Layering Your Backup Power Strategy

[@AD6DMDennis]

I've found that no matter how much we talk about this stuff, some minds are simply not strategic in nature and will never be able to plan layered fallbacks like this. Then it falls upon us who ARE strategic to support more than only ourselves.

[@appalachianmagic6370]

Truth be told

[@Siskiyous6]

I think it is a real issue that planning is done in a vacuum. I never planned prepping. I just went boondock camping and hunting, and ended up with practiced solutions.

[@appalachianmagic6370]

This issue came up in Helene - the roads were out, but as my wife will tell you, she never knew it for a week how bad it was. We used a three teir power system I had built years ago - including a whole house tie in that ran everything but the water heater. She did ask, "What if this fails?" and was suprised to learn we had alternate and then contingency generation - including an emergency option.

[@KM4ACK]

Nice! Sounds like you have a well thought out plan

[@appalachianmagic6370]

@@KM4ACK We were able to supply the community with water / showers / washing - so it worked out for more than just us. I did not run any mixed fuel generators at night because of many reason. We only used pre-charged solar power generators at night. You are correct on solar - even with good panels, it was difficult to rely on it - used the generators to power up the solar generators/batteries.

[@ynotjf]

Nicely Presented.. This mimics my own emergency planning that will utilize my 5000w dual fuel generator 5 hours per day. During that 5 hours I will charge 2x 280ah storage batteries that power my furnace, refrigerators and vital electronics 24/7 (24hours per recharge) and also during that 5 hours we will perform food prep utilizing whatever kitchen electronics are necessary off generator power. Recharging the storage batteries is essential and I supplement the generator recharge with solar panels that provide varying amounts of recharge capability. Short term I use propane to power the generator but long term will require gasoline storage and my generator burns about 1 gallon in a 5 hour period so 20 days of this emergency plan requires 20gallon of gasoline storage, fortunately our vehicles also run on gas so we can siphon our tanks if necessary. We try to be prepared for a six month SHTF scenario but our generator fuel storage is limited.

[@donaldsmith3048]

I live in Florida and have gone through many storms. I got my generator in 2004 when we got hit by 2 hurricanes in one month! Home depo was bringing in generators as fast as they could. But we didn't get much choice. We stood in line when we got to the front of the line they hat one on a flat cart you took what they had! Most were getting the 5550W. It is a good one. I ran most of my house NOT central AC! Just a small window unit to have a cool place. 24 hours on less than 10 gal. Some people had trouble with them because they didn't read the book! And you said nothing about having OIL for them! Some generators say to change the oil every 25 hours of run time. They don't have an oil filter. The ones that have oil filter can go longer but you need to change the oil and filter as the book said! You can take a new generator and junk it in a short time if you don't change the oil. Some didn't even check the oil! People were taking them back because the stopped running after 3 or 4 days, LOW OIL CUT OFF stopped them from running! When you get a generator read the book! get a lot of oil and filters if it needs them, also air filters! Sorry this is long, but if it keeps your generator running when it is needed, it is worth the time to read it!! 73 W4DES

[@bayoubees9447]

Great video. Living near the Gulf Coast we have to be ready. I've learned a long time ago that 3 is 1 and 1 is none when it comes to being prepared. I have and maintain 3 generators - one propane and 2 gas units. My small unit will idle down when there is a low load and is very efficient. I also have a small Geo Pro camper with 12 volt systems and solar power that will be used for cooking and sleeping. This year I will be increasing my 12 volt power storage, I have some but another will just give us more options. The longest we went without water or power was 21 days due to Hurricane Andrew years ago. 73 KI5IMV.

[@KM4ACK]

Thanks! I have an E-Pro, sister company to the Geo-Pro. Love that RV.

