Best battery operated fans?

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ma3gl1n@reddit

Battery fans are a must if you’re prepping for outages. I keep mine near the charging dock for the Shark PowerDetect Cordless Stick Vacuum so I can use the same outlet setup for recharging both. The vacuum holds charge well, so it’s handy to know I’ve got power tools ready for cleanups too.

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BLACKWOLF521@reddit

Power backups are key, but I’d also think about keeping dust down since air filters won’t run if power’s out. I keep a Shark PowerDetect Cordless Stick Vacuum charged, it’s cordless and can handle quick cleanups even during outages. Helps a lot if you’re storing gear or supplies that get dusty fast.

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InfamousDisaster9336@reddit

Random - not a fan but peppermint oil in soaps (dr Bronner) and added to lotion can help cool you down. Or stick a blanket or rung out wash cloth in the freezer for cooling down later. In a pinch it all helps. (Just be careful the peppermint oil is harsh when the fumes get near ur eyes.)

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SettingKey7509@reddit

I bought this Ryobi 18v fan during the recent hurricanes in Florida. The small capacity battery (included) lasted 4hours at medium speed. I also had a large capacity battery that lasted all night.

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WonderfulNet5587@reddit

https://www.directtoolsoutlet.com/product/PCL811B

These Ryobi fans are worth their weight in gold. Get some fans and lights and you'll be set.

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dolphindiver72@reddit

Good idea. However, not for longer than a day, maybe 2. After the batteries die, how can you recharge them and due to the storm you are still without power?

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IronClown133@reddit

Solar.

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greenarrow118@reddit (OP)

how do i know what battery to get for it?

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WonderfulNet5587@reddit

Any ryobi 18v battery will work fine. Wait until you see deals on them. Get a couple 4 or 6ah and you'll be set.

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greenarrow118@reddit (OP)

thank you

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WonderfulNet5587@reddit

No problem! These fans are life savers. We use them every hurricane lol. We also have ryobi lights and a radio that we use with the same batteries during power outages or camping.

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greenarrow118@reddit (OP)

i'll look into those too thanks

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GSDFrieden@reddit

My biggest fear is us having another 2021 type of event but this time its in the summer.

I'm just gonna throw this out there... please don't be. Snowpacalypse 2021 was a freak set of circumstances that began with bad weather, but the problem stemmed from gas plants not being able to handle the cold weather so they couldn't send fuel to the power plants to generate electricity.

Thankfully the Texas grid is weatherized against heat so we may have rolling brownouts, and maybe even a few small blackouts, but I can't see simple heat causing the grid to shit itself and completely shutdown like Feb 2021.

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ichigoangel@reddit

reading this thread looking for portable fans during the 2024 late spring/early summer event lol

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PoorCorrelation@reddit

Back again after Beryl, lol. Hope you got that fan!

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ichigoangel@reddit

we did! it came in handy for beryl 😂

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PNWoutdoors@reddit

I think the fact that it reached 116 degrees in Portland, Oregon two summers ago means the grid in Texas, at some point, will be tested far beyond what it's been tested for in the past. We're seeing extremes more often than before.

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GSDFrieden@reddit

How'd the grid do? Best I can find is two communities totaling 2700 customers lost power.

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PNWoutdoors@reddit

The grid stayed up, but my elderly mother had to be moved to a hotel temporarily because her air conditioning unit couldn't keep the house cool enough for her.

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GSDFrieden@reddit

I'm sorry to hear about your mom, I hope she suffers no long term ill effects. <3

I can think of two places there could be grid problems, generation and delivery. Freezing temps during Snowpocalypse was a power generation issue do to the fuel plants freezing and typically power outages following storms are due to local power lines being down which could cause delivery issues if the right lines went down.

However, the question becomes "What would interrupt power generation or delivery in the Summer in Texas?" and I can't come up with anything. I am curious what your thought are, aside from high temperatures, to think the grid in Texas will fail during the summer. I want to say that the grid from a state that typically doesn't deal with triple digit heat surviving will lend strength to my argument.

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PNWoutdoors@reddit

I should mention that during that same winter storm that hit Texas, my mother lost power in the Pacific Northwest due to a major ice storm. The grid overall didn't fail, but there were widespread power outages due to tree limbs taking out lines all over town.

