The gas-powered generator, whether gasoline or diesel powered, is largely scorned within the prepping and survival community. The post A Fresh Look at Generators appeared first on Survivopedia.

Welcome back to Gear Up, your go-to guide for the latest in survival gear and preparedness tools. This edition is packed with innovations and tried-and-true classics that are essential for staying ready for any situation. From cutting-edge tech to reliable gear, we aim to equip you with the knowledge and tools you need to stay ahead of the game. Whether you're gearing up for the unexpected or fine-tuning your survival kit, join us as we take a closer look at this month's must-haves. Backpackers Pantry: New Meal Bundle Notes: Step up your outdoor culinary game with the Backpacker's Pantry New Meal Bundle. This bundle includes five distinct meals: Beef Bolognese, Drunken Noodles with Chicken, Fiesta Beef and Vegetable Bowl, Pesto Pasta with Chicken, and White Bean with Chicken and Green Chile Stew. Each meal provides a unique taste experience, from spicy Thai noodles to hearty Italian Bolognese, ensuring gourmet dining no matter where you are. These meals are not only delicious but also easy to prepare, making them ideal for campers, hikers, and outdoor enthusiasts. Just add boiling water, and your meal is ready in minutes. Packed with protein and essential nutrients, they offer a balanced diet on the go. Backpacker's Pantry ensures each meal is lightweight and compact, perfect for carrying in your backpack without adding unnecessary weight. Menu: Beef Bolognese, Drunken Noodles with Chicken, Fiesta Beef & Vegetable, Pesto Pasta with Chicken, White Bean Chicken & Green Chile MSRP: $60 URL: BackpackersPantry.com Knives by Nuge: Wicket XL Scandi Notes: When it comes to heavy-duty tasks, the Wicket XL Scandi is a knife built to perform. Crafted from tough Nitro-V steel, this knife features a robust 3-inch blade with a Scandi grind, making it perfect for carving, cutting, and other demanding outdoor tasks. The ergonomic handle, made of OD Green Micarta, measures 3.5 inches and ensures a comfortable grip during extended use. Included with the knife is a premium leather belt sheath from Badger Claw Outfitters, offering both protection and easy access. Proudly made in the USA, the Wicket XL Scandi combines durability with precision craftsmanship. Whether you're preparing firewood, building a shelter, or tackling camp chores, the Wicket XL Scandi is designed to handle it all with ease and reliability. Steel: Nitro V Stainless MSRP: $325 URL: KnivesByNuge.com Marlow Knifeworks: Canadian Belt Knife Notes: The Canadian Belt Knife by Marlow Knifeworks is a testament to fine craftsmanship and functional design. Hand-forged from 8670 high carbon steel, this knife has great edge retention and durability. The blade measures approximately 4 inches, paired with a 4.5-inch handle crafted from stabilized redwood burl scales, providing a comfortable and secure grip. Each knife comes with a handcrafted leather sheath, ensuring it stays protected and accessible. Ideal for various outdoor tasks, this knife combines traditional aesthetics with modern performance. The starting price of $250 varies based on the materials used, reflecting the bespoke nature of each piece. Perfect for collectors and outdoor enthusiasts alike, the Canadian Belt Knife is both a reliable tool and a piece of art. Steel: 8670 High Carbon MSRP: Starting at $250 URL: IG: @MarlowKnifeworks | FB: @MarlowKnifeworks Hayman Safe Company: Minute Man 4814 E Notes: When it comes to home defense, quick access to your firearms can be crucial, and the MM 4814 E by Hayman Safe Company delivers just that. Designed for secure storage and rapid deployment, this safe holds one long-gun up to 39 inches, keeping it