Comments on: How to Handle Power Grid Failure

By: Glenn Berry

Glenn Berry — Thu, 21 Mar 2019 13:08:56 +0000

In reply to Stephen Hope. We are looking at getting a new higher efficiency furnace with a variable speed fan. If/when we do that, I'll see if I can get the HVAC contractor to do something to make it relatively easy to have the furnace get it's power from one of the SPS inverters. In my mind, it would be a switch, and a long wire that would end in a plug near the SPS outlet. The DeWalt Portable Power Station could probably run the fan for the water heater for a decent amount of time.

By: Stephen Hope

Stephen Hope — Thu, 21 Mar 2019 04:20:02 +0000

How much electric power do you actually need to keep your furnace and water heater going? If it is just fans and pilot lights, maybe you can set up UPS for them as a stopgap until you get a better system going. Though they are probably hardwired into your house, so that be harder than it sounds.

By: Glenn Berry

Glenn Berry — Wed, 20 Mar 2019 18:07:16 +0000

In reply to Kirk Wood.

Are you talking a wood burning stove, perhaps using pellets? Or maybe a propane or natural gas heater?

If I have enough solar PV electric production, either normally, or using the inverter SPS circuits when the public grid is down, I would be fine during daylight hours. My solar PV system is actually large enough to power the entire house during normal operation, with plenty of reserve.

If I have enough electric storage, I would be fine regardless of whether the public grid was up or not. Tesla Powerwalls are an elegant, if expensive way to get a decent amount of electrical storage. We do have three Simplifire LED fireplaces that also have a heating function. I could run at least one of those from the SPS during the day with my current setup.

By: Kirk Wood

Kirk Wood — Wed, 20 Mar 2019 17:28:25 +0000

I totally get your preference for renewable energy and applaud it. Having said that, I would seriously suggest that you investigate non-electric options for heat. The truth is that such can reduce the load on your backup and keep the house at a livable temperature.

By: Glenn Berry

Glenn Berry — Mon, 18 Mar 2019 15:38:34 +0000

In reply to Dino. Who said anything about using gasoline powered cars as power generators? I have a Tesla Model 3 that has a 75kWh battery. It would nice to be able to pull electricity from that in an emergency. Barring that, I will add some incremental UPS capacity, and then look into a better long-term solution. The leading contenders are a natural gas-powered whole house generator, and some Tesla Powerwalls to store enough electricity to make it 2-3 days with the public electrical grid being down.

By: Dino

Dino — Mon, 18 Mar 2019 15:31:13 +0000

Gasoline Engine Cars are probably the worst possible power Generators around. Haven’t you ever seen how voltage can spike during load changes of the car? You’d still need a lot of line conditioning, too. I’d rather go with either more / higher capacity USVs (I have an APC 6kW USV, used they’re not that expensive) or Ship / Submarine Batteries. Of course you still have to deal with the required environmental conditions but my guess would be you can get some good Ship / Submarine Batteries rather easily. Asides that there’s dedicated “Renewable Energy Applications Storage” Batteries available specifically for PV Systems and such.

A bit more risky would be creating and storing Hydrogen, risky as in you really do not want to light a fire nearby, you will aswell lose some of your stored Hydrogen over time again but when energy is available limitless, this shouldn’t count.

I know it’s easy for me to say these things – none of which I need myself – but I’m flabbergasted that in the land of power being provided “OTA” and the free where quite less restrictions apply to buiding things, this is out of creative peoples’ mind.

By: Glenn Berry

Glenn Berry — Sun, 17 Mar 2019 20:36:53 +0000

In reply to MP. There is no single "screed" to share. IREA includes a four page newsletter with their monthly bill. For a long time (at least from 2000-2016) many of their newsletters had editorials about how renewable energy was too expensive, or how it was not as reliable as fossil fuel power generation. I think there was some political motivation behind this, and some economic motivation behind it (because IREA owns a big chunk of the Comanche 3 coal plant).

By: MP

MP — Sun, 17 Mar 2019 19:56:41 +0000

Would you mind sharing IREAs “screed”?

Dual fuel generator is also an option – no need to store gas/diesel. Just hook up to the propane tank and you are good to go :).

Also, some AGM batteries for storage (with an inverter), but I am sure you knew that already.

By: Glenn Berry

Glenn Berry — Sat, 16 Mar 2019 16:46:31 +0000

In reply to Matt. It is especially ironic that I can't pull power out of my Tesla. It has a 75kWh battery.

By: Matt

Matt — Sat, 16 Mar 2019 14:34:22 +0000

I often consider a generator, but always consider the irony that I already have a gas engine in my car. Would love an easy way to turn it into a power plant and connect it to my house in emergencies.