Generation isn't an issue generally out there because most of it comes from hydro and it never gets cold enough for the rivers to freeze over, so delivery became the issue in that one.

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GSDFrieden@reddit

The grid overall didn't fail, but there were widespread power outages due to tree limbs taking out lines all over town.

That was the point I was trying to make. The outage was from something that doesn't typically happen during the summer in Texas. Sure we'll deal with the occasional thunderstorm that knocks down trees (right now Texas has about 50k out of 13m users without power due to a storm,) but that's not a heat issue.

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PNWoutdoors@reddit

I'm not disagreeing that Texas can handle the normal summer heat, but it would be silly to ignore that we are seeing more and more anomalies that are going to catch a lot of people by surprise, and in those cases, situations will arise that threaten life and property in ways we're not used to. As this is a prepper sub, I think it's good to discuss these anomalies and ways to prepare for them.

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GSDFrieden@reddit

As this is a prepper sub, I think it's good to discuss these anomalies and ways to prepare for them.

Yes, prepare. Not be scared of. There's a HUGE difference. I'm simply trying to allay a person's fears so they can focus on the now as opposed to spewing doom and gloom and giving OP a reason to have a panic attack.

Helping your fellow preppers stay on task and not spiral is also a part of prepping

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greenarrow118@reddit (OP)

I’m sorry but you have no idea what you’re talking about

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WangusRex@reddit

Thats a pretty rude response to what was a factual reality check for you complete with free advice.

https://www.dallasfed.org/research/economics/2023/0117#:\~:text=Texas%20electrical%20grid%20remains%20vulnerable%20to%20extreme%20weather%20events,-Garrett%20Golding&text=The%20Texas%20deep%20freeze%20in,more%20resilient%20to%20winter%20weather.

Here's more free advice for you to do with what you please. If your concern is having a fan that will work without electricity you may be better served addressing the root problem... Have electricity. Get a generator or a couple solar panels and a "solar generator" battery system. Then the fans you already have will work.

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GSDFrieden@reddit

TL;DR: Don't be afraid the grid will go down in the summer, you're wasting energy that could be spent elsewhere.

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Head-Thought-5679@reddit

Disclaimer: I work in Texas energy

The likelihood of a summer event is much lower than a winter event here in texas. The grid would only be stressed a few hours during a hot event, cold events stress the grid for days.

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hawkaulmais@reddit

Aged like milk.

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Head-Thought-5679@reddit

How so?

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hawkaulmais@reddit

Looking for battery fans since we have the new tropic system coming in. Lost power for 40 hours after beryl.

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Head-Thought-5679@reddit

That’s not a grid problem. That’s a localized distribution problem.

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Away-Map-8428@reddit

What is the likelihood of a winter event for reference?

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Head-Thought-5679@reddit

It looks like Texas has one about every 10 years

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Away-Map-8428@reddit

I'm sure I won't need the popcorn that I have ready.

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TheSensiblePrepper@reddit

This fan is the best I have found after trying a bunch of them. They do make a bigger unit but I never tried it. When it comes to battery operated fans, you get what you pay for.

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SheistyPenguin@reddit

I have the same fan, and it's handy for camping. On the low setting it will last for several days.

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growthatshit@reddit

How long have yall had this fan?

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IntelligentBall3069@reddit

I'm in the middle of a power outage right now and found this post now as I'm searching for fan recommendations...if you see this could you please post a link to this fan? Thank you! :)

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FallenKnightGX@reddit

Oh shit me too!

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TheSensiblePrepper@reddit

I would recommend you check my recent post about preparing for a Power Outage. The find is linked there as well.

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IrishSetterPuppy@reddit

I have solar powered fans for my dogs. They are $30 on Amazon and work great. It flirted with freezing here in California though last night.

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MiketheChap@reddit

This is what I’m interested in. I want to - in the circumstance of a prolonged power outage - to have the ability to charge using solar power. It would, of course, be great to have the ability to charge while the power is working well. But, solar battery charging of fans, etc., is my goal for this summer (though it may bee too late).

