A radio that winds up, charges from the sun and picks up both DAB and FM is a smart buy for power cuts. Here’s what to look for and what to skip.
Wind-up and solar radios with DAB and FM: what to look for
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Plain-English guides for UK homes: power cuts, water, floods, kit and staying in touch when the network goes down. Calm, practical and checked against official advice.
From power bank to power station: how much backup power do you need?
A plain-English guide to backup power, from a pocket power bank to a portable power station topped up by solar. What each size can run, how to work out what you need, and which brands we’d pick.
Can your electric car power your home in a power cut? Bidirectional charging explained
V2L, V2H and V2G explained in plain English: what UK drivers can buy now, why most systems switch off in a power cut, and what it really takes to keep the lights on.
When Google goes dark: build an offline AI and library on a mini PC
We look everything up online. In a long power or internet cut, that stops. Here’s how to keep an offline AI assistant and a trustworthy reference library on a small, low-power computer you can run from a battery.
Meshtastic: text messages when the phone networks are down
How low-cost Meshtastic radios let you send short text messages to family and neighbours with no mobile signal, no internet and no licence, and what they can’t do.
Be Ready launches: the government’s new emergency website, explained
The Cabinet Office has launched Be Ready, a three-year campaign asking every UK household to manage for 3 days in an emergency, with a new website. Here’s what was announced and what it means for you.
Mascara, wine and Twiglets: why a few comforts belong in your emergency kit
A politician’s joke about mascara and wine in an emergency box made the news. But a few small comforts really do help people cope. Here’s how to add them sensibly.
Why every home needs a battery-powered carbon monoxide alarm
Carbon monoxide can’t be seen or smelled, and the risk rises in power cuts and cold snaps. Why a battery-powered alarm matters, what to buy, where to fit it and what to do if it sounds.
Flood ready: know your risk, what to do, and why you need a go bag
How to check your flood risk, sign up for free warnings, pack a go bag for a flood area, and what to do before, during and after a flood in the UK.
How to store emergency food: garages, pests and keeping it cool and dry
Keep your emergency food safe to eat: lockable stackable boxes, off the floor, safe from mice and rats, and cool and dry, even in a garage.
A 3-day emergency food list: free printable for meat eaters, vegetarians and vegans
A balanced, no-cook 3-day food store for one person, in three versions: meat eaters, vegetarians and vegans. Free A4 PDFs with tick boxes and a meal plan.
Do solar panels work in a power cut? Island mode explained
Most UK solar systems switch off when the grid goes down. Here’s why, what island mode (EPS) changes, and what to ask an installer before you pay for backup.
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Reading is good. Ready is better.
Tick off what you already have and see exactly what's missing, sized for your household. Most homes are halfway there before they start.
