In the video below, “Just In Case” Jack puts the Bluetti AC200P Power Station through its paces as:

• A Backup Emergency Solar Generator
• A Cold Weather Camping Essential

Watch his detailed review and his final thoughts in the video below:

My Overall Thoughts On The Bluetti AC200P

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If you watch the video (or read the transcript at the end of this post) you’ll discover just how impressed I am with the capabilities of this power station.

It was able to provide me a surprising amount of clean, quiet, power as well as capture solar power anytime the sun was shining. For survival and camping, its combinations of features (clean, quiet, solar, and power storage amounts) are real game-changers!

Yes, it is a serious investment – but so is ANY fuel generator you could buy.

So if you’re looking to purchase either a fuel generator OR this Bluetti Power Station, you have to look at the INCREMENTAL costs between the two and try to compare as close to apples to apples on the power capabilities.

But then you have to factor in the clean, quiet, solar aspects. So while you do give up some overall pure power production – I feel like it more than offsets the costs with all the positives aspects. But ultimately it comes down to your own personal choice and priorities.

So, let me expound upon those pros and cons in more detail…

Bluetti AC200P Advantages and Disadvantages

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Major Advantages

Safe, Clean Power

I believe the biggest advantage of the Bluetti AC200P is how clean it is.

When you compare it to a fuel generator; it’s not even close. 

You can run this unit safely, INSIDE your home. You can’t say that for any fuel generators.

Every year people who don’t know any better run their fuel generators inside and die. Seriously, it’s a major risk if you make this mistake.

For example, according to consumerreports.org:

However, with the Bluetti, there are absolutely NO toxic, deadly fumes to worry about.

It’s Whisper Quiet

This is the second biggest advantage the Bluetti Power Station provides.

Walk around any neighborhood after a power outage and you’ll hear the loud and constant hum of fuel generators EVERYWHERE.

They are quite loud and annoying and it’s always been a necessary evil. But with the Bluetti, you can capture and use power at a whisper.

If you’re a prepper you’ll want a stealthy solution to your backup power system – the Bluetti Power Station IS your answer.

And this no-noise feature is even more useful during camping. I was able to run all my electronics and recharge my deep cycle battery without generating any campground NOISE!

Fuel generators are loud – that’s why most campgrounds and restrictions on when you can run them. If you want to avoid these restrictions, get the Bluetti.

“Free” Fuel Via Solar

You can’t beat solar when it comes to survival and preparedness. And the Bluetti AC200P is the ideal portable power station to capture that free energy.

In a grid-down scenario, the Bluetti (paired with solar panels) will never leave you without some power.

This is a HUGE advantage in a dire power outage emergency.

For example, if you depend on a C-PAP machine for health reasons – you need a reliable backup power system. This Bluetti Power Station does just that with its solar capabilities.

Lots of Output Options

The Bluetti AC200P has a ton of power outlets. I mean, this beast has 6 typical AC outlets, plus, DC outlets, and USB outlets, etc.

The bottom line is, there’s essentially no typical electronic device you can’t power using the Bluetti.

Major Disadvantages

For A “Portable” Unit, It’s Fairly Heavy

The Bluetti AC200P is quite heavy and doesn’t come with a built-in cart system (like many fuel-based house generators do). This can lead to a real struggle when loading it into a vehicle trunk or moving it around your home.

At 60 lbs. it IS PORTABLE but you also want to station it in a central location and leave it there when in use. So you want to avoid moving it more than necessary.

Won’t Completely Replace A Large Fuel-Based Generator

While this is one of the biggest power stations available on the market today, it’s still not ready to replace your home generator. There’s just not enough power to keep all your systems up and running at the same time for the long term.

However, if your willing to significantly reduce your energy needs in a crisis – you CAN get by pretty well with the Bluetti. So for some families, it may be just enough for most families, it’ll come up just short.

And for the price, a fuel-based home generator provides more power per dollar (at the time this review was written).

Price

The Bluetti AC200P is a bit of an upfront investment. And the total price goes up when you add solar panels (which you SHOULD do!). However, you can offset this initial cost over time by using it regularly.

If you use it to charge your cellphones and run a C-PAP machine nightly, well, little by little, month by month, you’re saving some on your electric bill. This is assuming you’re using solar power to recharge the unit.

And you have to factor in the INCREMENTAL cost vs. a traditional fuel-based generator that can provide a similar amount of power.

Once you look at it as a whole, for the right person, the price is worth it.

Bluetti AC200P Charge Time Estimates

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Below are approximate estimates of how long you can power a common device. This may help you decide whether the Bluetti AC200P is the right power station for you.

Note: the following estimates are assuming you’re only powering THAT single electrical device at a time. If your plugin and run several devices at the same time, the charge time estimates drop.

CHARGE TIME ESTIMATES

• Refrigerator(800w) 2.1Hrs+CPAP(60w) 28+ Hrs
• Laptop(60w) 28+ Hrs
• Fan(12w) 140+ Hrs
• Smartphone 180+ Hrs
• Led Lantern Light(10w) 170+ Hrs
• LCD TV(100w) 17+ Hrs

Final Thoughts

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For the right person, the Bluetti AC200P Power Station is the ideal solution to both your emergency backup and camping power needs. 

It’s best for those who understand its limitations and are fine strictly managing their power needs during a power outage. It’s also best for those who live where the sun is reliably abundant.

Or anyone who prioritizes producing power with no noise or dangerous toxic fumes.

If these features are important to you, then I bet you’ll be completely satisfied with the Bluetti AC200P.

If not, then you should continue searching for other options…

Click For Bluetti AC200P Video Transcript

Today, I’m going to show you this impressive piece of gear from Bluetti.

It’s their 2000 watt power station. And I’m going to show you their solar panel kit that goes with it as well.

Now, before we jump into the power station specifics, and whether it’s good for preparing, you might be asking, what the heck is a power station anyway? Because these units are still relatively new, many people are confused about what they do and how they work.

In simple terms, a power station is a large portable battery with an intuitive user interface.

Basically, it’s a large battery with a lot of inputs and outputs. All these power inputs and outputs make it sort of a smart battery, which can be used to power lots of different household items or camping appliances.

For example, it can power a refrigerator, a small freezer, entertainment systems, microwaves, small ovens, computers, heated blankets, C-PAP machines, et cetera. You get the idea.

Yes, this unit can run a full-size refrigerator for several hours, or even longer if you’ve got hooked up to solar panels. I did it. I tested It. It does work.

So now that you have a better idea of what a power station is, and its potential, let’s go over the main functions and features of this Bluetti AC200P Power Station.

This unit has five different charging methods. The first and most straightforward method is to use a three-pronged electrical cord, and the power supply, to go from your wall straight to this unit.

The second way to charge this unit is to use a series of solar panels out in the sun. You hook the solar panels up in a series and you feed that into this smart battery and you’ve turned it into a solar generator.

So yes, you’ll definitely want to pair solar panels with this, if possible.

Another way to power your Bluetti Power Station is through a running vehicle.

This is done via the 12-volt outlet, or what some people call your cigarette lighter in your car.

The next method to charge this power station is using a fuel-based generator. Basically, it’s similar to the wall plug hookup. Only, instead of plugging into the wall, you’re plugging into your generator while it’s running.

And finally, you can hook up the power station off a lead-acid battery. You just connect the positive and negative poles of the battery to then feed that energy into your power station.

So as you can see, there are many ways to keep your Bluetti AC200P Power Station ready to go for an emergency or for a quick escape outdoors for camping.

Okay, let’s move on to the power out options.

First of all, this power station has one 12 volt, 10 amp DC out. It’s got a 12 volt, 25 amp DC out and it’s got two 12 volt, 3 amp outputs. It’s got two type C 60-watt outs and it’s got four, 5 volt, 10 amp USB ports.

And it’s got six typical AC out, either 100 or 120 volt. Six of those. That’s your typical plugins for most appliances right there. So I primarily use the typical AC output plugs. And there’s six of those.

They provide six because that’s the output you’ll use most often for small electronic devices or your appliances. We’re talking refrigerators, smartphones, computers, C-PAP machines, Et cetera.

The power station’s also able to provide 12-volt output power. This is a great option when you want to charge your pop-up or RVs deep cycle marine battery.

I had to buy a special adapter that went from this DC port, and then it comes out into two alligator clips that you then plug onto the ends of the deep cycle marine batteries posts. And you just plug in, turn the power station on, and it’s that easy. It starts charging the deep cycle marine battery back up.

