Backup Power
Posted by Secure_Connection_24@reddit | preppers | View on Reddit | 33 comments
What does everyone use for backup power? I am looking to get something finally. I am prone to hurricanes and coastal flooding, if that needs to be factored in.
GarbageContent823@reddit
I have five different devices to help me:
1) big Powerstation with 1.44 kWh capacity.
2) small solar setup with 240 or 300 watt, which is charging my powerstations and batteries.
3) 2 small portable Powerstations to power freezer, fridge, fans, TV...
4) big quiet pedal generator (100W+ Power production per hour) if there is no sun or solar fails or for deep winter
5) 3 metal hand crankers for assistance!
Subject-Loss-9120@reddit
I'd for sure get a dual fuel gas generator with propane. Propane stores for like 20+ years and a couple cans of gas with fuel stabilizer is always good to have on hand (wife "forgets" to gill the car often).
I also recommend a solar generator setup, I'm running a Bluetti ac200max with 2 b230 expansion batteries for about 6,100 watt hours. Often there are sales on bluetti products and I haven't been let down once. The b230 is on sale right now for $1,099 for 2048 watts.
Specialist_Loan8666@reddit
Just grabbed bluetti ac180 for 499 on amazon
Virtual-Feature-9747@reddit
Go Team Bluetti! I have an AC500 and I bought an AC180 for my daughter.
Specialist_Loan8666@reddit
Does the ac500 have ability to have extra battery add ons. Don’t think the 180 can
Eredani@reddit
Yep. In fact, the AC500 is just an inverter. You need to have at least one B300 or B300S battery. Each one is 3kW. I have two, but you can go up to six. If that is not enough, you can run two AC500 units together for split phase 240V power. That's a total of 12 battery units, over 36,000 kW.
I also have six PV350 solar panels. None of this is cheap!
Specialist_Loan8666@reddit
Ahh ok. Thanks. Yea probably $10,000+
Subject-Loss-9120@reddit
That's an amazing price, great find
Specialist_Loan8666@reddit
Yea been eyeing it for a week or so. Price just dropped $50 this morning so I pulled the trigger
Virtual-Feature-9747@reddit
If it's just hurricane prep to keep a fridge running then I would say get a small dual fuel inverter generator.
tempest1523@reddit
Large 12000 watt generator with interlock to connect to house for long outages during the day
2000 watt generator for short outages, and to supplement my solar storage, this is also very quiet so good for not bothering the neighbors in evening hours
10,000 watts of solar batteries / inverter connected. Can use this in an immediate outage. When it’s raining, storming and dark… don’t have to go outside to the shed, just roll the cart of batteries out. This is the solution for at night so you aren’t running a generator bothering neighbors or exposing your position
1000 watts of solar panels. Not enough to run the whole house all day but good supply during the day in peak hours.
It’s good to vary your tools, so you can choose the right one based on how long the outage will occur, what’s the weather like at the time. I don’t want to go out in the rain for a generator, nor do I want to lug out my large generator for a temporary outage… but my solar generator… perfect. Just roll it out and I’m good until the next day as long as I’m not needing A/C.
YardFudge@reddit
Wrt power, you’ll want diversity… portable solar, small portable inverter gas gen, AND a large (perhaps whole house) solar and/or propane or NG gen. - Start with the small inverter gen for most needs, fridge, freezer. Honda is top, Wen is great value. Hardest part is to buy, preserve, rotate annually ample fuel. Consumer Reports and https://generatorbible.com/ have good reviews. Practice using safely & securely, including a deep ground. - For solar, start small. https://theprepared.com/gear/reviews/portable-solar-chargers/. Come back later for a 100-10,000W system, DIY or pro-installed. If DIY, start small by wiring a few 100W panels, battery, controller, and inverter. - Batteries, by far, are the most expensive part. If you can shift loads to sunny days, you can save $$$. This includes those so-called ‘solar generators’ - The large solar or gen will require an electrician if you want to power household outlets. Start by creating a spreadsheet of all the devices you’ll want to run with it, both peak and stable Watts & how long each must run per day. Get several site inspections & detailed quotes from installers. - These combined give you redundancy and efficiency.
