no fumes, no liquid fuel refill hassles !
I have some of these -
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frostbite
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Post by frostbite on Jan 22, 2021 12:05:18 GMT 10
I had a collection of cyalume sticks, but my grandson thought they made great light sabres and now they're all gone.
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spatial
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Post by spatial on Jan 30, 2021 23:06:34 GMT 10
YT vid on easy made candles. In the end more like a glorified lantern.
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malewithatail
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Post by malewithatail on Feb 1, 2021 16:36:14 GMT 10
Candles will be needed after the emp happens, as your fancy led torches etc wil be history. Have all our solar and mains circuits protected with high speed gas surge arresters and 1megajoul industrial movs. Solar works people, if u do it right. Totally off grid here, have been for 38 years +.. 20kw solar + submarine battery (4.5 tons), 5 kw inverter. charger, generators that run on diesel, gas and petrol, as well as wood gas (producer gas).
Never underestimate the power of brute force !
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