Prep of the day

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  • MoreAmmoOK
    Senior Member
    • Mar 2026
    • 16

    #16

    Mad Trapper replied
    Yesterday, 11:23 AM
    I got two LED flaslights. Each one comes with it's own charger and 2 18650 Li batteries (4 total). Also comes with an adapter to run 3 AAA batteries.

    Seem to be pretty good so far. 3 brightness settings, 2 strobes.

    $30 delivered

    I figured good deal since I got 4 batteries.

    Anybody know of good options for chargers for 18650 bats using a USB or 12V source? I have a 12V USB adapter for the cig lighter in my truck to do my phone. I can wire that to a battery with a couple jumpers.

    The chargers they came with are wall plugin.



    I have an Opus BT-C3400. it comes with a 120v wall wart and a 12v cig lighter plug. Input on it is 12v DC so any 12v DC power source will run it.


    https://www.amazon.com/Universal-Analyzer-Rechargeable-Batteries-BT-C3400/dp/B07T941JCF/ref=sr_1_1?crid=OTV8OYOQOJO7&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.dQi5 DSvZ6NnOrgxI5nDc3Qt11tJOhb8UDnja_E2qOUBgXg8Ms-xSSV0ExSC04-h3tieZhnjXqwirQdJVlH4Zh-F6M3nk2bZvyYAN7dpDykLQW3gnhKk7f_YXE60Sh8DMNUajgRvO 1YQLksXyRuSu4uoHTOiM9brC59J_sRGDk2jVxhBIoRmul6PFYm kQA5z3uC-hOry1oX1MMu5PcCV3u0JZO89fMAKjmLhgAN4XaFM.LdgsoSIHb OsJojC86q7xFqiE-iB40aFmeFNzQ0BI4-0&dib_tag=se&keywords=opus+bt-c3400&qid=1774368091&s=electronics&sprefix=opus+bt-c3400%2Celectronics%2C234&sr=1-1

    Comment

    • SparkyPrep
      Super Moderator
      • Mar 2026
      • 82

      #17
      Originally posted by SparkyPrep
      I need to get a quote on 2 tons of fertilizer.
      Ok. Fertilizer is about equal in value to gold right now. I won't be purchasing this year. I got quoted $2700 for 2 tons. That is double what I paid last year. Pass.

      Comment

      • MoreAmmoOK
        Senior Member
        • Mar 2026
        • 16

        #18
        Got six of these, they were about 50% off when I bought them. Looked handy and they are supposed to know the difference between switch turned off and a power outage. They come with a hanging hook socket with switch and can be used without a lamp fixture.

        https://www.acmetools.com/bright-liv...000082617.html

        Comment


        • 1skrewsloose
          1skrewsloose commented
          Editing a comment
          Hey, that's pretty damn slick, got candles beat for sure. Gonna get some, thanks!

          I've got an old trouble light, cut the cord off and slap one of those bad boys in it. Seems like when working under the car I always get wound up in the cord.
          Last edited by 1skrewsloose; 03-27-2026, 07:04 PM.
      • Inor
        Administrator
        • Mar 2026
        • 63

        #19
        Originally posted by SparkyPrep

        Ok. Fertilizer is about equal in value to gold right now. I won't be purchasing this year. I got quoted $2700 for 2 tons. That is double what I paid last year. Pass.
        Check around locally for a place that sells ammonium-nitrate. It is the same stuff and usually quite a bit cheaper.

        Around here they sell it for blasting in the mines. They do require you to fill out a paper, similar to a 4473, but it's not a problem to buy unless you are a terrorist.

        Comment

        • Chiefster23
          Senior Member
          • Mar 2026
          • 26

          #20
          I got my Rolls lithium battery today. I hooked it up and had trouble getting everything to work. The battery managment system puts the battery to sleep during extended periods of not being used. You gotta wake the battery. I quick call to customer service solved everything. Turns out Rolls is a canadian company, but the battery is clearly marked as made in China. Anyway, we’ll see how it goes. It’s charging up to full capacity on the solar panels right now. Nice perk is the battery has built in bluetooth so i can just glance at my phone and see the basic battery parameters.

          Comment

          • MoreAmmoOK
            Senior Member
            • Mar 2026
            • 16

            #21
            Originally posted by 1skrewsloose
            Hey, that's pretty damn slick, got candles beat for sure. Gonna get some, thanks!

            I've got an old trouble light, cut the cord off and slap one of those bad boys in it. Seems like when working under the car I always get wound up in the cord.