user197821@reddit
Solar generator is the way
mro2352@reddit
You will want to separate your cooking and power. Cooking takes a TON of energy so you won’t be able to use electricity to cook without spending a ton of money. As to other uses for power you have to decide if you keep all of your refrigerators or similar running as if nothing has changed or if you are going to condense things into a single deep freezer. A single deep freezer will take less power. This decision will inform, along with your budget, if you use solar generator/battery backups and their sizes or if you are using a more traditional ICE generator. If you use solar you need enough solar collection. Keep in mind the wattage is the max wattage collection and it rarely is fully producing. If you use gas or propane system you will need to keep fuel on hand which has its own considerations. As to my setup, I have an ecoflow delta 2. Aprox 1kwH for charging phones, flashlights, batteries etc. As to cooking I have both a gas and a propane gas stove. If I think that the emergency will be longer than the freezer will take to thaw I will pressure can the meat.
Sad-Establishment-41@reddit
A rocket stove in the backyard works great for cooking
mro2352@reddit
If you got space, absolutely. I’ll be getting one when I move to a house. I’m in an appartment right now so it’s kinda hard to use something like that.
Sad-Establishment-41@reddit
Space and a source of firewood. After the Texas storms there's so much of the stuff around though.
They're easy to improvise, a stack of bricks can serve well. If you've got a welder it's worth making one with a sharp angle for the feed to work by gravity most of the time
mro2352@reddit
From what my research showed alcohol is good only for boiling water. That isn’t a shot at it. It has its own niche but I’d be using one if I kept primarily dehydrated food but most of my long term stuff is rice, beans, lentils, that kind of thing.
Sad-Establishment-41@reddit
Yeah, a propane stove would definitely be preferable. The advantage of the alcohol stove is how easy it is to improvise in a time of need
Enigma_xplorer@reddit
Depends on your situation but a regular old gas generator would be your best bet. If you don't really *need* power to get by and just need to keep things like your cell phone and flashlight batteries charged you could probably get by with an adapter for your car or a small solar generator (assuming you have enough sunlight).
Ryan_e3p@reddit
Solar and generators.
Sad-Establishment-41@reddit
I've got a 100 watt panel and a deep cycle battery for running my CPAP and charging phones during power outages. Pretty cheap all things considering and covers the most important things I have. Apnea really sucks without electricity
TheSensiblePrepper@reddit
I would recommend you check my recent post about preparing for a Power Outage.
reddog093@reddit
For me, it's mainly a dual-fuel, portable generator. It's mostly for winter and is enough to handle my oil heat system. That plugs into my house via a transfer switch and can run my oil heat, well pump and lighting upstairs.
I don't need to rely on it for non-winter outages that are less than a day. Longer than that and I'd want it for my well pump.
I can run my refrigerator and an induction cooktop off batteries for a few days. If I can condense food down to my small 12V refrigerator, I can keep that cool indefinitely with solar.
deltronethirty@reddit
Generators are tax-free in FL until Sunday.. the 7th... welp.
sttmvp@reddit
Whole house generator, solar power and a small generator
Playamonkey@reddit
This is my set up too. I'm in Baja Sur, MX in Hurricane territory. It covers it all for me. I will add 2 things. My Solar panels recharge a Solar Generator (Big Battery). It will keep me working on line all day and into the night for fans, etc., as long at my 3 levels of internet hold up. After about 6 hours of outage, my Honda EU2000 will take over from there and keep my fridge going as well as all the work gear and some fans, etc. Then I have a Dual Fuel 9000/7000 w Honda (Loud as hell) for those times when we need AC all day and night and I need to run my water pump (7000 Liter, underground tank). I run it on Propane only (500 Gallon LP Tank), as Gasoline in MX spoils fast. I always run my Honda to almost empty and use fresh gas only.
newarkdanny@reddit
Gas generator and power stations
intruderTroy@reddit
I have 12v power running through my home. It's so convenient when power goes out. And cheap to power.
12v fridge 12v heat pad 12v lights Literally 12v everything
eternalmortal@reddit
The answer, as is often the case, is that it depends.
Are you in a standalone house or apartment? What are you looking to power, and for how long? Do you have a space that could fit solar panels? Do you have an outdoor space for a gas/propane generator?
Secure_Connection_24@reddit (OP)
I am in a house and I am just looking to power essentials like fridge, some lights, my oven is gas.
silasmoeckel@reddit
Solar/battery/gen that all can work together.
The battery part will affect your generator sizing as in you don't need a big one general to cover average power use. Still nice to have as to redundancy.
davidm2232@reddit
Mep802a