[@rickgilbrt]

I've gone for 4+ days without power during a snow/ice storm. Didn't have a generator but it was cold enough to keep cold foods cold either in the gas grill or a box on the deck. Had a small direct vent fireplace to keep us reasonably warm. After 4 days, we went across town to a friend's house to shower. On the way home, I almost stopped at Lowe's to buy an overpriced generator, but had second thoughts. Lucky. Lights were back on in the neighborhood when we got home.

[@N0LSD]

Hurricane Helene has, in many respects, become a case study on preparedness - primarily because the population impacted in Western North Carolina are already, to a certain extent, preparedness-minded people. One thing I'll note here, with regard to whole-house solar: there was a big push in my area for people to install solar panels on their homes -- with discounts and financing available. The critical missing piece is that the subsidies cover the solar panels and installation, and even a transfer switch. What it doesn't cover is the whole-house battery storage capability. So, what one many end up getting is a solar panel system on the house that, yes, offsets some of the grid-provided power utilized; but doesn't provide any sort of battery storage as backup in the event of a power outage. The reason for pointing this out is that, if someone is thinking of taking advantage of those discounts and subsidies to install solar on one's home, maybe consider saving up for a number of months, and spend the coin on installing battery storage when those solar panels go up on one's house. The other idea I'd like to highlight is the issue of utilization of gas/propane generators to charge batteries, versus running items directly from the generator. Ultimately, what we probably want to do is what Jason describes here: use the generator to charge batteries, and run stuff off batteries. This method saves gasoline/propane, which (if Helene is indicative) helps a great deal. Gasoline isn't readily stored -- it's bulky, requires stabilization, and presents a safety issue. However, it may be the case that it's more economical over a 10-20...maybe even month-long power outage - to take the chance that one's gasoline storage strategy may be less expensive than purchasing additional battery storage to offset running the generator most of the day. ...but I doubt it. Even at 1-gallon per day, storing 30 gallons of gasoline in a residential home is...sketchy. In an apartment? --Impossible. One issue that may colour one's decision-making on this topic is the issue of OPSEC: generators make noise, which can be noted by malign actors - and that generator becomes the target of theft - placing an additional burden of security on the table. It is impossible to make a blanket statement on this, as there are many variables; but one thing is certain: building toward a system that isn't reliant upon running a generator 24/7 is going to put one in a better position *during* a disaster: the up-front cost is going to be greater, but that is offset by not being worried about where the next days' gasoline/propane is going to come from, and is much easier on the mind in terms of physical security for one's equipment and family. The other thing I'd note here, that maybe gets overlooked: if there is medical equipment necessary to sustain an individual in the home during a power outage, or if climate control is more of a medical issue, versus a 'comfort' issue; then we need to lean into up-scaling our power storage and generation to take these things into account. Even a cursory examination of high-impact hurricanes -- Katrina, Helene, Maria -- all these storms impacted the disabled, elderly, and frail-of-health, disproportionately when compared to the general population. This is only partially captured with a scenario like Helene, but a more instructive case study might be something like the Christmas Blizzard of 2022 in Buffalo, NY. During this event, emergency services and 911 dispatch were completely offline because the roads all had multiple feet of snow drifts on them; but also because the storm itself presented white-out conditions to drivers, making it deadly to be out on the roads. We're talking about *feet* of snowfall, whipped around in hurricane-force winds. Multiple people died sheltering in their vehicles; people literally died walking on the street due to hypothermia, exposure, and exhaustion. In this type of scenario, timely restoration of power outages is not going to occur until the roads become passable again - which may be days. It is impossible to get crews *and* the necessary equipment to the sites where power restoration work needs to be done when every road is covered in *feet* of snow. So...many of us may be caring for individuals in our homes. If there are pieces of home health equipment that not only need to be powered, but that power has to be present at very specific, certain times of the day, then this becomes a requirement that needs to be fulfilled when it comes to discussing one's Grid-Down power strategy. Oxygen concentrators, ventilators, CPAP/BiPAP machines, medication nebulizers -- all key pieces of equipment in home health -- are at once high-wattage pieces of equipment and also utterly non-negotiable in terms of a power budget in a disaster.

