Appliances: Wheat Grinders
Family Grain Mill—This manual grinder is unique in that it offers both a grain mill and a roller mill attachment. Can be purchased for hand-power, electric drive or both. You can mix and match the components any way you want. Buy both options for about $270. Available from preparedness distributors such as Homestead Products, 2049 Woodland Rd., Kamiah, ID 83536. Tel. (208) 935-0292. URL: www.homestead-products.com and www.alpinefoodstorage.com
Everything Kitchens—Online shopping with competitive prices on wheat grinders and other countertop kitchen equipment. URL: http://www.everythingkitchens.com
Nutrimill—Wheat grinder from Everythingkitchens.com, Emergency Essentials or Waltons.
Golden Grain Grinder—A conventional type of stone mill motorized grinder. URL: www.goldengraingrinder.com
Country Living Grain Mill—Manual wheat grinder with V-groove wheel for quick and easy conversion to electric motor. Cast-iron flywheel for easy turning and smooth flow of flour. 30% less torque or energy required to turn than any comparable hand mill on the market. Does not grind flour as finely as electric grinders. Available from sellers above.
Back to Basics Hand Grain Mill—This is an economical, compact unit but with limitations. Relatively slow grinding, especially for fine flour. Consider the options above first.
Batteries
6 volt Golf Cart Batteries—Cheapest option. About 200 amp hours ($100-$150 each). Battery lifespan is 2 to 5 years depending on maintenance and temperature of storage. Available at most auto parts stores and some large retailers like Sam’s Club.
Deka—Several varieties of high-quality batteries. Consult with Mick Abraham for the right fit (see “Solar Resources and Gurus”). Deka Road, Lyon Station, PA 19536 USA. Tel: 610-682-6361. URL: http://www.dekabatteries.com
Trojan—L-16 and L-16H batteries are 6volt, 400 amp-hours. Good, moderately priced batteries. Decent lifespan up to 5 years.
Surrette or Rolls—Heavy-duty, 6 volt, 400 amp-hours, deep cycle batteries for Solar Systems. Expensive, but can last up to 20 years.
AGM—Absorbed Glass Matt batteries are sealed for non-ventilated or living areas. Recommended over sealed gel batteries. Heavy duty, high amperage delivery capacities without ruining battery. Prominent brands are Optima or Lifeline (http://www.lifelinebatteries.com). Check with Abraham Solar or other distributor sites listed above.
Batteries: Chargers and Maintainers
Battery Web—See this webpage for a rundown on battery maintenance technology. We do not recommend trickle chargers as they keep a constant, low charge across the battery and they will overcharge and eventually ruin the battery by boiling it dry. Look for a battery float charger or “battery maintainer” which turns on and off as needed to maintain the optimal voltage. Sulfation of the lead plates occurs on all batteries over time. There are technologies that keep batteries from sulfating and can even remove sulfation once it occurs. URL: http://www.batteryweb.com
Schumacher SE-1125—Automatic battery charger and maintainer. Keeps battery at a perfect float charge without overcharging. About $25 from Wal-Mart and other auto parts stores.
DSR PS-1562A—Battery charger/maintainer ($55). Also consider DSR PSC-15AOB for maintaining car batteries that are sitting for long periods ($56). Available from Grainger or other auto part stores.
Power Pulse—12, 24, 36 and 48 volt units provide electronic pulse that breaks down sulfur crystals that build up on batteries, often revitalizing poor performing batteries. Available at specialty battery sites such as: http://www.impactbattery.com
BatteryMINDer—Charger/maintainer/desulfator units ($45). Optional units with solar power ($100). Available at Northern Tool and online wholesalers like Amazon.com.
VANNER—Voltmaster Battery Equalizer 60-50A. Use for combining 12 volt batteries and a 24 volt battery system. Available through Abraham Solar or see distributors listed on the Vanner website. URL: http://www.vanner.com
Hydrocaps—These units condense the water vapor out of battery gassing so you don’t have to maintain the water level in the battery as often. Available through Abraham Solar (800) 222-7242. URL: http://www.hydrocapcorp.com
Battery Watering—System for maintaining water levels in battery banks. PO Box 696, Lewisville, NC 27023. Tel: (877) 522-5431. URL: http://www.batterywatering.com
Flow-rite—Automatic battery watering products. 960 74th Street S.W., Byron Center, MI 49315. Tel: (616) 583-1700. URL: http://www.flow-rite.com/
SUNFORCE—5-watt solar battery trickle charger. Small portable battery trickle charger from Radio Shack. Catalog #55038529 URL: http://www.radioshack.com
CRANE 11-in-1—Solar battery charger for D, C, AA, AAA and other small NiMH or NiCd batteries. With battery meter. Takes 7 hours per set of batteries (more on cloudy days). $25 at REI and several online retailers.
High Security Locks
Medeco—Has special pins and key that rotates the lock tumbler pins to prevent picking. URL: www.medeco.com Available at locksmiths everywhere and at Amazon (https://amzn.to/2HhCCMM).
Assa 6000—Pick-proof, double-keyed, drill resistant dead bolt (at locksmiths nationwide).
KWIKSET 980—Reasonable option for homeowners, with some pick and bump key protection. See current price at Amazon (https://amzn.to/2J98M9N).
SCHLAGE B60N—Cheap option for exterior doors with Grade 1 rating (the highest residential rating), but still lacking high-security features of locks above. Adequate for most houses. $25 on Amazon (https://amzn.to/2EZumeB). For better security for only $85 consider the B660P (https://amzn.to/2EZumeB).
DOOR ARMOR MAX—The best door jamb reinforcement or door jamb repair kit out there. Installs easily unless door already fits tightly inside jamb. $70 on Amazon (https://amzn.to/2HdIHWI)
Cold Weather Clothing
FORTRESS CLOTHING—Foam clothing developed for gas and oil workers in extreme environments. Excellent moisture and heat management also using a foam core. Volunteers have jumped into ice water in these clothes and became warm and relatively dry minutes after getting out. Work in a wide range of temperatures (-30 to 70 deg. F). 1175 S Blackhawk Blvd, Mt. Pleasant, UT 84647 Tel: (435) 462-9999 or (855) 487-9276 http://www.fortressclothing.com