You can also use that same method to charge a dead car battery as well.

Now that you have a good overview of this power station, here’s the real question. Should you get one?

So there are two main reasons to get the Bluetti Power Station. First of all, it could be used as an emergency backup when the grid power is down. Or it can be a very nice camping accessory.

Let’s go over the Bluetti as a home emergency backup system first. And then we’ll go over the use as an off-grid camping system.

As an emergency back to power supply, the Bluetti will help you get through shorter-term emergencies with some extra luxuries. However, for most people, it won’t be enough to fully replace your full-blown home generator.

To give you an idea of what this power station you can do, here’s a chart I found. It provides some estimates of typical run times for different devices.

My own test results for some of these devices were right in line with the numbers on this chart. So I feel like they’re fairly good approximations for all the devices listed.

Now, before you get too excited, remember these approximate run times are if you’re running that single device only.

If you start powering multiple devices at once, let’s say your refrigerator, your television, your laptop, and a microwave, all at the same time, well, first of all, that’s really poor power management in a crisis. So shame on you. But you’re also going to run through all the available battery power fast.

And with that said, this unit is perfect to provide power for smaller electronic devices with ease, such as smartphones, tablets, computers, video-game consoles, TVs for quite some time. And since you can recharge the power station with solar panels, you’re never fully out of options for long.

If you use all of your power up, sure, you’re now at the mercy of the sun, but that’s better than nothing.

And if you’re smart with your energy use, there could be enough power to support several smaller electronic devices perpetually.

So while the Bluetti AC200P Power Station is a very nice addition for the whole house power backup system, it’s not quite ready to replace the traditional whole house generator, unless of course, you have very low power needs.

But in a real crisis, if you forget everything except a refrigerator and one smartphone during critical emergencies, and to keep your solar panels out and pointed to the sun, whenever available, you can probably keep your food from spoiling and your phone operational for an extended period of time.

So again, with wise power management, this unit can really help provide some much-needed power during a multi-day power outage.

Now, before we move on, there’s one aspect of this power station that’s worth noting for preparedness. A power station provides clean, quiet power.

I want to let that sink in for just one moment.

With a fuel-based generator, there’s no way to run it without everyone in the neighborhood hearing it. Sure. There’s always a way to muffle a camping generator, or there’s a way to try to run it quieter. But in my opinion, this power station’s superpower is that it almost produces zero noise.

Now, to be honest, it’s not completely silent. It does have a cooling fan that kicks on from time to time. But it’s not really louder than a laptop cooling fan. So compared to a fuel-based generator, it’s pretty much silent.

It also doesn’t produce any toxic fumes. So you can keep this unit inside your home when you’re using it. This ability allows you to power your critical appliance without nosy neighbors even knowing about it.

So if you’re at all concerned about your neighbors, trying to mooch or steal off you during a crisis, because hey, you have the luxury of power and they don’t. Then this unit provides that sort of stealth.

Let’s now take a look At where the Bluetti really shines; Off-grid camping.

I recently took this unit with me on a camping trip to the Sand Dunes National Parks, near Alamosa, Colorado.

Side note, if you ever get a chance to go there, do it. It’s incredible. Stunning.

And we went the first week of April. So I was banking on the power station to keep my family and I warm and comfortable in the chili overnight temps.

For example, the first night, the temperatures briefly dropped down into the twenties. Fortunately, the pop-up camper we rented has a small propane heater and heated mattresses. But the location we camped at, Zapata Falls Campground, has no power whatsoever. So in order to run the furnace and the heated mattress, we had to rely on the deep cycle marine battery and this Bluetti Power Station.

One thing to note, it’s not possible to run the heated mattress off the marine battery. It’s just the way the pop-up campers’ electrical system is set up. So in order to take advantage of the heated mattresses, the power station was our only option.

The great news is, the Bluetti Power Station was perfect for such a task.

All three nights I was able to run both heated mattresses, the one my wife and I slept on and the one the kids slept on. And it helped keep everyone nice and toasty, even though the outside temperatures were frigid.

And after this experience with cold-weather camping, I’m confident we could have enjoyed camping in temperatures that dip down into the teens. This is a big deal to me because I hate crowded campgrounds.

So to me, the Bluetti Power Station significantly opens up shoulder season camping, which is much less crowded. So with this power station, I can now go camping nearly any time of the year, as long as we avoid blizzards or deep freeze winter temps.

Now, not only was the Bluetti AC200P Power Station up to the challenge of running heated mattresses. But as long as I took advantage of running charging every day, I could keep our small electronic devices powered up as well.

And we were able to cook some delicious cinnamon rolls on our small toaster. And even, one morning, we made pizza pockets one evening.

So I want to go over some specific setups and uses and what I figured out while I was on my camping trip.

I showed up at the campsite with the power station at 100%, which equates to 2000 watt-hours. The first time I set solar panels up for camping, I set them out in an open area and tipped the angle to capture as much sun as possible.

While this did an all right job of recharging the power station. I was also slightly disappointed at how much progress it made over two hours. For example, when I hooked up the power station to the solar panels for the first time, it was down to about 33% capacity or 660 watts.

Obviously heading in towards the evening, I was concerned I might not have enough power to get through the chili night with the heated mattresses. By the end of the two hours, it only charged up to about 57% or 1400 watts.

At this rate, about 240 watts per hour, I’d need to have the solar panels set up for nearly five and a half hours in order to get packed to a hundred percent. And like I said, the sun was going down. So my rate was getting less and less every moment.

The other downside with this setup is it took several minutes of work to actually set up the solar panels. While it’s not hard work, per se. It is a bit of a hassle after a long day of hiking. Plus, we had to get the fire started and get dinner ready and keep the dog and the kids happy, and on and on.

So the setup and tear down onto the solar panels quickly became a bit of a pain point. Not to mention having to lug the 60-pound power station between the camper and the solar panels each time I wanted to charge.

Again, it’s not that big of a deal. But it could be for someone who’s older or not as strong. I’d much prefer to leave the power station in the camper itself. But my cords were not quite long enough to do that and get full sun.

Another issue with this solar panel setup is it did attract quite a bit of attention. Everyone who drove by saw them. And two people decided to stop by and ask a bunch of questions.

Now, if you’re looking to meet people at your campground, this is a great way to do that. However, most folks also understand that a solar setup like this isn’t cheap. So now you’ve got to worry about an opportunistic thief snagging your gear when you’re away from your campground.

So after two days of these minor problems, I got smart and I made some strategic adjustments to my recharging setup. I decided to try putting my solar panels flat on top of the pop-up trailer and to run the charging cable from the roof through the Velcro side of the camper and down into the power station.

This setup helped me avoid moving the cumbersome 60-pound power station unit any more than necessary. And it also kept the power station out of the sun, which is recommended to keep the unit cool. As with all electronics, overheating can result in premature failure and longevity issues.

I was obviously interested in the security of such a setup because if I put the solar panels on the roof, it’d become an even more of a hassle to put them up and take them down each time I wanted to recharge the power station.

The great news is, once I laid the panels on the flat roof, I couldn’t even tell they were up there.

I looked from all angles of the campground, anywhere our camper was visible, to see how obvious it was to anybody passing by that I had expensive solar panels up on top.

So once everything was set up, the only thing that was visible was the tiny cord coming off the roof and into the side of the pop-up. This cord was facing away from the road.

So with this new setup, I was confident enough in the security to leave the solar panels and power station in a charging setup while my family and I went on a short hike up to the Zapata Falls. It was about a half-mile each way. I was gone for about an hour and a half total.

So I was able to charge pretty much all day with this setup. And with the solar panels pointed straight up, which helped to maximize charging during the bright lunch hour.

So how did this setup do?

When I left for our hike, the Bluetti Power Station was down to about 34% or 480 watts. And when I got back an hour and a half later, it was roughly 55% or 1100 watts. But that was when things got really interesting. We were just entering the best part of the day as far as solar panel production goes. And from 11:30 to about 02:30 PM, the power station went from 55% up to a hundred percent, or 900 watts in about three hours.

Now that’s an impressive 300 watt per hour. I was pleasantly surprised by this rate and I was glad to have the power station back up to a hundred percent well before the evening time. This felt way better than limping into the evening with only a half-full power station.

Now I was charging all my devices and appliances plus recharging the power station without having to move the unit or the solar panels around at all. It was in a permanent location that was hidden away from prying eyes and creating no noise or toxic fumes.