at the ready for any emergency. The 1/8-inch formed steel body and door provide robust protection, while the UL-listed electronic lock (with an optional biometric upgrade) ensures only authorized access. Its interior is equipped with a motion-activated light and an adjustable hook-and-loop system for versatile storage. The luminous tape surrounding the recessed keypad aids in easy location in the dark. This safe installs seamlessly into a standard interior wall, blending security with convenience. Stores: 1 long-gun up to 39 inches MSRP: $795 URL: Haymansafe.com Nighthawk Footwear: Cohutta Gatters Notes: Navigating the wild after sunset just got safer with the NightHawk Cohutta Leg Gaiters. These gaiters are equipped with integrated LED lights, providing near-ground level illumination that enhances visibility and safety during night-time hikes or hunts. Crafted from waterproof materials, they ensure your feet stay dry in any weather condition. The LED lights can be recharged, ensuring they are always ready for your next adventure. Available in multiple sizes, these gaiters are designed to fit over your boots, providing an extra layer of protection against mud, snow, and debris. With the added benefit of making you less detectable in low-light conditions, the Cohutta Gaiters combine functionality with innovative design. (Note: Boots not included) LED Color: White, White & Xtra Red Set MSRP: $33 URL: NighthawkProgear.com Pnuma: Bino + Tech Harness Notes: Constructed from 500D Tactical Nylon with a PU waterproof coating, this harness is built to withstand the harshest conditions. The structured bino compartment features a microfleece lining and extra padding, ensuring your optics remain protected. The silent magnetic lid provides quick and quiet access, keeping your position concealed. The harness includes an adjustable tech pouch, perfect for a range finder, and can be expanded with additional pouches. Two stretch side pockets and a rear zippered pocket offer extra storage for small accessories, licenses, or tags. The fully adjustable comfort harness ensures a snug fit with no loose straps, while the Hypalon MOLLE panel allows for additional attachments. Color: Beluga MSRP: $100 URL: PnumaOutdoors.com Fisher Space Pen: Matte Black Trekker Space Pen Notes: Designed for durability and reliability, the Fisher Space Pen Matte Black Trekker writes in extreme conditions — underwater, in zero gravity, at any angle, and in temperatures from -30 degrees F to 250 degrees F. The compact design features a matte black finish and includes a key ring and carabiner, allowing for easy attachment to gear or a keychain. The pressurized ink cartridge ensures consistent ink flow, making it ideal for use in rugged environments where other pens might fail. Its rugged build and versatile capabilities make it a great tool for anyone who needs a dependable pen in challenging situations. Material: Brass MSRP: $48 URL: SpacePen.com Work Sharp: Professional Precision Adjust Knife Sharpener Notes: This top-of-the-line sharpening system features a metal construction and a digital angle indicator, allowing for precise angle adjustments from 15 to 30 degrees with an accuracy of 0.25 degree. The sharpener comes equipped with a full set of abrasives, including diamond plates ranging from 220 to 800 grit, a ceramic honing plate, and a leather strop for a polished finish. The V-Block Clamp securely holds knives in place, ensuring stability and repeatability. Its weighted base provides added stability, making the sharpening process safe and efficient. Designed for both professionals and enthusiasts, the Professional Precision Adjust Knife Sharpener is a great solution for keeping your blades in peak condition. Abrasives: 220, 320, 400, 600, and 800 grit MSRP: $300 URL: