December Week 3: Hand-Crank Radio

This week's emergency prep item is:

December Week 3: Hand-crank radio

This is one of those great weeks where once you've got the item, it's done. Next year, when this week comes up again, you shouldn't have to rotate it or refill it. That's why I've put it on week 3 of December. I figured you just may have other things to do that week. :)

There are several different types and price-ranges out there. I obviously haven't tried them all, so I can only go by what I've got for my own emergency supply. I already had a Voyager Dynamo & Solar V1 Radio. It can be powered by battery, solar power, and/or by hand-cranking. It also has a bright LED flashlight. This year I bought another one that is a bit larger, and can also charge a cell phone. So, I'll keep one with my 72-hour kit, and the other in my emergency supply closet.

The smaller one (shown in the above photo) was about $30.00.

The specs are as follows:

Solar / hand-cranking powered radio flashlight with a USB outlet for your electronic devices. The compact Voyager V1™ radio offers multiple benefits all bundled together. Get standard AM/FM stations as well as shortwave bands to receive stations from around the world. The built-in flashlight add additional convenience and functionality. A USB outlet powers many handheld electronics like most smart phones (does NOT charge Apple devices). 

Radio dimensions: 13 x 6 x 5 cm

• 1 Minute of cranking powers up to 15 minutes of radio listening or 1 hour of light
• A built-in USB port lets you charge your small USB-rechargeable device like smart phones (Does NOT charge apple products)
• Bands include AM/FM, and Shortwave
• Super-bright, 3-LED flashlight
• Built in HD speaker and earphone jack

The Voyager V1 can be powered by multiple sources. You can recharge an internal Ni-MH battery via the built-in solar panel OR cranking dynamo. The battery can also be recharged by a USB outlet using a mini-USB to standard USB cable (not included). The V1 can also be powered by 3 standard AAA batteries. 

And this is the larger one:

For the larger one, which was $45.00 on sale, the specs are:

This radio is durable, yet lightweight with a rubberized body that is water resistant<./li>

NOAA stands for National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

When using the NOAA Weather Alert, it is recommended that the radio is plugged into a power source through the USB Port (In) or AC Adapter 3.5 mm jack (AC adapter not included)

One minute of winding will give roughly 12 minutes of radio play

The optional AA batteries cannot be recharged in the radio, only the internal Ni-MH battery is rechargeable.

6 ways to power the Radio: Hand Crank Dynamo, Solar Panel, USB Power In, AC Power In, 3 AA Batteries, Built-in Rechargeable Ni-MH Battery.

Red or Green LED lights on the front of the radio indicate when the radio is on or when the batteries are low

3 lighting options: 5 LED reading lamp lights (under solar panel), white LED light, flashlight red S.O.S. LED for emergencies

- See more at: http://beprepared.com/kaito-black-voyager.html#sthash.5i0IkbVt.dpuf


Weight: 1.22 lbs. (19.5 oz.) Dimensions: 5.5” high x 8” wide x 2” thick Radio Size: 8” x 5” x 2.6” Radio Ports:

• Earphone Jack
• USB Port Charge Out (Many cellphones, mp3 player, etc.) Charge Built-in Battery
• AC Adapter 3.5 mm Jack (adapter sold separately)

Radio Reception:

• AM: 520-1710 KHz
• FM: 87.00-108.00 MHz
• SW1: 3.20-9.00 MHz
• SW2: 9.00-22.00 MHz
• Weather Band: 7 Pre-set Channels

- See more at: http://beprepared.com/kaito-black-voyager.html#sthash.5i0IkbVt.dpuf

I'm sure there are many different hand-crank radios on the market. It would be smart to do some research and find the one that best suits your needs.

After I got mine and saw what a nice small size it is, I thought it would be a great idea for stocking stuffers for my married kids. Hmmmm.

Once you've acquired your hand-crank radio, update your Inventory Sheets and then sit back and relax and enjoy your holiday. Remember, this is a week-by-week plan, so you can jump in whenever. I received an email from a reader last week asking if it started in January, and though the lists do go from January through December, you can start the plan anytime throughout the year without having to back up and "make up for lost time". It really is an easy, manageable plan that is completely do-able even for the busiest families. You can adjust it to your needs as your family's size changes. We have adjusted through the years quite easily. As you adjust and buy more or less what your family really uses in a year (and rotate, as planned), you will have less waste at the end of the year. Yay!

If you would like the full info on the Week-By-Week Food Storage Plan, just click on the tab at the top of the page. You can then click on any single week and it will take you to the blogpost that featured that week's items. It also has the information as to how you can get a copy of the weekly schedule as well as the complete inventory sheets.