If these features are important to you, clean, quiet, hidden power, and you love camping, then this Bluetti Power Station is a big winner.

Now I also tested charging the power station using our Jeep Cherokees battery while driving to and from the sand dunes. I was excited to test this out as I felt like this could be a significant win, and the main way to keep the power station at full battery on an extended trip.

Plus, I liked the idea of taking the expensive power station with me on our adventures away from the campground for security purposes. However, I was slightly disappointed at the amount of power I was able to generate this way.

During my test, I was only driving for a total of an hour or so. But it also gave me about a 10% bump in power. That’s about 200 watts per hour, meaning it would take about 10 hours of driving to go from zero back up to a hundred. Now, I like that it’s another way to keep the power station charged up during longer travel days.

So after all my uses and testing, where are my overall thoughts on the Bluetti AC200P Power Station and the solar panel kit? I was pretty impressed.

I didn’t expect to be able to power my large refrigerator, yet it did. And it did so for eight or 10 hours. Now, I live in Colorado. So we get a lot of sunny days here. So I’d rarely be 100% out of power at any given time during a power outage. And when the sun is shining, I could probably power the refrigerator and several smaller devices here and there as well.

Plus this device significantly extends my camping season and keeps me warm and toasty even in bitter, overnight temps.

And I feel like that’s where a power station like this separates itself from a camping generator.

• You get most of the pros of a fuel-based generator without all the cons.
• You get ample amounts of quiet, clean, hidden, flexible power distribution for emergencies and camping.
• And as a prepared survivalist who loves outdoor adventures, the Bluetti Power Station not only provides some peace of mind for a power outage. It also provides a better camping experience.

And I love prepping gear that functions as a wise backup and as a helpful tool I use regularly. So instead of an investment just sitting around in my basement, just in case, I’m actually putting it to good use often, and I own it just in case as well.

So if you want to make your camping life even better, and you want a bit of peace of mind should the power grid go down, then this Bluetti Power Station is a great investment for you.

 Remember: Prepare, Adapt, and Overcome,

“Just In Case” Jack

The post Bluetti AC200P Review: REAL WORLD Tests For Emergencies & Camping appeared first on Skilled Survival.

Today, I want to talk about electric lighters. These new electric arc lighters are great for survival, camping, lighting candles, and cigarettes.

Because our mission at Skilled Survival is to prepare you for real-life survival situations.

To ready you for emergencies where you have to react quickly. And to give you the skills and confidence to thrive in the elements.

There are several priorities in an emergency, one of the most important being fire.

Fire keeps you warm and cooks food. That’s why you must have the survival gear to get a fire started in ANY situation or location. And that means you need a survival lighter.

And electric lighters are a wise choice.

Yes, you can bring along matches in your survival bag, but they won’t work if they’re wet or it’s windy. And forget about rubbing sticks together because this ain’t summer camp!

You need a reliable source of open flame to get your fire started quickly.

Whether it’s camping, hunting, or in an emergency situation, if you are fed up with matches or sick of relying on plastic lighters that run out of fuel, you need an electrical lighter!

It’s not “should you have one” but “which one you should own”. That’s why today I’m going to cover the following topics:

• Electric Lighters Vs. Fuel Based Lighters (Pro/Cons)
• 5 Main Types Of Electric Lighters
• 7 Reasons An Electric Lighter Is Superior To A Fuel Lighter
• 9 Best Electric Lighters On The Market Today
• How To Make A DIY Electric Lighter

**Note: If you just want to know our top brands, feel free to SKIP AHEAD HERE.

As A Way To Introduce You To Skilled Survival, We’re Giving Away Our Ultimate Survival Gear Checklist. Click Here To Get Your FREE Copy Of It.

Electric Lighters Vs. Fuel Based Lighters (Pros/Cons)

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Primitive lighters can be traced back to the mid-1600s. However, the first fuel-based lighter was invented in Germany in 1823.

They have come a long way with the Zippo and Bic lighter and used naphtha and then butane as fuel to make fire.

Electric arc lighters first hit the market with a 2015 Kickstarter campaign. And with the ability to recharge, they are fast becoming the go-to lighter for:

• smokers
• campers
• and survivalists

Electric Lighters

A rechargeable electric lighter runs on electricity. It’s in the name!

They are really a breakthrough in portable lighters. Why? Because you don’t have to worry about fuel running out, and that means no tossing it in the trash and no messy refueling.

An electric lighter can have an electric coil or uses either 2 or 4 electrodes and generates a plasma beam.

They quickly charge up via USB, and then you are good to go for hundreds of lights.

They are also really cool. Because you are using plasma energy to make fire, and that means no impact on the planet.

PROS

• Safer to use
• No messy fuel or need to throw away
• Recharge with USB connection
• Windproof

CONS

• Not as lightweight as disposable lighters
• More expensive
• Small lighting surface

Fuel Based Lighters

Your standard lighter comes in either metal or plastic container. And it’s filled with either a flammable liquid fuel or compressed gas.

There is an ignition mechanism to make your flame so you can light anything you need to set fire to.

You can find these portable lighters at most checkout areas of stores, and they are really cheap.

They will only last as long as there is fuel and are either thrown away or refilled if you have that option.

PROS

• durable plastic or metal
• Inexpensive
•  Long-lasting

CONS

• they are not waterproof
• striking wheels get very hot
• disposable ones are garbage when they run out of fuel
• end up in the landfill Different

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5 Main Types Of Electric Lighters

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Electric lighters use the fourth state of matter. Energy gets ionized in the air, and the gas is called plasma.

When you charge the lighter is has stored energy, waiting to be used. And when you press the button, an arc of energy crosses the electrodes.

Pretty awesome, right?

Let’s check out the different types of electrical lighters you can get.

1. Electric Candle Lighter

All-electric lighters work great for starting fires, and a candle lighter is no different.

The advantage of these is that they can reach hard-to-get areas like candles or into your fire or BBQ. They have a long body, so it’s easy to get a good grip on them and an extended, flexible neck where the arc is produced.

They’re convenient for different applications.

Plus, using them is safer if you have kids because the heating end is far away from their fingers.

They are a bit bulky and won’t fit into your pocket.

So you need to safely stow them away when you are on your outdoor adventures.

2. Electric Cigarette Lighter

An electric cigarette lighter is a little different because it has a heated coil to make a fire.

It’s like the car lighters of yesteryear, and it works very well for cigarettes. They can look like regular fuel lighters or large memory sticks and charge easily via USB.

They are lightweight and can fit in your pocket. But you won’t have much luck for starting fires as there is no exposed flame or arc.

Use these for lighting your smokes.

3. Single Arc/Double Arc Lighters

Most of your electric lighters will harness the element of plasma to make ignition.

This is produced by ionizing energy in the air and stimulating the atoms to create a current. It’s like a mini lightning bolt in your pocket!

The plasma travels from one positive electrode to another negative electrode at different charges. This creates the ignition.

• A single arc lighter has two electrodes, creating one arc.
• A double arc has twice as many creating two arcs.

The dual arc also has twice the power but is less energy efficient.

Depending on your needs, you may get by with a single arc, but a double arc gets the job done faster. Both need to be recharged with a USB connection.

4. Zippo Insert

If you regularly carry a lighter, chances are you have a Zippo.

They are an excellent lighter brand, and they stand out in the crowd, far above those cheap plastic lighters.

Maybe you don’t want to give up that custom Zippo case you have. What can you do?

Zippo has different lighter inserts to change out your type of lighter. And give you options depending on your needs. You can get the single and double torch butane inserts.

It’s time to switch to their rechargeable electric lighter.

It’s a double arc insert where the arcs cross for powerful plasma ignition.

Why not customize your tried and true Zippo by converting it into an electrical lighter?

5. Survival Electric Lighter

We’ve shown you some practical electric lighters that have multi-uses like:

• starting fires
• candles
• cigarettes

But there are other electrical lighters out there that take survival head-on.

This type of electric arc lighter is designed for rugged use and is made to take a beating. They will have molded rubber and hard plastic exteriors.

These features keep your lighter intact through almost any survival situation. Plus, they also come with vital assessors.

Things like:

• a locking mechanism
• short circuit protection
• starter rope
• and a Ferro rod

These survival features help when you need to make a fire in the wilderness.

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7 Reasons An Electric Lighter Is Superior To A Fuel Lighter

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1. Rechargeable

This may be the best reason to buy an electric arc lighter. Having the ability to charge your lighter means you won’t run out of fuel.

