Geoscience Reference
In-Depth Information
ers and stoves will still operate, though some may need a match to light the burners if their
flame igniters are electric. When the power goes off for more than a few hours, generators can
provide short-term, low-cost backup power that will help keep your lights on, your furnace go-
ing, and prevent the food in your freezer from rotting. Generators are noisy, smelly, inefficient,
and require regular maintenance, including full rebuilds after surprisingly low numbers of
hours in use, but they sure do come in handy when the power goes out!
Installing a backup renewable energy system is a terrific idea, but they can be quite pricey.
They are quiet, clean, and environmentally friendly. Most modern renewable energy systems
operate seamlessly with little maintenance, and keep on running year after year. Large-scale
off-grid systems that are sized to operate an entire large home strictly on renewable energy typ-
ically include a large backup battery storage bank, and tend to be quite expensive. Renewable
energy systems with large battery banks run in the range of $25,000 to $100,000. Smaller, more
affordable scaled-down systems can provide a backup source of electricity that will make a
huge difference during extended blackouts, though you won't be able to run all of your appli-
ances at the same time, like you can when the grid is operating. For example, I have a single
300-watt solar panel mounted on my 21-foot travel trailer that keeps a couple of heavy-duty
six-volt golf-cart batteries charged. During sunny weather, this system provides enough power
to operate a few lights, my laptop, a stereo, and the fan on my trailer's propane furnace, but
when skies are cloudy it needs a couple of hours of recharging from my small generator every
day or two.
Figure 4-6
shows a portable solar panel with a built in battery backup power supply
and an inverter to run basic low power 110 VAC appliances, such as computers, a few lights, a
refrigerator, etc.