WorkSharpTools.com TACTACAM: Reveal X-Pro Notes: Designed for discreet cellular image capture, the Tactacam Reveal X-Pro is perfect for hunters and wildlife enthusiasts. This camera features no-glow flash technology, making it virtually undetectable to both humans and animals, day or night. It captures high-resolution 16MP images and full HD videos, providing crystal clear clarity. The built-in GPS and convenient LCD screen simplify setup and operation. Weather-resistant and equipped with a multi-carrier SIM card, it offers reliable performance in many environments. The camera operates on 12 AA batteries with an option for external solar power, ensuring long-lasting operation. With its IP66 waterproof rating and tough design, the Reveal X-Pro stands out for capturing detailed and accurate images in the wild. Cellular Carrier: AT&T, Verison MSRP: $130 URL: Tactacam.com Streamlight: TLR RM 2 Laser-G Notes: Streamlight’s TLR RM 2 is a rail-mounted tactical lighting system designed for long-guns. This low-profile light delivers a powerful 1,000 lumens and 22,000 candela, projecting a beam up to 297 meters. Equipped with an HPL face cap, it provides a tighter, more focused beam. Its remote switch exits at a 90-degree angle, optimizing wire routing while preserving rail space. With a safe-off feature to prevent accidental activation, the TLR RM 2 is both practical and energy-efficient. Integrated with the white light is a 510-530nm green laser, and it can be run laser only, light only, or as a light/laser combo. It's powered by two CR123A lithium batteries, offering up to 1.5 hours of continuous runtime. Engineered for rugged use, it is IPX7 waterproof and can withstand submersion up to 1 meter for 30 minutes. Lumens: 1,000 MSRP: $506 URL: Streamlight.com TEREN: Campfire Puffy Jacket 2.0 Notes: The TEREN Campfire Puffy Jacket 2.0 is a versatile outerwear option for all outdoor enthusiasts. Engineered with a blend of Lenzing FR and aramid, this jacket is fire-resistant, making it perfect for nights around the campfire. The jacket's exterior is waterproof with a 10,000mm water column, combined with a durable water repellent (DWR) coating to ensure you stay dry in wet conditions. Inside, it features 100gsm of 100-percent recycled PrimaLoft Gold insulation, offering warmth without added weight. The jacket includes six pockets, providing ample storage while keeping bulk to a minimum. Designed with an athletic fit, it also incorporates four-way stretch for maximum comfort and mobility. Color: Black MSRP: $400 URL: TerenDesigns.com ESSE: Mess Tin Kit Notes: ESEE’s Mess Tin Kit is a comprehensive survival package designed for those who take their preparedness seriously. Encased in a durable 1100 aluminum tin, this kit covers essential survival needs such as water, fire, signaling, food gathering, and navigation. It includes high-quality items like the ESEE Candiru knife, a Suunto compass, Potable Aqua tablets, a basic fishing kit, and a large fire steel. Additionally, it features practical tools like a survival card set, a rapid rescue whistle, Kevlar line, and waterproof matches. Compact enough to fit in a daypack, vehicle, boat or aircraft, this kit ensures you're equipped to handle any survival situation. Weight: 25 ounces MSRP: $288 URL: ESEEKnives.com Read More Subscribe to Recoil Offgrid's free newsletter for more expert tips and insights on staying prepared. Gear Up: New Survival Gear For June 2024 Gear Up: New Survival Gear For April 2024 Gear Up: New Survival Gear For February 2024 Gear Up: New Survival Gear for December 2023 Gear Up: New Survival Gear For October 2023 Editor's Note: This article has been modified from its original print version for the web. The post Gear Up: New Survival Gear For August 2024 appeared first on RECOIL OFFGRID.