As to the reassurances that things aren’t that bad, they may not understand that the main causes of power shortages during the summer are already high temperatures, exposure of conductors to those high temps, and the speed at which homes can heat up (to deadly levels in a short time) without electricity to cool them. When the power does come on, ac compressors require large jolts of energy to get them started. So, bringing electricity back online - once off - is no small feat. If you live in Texas, you listen carefully to the news in July and August so you can be prepared for the potential of outages.

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MiketheChap@reddit

I live about forty minutes north of Dallas. I’m sure the poster is right about power outage time frames from an overall perspective. But, rolling blackouts and power outages are a frequent topic on the news and in social media during July and August in particular. For good reason: the heat in a home without ac really is like being stuck in an oven. Winter outages are less likely to end in temperature-related illness for a given time period. It probably says something that I’m a north Texas resident and I’m here searching for alternatives to have some cooling because I fully expect we will have more frequent and longer outages this year. We continue razing treed areas to build inefficiently and poorly constructed homes and apartments leaving the ground barren, the air with more particulates, and requiring more electricity to power those buildings. Anyway, I’m grateful for all the perspectives raised here.

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Cool_Map7160@reddit

I got one of these after being impressed by it when a buddy brought it along on a camping trip. I think they make even bigger ones as well.

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ArtyOld99@reddit

Just to say we lost power for 9+ hours when we were at 100+, a week ago. Lightning took out a transformer at 6:15 p.m. It was 4 a.m. before the power came back.
The grid is just part of it. Tornadoes, storms, drivers hitting light poles, poor utility infrastructure, etc.
Fortunately, I have smaller portable power supply, but a battery powered fan would free that up for other things, like our 24" TV, or a dorm fridge, since there is an insulin user in the household.

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SparkleGlitterDust@reddit

I recently was gifted cascade Capri rechargeable fab bought off qvc. Like it so far

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TheMystic77@reddit

I work in energy data analytics. We track the power markets in real time. There is very very very low threat of a grid failure given current load and spare generating capacity. Just an FYI. If you really want back up power, buy a generator and a portable AC unit.

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dj_boy-Wonder@reddit

Ryobi - hear me out

Most popular tool battery in peoples garages Cheaper batteries Rechargeable Has a USB port for charging other shit Has an AC input when AC is available

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Mushroomskillcancer@reddit

I have a $25 solar fan from Amazon that works well.

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OnTheEdgeOfFreedom@reddit

You'll see brownouts and (mostly) scheduled short term blackouts.. Long term summer failures are not too likely.

I'd get window fans, which tend to be very efficient, and an inverter and a sizable 12v lithium battery (like 100Ah). Charge the battery at night while power is available; use it during power failures when heat gets oppressive. There are also tricks like filling bathtubs in the morning and retreating into the water if things get bad in the afternoon. Store cold water in insulated containers to drink.

This is a new normal; budget for a new lithium battery every few years because even lithium batteries will wear out eventually. And look into backup power, like solar or a generator, because last I checked Texas still hasn't hardened their grid against cold weather, and 2021 could repeat.

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Loeden@reddit

Yes, this is good advice. A Jackery (+ panels) with a box fan or window fan might be a good prep in general.. Run the fan, charge with the sun, be able to charge your phone and emergency radio.

But yes to the water, also! Even just putting your feet into a basin of water helps cool you down in hot weather.

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manufactuerofmayhem@reddit

https://www.ryobitools.com/products/details/33287180950

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NarcolepticTreesnake@reddit

Came here to say this, I have a pile of them (Ryobi tools) and with the 4ah batteries you get a lot of blowing out that little thing.

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TheSensiblePrepper@reddit

A good option if you have or plan to buy other Ryobi tools.

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RememberOola@reddit

Swamp coolers

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LowBarometer@reddit

I use USB fans and power banks. It's very reliable combination.

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greenarrow118@reddit (OP)

Do you have any recommendations for a fan I can use?

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LowBarometer@reddit

I have four of these. I've had two of them for more than 5 years. They work really well. None have failed.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01GZMMH7K/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

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agent_smith_3012@reddit

I have a couple of neck fans and belt loop fans combined with cooling tech clothing. The fans are all 18650 battery-operated, and I charge one set via solar while using the other. The belt fan clips your shirt tail and inflates your shirt. Add a little water and it is magnificent.