Yes, you need the have a charger. But you already should have that covered for your smartphone, tablet, and laptop.

It just plugs into the USB port on your portable charger or solar-powered charger, and in a few hours, you are good to go.

Forget about those butane lighters because they run out and get thrown out.

2. Windproof

Ever try to flick your Bic when it’s windy?

It’s super aggravating, and if you need to get your fire going quickly, a fuel-based lighter isn’t your best friend.

Electric lighters have the advantage in that the wind doesn’t affect them.

You can be confident that it will ignite regardless of wind strength or direction. So no more cupping your hands around your lighter and burning your fingers.

3. Less Environmental Impact

With plastic lighters, when they run out of fuel, you throw them away.

Guess where they end up? In the local dump or worse.

Unfortunately, plastic lighters are among the most common debris found in the oceans. And this is a damn shame.

When you use an electric arc lighter, there is no running out of fuel. Just recharge and reuse for years.

There’s also no ozone-damaging fumes from refilling and burning butane.

4. Waterproof

When camping or in a survival situation, you need a reliable fire-starting source regardless of the weather.

You should always carry matches in your survival bag as a backup, but they are useless if they get wet.

That’s why you need an electric lighter that is waterproof.

Many are designed with a locking lid and waterproof housing. So your electric plasma lighter will work no matter what happens when you are out in the wilderness.

5. Cost-Effective

If you compare the price of a standard lighter to an electric lighter, the electric lighter is more expensive.

And if you threw it away when your Bic ran out, you’d be wasting your money spending more money on it. Fortunately, the electric lighter recharges over and over, so once you buy one, that’s all you need to spend.

The lithium battery inside an electrical lighter will recharge around 500 times. This gives you over 10,000 sparks.

Now that’s money well spent!

6. Safety

Owning a rechargeable electric lighter gives you peace of mind. Why? Because it’s safer than regal lighters. There is no fuel to leak and no accidental sparks.

Most electric lighters have a locking system and an on/off switch as built-in safety features. There is also no flame coming out, so you and your kids are not likely to get burned.

You can even use them upside down or in any 360-degree direction for ignition.

7. Stylish

Besides all the other great features that an electric lighter gives you, it just looks cool. They come in a variety of designs, so you can choose one that fits your style.

Everyone is familiar with the dull flame of a standard lighter. But when you start creating plasma, it draws attention.

You don’t need to be trendy to own one, but it will definitely step up your game.

As A Way To Introduce You To Skilled Survival, We’re Giving Away Our Ultimate Survival Gear Checklist. Click Here To Get Your FREE Copy Of It.

9 Best Electric Lighters On The Market Today

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Now it’s time to look at the best electric lighters on the market today.

You should definitely pick several different kinds from the list. And include them in all your survival backpacks and vehicle survival kits.

1. Tough Tesla Lighter From Survival Frog

We all know the story of Tesla. The man never made it to fame and fortune like Edison.

However, he did invent the Tesla coil using plasma to transfer energy.

Today we can thank him for the electric arc lighter.

The Tough Tesla Lighter is a dual arc rechargeable electric lighter. And it’s ideal for the serious survivalist.

It’s constructed of military-grade rubberized plastic.

So it can take the rough’ n tough abuse of outdoor living and camping.

This also makes it completely waterproof, which is crucially important when traversing land and water.

It’s also windproof, so you never have to deal with finding cover to get a spark.

It’s lightweight and compact, so you can slip it into your pocket.

And when you need it, just press a button, and you’re ready to ignite.

If that weren’t enough, this Tesla Lighter comes with:

• a burnable tinder lanyard for starting a fire
• an emergency rescue whistle attached

And you get over 250 strikes with a 2 hour charge time, so you know it won’t let you down.

Finally, it comes with a 100% “Extra American Guarantee.“

Meaning… if you decide your Tough Tesla Lighter isn’t exactly what you wanted, just send Survival Frog an email anytime in the next 6 months for a full, prompt refund.

PROS

• Extremely durable
• Waterproof case
• Windproof arc
• Includes survival whistle and lanyard
• Strong 6-month refund policy

CONS

• Hard time deep-seated candle wicks
• Dual arcs design twice as much power as single arcs
• Bright orange color may not be for everyone

2. ICFUN Waterproof Lighter

This electric lighter comes to us from ICFUN and is another rugged survival lighter.

It’s very compact, so you can add it to any of your emergency kits, but it also has a lanyard to wear around your neck if you want.

A large rubber ring seals the lighter when you close the lid and hook the metal clasp on, making it completely waterproof.

This is the electric lighter you want for hiking and camping because it holds a long and durable charge.

Plus, the company offers a 60-day guarantee to make sure you are getting what you paid for.

To charge this electrical lighter, you have to open the lid because the USB port is on the side of the coil.

All in all, an outstanding electric lighter to keep you inflame when you need it.

PROS

• Extremely durable
• Waterproof case
• Windproof arc
• Lots of colors to choose from
• Comes with a lanyard

CONS

• Dual arcs design twice as much power as single arcs
• Hard time deep-seated candle wicks
• Only a 60-day guarantee

3. Tesla Coil Electric Arc Lighter

We’ve included another Telsa lighter here because they are that great!

This is a single arc electric lighter, and it’s a good idea to carry one. Why? Because the charge lasts much longer than the dual arc.

It quickly charges with the included USB cord, which plugs into the bottom of the unit.

This coil lighter has a sleek design but also comes with a cloth carry pouch. This means you can fit the lighter and cord when you stow it in your survival pack.

There’s a button on the side to ignite the lighter, but it won’t light unless the lid is open. That’s an important safety feature for sure.

It’s not waterproof, but you still have no issues getting the plasma arc in high winds.

A solid single arc electric lighter to add to your collection for backup and smaller uses.

PROS

• Single arc design will last a long time between charges
• A few different color options
• Comes with a cloth carry pouch

CONS

• Single arc design is not as powerful
• Hard time deep-seated candle wicks
• No mention of guarantee

4. RONXS Electric Candle Lighter

RONXS has a high-quality electric candle lighter that’s ideal for everyday situations.

The design makes it ideal for reaching into:

• Fires
• BBQs
• Out-of-reach candles

It does this with a sturdy handle base and flexible neck.

When fully charged, this single arc lighter will give you over 6000 uses. And there’s even an LED charge indicator on the side with 5 ascending lights.

This is a game-changer because you know when it is getting low and when you need to charge up.

Its simple design has a USB port, an on and off switch, and a button to engage.

This is ideal for indoor and outdoor use so bring one along your next camping trip.

PROS

• Gooseneck design is ideal for deep-seated candle wicks
• Keeps fingers further away from arcs when lighting
• Single arc design provides over 6000 uses per charge
• LED charge indicator light helps manage power needs

CONS

• Not rugged enough for survival or camping
• Not waterproof – no waterproof container
• No mention of guarantee or warranty

5. Zippo Electric Arc Insert

If you’ve been an avid outdoorsman for a while, you probably have a standard Zippo lighter.

They are small and sleek and real high-quality. Now with this new plasma lighter technology, you need to switch over.

Zippo has you covered because their new electric lighter inserts fit almost all standard Zippo lighters.

You’ll get around 300 charges with 40 uses per charge.

You get:

• Double plasma arc beam
• Micro USB port
• Safety double click ignition
• 10 second time out feature
• Windproof heat source
• All metal construction

It’s great to have a genuine Zippo electric lighter to add to your emergency kit and one in your pocket at all times.

PROS

• Durable all-metal construction
• If you already own a zippo, no need to buy another lighter
• Safety features – a double-click ignite and 10-second timeout

CONS

• Deep-seated arc design makes it hard to light candles or fat cigars
• Only 40 uses per charge
• No mention of guarantee or warranty

6. HiFan Rechargeable Electric Flameless Lighter

Here we have another excellent rechargeable electric arc lighter from HiFan.

This is an electric candle lighter with a wand design that makes it easy to reach awkward places.

This is also very safe for children to use because the arc is at the end of the wand. So they won’t get burned or shocked when using it.

The neck rotates 360 degrees to get any angle you need. Making it ideal for relighting fires and BBQs as well as candles and fireworks.

There is a safety on/off switch and an automatic 7-second auto stop spark as well.

You get 600-800 burns per charge.

And it quickly charges with the supplied USB cable from your portable solar charger or solar power station.

