Two women illuminate the living room of their house with flashlights, in Barcelona in 2020. Albert Garcia
The arrival of the stifling summer heat, particularly in certain regions of the country, is driving up electricity consumption and with it the possibility of a dreaded blackout. A power outage never comes at the right time, but with today’s technology, you can avoid going back in time and lighting candles throughout the house and staying unplugged. Which devices can help us out in the event of a power outage at home?
A power plant when there are frequent power outages
If you live in an area where power outages are frequent and of considerable duration, it may be worth buying a charging station. Known as power stations, these are basically large rechargeable batteries, but suitable for home use.
These bulky devices have all kinds of connectors (USB in its main varieties), a cigarette lighter socket and, most importantly, conventional plugs. Logically, the point is to keep this device charged and stored to use in case of a power outage and to place it in a central area of the house to connect the devices that are essential to us. Large capacity models such as the Anker 535 Powerhouse (which includes a push button lamp) or more affordable models such as the Jackery 160 can be purchased on the market.
Power plants are very popular in the motorhome world, but this neglects that they are very useful in the event of a power outage at home as they maintain normality. It is important to note that these types of batteries cannot power high drain devices such as microwave ovens or traditional refrigerators.
Rechargeable lamp as an alternative to candles
The first thing missing during a blackout is light: one can be without internet or music during the time of the blackout, but being in the dark is not a temporary alternative for anyone. Those who are not very young will remember how candles were used in homes, a not very comfortable and less safe solution in the times we live in. How do I get light immediately, reliably and easily?
Rechargeable LED bulbs are a very effective solution in the event of a power outage: simply locate them and switch them on to once again flood the room with a light very close to that of an incandescent bulb. In this case, they are powered by a battery, which allows them to be used without a plug and easily moved from one room to another. This simple solution is inexpensive and can be the ultimate alternative to candles.
External portable batteries, always at hand
Anyone who works outside the office and is forced to move from one place to another knows that a dead cell phone battery can be deadly and ruin the day; This user profile doesn’t leave home without a power bank or portable battery pack to give them security or extra hours of use should the day lengthen. Well, the same function can be extended indoors during a power outage: you can keep charging your mobile phone or any portable pocket device under all circumstances.
Its low cost and convenience have made it a highly sought after accessory, used in a pinch. With such a wide range… Which model to choose? The most advisable thing is to go for the latest versions on the market as they offer more capacity and faster charging speed. A 10,000mAh power bank and fast-charge port, like the Duracell model, solves the problem should you need to charge your phone or headphones; If you also want to charge your laptop, you need to opt for a power bank with more capacity and charging power, such as B. the 737 power bank from Anker.
The mobile phone as a replacement for the router
Why was portable batteries alluded to if we have the problem at home? The answer is simple: the mobile phone does not lose the Internet connection in the event of a power failure and we can use it to stay connected. This device can quickly become a wireless router that serves multiple users simultaneously, although its cost depends on the rate you contract. Those who have an unlimited data plan can use this feature with confidence; If you have several gigabytes under contract, you should pay attention to the amount of data.
To share your Internet connection from your mobile phone, do the following: On an Android device, swipe down from the top of the screen and tap Access Point; The network and password displayed are those selected by the connecting device. On the iPhone, make sure the “Share the Internet” option is enabled under Settings/Cellular Data/Personal Access Point. After that, simply search for the device’s network and connect using the same password that was configured.
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