How to Thrive During Mega Blackouts in Mexico

C. Monte Raynor
4 days ago
3 min read

Updated: 7 hours ago

There’s nothing like living in Mexico to remind you that the modern conveniences we depend on are… well, fragile. If you’ve ever been here during rainy season, you know the power likes to take a vacation. But what about those blackouts that come out of nowhere—no storm, no warning?

That’s exactly what happened this past Friday, September 26.

Scene 1: The Outage Begins

It was about 2:00 PM. We hopped in the car and headed for TGI Friday’s. Immediately, something felt off.

Traffic lights? Dead. Cars? Weaving through intersections. The usual Friday school rush?

Nonexistent—turns out it was a teacher work day.

We get to Friday’s and the staff just shrugged: “Sorry, no power, no food.”

Okay, pivot. Texas Roadhouse at Galerías Mall. Same story—dark, shut down. That’s when it clicked: this wasn’t just a local hiccup. This was a mega blackout.

Scene 2: Searching for Food

Plan C: Wendy’s by the Progreso highway. But traffic was jammed solid at Las Américas. No chance.

So we shifted gears and swung into a gas station with a brand-new Starbucks and MB Chicken.

✅ Jackpot. MB Chicken was up and running. We grabbed plates, and let me tell you—worth it. Crispy, hot, delicious. And just in time too, because the crowd was building fast.

Then it got weirder: our cell phones still had bars, but no data. For the first time ever, mobile internet went down during an outage. That’s when I knew—this wasn’t just an inconvenience. This blackout was stressing systems across the city.

Scene 3: Preparing for the Long Haul

By 3:15, with bellies full, I topped off the gas tank. Pro tip: if the pumps still work, always fill up.

Meanwhile, storm clouds rolled in. Streetlights still dark. That 12-minute drive home stretched to 24 minutes. If you’ve ever driven in Mérida during heavy rain, you know—it’s like ice skating with cars. Slippery roads, accidents everywhere. All I wanted was to get home and hunker down.

Scene 4: Backup Power Plan in Action

Finally home. Power still out. And honestly? I was excited. Time to put my system to the test.

This was the longest unscheduled outage in six years of living here. Usually, blackouts follow rain or tropical storms. This time—no warning. Just darkness.

Here’s how my backup plan kicked in:

VTOMAN 1500W Solar Backup Battery
- Zone 1: Internet router (because let’s be real—Wi-Fi is survival).
- Zone 2: Living room TV + fan.
My daughter watched YouTube while I edited a video.
4 hours in: Time to switch priorities. Refrigerator came online—still cold thanks to keeping the doors closed.
5.5 hours in: Battery hit 51%. I fired up the gas generator, hooked it to the VTOMAN, and just as the generator hummed to life—boom. CFE power was back.

Scene 5: Finishing Strong

Even though the lights returned, I kept the generator running for another 40 minutes. Experience has taught me—never trust the first flicker. Grid power likes to play games.

Once everything was topped off, I reset the system. Ready for the next round.

And here’s the reality check: Mexico’s power grid is fragile. Demand is rising, and outages are only going to become more common. This was already the second big blackout of 2025.

The official story? A sugarcane fire burned through two transmission lines—knocking out power across the entire Yucatán peninsula. One farm fire, millions of people left in the dark.

Final Takeaway

This five-hour outage was the perfect stress test. My system worked exactly as designed—kept us connected, comfortable, and calm.

If you’re living in Mexico or planning your move, you need a backup plan. Not someday. Not “maybe later.” Blackouts here aren’t a question of if. They’re a question of when.

🎬 I put together a full video walkthrough of my entire setup—every piece of gear, how it connects, and how to build your own blackout-ready system.