PROS

• Gooseneck design is ideal for deep-seated candle wicks
• The neck rotates 360 degrees for maximum flexibility
• Keeps fingers further away from arcs when lighting
• 600 to 800 burns PER CHARGE

CONS

• Not rugged enough for survival or camping
• Not waterproof – no waterproof container
• No mention of guarantee or warranty

7. Black Beard Fire-Starting Bundle (with Electric Arc Lighter)

So far, we’ve checked out some tremendous electric lighters. But it’s time to step up your survival gear with the Black Beard Fire-Starting Bundle!

This is the ultimate fire-starting setup because you have everything you need to start and maintain a fire on your camping trip, off-grid cabin, or bugout location.

This bundle includes:

• 1 dual arc electric lighter
• 4 Black Beard fire starters
• 1 Ferro rod
• a top-notch fire kit organizer
• and a Black Beard velcro patch

You will have no problem getting a fire going with this bundle, that’s for sure.

Just cut off some starter rope and use your electric arc lighter to ignite it.

Then you can build your fire around that. The starter rope is waterproof, and you’ll get over 50 fires out of each one.

The backup Ferro rod is there when you need it as a backup. But your primary source of ignition is the included electric lighter.

It charges fast and will supply you with over 300 ignites. That’s a whole lot of fires between charges!

This is an awesome bundled kit for the serious survivalist and deep woods camper.

So why not carry this extensive fire bundle for your next adventure.

PROS

• It’s a complete survival fire bundle
• Includes a Ferro rod as a backup
• Includes waterproof lighter and starter rope

CONS

• More expensive price point (due to it being a bundle)
• No mention of guarantee or warranty

8. Sparq Electric Lighter

This rechargeable electric lighter is in its own class.

With the Sparq by Saberlight, you get a plasma igniter, unlike any other arc lighter.

They re-engineered it by using free-form plasma energy, making it a plasm torch.

Suppose you have had trouble lighting flat surfaces with the standard electric arc lighters with narrow Tesla coils. In that case, this will solve all your problems.

They call their technology “Star Wars-like,” and for a good reason.

The electrodes come right off the end with a fully hinged cap, so it’s not blocked.

On the bottom, you have the on/off switch and a USB port for charging. It charges in about an hour and will give you 3 hours of use.

The ignite button is always illuminated so when not in use, turn the unit off to preserve the battery.

This is an incredible electric lighter with an intelligent design.

PROS

• The slim design makes it highly portable
• Includes an On/Off switch for safety

CONS

• If you accidentally leave the switch ON, it will drain the battery over time
• The blue “power on” ring is very bright – can draw unwanted attention
• Unclear how many “uses” a full charge gives you – dual arcs use more power
• No mention of guarantee or warranty

9. TG Tactical Plasma Lighter

For extreme adventures and survival situations, you want to have the tactical advantage.

This plasma lighter from TG fits the bill perfectly.

It’s built with a tough silicone rubber casing to protect it from all damage and waterproofing.

For a tight seal, there is a robust locking system and push to open the cover. This makes sure the plasma coil is protected during your outings.

Plug in the included USB cable for a quick 2-hour charge, and you are going to get over 300 uses before it runs out.

You get a powerful double arc for fast ignition and built-in short circuit protection.

These features make this electric lighter a must-have item on your bug out bag checklist.

PROS

• Extremely durable
• Waterproof case
• Windproof arc

CONS

• Dual arcs design twice as much power as single arcs
• Hard time lighting deep-seated candle wicks
• No mention of guarantee or warranty

Exclusive Bonus Content – Skilled Survival’s 104 Item Bug Out Bag Checklist – the only bug out checklist worth using. Click Here To Get Your FREE Copy Of It.

How To Make A DIY Electric Lighter

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Now you’ve seen the best electric lighters on the market.

What about making your own? Do you need the brainpower of Tesla, or can the above-average Joe construct it?

DIY Electric Lighter

Start with a good-sized metal housing unit that will fit the components. But small enough to still comfortably slip into your pocket.

The transformer for the circuits will need to fit inside, so find one to work with.

You may have to uncoil the primary circuit and create a new one.

You need to form a resonating circuit, so solder a capacitor to the primary coil to get the right frequency.

Then connect an inductor to give you constant current from the voltage.

Attach an appropriately sized battery to supply the current.

If this sounds complicated and high-tech, it is.

Make sure you know what you are doing or follow someone online who is doing it right.

DIY Arc Lighter Glove

For an even more fabulous DIY project, you can create an arc lighter glove!

If you want your plasma arc lighter to be mounted to a glove, it can happen.

Strip down your arc lighter and take out the components.

Wire extensions will need to be soldered on. This allows the switch and electrodes to be placed on the fingers of the glove.

Use a heavy-duty rubber and stiff plastic glove that will protect your fingers. But still, be able to activate the lighter and switch it off and on.

Separate and mount the two sides of the arc electrodes on the fingers. That way, when they’re brought together, the plasma will jump and create the spark for ignition.

Mount the switch on the thumb or between the finger where it is easily activated.

Be extremely careful because you are modifying transformers, circuits, and batteries.

You don’t want to get burned or shocked, so get the knowledge needed and go for it with caution!

Final Thoughts

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Having the ability to start a fire in an emergency situation is a top 3 priority.

Make it easy on yourself by not screwing around with matches. Instead, get several electric lighters as they’re a great survival gift.

Put them in all your EDC bags and IFAK kits. Now you are ready to dominate the terrain and survive!

“Just In Case” Jack

P.s. Do you know where the closest nuclear bunker is from your home?

There are a lot of natural nuclear shelters in the US that are absolutely free. And one of them is near your home.

Click here to see the Closest Natural Nuclear Bunker to Your Home?

Click on the image above to find out where you need to take shelter.

The post 9 Best Electric Lighters For Survival, Camping And Everyday Use appeared first on Skilled Survival.

Tired of watching prepper movies and looking for something a bit more… real? Try our list of survival documentaries. Could…

This article %A Complete List of Survival Documentaries% appeared first on %SHTF Blog – Modern Survival%.

Salt is one of the most common and basic staples and one which every prepper should have in their pantry. While today salt is easily and cheaply purchased, it is also a valuable resource. When used in excess, salt can be harmful. However, it is also vital for maintaining health, as well as providing a […]

Anyone who has been camping with kids knows that when they get into the woods their imagination runs free. Children are ready to perceive information with an open heart. Just provide them with a debris hut that you build together and it will quickly become their castle where they can play and fight the enemies. […]

Ignoring long-term problems can work for a while, but eventually they catch up with you.  Over the years, I have written many articles about alarming long-term trends in our society that desperately needed to be addressed.  Of course the vast majority of those long-term trends never got much attention, because our political system tends to reward politicians that focus on short-term issues.  As a result, many of the long-term trends that I have written about previously have now gotten to a point where they have started to become very serious short-term problems.  In this article, I would like to share 9 examples of this with you.

#1 I have been warning about exploding debt levels for as long as I have been writing about the economy.  Most people know that the U.S. national debt has now crossed the 28 trillion dollar threshold, but hardly anyone is talking about the explosion of corporate debt that we have been witnessing in recent months.  According to the Federal Reserve, total corporate debt in the United States is now up to a whopping 11.2 trillion dollars…

Before the pandemic, U.S. companies were borrowing heavily at low interest rates. When Covid-19 lockdowns triggered a recession, they didn’t pull back. They borrowed even more and soon paid even less.

After a brief spike, interest rates on corporate debt plummeted to their lowest level on record, bringing a surge in new bonds. Nonfinancial companies issued $1.7 trillion of bonds in the U.S. last year, nearly $600 billion more than the previous high, according to Dealogic. By the end of March, their total debt stood at $11.2 trillion, according to the Federal Reserve, about half the size of the U.S. economy.

#2 Needless to say, this level of corporate debt is not even close to sustainable, and we are starting to see a lot of prominent names go bankrupt.  In fact, one of the largest mall owners in the entire country officially filed for bankruptcy on Sunday…

Washington Prime Group, a major mall owner of more than 100 locations across the United States, filed for bankruptcy, citing pandemic-related shutdowns.

The Columbus, Ohio-based company filed for Chapter 11 late Sunday, saying Covid-19 “created significant challenges” and that the move is “necessary.” Washington Prime secured $100 million in new funding to support its day-to-day operations so it can “continue in the ordinary course without interruption.”