The events of the last 10 days has, for me, raised our readiness for S-H-T-F to PrepCon2. The nations current DefCon status is DefCon3. https://www.defconlevel.com/

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Join to support this channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFAUyAsydT57gwoMbeLBsNA/join Sign Up For The Newsletter: https://www.thepreparedmind.club/contact-8 Join TheClub: https://www.thepreparedmind.club/plans-pricing Join our Premium subscription on SubscribeStar: SubscribeStar:https://www.subscribestar.com/the-prepared-mind Long-Term Storage Emergency Food stays fresh for up to TWENTY-FIVE YEARS and will be there when you need it. SAVE FIFTY DOLLARS off a FOUR-WEEK SUPPLY of delicious meals. Go to http://www.preparewithtpm.com and get the Emergency Food you need before the next emergency! About Affiliate Links: If you make a purchase through one of my affiliate links I may receive a commission on that sale. From time to time, a company will send me products to review. FOOD/WATER PREPS: Grow a salad anywhere! https://sproutman.com/?sub_id=PreparedMind Berkey Filters: https://www.berkeyfilters.com/products/sport-berkey?a_aid=5e7287bcd2a53&a_bid=f1fd43b5 My Patriot Supply: http://www.preparewithtpm.com Thrive Life: https://thepreparedmother.thrivelife.com/ SHELTER/COMMUNICATION PREPS: Gas Masks and more: https://shareasale.com/r.cfm?b=1471352&u=1603123&m=93837&urllink=&afftrack= Portable Solar Panels and Battery: https://shareasale.com/r.cfm?b=1539244&u=1603123&m=97366&urllink=&afftrack= Olight: https://www.olightstore.com/?streamerId=1432679941602652163&channel=default (10% off with my discount code "thepreparedmind" White Duck Tents: https://bit.ly/2Y9T0FH (discount with code thepreparedmind) 3V Gear Backpacks and More: https://www.xvbelink.com/?a_fid=ThePreparedMind Midland Radios: https://bit.ly/3j8tWYN BioLite: https://bit.ly/38pMXlu Bigfoot Bushcraft: https://bigfoot-bushcraft.com/?ref=_nca9ywdzrmw Discount code, "thepreparedmind" for 15% discount! PROTECT YOUR ASSETS: Precious Metals from SD Bullion: https://shrsl.com/2sujx Express VPN! 3 months free when you buy a year of service: https://www.xvinlink.com/?offer=3monthsfree&a_fid=ThePreparedMind SUPPORT THE SHOW: PayPal: https://bit.ly/TPMPayPal CashApp: $thepreparedmind SubscribeStar:https://www.subscribestar.com/the-prepared-mind Venmo: "thepreparedmind" ThePreparedMind.CLUB - For all your prepping needs http://thepreparedmind.club/ for your Preps! Social The R Syndicate: https://thersyndicate.com/ Hot Spot Metals: https://hotspotmetals.com/ Rumble: https://rumble.com/c/c-367585 Facebook: http://bit.ly/TPMFakeBook Minds: http://bit.ly/MindsTPM BitChute: http://bit.ly/BitChuteTPM Twitter: https://twitter.com/MyPreparedMind Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/preparedmind/ Sign Up For The Newsletter: https://www.thepreparedmind.club/contact-8 Never miss a video! Subscribe to my other channels: The Prepared Mind BC: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_m8I5_nNqzPFeEw7lrIY2w John The Prepared Mind: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCcMWHMpyHwv0hy57pm4ln0w The Prepared Mind John: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCxUJaldJGjTpzvcGzgFEuuw

In this video, we tackle the installation of a Mr. Cool Mini-Split system in our log cabin, showing you just how easy it can be! Follow along as we pour the perfect concrete slab, set up the mini-split, and share tips and tricks to make the process as smooth as possible. Welcome to the homestead! Here, we share our DIY adventures, homesteading tips, and everything you need to know to live a self-sufficient life. Don’t forget to subscribe and hit the thumbs up for more great content. ? Support the Channel: If you enjoyed this video, please consider subscribing, hitting the like button, and sharing it with your friends. Your support helps us keep creating content for you!

