Longford retailers are seeing a huge demand for power banks and camping stoves

There has been huge demand for Superser heaters, camping stoves, power banks and portable chargers since Storm Éowyn battered the country, according to a Longford electronics store proprietor.

Eoin McGinnity of Providers Longford said generators had sold out before Storm Éowyn hit as people were wary about power outages following the disruption caused by Storm Darragh in December.

Mr McGinnity said there is a 'supply issue' but he is hopeful they will have more portable electrical items such as camping stoves in the near future.

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"There has been huge demand for power banks for charging phones, torches and camping stoves," he said. "You can't get gas, Calor Gas can't supply them, gas can't be got at the moment. Gas stoves can't be got, they were sold out and even small gas cylinders can't be got."

Mr McGinnity stated suppliers are all sold out as well.

"We got 30 of the old gas Superser heaters in at about 11am last Tuesday and by 4pm they were gone," he said. "We would have sold more of them but they are out of stock with the supplier now until August, they are not coming again and it's the same story everywhere."

Mr McGinnity stated despite the soaring demand for generators people should be wary of the 'damage' they can cause.

"There is something to be wary of as well, people are buying small generators thinking they are going to power a house but they can do more damage than good," he said.

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"They are only suitable really for running a few lights, but if you are trying to run refrigerators, heating systems or televisions from them you are better off staying away from them."

Mr McGinnity warned it could "blow your circuits, it could blow your heating system and TV and they are not suitable for a lot of modern appliances".

"We sold a few of them and we were sold out before the storm came, but I'm reluctant enough to sell them because people think they can do what they can't do," he said. "A good quality generator (can handle it), the ones you might hire, the more expensive ones.

Mr McGinnity described the new heating systems and all the appliances as being 'temperamental enough'.

"If you don't have a generator that is able to supply them properly then you are going to have issues," he said. "It could blow your circuits, it could blow your heating system and TV, they are not suitable for a lot of modern appliances."

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He stated they can power several light bulbs but new heating systems are a different matter.

Asked about gas cookers being powered by generators, he stated people should be wary about gas cookers as well," he said.
"There are a lot of regulations involving gas, you have to get them installed by professionals, registered gas installers."