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If 2020 has taught us anything, it is that we should be prepared for the unexpected. While post-apocalyptic films and books have been popular for years, no one could have predicted when and how a global pandemic would hit.
Even for those who might have predicted that a respiratory virus was due to strike soon, it is unlikely that they knew the most in-demand product of the initial runs on the grocery stores would be toilet paper!
All this demonstrates that the unpredictable is always possible. The increase in natural disasters in recent years shows how important it is to be prepared for the unexpected.
When severe weather hits, you are likely to lose power. Sometimes this is only for a few hours, but it can easily be for days or weeks if many people are impacted by a major weather event.
For most Americans, our only form of communication is through cell phones. Landlines and payphones are pretty much non-existent in many places. This means you need to be prepared to keep your cell phone charged for days if needed.
When Hurricane Katrina hit, many people were stranded by floodwaters, in areas that remained without power for months. Having a cell phone to call for help could have been the difference between life and death for those folks.
When power is lost, it is not uncommon to go to your vehicle and charge your devices. What if there is a flood or fire, and your vehicle is not available? How would you stay in touch with the outside world?
Aside from the obvious need for a phone, what about all the other electric-powered devices that are needed to survive these days? Many people can’t safely sleep without their CPAP machines, for example. How do you keep all of those devices running?
The answer to these concerns is a generator. Every home should have a generator of some kind, but what type of generator do you need?
A Mini Generator is Often Enough
Traditional generators put out a lot of electricity. If you live in an area where you have regular severe snowstorms or want to power a remote work area regularly, this may be what you need.
There are large output solar generators that can replace a traditional diesel or gas generator. These generators gain the benefit of an infinite fuel source, so there is no need to keep volatile flammables around to power your generator. Unless you live in the very far north where you may go days with no sun, a solar generator is typically a much better bet for most people.
There are some drawbacks to these large generators. Liquid fuel generators are usually fairly large and cumbersome, so if you are escaping a disaster zone or having to move to a separate shelter, you may lose the benefit of your generator.
Larger solar generators are great, and can be much more portable than traditional generators. The biggest drawback to these is often the cost. If you are looking to use something once or twice a year, or even less, a cost over two thousand dollars can prevent a lot of people from seeing the value. In addition, the large batteries needed to make a large generator valuable can also mean it is less portable than desired.
For many people, the solution is a mini generator like the Patriot Power Sidekick. These small solar generators can power several devices between charges, and are super portable. This makes them ideal not just for emergency power, but even for everyday needs like family camping.
The Sidekick is much more affordable than its full-sized cousins, but operates in the same way- using a solar charge to power a strong battery that allows it to run or charge several things, allowing you to be prepared for anything!
In summary, when you need a generator, but don’t need to power a house, the Patriot Power Sidekick is the best mini generator for the job.
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This content is brought to you by Hannah Madison.
Photo: Shutterstock