#3 The standard of living in the United States has been going down for a very long time.  Here in 2021, inflation is growing at a much faster rate than wages are, and this is squeezing middle class families like never before.  One of the ways that families are dealing with this is by putting off major purchases, and that is one of the reasons why the average age of the vehicles on our roads has now reached an all-time record high…

The average age of vehicles on U.S. roadways rose to a record 12.1 years last year, as lofty prices and improved quality prompt owners to hold on to their cars longer.

It was the first time the average vehicle age rose above 12 years, according to data released Monday by research firm IHS Markit. While the average vehicle age has risen steadily over the last 15 years, the trend accelerated during the coronavirus pandemic partly because of a drop in new-car sales, IHS said.

#4 America’s growing homelessness crisis has accelerated greatly during the pandemic, and the big cities in California are being hit the hardest.  At this point, it is really difficult to navigate through the streets of San Francisco without stumbling over a tent or stepping in human excrement…

For a city as opulent as San Francisco, it’s long been jarring to see the extreme poverty of those experiencing homelessness on its streets. If you walk around downtown, tents, makeshift cardboard beds and human excrement can be seen littering the sidewalks. Impoverished people lie on the ground as a blur of highly paid professionals whiz by.

#5 The homelessness crisis is also one of the factors that is fueling the dramatic rise in crime rates that we have been seeing all over the nation.  Once upon a time, millions of eager tourists would flock to Venice Beach, but now the phrase “like hell went to hell” is being used to describe conditions at that once pristine tourist trap…

Year-to-date numbers show that robberies have nearly tripled since the same period last year. Homeless-related robberies are up 260 percent; homeless-related assaults with a deadly weapon is up 118 percent; property crimes and area burglaries are up 85 percent; and grand theft auto is up 74 percent.

According to Embrich, felony arrests are up 68 percent, while misdemeanor arrests have grown by 355 percent. But arrests aren’t enough: Suspects are often released back onto the streets within hours.

#6 The police are the ones that are supposed to protect us from crime and restore order when things get out of control, but now they are leaving public service in record numbers.  After being endlessly demonized by leftist activists and the mainstream media, police officers are either retiring or resigning at a staggering rate….

Police retirements have risen by 45 percent in the past year, with officers opting out of forces across the country amid Black Lives Matter demonstrations that fueled anti-cop rhetoric.

The alarming statistic was revealed by the Police Executive Research Forum on Sunday, with the organization also revealing that resignations rose by 18 percent during the same twelve month period.

#7 Have you noticed that many of our cities are becoming disgustingly filthy?  When I was growing up, I often heard the phrase “cleanliness is next to godliness”, but you never hear anyone use it anymore.  These days, filth and grime are everywhere, and that has resulted in widespread infestations.  Many of our cities now have massive problems with rats and bed bugs, but Chicago is the worst of them all…

The Windy City is known for quite a few things: hot dogs, deep dish, baseball. But here’s one thing you probably don’t associate with Chicago: bed bugs. Turns out these tiny hitchhiking pests are quite fond of our city, according to the latest numbers available through Atlanta-based Orkin, a company that specializes in pest control services.

In fact, Chicago ranked no. 1 on the 2021 list, according to Orkin, reclaiming the top spot for the first time since 2017, when it slipped to no. 3, just behind Baltimore and Washington. For the sixth year in a row, Orkin also ranked Chicago the “rattiest” city in America.

#8 I have been writing about the drought in the western half of the country for years, but here in 2021 it is the worst we have ever seen.  As I write this article, an astounding 88 percent of the West is officially in a state of drought…

Lakes at historically low levels, unusually early forest fires, restrictions on water use and now a potentially record heat wave: even before summer’s start the US West is suffering the effects of chronic drought made worse by climate change.

Eighty-eight percent of the West was in a state of drought this week, including the entire states of California, Oregon, Utah and Nevada, according to official data.

#9 When drought gets bad enough, it leads to water shortages, and we will want to watch developments in California very closely.  Water supplies have gotten very tight throughout the state, and officials in Santa Clara County just officially declared “a water shortage emergency”…

Santa Clara County is in extreme drought. We can’t afford to wait to act as our water supplies are being threatened locally and across California. We are in an emergency and Valley Water must do everything we can to protect our groundwater resources and ensure we can provide safe, clean water to Santa Clara County residents and businesses.

To better deal with these threats and the emergency they are causing, today my fellow Board Members and I unanimously declared a water shortage emergency condition in Santa Clara County. This declaration, which is among the strongest actions we can take under law, allows Valley Water to work with our retailers, cities and the county to implement regulations and restrictions on the delivery and consumption of water. We also are urging the County of Santa Clara to proclaim a local emergency and join us in underscoring the seriousness of the threats posed by the extreme drought.

Over the past few years, America has been hit by crisis after crisis, and many are yearning for a return to the good old days.  Unfortunately, that simply is not going to happen.

The United States is never going to be like it once was.  Too many things have changed, and our culture has been radically transformed over the past several decades.

Many of the items that I have shared in this article are simply symptoms of much broader cultural problems.  We are a deeply, deeply sick society, and it is getting worse with each passing day.

***Michael’s new book entitled “Lost Prophecies Of The Future Of America” is now available in paperback and for the Kindle on Amazon.***

About the Author: My name is Michael Snyder and my brand new book entitled “Lost Prophecies Of The Future Of America” is now available on Amazon.com.  In addition to my new book, I have written four others that are available on Amazon.com including The Beginning Of The End, Get Prepared Now, and Living A Life That Really Matters. (#CommissionsEarned)  By purchasing the books you help to support the work that my wife and I are doing, and by giving it to others you help to multiply the impact that we are having on people all over the globe.  I have published thousands of articles on The Economic Collapse Blog, End Of The American Dream and The Most Important News, and the articles that I publish on those sites are republished on dozens of other prominent websites all over the globe.  I always freely and happily allow others to republish my articles on their own websites, but I also ask that they include this “About the Author” section with each article.  The material contained in this article is for general information purposes only, and readers should consult licensed professionals before making any legal, business, financial or health decisions.  I encourage you to follow me on social media on Facebook, Twitter and Parler, and any way that you can share these articles with others is a great help.  During these very challenging times, people will need hope more than ever before, and it is our goal to share the gospel of Jesus Christ with as many people as we possibly can.

The post 9 Signs That Some Of America’s Long-Term Trends Are Starting To Become Very Serious Short-Term Problems first appeared on The Economic Collapse.

If you are shopping for a home right now, I really do feel sorry for you.  Home prices in many areas of the country have officially crossed the line into “absurd” territory, and they just keep going higher.  Thanks to wild spending by the federal government and the economic malpractice that has been happening at the Federal Reserve, we now have way too many dollars chasing way too few goods and services.  Inflation is showing up in every sector of our economy, but it is not showing up equally in all sectors.  One area where inflation threatens to spiral completely out of control is in home prices.  Right now we are seeing the wildest bidding wars in U.S. history, and in many, many cases buyers end up paying way over listing price.

Let me give you an example of what I am talking about.  When a fairly ordinary three bedroom home in Berkeley, California was recently listed for more than a million dollars, the real estate agent that listed the property was absolutely stunned by what happened next…

A three bedroom, mid-century home on a cul-de-sac in Berkeley, California, with an expansive view of the San Francisco Bay was nearly a one-of-a-kind property, said Jill Carrigan, an agent with The Grubb Company who listed it this spring.

“It ticked all the boxes for a lot of people,” she said. “I’ve never had a property with 29 offers and buyers were upping their offers without us even countering. The Bay Area is always competitive, but this was something I’d never seen before.”

This wasn’t a property that was particularly special.  You can see a photo of it right here.  In my opinion, there is no way in the world that such a house should ever sell for a million dollars.

Of course it didn’t sell for a million dollars.

When the dust finally settled, it sold for 2.3 million dollars…

Listed at $1.15 million, the home sold in two weeks for $2.3 million in cash, double the asking price.

You might think that such extreme bidding wars are rare, but they aren’t.

In fact, CNN is reporting that 940 U.S. homes sold for more than half a million dollars above listing price in March, and 310 U.S. homes sold for more than a million dollars above listing price in that month alone.

That is just one month!

Now that our leaders have turned the U.S. dollar into “wheelbarrow money”, this is the sort of thing that is going to happen.

In this sort of an environment, a “fixer upper” in Colorado Springs that was completely trashed by a former tenant can sell for $590,000…

A ‘formerly majestic’ Colorado Springs home left in ruin and covered in graffiti by an angry former tenant has gone on the market for $590,000.

