In for a bad winter, advice?
- Thread starter KarmaChameleon1337
- Start date
Creative1
New Member
I was wondering the same thing (power outage wise). We have lost power for days at a time before. Usually we just fire up the generator when absolutely needed as our wood furnace can keep the house at a livable temp for us. I also have to wait for my husband to get the generator as it large and I don't know the proceedure for getting it going. My biggest concern is what if the power goes out when I am not home? Ahhhhh. Better start preparing for winter.
KarmaChameleon1337
Avid Member
I appreciate you guys responded but I asked for non-generator advice.
Elizadolots
New Member
I think you need a multidimensional approach.
If it's a short blackout, then you could easily move your chameleon to a large critter keeper and surround it with heat packs (I think it was Kinyonga who said she does this, I'll look for that).
A lot of companies make those chemical heat packs that last for hours. You could stock up on those. I've found the "hand size" ones for as little as $1.95 online.
But if you have to deal with days (even a week) you can't really keep your chameleon contained in a small (if warm) place that long.
That's when battery power might work and I really applaud the UPS suggestion but in my experience, they are not intended to keep the power going for very long. Instead they are programmed to, in the event of a power outage, shut the computer down gracefully. I don't think most of the affordable ones offer power for more than a half hour.
Though, if you have one in the house, it might we worth the experiment because, to be honest, that's not something they really explain in their advertisements. It's possible that the battery could power something as simple as a light (or two) for many hours.
If it's a short blackout, then you could easily move your chameleon to a large critter keeper and surround it with heat packs (I think it was Kinyonga who said she does this, I'll look for that).
A lot of companies make those chemical heat packs that last for hours. You could stock up on those. I've found the "hand size" ones for as little as $1.95 online.
But if you have to deal with days (even a week) you can't really keep your chameleon contained in a small (if warm) place that long.
That's when battery power might work and I really applaud the UPS suggestion but in my experience, they are not intended to keep the power going for very long. Instead they are programmed to, in the event of a power outage, shut the computer down gracefully. I don't think most of the affordable ones offer power for more than a half hour.
Though, if you have one in the house, it might we worth the experiment because, to be honest, that's not something they really explain in their advertisements. It's possible that the battery could power something as simple as a light (or two) for many hours.
absolutbill
Chameleon Enthusiast
Do you have a gas stove in your kitchen? If so, you could heat water that way, as that shouldn't be affected in a power outtage. Thankfully in FL I don't have these worries about cold weather, but if the power was out for a day or two I'd put the cham in a shoebox, or something dark and let him just sleep through it. He shouldn't be too bothered not eating for a day or two, but that way you can make sure that he can stay warm - just use those handwarmer packs as suggested and wrap them in a little fleece or a blanket. Then, place those outside the box - where they can warm the box but not get too hot. Good luck!
shmeenakoz
Member
Did anyone say DC/AC converter yet? I was going to pick one if those up for my Cham this winter. They are pretty cheap and run off a car battery. That way you don't have to worry about fumes and running long cables.
gofroggy08
Member
In the short term you could pick up one of those survival blankets; the shiny ones. They reflect the heat back really well. You could wrap it around the enclosure the help keep heat in and use the hand warmers.
laurie
Retired Moderator
I live in Montana, I get both blackouts and cold temps. On Friday it will be -24f here.
Keep a insulated box, like what a cham is shipped in, and keep heat packs. Not hand warmers from Walmart but real reptile heat packs. Put your cham and the heat pack in the box, packed just like you were shipping it. It will go to sleep and stay warm.
If you think your power may stay off for over a day, I can give all the steps to take. For now make sure you have the boxes and heat packs and that they are close to your cham.
sandrachameleon
Chameleon Enthusiast
For short term heat, put chameleon into a shoebox (he'll settle down after he's been in the dark for a while) and use a hot water bottle (your hot water tank will stay warm quite a while, or boil water on a BBQ) or use one of those chemical heat pads such as are used for shipping or keeping hands warm in gloves, or the salt(i think?) based ones in which you snap a metal disk and the liquid gets hot as it hardens, then you can reuse it after boiling.
Some emergency animal hospitals have generators to keep their buildings warm, and may allow emergency day care, for a fee.
Consider a little UPS to run a small watt lightbulb - just enough to keep him warm in a smaller cage covered with a blanket. I have several good UPSs that would each last a long time powering only a 10watt bulb. I bought them for my computers, but nevertheless.... But the batteries for these aren't cheap and do need replacing periodically (especially after several outages)
You can buy small human-powered generators - you pedal a bike to create current to run his heat light bulb or an electric blanket (this isnt as far fetched as you might think: http://www.los-gatos.ca.us/davidbu/p...c_blanket.html or http://www.econvergence.net/easy.htm)
Consider saving up for a generator if storms arent rare where you live.
Consider living somewhere with an alternate source of heat, such as propane or a wood fireplace.
The solar panel / wind turbine is a fabulous suggestion, if you've the $ for it.
Do not run camping stoves indoors if they were meant for outdoors.
Some emergency animal hospitals have generators to keep their buildings warm, and may allow emergency day care, for a fee.
Consider a little UPS to run a small watt lightbulb - just enough to keep him warm in a smaller cage covered with a blanket. I have several good UPSs that would each last a long time powering only a 10watt bulb. I bought them for my computers, but nevertheless.... But the batteries for these aren't cheap and do need replacing periodically (especially after several outages)
You can buy small human-powered generators - you pedal a bike to create current to run his heat light bulb or an electric blanket (this isnt as far fetched as you might think: http://www.los-gatos.ca.us/davidbu/p...c_blanket.html or http://www.econvergence.net/easy.htm)
Consider saving up for a generator if storms arent rare where you live.
Consider living somewhere with an alternate source of heat, such as propane or a wood fireplace.
The solar panel / wind turbine is a fabulous suggestion, if you've the $ for it.
Do not run camping stoves indoors if they were meant for outdoors.
nightanole
Chameleon Enthusiast
I agree with Sandra on the ups for alittle backup heat. I would like to add this though. alot of ups have a 12v battery attachment for connecting marine batteries meant for troll motors. Say a 20 watt heat mat for 72 hours, thats only 1.4kwh, you could do that with just 1 or 2 large batteries. AKA around 150-200 amp hour battery.
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