Most residences use 120 volt electricity from the local grid to provide power for their homes. When that flow of electricity is interrupted because of a natural disaster such as a hurricane, tornado or an earthquake, it can be a major inconvenience to say the least. The flow of electricity can also be interrupted because the local grid is over burdened. Come 2010 there are several models of automobiles getting ready to hit the market that will be plug in hybrids. Hybrid cars are a good thing but will they over burden the grid? There are some towns and some states where that may be possible. So if you want backup power just in case the grid goes off line or there happens to be a black out, what are the options?

First you could purchase a generator. The majority of generators today run off gasoline or diesel fuel. They are not particularly clean, they are noisy but they are effective. Generators range from small gas versions with outlets on the front, to larger diesel versions that are wired into the electrical panel of the house.

The components needed for a backup power system are 12 volt batteries, a battery charger, an inverter, outlets and a power transfer switch. The least expensive way to address the problem is with a product similar to the Power source 400. I am not advocating this product merely using it as an example. It has a 400 watt inverter, a 40 Amp hour battery, five 115 volt outlets and a power transfer switch.  It is designed for smaller appliances that do not draw more than 400 watts like computers, digital TVs and other small appliances. Electric stoves, microwaves or refrigerators will not work with this small of a system but it only costs about $190.00 or so.

So how do they work? First you plug the small appliance into one of the five outlets and then plug the Power source 400 into the wall. When power is shut off at the wall outlet, there would be short delay of a few seconds and then the power transfer switch will kick in. The switch will allow the appliance to draw power from the inverter and ultimately from the unit’s internal battery power. When the power is restored at the wall outlet the transfer switch allows normal power to flow through the unit to the appliance while charging up the 400’s internal battery.  Almost all backup power systems work in the same manner but the difference is in the size of the inverter and the size of the battery bank.

The Power Hub 1800 for example incorporates an 1800 watt inverter with up to four 100 amp hour batteries. This system is prewired and can also be hard wired into the home’s electrical panel.  It can accommodate solar panels with up to a 42 amp input and a wind generator with up to an 80 amp input. It can also be integrated with a generator for times of extended power outages.

There is a backup power system for almost any budget and they can be custom designed if desired. When attempting to connect anything to the house main electrical panel always uses a certified electrician. You will be glad you did.



Thanks to Bob Gambrell for contributing this article to our Generators blog:

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Can you answer LARRY H’s question about Generators?:

I have two sump pump pits each with their own pump, but no power supply other than AC. What’s the best alternative power supply in the event of a power failure?

Emergency Backup Generators

Can you answer krikkku’s question about Generators?:

I am in Bangalore, and having daily power cuts and do not want that to spoil my LCD TV. Is it possible to buy a computer UPS and hook the TV to that? The store person feels it is not possible and that I need to get an inverter but that is not something I want to get just for the TV.

thanks!
However, the shop assistant (Staples, so reasonably knowledgeable) told me that the UPS they are selling for the computer cannot be used for the TV. Are you sure that this will work?

Thanks once again!

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Can you answer Jammy’s question about Generators?:

What are the correct sums?!?!?!

Cheers

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