Why should we consider a backup solar power system? Not only have we seen how sudden power failures have crippled entire cities, but regions and even entire states. Everyone at one time or another has experienced how an unexpected power failure has interrupted the simplest of daily tasks. Suddenly the power goes out and we realize how much we depend on electricity and don’t ever think about it until it’s not available. Our society uses electricity to power nearly every aspect of our lives, from heating and cooling to basic communication with our family, friends, and associates. It is becoming ever more imperative that we have backup or reserve power for when the inevitable happens and a backup solar power system can supply this need with continuous and free source of power for as long as we need it.

When there is a sustained period of power loss, expected or unexpected, the most common backup power is supplied by generators or invertors. Commonly, these supply enough power to make things more convenient and a bit more comfortable, but they do not supply enough power to operate all the appliances and devices, or if they do, not for long. Normally these items are sufficient for up to eight hours. You may have to limit the times of operating your backup power to be able to last for the duration of the power failure.

For instance, after a hurricane you know to be prepared for extended power outages. We can expect the power to be out for up to a week, even in minimally damaged areas. If your household is running off a gasoline generator, you will have to have a supply of gasoline on hand to operate the generator. And quite possibly your generator is only powerful enough to operate the bare essentials of your household, such as refrigerator and lights, but not climate control.

There are times when there are deaths that occur due to power failures. Older people accustomed to air conditioning are unable to regulate their body to endure extreme heat. Or those that depend on electricity to operate in home life support systems. These people generally are unable to do the maintenance required to keep a gasoline generator operating during prolonged power outages. Not only that, but people have died from incorrect installation of a generator or carbon monoxide poisoning from improper ventilation or fire.

A backup solar power system could be your answer for a safe, efficient, and unending power supply as long as necessary. As long as the system is installed correctly, it can supply all of your power needs without interruption. Think of the security and convenience of reliable and safe power supply whenever you need it. Backup solar power is the obvious choice for the safest and reliable supply of power when the expected or unexpected power failure occurs. Much safer and little to no maintenance makes a backup solar power system the most reliable and obvious choice for your electricity backup plan.



Thanks to Gregg Hall for contributing this article to our Generators blog:

Standby Electrical Power

Can you answer savermom’s question about Generators?:

I live in a very windy place and would like to consider a wind generator - I don’t know how to figure out what output I would need - my electric usage monthly varies from 800KWh in winter to 2400KWh in summer.

Solar Powered Generators

When I think of portable generators, I think of something that can generate energy in an emergency or at a powerless location (up in the mountains), that can be carried. Well, with a little research, it didn’t take me long to discover that there is a lot more to portable generators, and that they can be divided into three different styles. They are:



Recreational

Emergency

Professional



So, lets take a look at each of these categories so that you can find the best portable generator for your personal needs.

Recreational Portable Generators

Now, I did kind of have it right, portable generators allow you to take the convenience of home with you no matter where you go. But you also have to be careful. There is nothing worse than being at a remote campground and having somebody pull up, set up their tent and then start their noisy generator so they can watch a movie. It takes the peace out of being one with nature. When in the outdoors, stick to a recreational generator. They are typically small with low wattage and do not make as much noise as an emergency or professional generator.

The most common sizes that a recreational generator comes in is 1000 watts and 2000 watts. The smaller of the two is good for running only one or two appliances at a time, the larger one will usually allow you to run multiple appliances simultaneously. But always be aware of how much wattage each appliance takes, they should all have a plate on the back letting you know their wattage, that way you can unplug and plug in appliances as needed without overloading your generator.

Emergency Portable Generators

The modern world is very dependent on electricity, and though it can be a fun family evening sitting around in the dark with only candlelight or a fireplace, lack of power can cause some real problems. Security systems can fail, food can spoil, basements can flood, and if you live in the country on your own well, you typically lose your water along with the power. These can be real problems if power is out for an extended period of time. To solve these problems, many people use portable generators as an emergency back up, and your little recreational generator will not do the trick!

Now, to know how much power you need if your power goes out, you can figure it the long way by looking at every appliance needed and tallying up the total wattage, or you can use a general rule of thumb.

Medium portable generators (30000 - 6000 watts) will allow you to power multiple appliances; however, any appliance that has a motor (fridge, furnace, sump pump, freezer) takes more power and you would not want to run two of these at the same time on this small of a generator. You would have to rotate the major appliances that you need to run. So, the cost is less, but it takes more effort to keep things going.

If you want more power, you can move up to the 7000 - 9000 watt range, this will allow you to power multiple rooms or a couple of larger, motorized appliances at one. But even this size is not enough if you want to run an air conditioner.

If you want central AC, you have to get the extra large portable generators that are 10,000+ watts. These will restore power to most of your house, assuming your home is not very large. But if you are running a central air conditioner, check the amount of energy that your AC needs to make sure that you get a generator that is big enough.

Professional Generators

These portable generators are typically used on a job site, and the sizing is basically the same as for emergency generators. You have to consider how big the job is, and how much equipment and tools you need the generator to power. Professional generators are typically a bit beefier than their home emergency counter parts, they are designed to hold up under rougher conditions.

Personally, when in the outdoors, I do not need to power a coffee maker, TV or mini fridge. But having been in many black outs, I do like the idea of the emergency portable generators. Especially having lived in the country and know what it is like to have to melt snow on a wood burning stove just to flush a toilet! But how about you, do you have any need for a portable generator?



Thanks to MJ Marks for contributing this article to our Generators blog:

Wind Powered Generators

Can you answer Tyler M’s question about Generators?:

I have a gas generator and I want it hooked up to the house so we can have heat and air conditioning and electricity.

Steam Powered Electric Generators

Can you answer Lemuel P’s question about Generators?:

What are the different types of generators used to produce electricity? We were told that there are 6 types of them. Please answer, i need it ASAP! Thank you very much.

Backup Power Supplies