ENCOURAGING ANGELS: The Importance Of A Power Bank And A Solar Panel For Disabled, MR and Special Needs Families

Originally published on Encouraging Angels. -NCS

I am writing this as I sit here at home laid up with ‘the crud’. When I feel as bad as I do the defenses I normally have up come down a bit and I think back to when my wife, my son and I took care of my daughter at an ICU level of care for 8 1/2 years by ourselves, in our home. Along the way we laid the groundwork for the 4 US Patents that I co-own for the metabolic work we did to save and extend her life almost 5 years (my daughter was afflicted with a catastrophic childhood illness; for more info please watch the trailer to our documentary). We also learned a bit about preparedness.

One time we had a power outage that lasted probably the better part of a day. For anyone else that power outage would have been a temporary inconvenience. For my daughter it was a life threatening situation. You see Hannah had to be regularly suctioned during the day to keep her saliva from building up and choking her (because of her disease she lost the ability to swallow and was fed by a ‘G-tube’). We did not have any kind of battery backup to run the suction machine. So we had to improvise an infant nasal suction bulb connected to suction tubing to remove the saliva. Needless to say but when you take care of someone with ‘special’ needs there are times you had better be quick on your feet. After going through that experience, let me tell you-it is better to be prepared.

The world, especially right now, is not a safe place. The is not the same amount of food on the stores that there was just a year ago. People unwilling to take the jab are being let go left and right.

If you run a ‘disabled’, ‘MR’ or ‘special needs’ household you have a lot of responsibility. Few people outside of the disability community understand the level of commitment that you have to keep things going for someone else who can -never- contribute to the household through chores, a job or in some cases, to provide joy doing the things that children and young adults would normally do.

So as the caregiver you have to think about who you care for in a unique way. Today, I would like you, the caregiver to consider being able to provide services when there is no electricity.

Based on my experience, there are a couple things that are really important to be able to provide electricity for.

1) Suction Machine

2) Pulse-Ox

3) Oxygen concentrator

4) Being able to charge an electric wheelchair

Now, some things like an electric suction machine or an electric pulse-ox will draw less power than trying to run an oxygen concentrator or charging a wheel chair.

Today’s power bank should have the capability of charging USB (A and C type) and standard wall plug(s).
The brilliant thing about having the appropriate size power bank is to also get a appropriate sized solar panel to charge the bank. That way you do not have to rely on having fuel for a generator. As long as you have sunshine you can generate at least some power.

Therefore, with the equipment you have what I might consider is calling a couple of the power bank companies and ask them given the equipment you have to run in the advent of a grid down event or just a long term power outage-what is the size of the power bank I need and what is the best solar panel for me?

Two (of many) companies in the power bank space are Goal Zero and Jackery. They have both been around for years and have a good reputation.

I will leave it to you to do your homework with these (or other) companies in this space.

The thing to recognize is that we are moving into a time period that is the most uncertain in our lifetime. Power outages are a reality. We could be in a world situation where war could happen in just 90 days. What would happen if you can’t run an oxygen concentrator and the person you are taking care of -needs it-? Please consider acting now to find out what you can do to mitigate this problem. What you actually need may be slightly outside of your current ability to buy. You might need to host a spaghetti dinner, a raffle (if it’s legal where you live). You are going to have to creative to prepare for your special loved one. If you don’t do it, dear caregiver, who will?

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Stan Szymanski (or Encouraging Angels) is not a medical doctor. This is not medical advice. In all matters pertaining to the health and care of a human being consult a medical doctor. This is not legal, financial or personal advice. Consult appropriate professionals in those fields for that type of advice.

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About the Author: NC Scout

NC Scout is the nom de guerre of a former Infantry Scout and Sergeant in one of the Army’s best Reconnaissance Units. He has combat tours in both Iraq and Afghanistan. He teaches a series of courses focusing on small unit skills rarely if ever taught anywhere else in the prepping and survival field, including his RTO Course which focuses on small unit communications. In his free time he is an avid hunter, bushcrafter, writer, long range shooter, prepper, amateur radio operator and Libertarian activist. He can be contacted at [email protected] or via his blog at brushbeater.wordpress.com .

13 Comments

  1. X-Beast 419 December 9, 2021 at 03:55

    I recommend the Patriot Power Sidekick. It’s kind of spendy $500 bucks. But it will solve the power problem for special needs and elderly people who need electricity to keep things going. My wife uses an oxygen concentrator because she had some nasty flesh eating pneumonia. Here’s a link, check it out.

    https://4patriots.com/collections/power-solar/products/patriot-power-sidekick

  2. Centurion_Cornelius December 9, 2021 at 06:22

    “dziękuję mój przyjacielu!”

    Good presentation, Stan. Especially for those of us with special needs and/or neighbors, Friends, and extended Families with same.

    The TIME is NOW to solve these issues, as you so readily have shown us here.

    Peace and Christmas Blessings to you and yours and those you love as we travel through Advent 2021.

    ~ from another “-ski” in Cleveland.

  3. Richard December 9, 2021 at 07:06

    Good heads up for those with special needs. I just got both a large and smaller solar generator from Patriot power for my cpap machine and other equipment.

  4. E M Johnson December 9, 2021 at 07:24

    after my research I opted for a Bluetti solar power gen/panel combo. price-features-reputation were better than those others imho.. check out hobotech on YT for comparison of most of the players in this space

    • NC Scout December 9, 2021 at 07:43

      Thanks for this. Have you got any links to those?