            According to the documentation the fixture switch must be on and the power out for them to work. I've not experimented with them and don't know how they know the difference between switch off and power out. When screwed into the socket they came with you can turn them on and off with a switch on the bulb itself and hang them or carry them around.
            Soon I'll mess with them by putting them in a fixture and flipping the breaker to that circuit and see what happens.

            Comment

            • Mad Trapper
              Senior Member
              • Mar 2026
              • 98

              #22
              Originally posted by MoreAmmoOK
              Mad Trapper replied
              Yesterday, 11:23 AM
              I got two LED flaslights. Each one comes with it's own charger and 2 18650 Li batteries (4 total). Also comes with an adapter to run 3 AAA batteries.

              Seem to be pretty good so far. 3 brightness settings, 2 strobes.

              $30 delivered

              I figured good deal since I got 4 batteries.

              Anybody know of good options for chargers for 18650 bats using a USB or 12V source? I have a 12V USB adapter for the cig lighter in my truck to do my phone. I can wire that to a battery with a couple jumpers.

              The chargers they came with are wall plugin.



              I have an Opus BT-C3400. it comes with a 120v wall wart and a 12v cig lighter plug. Input on it is 12v DC so any 12v DC power source will run it.


              https://www.amazon.com/Universal-Analyzer-Rechargeable-Batteries-BT-C3400/dp/B07T941JCF/ref=sr_1_1?crid=OTV8OYOQOJO7&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.dQi5 DSvZ6NnOrgxI5nDc3Qt11tJOhb8UDnja_E2qOUBgXg8Ms-xSSV0ExSC04-h3tieZhnjXqwirQdJVlH4Zh-F6M3nk2bZvyYAN7dpDykLQW3gnhKk7f_YXE60Sh8DMNUajgRvO 1YQLksXyRuSu4uoHTOiM9brC59J_sRGDk2jVxhBIoRmul6PFYm kQA5z3uC-hOry1oX1MMu5PcCV3u0JZO89fMAKjmLhgAN4XaFM.LdgsoSIHb OsJojC86q7xFqiE-iB40aFmeFNzQ0BI4-0&dib_tag=se&keywords=opus+bt-c3400&qid=1774368091&s=electronics&sprefix=opus+bt-c3400%2Celectronics%2C234&sr=1-1

              That would work well. But pricey, more than twice what I paid for the flashlights. If I invest in some more Li batteries might be a purchase.

              Comment

              • MoreAmmoOK
                Senior Member
                • Mar 2026
                • 16

                #23
                Originally posted by 1skrewsloose
                Hey, that's pretty damn slick, got candles beat for sure. Gonna get some, thanks!

                I've got an old trouble light, cut the cord off and slap one of those bad boys in it. Seems like when working under the car I always get wound up in the cord.
                I messed with those battery powered bulbs a bit today. I was wrong about the switch to use them in stand-alone mode, it's on the screw on hanger cap, not on the bulb itself. It is a simple make/break switch. If you connect the threaded part of the base to the center terminal the bulb lights. To use the bulb as stand-alone in a fixture, such as a droplight, you just need to cut the cord and connect the two wires of the cord together. The switch on the fixture will then turn it on and off.

                Comment

                • SparkyPrep
                  Super Moderator
                  • Mar 2026
                  • 82

                  #24
                  Welded out a steel rack to hold my spare fence posts. Stacked fence posts in new rack. Drug the cow pasture with my home-made tine harrow (chain link fence with an old tire tied on top) to spread the manure. Did a little outdoor clean up. We did get a little rain today.

                  Comment

                  • T-Man 1066
                    Senior Member
                    • Mar 2026
                    • 201

                    #25
                    Originally posted by SparkyPrep
                    Welded out a steel rack to hold my spare fence posts. Stacked fence posts in new rack. Drug the cow pasture with my home-made tine harrow (chain link fence with an old tire tied on top) to spread the manure. Did a little outdoor clean up. We did get a little rain today.
                    Pics!!!
                    Politicians can kiss my ass!!!

                    Comment

                    • Texas PO
                      Senior Member
                      • Mar 2026
                      • 99

                      #26
                      I just ordered in a 1000 rounds of 5.56 and a 1000 rounds of 9mm. With the war possibly spiraling out of control I figure the price of ammo will go up and be harder to find. I am going to double check our storage as well, check for holes or things we may not have thought of. Not to sound paranoid but if this goes sideways it will go fast. Just being prudent.