Listed as an ‘investor special’ on Zillow, the 3,598 square-foot home is advertised as a fixer upper after it was destroyed by the prior tenant who covered the walls with spray-painted messages including ‘evict me b***h’ and left a pile of rotten meet in a freezer.

As long as this frenzy continues, I am going to recommend that young couples look to rent instead of buy, but rents are going up rapidly too.  This week we learned that rental prices just increased at the fastest pace in 15 years during the month of April…

Single-family rents were up 5.3% year over year in April, rising from a 2.4% increase in April 2020, according to CoreLogic. That is the largest gain in nearly 15 years.

Rents for single-family detached homes (not townhomes), were up an even stronger 7.9% compared with a year ago, as millennials in particular seek more outdoor space. Nearly half of millennials surveyed by Corelogic, and 64% of baby boomers, said they, “strongly prefer” to live in a single, stand-alone home.

Yes, the U.S. has wrestled with inflation at various times in the past, but what we are witnessing here in 2021 is completely insane.

Just look at what is happening in the restaurant industry.  In upstate New York, the cost of chicken wings has gone up 99 percent and the cost of fryer oil has gone up more than 120 percent so far in 2021.

How are you supposed to run a profitable restaurant with prices spiking like that?

Since the beginning of the pandemic, our leaders have pumped trillions and trillions of fresh dollars into the system, and all of that money is creating a tremendous amount of inflationary pressure.  At this point, things have already gotten so crazy that pieces of “artwork” that Hunter Biden has created are selling for up to $500,000…

President Biden’s son, Hunter Biden, has taken a turn into artistry and the first paintings he’s selling are going for as high as $500,000.

The first son’s first foray into the art world has seen his pieces picked up by art dealer Georges Berges, who has priced the younger Biden’s artwork between $75,000 and $500,000 depending on the size and scope of the collage artwork.

Now that Hunter Biden is trying to go clean and sober, I suppose that he has to try to make a living somehow.

But are there people that will actually be willing to pay half a million dollars for a piece of his “art”?

I find that hard to believe, but of course I find a lot of things hard to believe these days.

On Wednesday, the Federal Reserve finally took a few very small steps in the direction of acknowledging the crisis that we are facing…

As expected, the policymaking Federal Open Market Committee unanimously left its benchmark short-term borrowing rate anchored near zero. But officials indicated that rate hikes could come as soon as 2023, after saying in March that it saw no increases until at least 2024. The so-called dot plot of individual member expectations pointed to two hikes in 2023.

Though the Fed raised its headline inflation expectation to 3.4%, a full percentage point higher than the March projection, the post-meeting statement continued to say that inflation pressures are “transitory.” The raised expectations come amid the biggest rise in consumer prices in about 13 years.

Of course those moves by the Fed won’t actually do anything to get the “inflation monster” that they have created under control.

As long as our politicians in Washington continue their wildest spending binge ever, and as long as the Fed continues to pump more money into the financial system, the “inflation monster” will continue to grow.

So if you are looking to buy a home, there might not be any relief for the foreseeable future.

We are going down the same road that the Weimar Republic once did, but our leaders keep insisting that somehow we will get a much different result.

***Michael’s new book entitled “Lost Prophecies Of The Future Of America” is now available in paperback and for the Kindle on Amazon.***

About the Author: My name is Michael Snyder and my brand new book entitled “Lost Prophecies Of The Future Of America” is now available on Amazon.com.  In addition to my new book, I have written four others that are available on Amazon.com including The Beginning Of The End, Get Prepared Now, and Living A Life That Really Matters. (#CommissionsEarned)  By purchasing the books you help to support the work that my wife and I are doing, and by giving it to others you help to multiply the impact that we are having on people all over the globe.  I have published thousands of articles on The Economic Collapse Blog, End Of The American Dream and The Most Important News, and the articles that I publish on those sites are republished on dozens of other prominent websites all over the globe.  I always freely and happily allow others to republish my articles on their own websites, but I also ask that they include this “About the Author” section with each article.  The material contained in this article is for general information purposes only, and readers should consult licensed professionals before making any legal, business, financial or health decisions.  I encourage you to follow me on social media on Facebook, Twitter and Parler, and any way that you can share these articles with others is a great help.  During these very challenging times, people will need hope more than ever before, and it is our goal to share the gospel of Jesus Christ with as many people as we possibly can.

The post We Should Be Shocked By What Inflation Is Doing To Home Prices, Because We Have Never Seen This Before first appeared on The Economic Collapse.

This article was originally published by John W. Whitehead and Nisha Whitehead at The Rutherford Institute. 

“Whoever fights monsters should see to it that in the process he does not become a monster.”— Friedrich Nietzsche

Almost every tyranny being perpetrated by the U.S. government against the citizenry—purportedly to keep us safe and the nation secure—has come about as a result of some threat manufactured in one way or another by our own government.

Think about it.

Cyberwarfare. Terrorism. Bio-chemical attacks. The nuclear arms race. Surveillance. The drug wars. Domestic extremism. The COVID-19 pandemic.

In almost every instance, the U.S. government (often spearheaded by the FBI) has in its typical Machiavellian fashion sown the seeds of terror domestically and internationally in order to expand its own totalitarian powers.

Who is the biggest black market buyer and stockpiler of cyberweapons (weaponized malware that can be used to hack into computer systems, spy on citizens, and destabilize vast computer networks)? The U.S. government.

Who is the largest weapons manufacturer and exporter in the world, such that they are literally arming the world? The U.S. government.

Which country has a history of secretly testing out dangerous weapons and technologies on its own citizens? The U.S. government.

Which country has conducted secret experiments on an unsuspecting populace—citizens and noncitizens alike—making healthy people sick by spraying them with chemicals, injecting them with infectious diseases, and exposing them to airborne toxins? The U.S. government.

What country has a pattern and practice of entrapment that involves targeting vulnerable individuals, feeding them with the propaganda, know-how, and weapons intended to turn them into terrorists, and then arresting them as part of an elaborately orchestrated counterterrorism sting? The U.S. government.

Are you getting the picture yet?

The U.S. government isn’t protecting us from terrorism.

The U.S. government is creating terror. It is, in fact, the source of the terror.

Consider that this very same government has taken every bit of technology sold to us as being in our best interests—GPS devices, surveillance, nonlethal weapons, etc.—and used it against us, to track, control, and trap us.

So why is the government doing this? Money, power, and total domination.

We’re not dealing with a government that exists to serve its people, protect their liberties and ensure their happiness. Rather, these are the diabolical machinations of a make-works program carried out on an epic scale whose only purpose is to keep the powers-that-be permanently (and profitably) employed.

Case in point: the FBI.

The government’s henchmen have become the embodiment of how power, once acquired, can be so easily corrupted and abused. Indeed, far from being tough on crime, FBI agents are also among the nation’s most notorious lawbreakers.

Whether the FBI is planting undercover agents in churches, synagogues, and mosques; issuing fake emergency letters to gain access to Americans’ phone records; using intimidation tactics to silence Americans who are critical of the government, or persuading impressionable individuals to plot acts of terror and then entrapping them, the overall impression of the nation’s secret police force is that of a well-dressed thug, flexing its muscles and doing the boss’ dirty work.

For example, this is the agency that used an undercover agent/informant to seek out and groom an impressionable young man, cultivating his friendship, gaining his sympathy, stoking his outrage over the injustices perpetrated by the U.S. government, then enlisting his help to blow up the Herald Square subway station. Despite the fact that Shahawar Matin Siraj ultimately refused to plant a bomb at the train station, he was arrested for conspiring to do so at the urging of his FBI informant and used to bolster the government’s track record in foiling terrorist plots. Of course, no mention was made of the part the government played in fabricating the plot, recruiting a would-be bomber, and setting him up to take the fall.

This is the government’s answer to precrime: first, foster activism by stoking feelings of outrage and injustice by way of secret agents and informants; second, recruit activists to carry out a plot (secretly concocted by the government) to challenge what they see as government corruption; and finally, arrest those activists for conspiring against the government before they can actually commit a crime.

It’s a diabolical plot with far-reaching consequences for every segment of the population, no matter what one’s political leanings.

As Rozina Ali writes for The New York Times Magazine, “The government’s approach to counterterrorism erodes constitutional protections for everyone, by blurring the lines between speech and action and by broadening the scope of who is classified as a threat.”

This is not an agency that appears to understand, let alone respect, the limits of the Constitution.