  5. Romeo Foxtrot December 9, 2021 at 08:35

    Here you go: https://www.bluettipower.com

    As an amateur radio operator and outdoor enthusiast, who likes to do off grid stuff and do emcomm training together, i have chosen the https://www.jackery.com/ line of panel/generator kits.

    Those who have been to NCS’s classes with me will have seen them firsthand in use, providing all of my power needs over three days, to run all of my commo gear, keep laptop/phones/tablets charged as well.

    I have two of the 500w units, can link em up for 1k watt total power…

    I have several plug and play waterproof panels w built in inverters too.

    Multiple systems vs relying on one larger unit.

    one can go ghetto too, and get a 100ah agm battery, charge controller, trolling motor box, and a 100 w panel from northern tool, add in a 2k watt dc to ac inverter and have a nifty set up too, ask me how i know… :-)

    I also have a couple portable sine wave genies from wen, https://www.amazon.com/WEN-56203i-2000-Watt-Generator-Lightweight/dp/B07XZX5FTR/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_product_top?ie=UTF8&th=1 and a new tri fuel rig i am connecting to NG line, then to home main via interlock kit to power various circuits, as i have not lost NG in the years and weather events i’ve experienced…

    I’ve built a nifty, soundproofed shed for it using a suncast garbage can storage shed…

  6. Tunnel+Rabbit December 9, 2021 at 11:09

    My DYI PV 865watt system cost me less than $2,000. The small battery bank is only 840 AH. The problem of running an oxygen concentration continuously is a difficult one. This size PV system might be adequate, but only if the sun shined every day. Of course it does not. A large and expensive battery bank is necessary to provide power during over cast days. In northern climates, a generator would be necessary. Go with a diesel if this is a requirement.

    • NC Scout December 9, 2021 at 11:19

      Nice.

      • Tunnel+Rabbit December 9, 2021 at 12:04

        My educated guess is based upon off grid living: Given that a lower electrical demand oxygen concentrator,that uses 120 watts continuously (10 amps at 12vdc) and produces 2 liters per minute(adequate for most), for 3 to 5 years of operation (the limit is due to the battery type used, flooded lead acid), the PV system required would need to be approximately twice the size of mine, or around 2000 watts. The battery bank should be no smaller than 1AH per watt. There will be other electrical demands as well, so size the system appropriately. One can lower the cost of the panels by buying them by the pallet at a cost, not including the freight charge, as low as .60 cents per watt. However a higher cost MPPT charge controller will increase the cost of the system beyond my own.

        I would use the most reliable Lead acid deep cycle batteries are the lowest cost battery type, and the most reliable. However, there may still be a shortage of these batteries on the market. My head shot estimate for the components of this DYI system might be $5,000 to $6,000 The use of lithium or AGM batteries would drive the cost much higher. I also recommend the use of Morningstar charge controllers. The most RF quiet, lowest cost, and the most reliable in the industry, with a 15 year service life, is the Morningstar TS45/60. These are PWM and can handle up to 48 volts. MPPT has it problems and are particularly RF noisy.

        • NC Scout December 9, 2021 at 12:10

          This is awesome.

  7. Tunnel+Rabbit December 9, 2021 at 11:32

    This is a useful article as it details the power consumption of several models of oxygen concentrators. https://www.oxygenconcentratorstore.com/blog/stationary-oxygen-concentrator-electricity-usage-and-costs/

    I have a commercial unit . Most patients need only 2 liters per minute, and that means the machine will use less power than if ran at it’s maximum rate of 5 liters. However, some machines may not put out a maximum of 5 liters, and therefore their power consumption rating could be less. Determine the level of oxygen required and then shop for a unit that uses less power. Reducing demand on a battery bank is cheaper than buying a larger battery bank and more panels.

  8. Paulo December 9, 2021 at 13:25

    Was fortunate to get a few brand new photovolataic panels (solar panels) which glass just happened
    to be shattered. After some searches found a resin which encapsulates the glass to keep from moisture
    from seeping in and further did not yellow and is not affected by UV and stays clear.
    Also learned about the importance of Pure Sine Waves Inverters, so got one at 3000 watt which surge
    up to 6000 watts (important for when fridge/s compressors kick in etc.),
    Got a couple of 30 amp charge controllers (2 is one, 1 is none ), plus a couple of deep cell 1400 each weighing
    about 130 lbs each.
    After framiing 4 solar panels ready to get to a part of the roof which gets plenty of sun and hooking all up.
    Hinges also bolted on for sun direction between seasons.
    Pressured cleaned that section of the roof, and after completely dry, Rolled a good coat of siliconozer coating
    to keep cool up there.
    Two additional solar panels which where of a diffrent size gave to a friend so his family too can get some
    back up power at his house.

    Ready to install, then monitor while feeding appliances etc, and making sure batteries don’t go below
    50% charge level, and adjusting input/output as time passes.

  9. Privateer December 9, 2021 at 20:49

    I have a poor mans setup. I picked up a few of the old ups’s for computers that were being discarded because the internal batteries were dead. I drilled a hole in the side and ran wires externally to 2 12 volt marine batteries. The batteries must be wired in series because the ups is 24volt.

    A 1500va ups will keep a furnace or a refrigerator running all night. I recharged the batteries during the day with a natural gas generator for a few years. I’ve since added 900 watts of solar panels mounted on an old school satellite dish.

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