Why July 2024 is a prime time to see distant Pluto before it fades from view. Lots of the ‘wow factor’ in astronomy revolves around knowing just what you’re seeing. Sure, a quasar might be a faint +14th magnitude point of light seen at the eyepiece, but it’s also a powerful energy source from the ancient Universe, billions of light-years distant. The same case is true for finding Pluto. Though its 0.1” disc won’t resolve into anything more than a speck in even the most powerful backyard telescope, knowing just what you’re seeing is part of the thrill of finding the distant world. Pluto in 2024 The good news is, Pluto reaches opposition for 2024 this week on July 23rd. This means it rises when the Sun sets, and is highest in the sky and well-placed for observation around midnight. 2024 sees Pluto loitering in the zodiacal constellation of Capricornus the Goat, just across the border from its former decade-long residence in Sagittarius. A wide field finder chart for Pluto in July 2024. Credit: Stellarium Fun fact: on a leisurely 248-year orbit, Pluto has only moved from the constellation Gemini where it was first discovered by astronomer Clyde Tombaugh in 1930, to its present position. At the eyepiece, Pluto presents a +14th magnitude dot. You’ll have to star hop through the dense star field to locate the distant world. Sketching or photographing the region to cinch the sighting. Your watching for the slight but discernible motion of the world from one night to the next. Heavens-Above can give you the right ascension/declination search coordinates for Pluto for a given night. The path of Pluto through late July into August. Stars are plotted down to +14th magntude. Credit: Starry Night. I remember showing off Pluto to viewers at the Flandrau Observatory in Tucson with the 14” telescope… the world was an easy catch, even from bright downtown urban skies. Use a 6” or larger aperture telescope in your quest. A Receding World Pluto passed perihelion on September 5th, 1989. It is now headed out to a distant aphelion 49.3 Astronomical Units (AU or 7.4 billion kilometers) from the Sun next century in February 2114. This means that Pluto varies in brightness from an apparent magnitude of +13.7 near perihelion, to 16 times fainter at magnitude +16.3 near aphelion. Clyde was fortunate that Pluto was headed towards perihelion in the mid-20th century. Otherwise, it might well have eluded discovery (!) Pluto is getting successively fainter with each opposition in the 21st century, so the time to see it for yourself is now. Pluto from 2016. Credit: Sharin Ahmad From a Dot to a World Until less than a decade ago, we knew of Pluto’s brightness, distance and orbit… and not much else. One inside joke among astronomers was that Pluto’s size and mass estimates were shrinking at such a rapid rate, that by 1980 it would disappear altogether (spoiler alert: it didn’t). Charon was discovered by astronomer James Christy as a fuzzy blob peeking out from behind its parent body in images. The large moon was found using the 61-inch telescope at the Flagstaff Observatory in 1978. Since then, Hubble revealed four more moons, named Styx, Nix, Kerberos and Hydra. At +16th magnitude, Charon should be in range of a large dedicated amateur telescope. To date, I’ve only ever seen one convincing potential capture of the large moon. Orbiting once every six days, Charon reaches a separation of about 1”… certainly, near opposition is a key time to try and carry out this extremely challenging observation. Bizarre fact: if astronauts make it to the surface of Pluto by 2107 AD, they can witness a cycle of solar eclipses, courtesy of Charon. NASA’s New Horizons really opened up the frontier on Pluto and its moons during its historic flyby in 2015. The mission revealed the worlds in dramatic detail. Nearly a decade later, new research is still coming out on the results from the flyby. We now live in an era where we can discuss the formation of Charon, or the geology of Pluto… New Horizons’ view of Pluto. Credit: NASA/APL/New Horizons Good luck, on your quest to cross Pluto off of your astronomical life list. The post Astro-Challenge: Catching Pluto at Opposition 2024 appeared first on Universe Today.