Just recently, it was revealed that the FBI has been secretly carrying out an entrapment scheme in which it used a front company, ANOM, to sell purportedly hack-proof phones to organized crime syndicates and then used those phones to spy on them as they planned illegal drug shipments, plotted robberies and put out contracts for killings using those boobytrapped phones.

All told, the FBI intercepted 27 million messages over the course of 18 months.

What this means is that the FBI was also illegally spying on individuals using those encrypted phones who may not have been involved in any criminal activity whatsoever.

Even reading a newspaper article is now enough to get you flagged for surveillance by the FBI. The agency served a subpoena on USA Today/Gannett to provide the internet addresses and mobile phone information for everyone who read a news story online on a particular day and time about the deadly shooting of FBI agents.

This is the danger of allowing the government to carry out widespread surveillance, sting, and entrapment operations using dubious tactics that sidestep the rule of law: “we the people” become suspects and potential criminals, while government agents, empowered to fight crime using all means at their disposal, become indistinguishable from the corrupt forces they seek to vanquish.

To go after terrorists, they become terrorists. To go after drug smugglers, they become drug smugglers. To go after thieves, they become thieves.

For instance, when the FBI raided a California business that was suspected of letting drug dealers anonymously stash guns, drugs, and cash in its private vaults, agents seized the contents of all the safety deposit boxes and filed forfeiture motions to keep the contents, which include millions of dollars worth of valuables owned by individuals not accused of any crime whatsoever.

It’s hard to say whether we’re dealing with a kleptocracy (a government ruled by thieves), a kakistocracy (a government-run by unprincipled career politicians, corporations, and thieves that panders to the worst vices in our nature and has little regard for the rights of American citizens), or if we’ve gone straight to an idiocracy.

This certainly isn’t a constitutional democracy, however.

Some days, it feels like the FBI is running its own crime syndicate complete with mob rule and mafia-style justice.

In addition to creating certain crimes in order to then “solve” them, the FBI also gives certain informants permission to break the law, “including everything from buying and selling illegal drugs to bribing government officials and plotting robberies,” in exchange for their cooperation on other fronts.

USA Today estimates that agents have authorized criminals to engage in as many as 15 crimes a day (5600 crimes a year). Some of these informants are getting paid astronomical sums: one particularly unsavory fellow, later arrested for attempting to run over a police officer, was actually paid $85,000 for his help laying the trap for an entrapment scheme.

In a stunning development reported by The Washington Post, a probe into misconduct by an FBI agent resulted in the release of at least a dozen convicted drug dealers from prison.

In addition to procedural misconduct, trespassing, enabling criminal activity, and damaging private property, the FBI’s laundry list of crimes against the American people includes surveillance, disinformation, blackmail, entrapment, intimidation tactics, and harassment.

For example, the Associated Press lodged a complaint with the Dept. of Justice after learning that FBI agents created a fake AP news story and emailed it, along with a clickable link, to a bomb threat suspect in order to implant tracking technology onto his computer and identify his location. Lambasting the agency, AP attorney Karen Kaiser railed, “The FBI may have intended this false story as a trap for only one person. However, the individual could easily have reposted this story to social networks, distributing to thousands of people, under our name, what was essentially a piece of government disinformation.”

Then again, to those familiar with COINTELPRO, an FBI program created to “disrupt, misdirect, discredit, and neutralize” groups and individuals the government considers politically objectionable, it should come as no surprise that the agency has mastered the art of government disinformation.

The FBI has been particularly criticized in the wake of the 9/11 terrorist attacks for targeting vulnerable individuals and not only luring them into fake terror plots but actually equipping them with the organization, money, weapons, and motivation to carry out the plots—entrapment—and then jailing them for their so-called terrorist plotting. This is what the FBI characterizes as “forward-leaning—preventative—prosecutions.”

Another fallout from 9/11, National Security Letters, one of the many illicit powers authorized by the USA Patriot Act, allows the FBI to secretly demand that banks, phone companies, and other businesses provide them with customer information and not disclose the demands. An internal audit of the agency found that the FBI practice of issuing tens of thousands of NSLs every year for sensitive information such as phone and financial records, often in non-emergency cases, is riddled with widespread violations.

The FBI’s surveillance capabilities, on a par with the National Security Agency, boast a nasty collection of spy tools ranging from Stingray devices that can track the location of cell phones to Triggerfish devices which allow agents to eavesdrop on phone calls.

In one case, the FBI actually managed to remotely reprogram a “suspect’s” wireless internet card so that it would send “real-time cell-site location data to Verizon, which forwarded the data to the FBI.”

The FBI has also repeatedly sought to expand its invasive hacking powers to allow agents to hack into any computer, anywhere in the world.

Indeed, for years now, the U.S. government has been creating what one intelligence insider referred to as a cyber-army capable of offensive attacks. As Reuters reported back in 2013:

Even as the U.S. government confronts rival powers over widespread Internet espionage, it has become the biggest buyer in a burgeoning gray market where hackers and security firms sell tools for breaking into computers. The strategy is spurring concern in the technology industry and intelligence community that Washington is in effect encouraging hacking and failing to disclose to software companies and customers the vulnerabilities exploited by the purchased hacks. That’s because U.S. intelligence and military agencies aren’t buying the tools primarily to fend off attacks. Rather, they are using the tools to infiltrate computer networks overseas, leaving behind spy programs and cyber-weapons that can disrupt data or damage systems.

As part of this cyberweapons programs, government agencies such as the NSA have been stockpiling all kinds of nasty malware, viruses, and hacking tools that can “steal financial account passwords, turn an iPhone into a listening device, or, in the case of Stuxnet, sabotage a nuclear facility.”

In fact, the NSA was responsible for the threat posed by the “WannaCry” or “Wanna Decryptor” malware worm which—as a result of hackers accessing the government’s arsenal—hijacked more than 57,000 computers and crippled health care, communications infrastructure, logistics, and government entities in more than 70 countries.

Mind you, the government was repeatedly warned about the dangers of using criminal tactics to wage its own cyberwars. It was warned about the consequences of blowback should its cyberweapons get into the wrong hands.

The government chose to ignore the warnings.

That’s exactly how the 9/11 attacks unfolded.

First, the government helped to create the menace that was al-Qaida, and then, when bin Laden had left the nation reeling in shock (despite countless warnings that fell on tone-deaf ears), it demanded—and was given—immense new powers in the form of the USA Patriot Act in order to fight the very danger it had created.

This has become the shadow government’s modus operandi regardless of which party controls the White House: the government creates a menace—knowing full well the ramifications such a danger might pose to the public—then without ever owning up to the part it played in unleashing that particular menace on an unsuspecting populace, it demands additional powers in order to protect “we the people” from the threat.

Yet the powers-that-be don’t really want us to feel safe.

They want us cowering and afraid and willing to relinquish every last one of our freedoms in exchange for their phantom promises of security.

As a result, it’s the American people who pay the price for the government’s insatiable greed and quest for power.

We’re the ones to suffer the blowback.

Blowback is a term originating from within the American Intelligence community, denoting the unintended consequences, unwanted side-effects, or suffered repercussions of a covert operation that fall back on those responsible for the aforementioned operations.

As historian Chalmers Johnson explains, “blowback is another way of saying that a nation reaps what it sows.”

Unfortunately, “we the people” are the ones who keep reaping what the government sows.

We’re the ones who suffer every time, directly and indirectly, from the blowback.

Suffice it to say that when and if a true history of the FBI is ever written, it will not only track the rise of the American police state but it will also chart the decline of freedom in America: how a nation that once abided by the rule of law and held the government accountable for its actions has steadily devolved into a police state where justice is one-sided, a corporate elite runs the show, representative government is a mockery, police are extensions of the military, surveillance is rampant, privacy is extinct, and the law is little more than a tool for the government to browbeat the people into compliance.

This is how tyranny rises and freedom falls.

We can persuade ourselves that life is still good, that America is still beautiful, and that “we the people” are still free. However, as science fiction writer Philip K. Dick warned, “Don’t believe what you see; it’s an enthralling—[and] destructive, evil snare. Under it is a totally different world, even placed differently along the linear axis.”

In other words, as I point out Battlefield America: The War on the American People, all is not as it seems.

The powers-that-be are not acting in our best interests.

“We the people” are not free.

The government is not our friend.

The post The FBI’s Mafia-Style Justice: To Fight Crime, the FBI Sponsors 15 Crimes a Day first appeared on SHTF Plan – When It Hits The Fan, Don’t Say We Didn’t Warn You.

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