                      "I prefer dangerous freedom over peaceful slavery."
                      - Thomas Jefferson, letter to James Madison, January 30, 1787​

                      Comment

                      • Bucket-Back
                        Senior Member
                        • Mar 2026
                        • 21

                        #27
                        I was just looking at 4 - 3' x 4' and 4 -1' x 2' solar panels not hooked up🙁

                        Actually they've been here 3 years. I have the inverter now batteries are needed. Plus I need to fill up the '92 Chevy Silverado that just got put on the road, empty boat tanks, propane tanks.

                        It's raining and she's on a knee scooter for 8 weeks after getting the metal taken out of her right foot yesterday. I'm prepping from home for the next couple days.

                        Comment

                        • Chiefster23
                          Senior Member
                          • Mar 2026
                          • 26

                          #28
                          Well I’ve had my new lithium battery several weeks now and I’ve very happy so far. Basically no maintenance as compared to the old lead acid golf cart batteries. My old set up was 700 amphr capacity. The new battery is a single 300 amphr capacity. Loving the Bluetooth feature that allows me to check battery parameters from my phone. I can see % charge, individual cell voltages, faults, and even a timer that keeps track of discharge/charge cycles. Shipping froms Rolls in Canada was crazy expensive. $380 to ship one battery!

                          Reading articles about our national grid and it ain’t good. Our local PA grid is in poor shape with almost no reserve capacity. The stupid bastards decommissioned and demolished our coal plants. So now the companies are promising brown outs and rolling blackouts are most likely coming. So, I just bit the bullet and ordered a second battery. I’m 75 and the wife is 78. No sense in keeping all the $ locked in the IRA and suffering thru power outages. Spending a little more now to make our life easier in the coming trials.

                          I’ve got a small window AC unit that I can power with my small honda generator to keep one room cool. And a small efficient chest type freezer/refrigerator. My on site spring and water cistern, coupled with a filter system and DC powered UV light has my water needs covered. I guess we are as ready as we can be for the mess the future is bringing. I look around my neighborhood and just shake my head. Only One neighbor has a generator. Everyone else is blissfully unaware. It’s gonna be a shit-show for sure.

                          Comment


                          • ~MG~
                            ~MG~ commented
                            Editing a comment
                            Chiefster that's awesome! You've made some really good decisions, in my humble prepper opinion, lol. Great overall planning, for sure!
                        • ~MG~
                          Senior Member
                          • Mar 2026
                          • 65

                          #29
                          Chiefster just inspired me to check our preps. Think I'll start with meds: aspirin, ibuprofen, cold/flu stuff... all the over-the-counter things. Neither PO or I are on any prescription drugs, so aside from a good supply of band aids, etc, we should be okay.

                          Comment

                          • Texas PO
                            Senior Member
                            • Mar 2026
                            • 99

                            #30
                            Originally posted by Chiefster23
                            Well I’ve had my new lithium battery several weeks now and I’ve very happy so far. Basically no maintenance as compared to the old lead acid golf cart batteries. My old set up was 700 amphr capacity. The new battery is a single 300 amphr capacity. Loving the Bluetooth feature that allows me to check battery parameters from my phone. I can see % charge, individual cell voltages, faults, and even a timer that keeps track of discharge/charge cycles. Shipping froms Rolls in Canada was crazy expensive. $380 to ship one battery!

                            Reading articles about our national grid and it ain’t good. Our local PA grid is in poor shape with almost no reserve capacity. The stupid bastards decommissioned and demolished our coal plants. So now the companies are promising brown outs and rolling blackouts are most likely coming. So, I just bit the bullet and ordered a second battery. I’m 75 and the wife is 78. No sense in keeping all the $ locked in the IRA and suffering thru power outages. Spending a little more now to make our life easier in the coming trials.

                            I’ve got a small window AC unit that I can power with my small honda generator to keep one room cool. And a small efficient chest type freezer/refrigerator. My on site spring and water cistern, coupled with a filter system and DC powered UV light has my water needs covered. I guess we are as ready as we can be for the mess the future is bringing. I look around my neighborhood and just shake my head. Only One neighbor has a generator. Everyone else is blissfully unaware. It’s gonna be a shit-show for sure.
                            Pretty much our set up as well. One small window unit in the bedroom that can run on one of the small gen sets. As to your blissfully unaware neighbors, just imagine what they will be thinking when they find out you have a generator and plan accordingly. Fortunately, just about everyone around here has a generator or 2 except maybe the few trailer trash hovels scattered here and there.


                            Concerning our grid? It is still number one on my list. By any means, be it war, terror attack, or whatever, it is our Achilles' heel and some bad actor somewhere will get around to to the grid eventually.


                            "I prefer dangerous freedom over peaceful slavery."
                            - Thomas Jefferson, letter to James Madison, January 30, 1787​

                            Comment

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