One of the challenges engineers face when developing technologies for use in space is that of different gravities. Mostly, engineers only have access to test beds that reflect either Earth’s normal gravity or, if they’re fortunate, the microgravity of the ISS. Designing and testing systems for the reduced, but not negligible, gravity on the Moon and Mars is much more difficult. But for some systems, it is essential. One such system is electrolysis, the process by which explorers will make oxygen for astronauts to breathe on a permanent Moon or Mars base, as well as critical ingredients like hydrogen for rocket fuel. To help steer the development of systems that will work in those conditions, a team of researchers led by computational physicist Dr. Paul Burke of the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory decided to turn to a favorite tool of scientists everywhere: models. Before we explore the model, examining the problem they are trying to solve is helpful. Electrolysis immerses an electrode in a liquid and uses an electrical current and subsequent chemical reaction to split atoms apart. So, for example, if you put an electrode in water, it would separate that water into hydrogen and oxygen. The problem comes from reduced gravity. As part of electrolysis, bubbles form on the surface of the electrode. On Earth, those bubbles typically detach and float to the surface, as the density difference between them and the remaining liquid forces them to. Dr. Burke presented alongside other experts at the Space Resources Week Workshop back in March.Credit – ESRIC YouTube Channel However, in reduced gravity, the bubbles either take much longer to detach or don’t do so at all. This creates a buffer layer along the electrode’s length that decreases the electrolysis process’s efficiency, sometimes stalling it out entirely. Electrolysis isn’t the only fluidic process that has difficulty operating in reduced gravity environments – many ISS experiments also have trouble. This is partly due to a lack of complete understanding of how liquids operate in these environments – and that in itself is partly driven by a dearth of experimental data.  Which is where the modeling comes in. Dr. Burke and his colleagues use a technique known as Computational Fluid Dynamics to attempt to mimic the forces the fluids will undergo in a reduced gravity environment while also understanding bubble formation. Electrolysis on Earth is typically done with water, but why stop there? The team used their CFD to model two other liquids that might be used in electrolyzers – molten salt (MSE) and molten regolith (MRE). Molten salt is used on Earth, but less commonly than regular water, and has successfully produced oxygen. However, molten regolith electrolysis is still somewhat of a novel use case and has yet to be thoroughly tested. MOXIE, the experiment that famously created oxygen on Mars in 2021, used the carbon dioxide in Mars’ atmosphere and a solid-state electrode – neither representative of molten regolith. Fraser discusses MOXIE electrolysis with Dr. Michael Hect. Dr. Burke and his team found that, computationally, at least, MRE has the most challenging conditions in reduced gravity. It has also never been tested in any reduced gravity environment, so for now; these simulations are all engineers have to go on with if they are going to design a system. There were a few key takeaways from the modeling, though. First, engineers should design horizontal electrodes into MRE systems, as the longer a bubble spreads across an electrode (i.e., as it goes “up” it), the longer it takes for that bubble to detach. In a horizontal configuration, the electrode has less surface area to attach to, making it more likely for the bubbles to detach and float to the surface. Additionally, the amount of time bubbles remain attached to an electrode scales exponentially with decreasing gravity. That means bubbles on the Moon will take longer to detach than those on Mars, which will take longer than those on Earth. Consequently, electrolysis on the Moon will be less efficient than that on Mars, which will again be less efficient than that on Earth, and mission planners will need to account for these discrepancies if they plan on getting something as mission-critical as oxygen from this process. The smoothness of the electrodes also seems to matter, with rougher electrodes more likely to hold onto their bubbles and, therefore, end up less efficient. SciShow Space explores the world of MRE.Credit – SciShow Space YouTube Channel Other engineering solutions can overcome all these challenges, such as a vibratory mechanism on the electrode to shake the bubbles loose. However, it’s a good idea to consider all the additional complications operations in a reduced gravity environment have before launching a mission. That’s why modeling is so important, but humanity will ultimately have to experimentally test these systems, perhaps on the Moon itself, if we plan to utilize its local resources to sustain our presence there. Learn More:Burke et al. – Modeling electrolysis in reduced gravity: producing oxygen from in-situ resources at the moon and beyondUT – NASA Wants to Learn to Live Off the Land on the MoonUT – What is ISRU, and How Will it Help Human Space Exploration?UT – A Robotic Chemist Could Whip up the Perfect Batch of Oxygen on Mars Lead Image:Graphic showing the difference in bubble accumulation in low and high gravities.Credit – Burke et al. The post Producing Oxygen From Rock Is Harder In Lower Gravities appeared first on Universe Today.

The Pattersons said they were merely going on vacation. That was nearly 70 years ago.