Power Cut Kit

Choosing a torch, power bank and radio

What matters when you buy kit for power cuts: wind-up or battery torches, power bank size, FM radios that need no mains, warm layers and a fridge thermometer.

1 min reading time / Next check planned by 2026-11-24

Start with what the checklist asks for

The Be Ready checklist names the essentials: a torch with spare batteries, a battery or wind-up FM radio, a charged power bank, warm layers, water, food, cash and documents (gov.uk). Buy those first; extras can wait.

Torches

  • Wind-up torches never run out of power, which is why fire services recommend them (Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue).
  • Battery torches are brighter; keep spare batteries of the right size taped to them.
  • A head torch leaves both hands free for cooking, stairs and children.
  • One light per adult avoids arguments in the dark; check them twice a year.

Power banks

  • The capacity on the label is in mAh: compare it with your phone's battery size (in its settings or specifications) to see how many refills you get. A larger bank lasts longer but takes longer to recharge and weighs more.
  • Charge it when you buy it and every few months; power banks slowly lose charge in a drawer.
  • If anyone at home relies on a device, check what it needs before you buy.

Radios

The checklist asks for an FM radio that runs on batteries or a wind-up handle. Many emergency radios combine a crank, a small solar panel, a torch and a USB port to top up a phone. Whatever you choose, write your local station's frequency on it.

Warmth and food

Blankets or sleeping bags for everyone, food that needs no cooking, a manual tin opener and a fridge thermometer, which tells you exactly when food stops being safe.

What we do not recommend

Candles where children or pets can reach them, and any stove, barbecue or generator indoors: carbon monoxide is the biggest danger in a long power cut.