[@aa3konthego]

Defense in depth! Backups to backups.

[@TheTechyDeacon]

You can get well pumps that run on 24V or 48V DC. Might be an option for some folks.

[@Scaliad]

I have one of my two wells on solar direct, Chinese WPS 4" 750W 48v running off 1200W panels. Has been running for 4 years now, but I have a new one in backup, just in case. My 2nd well has a 1.5hp Franklin motor on a Grunfos head that will run from my 15kW battery bank through my Magnum MS4448PAE inverter even when/after it occasionally shuts down my microinverters due to surge; a situation I am looking to remedy with a Schneider soft start, if I can ever get smart enough to understand how to wire it...😢

[@ronlongwellphoto]

Thanks, Jason! I've been going down the generator rabbit hole myself recently, trying to figure out what I need. This is helpful.

[@Humdinger1951]

I have several special friends with special needs that still live at home, and they’re always on my mind in my prepping. Thanks and I enjoyed your update. I too only have a 20 amp charger but I’m looking at getting a 40 or better encourage me to look further.

[@LeeMcc_KI5YPR]

During the Feb 2021 Texas Icepocalypse, my public water supply shut off. I had filled a number of containers in preparation, so that worked. I was one of the few lucky ones who kept power the whole time, which was good, because I only had a gallon or so of gas.

[@tomessary4099]

Wonderful Video!! Think about a balance of gas/propane, solar and wind! Wind has been left out of most recent emergency power “stories”. Sun and wind are mostly on while the other is off … so to speak! A lesson learned long ago with gas/propane generators - as soon as an emergency starts - begin a plan to get more fuel! This is esp. true if you do not have 100’s of gallons of fuel on hand! Have oil change and tools and spares on hand and stored safely! Having a plan to use the battery solutions while you are changing oil and other maintenance! Some gennys need an oil change after 24-50 hours run time!!!!!! Perfect practice makes perfect! Make a plan and work the plan! 73 de Ad5Zo

[@johnk23705]

One of the best plans I have seen on the tube ! I have almost the same set up. In addition to my main and smaller back up solar system, I have several smaller solar battery charging systems that can be hooked to a single 100 or 200 watt panel to charge an individual battery. This allows me to use the generator less, devote more power from my main systems into their battery banks and provides back up. I have back up charge controllers and inverters in faraday cages as well as my smaller systems. I also have many smaller fold out panels (20 to 60 watts) that can charge an individual radio (or other smaller item) via the USB on the panel and radios. This allows me to charge in the field along with my portable battery box that has a full charging system built in. I use the all in one 100AH batteries as well as cell packs built from individual cells and a BMS that range from 200 Ah to 800 Ah. Three different size generators rounds out my system. As you said, have lots of panels and use a heavy enough gauge wire from the panels to the charge controllers to avoid losses in the wire. Don't exceed the maximum voltage from the panels into your charge controller (you usually reach max voltage before max amperage). For more charging amperage at the same voltage, wire extra panels into a parallel- series configuration. Great video, thank you for sharing !

[@bwilson948]

My method here in the mountains was to use the generator to charge batteries I was using 2 48 volt 304 ah batteries which did not need to be recharged for 11 days with a very restrictive usage plan. My plan was to run my home with 28 kilowatts for our normal day and use our 1000 watts of flex solar panels to to recharge. New plan get battery chargers up to 1/2 the generators output fuel was a problem, this would have lowered our fuel usage a lot. The last big problem was comms using bottles of frozen water to get scotts has to go away listening now on a G90 with j-pole these were my first internet contact after reading email and text and will be licensed soon.

[@slik560]

Excellent info. An experience based approach. 👍

[@uwayzofoster4753]

This was an excellent video! This is exactly what I was looking for being that I don’t have any experience with generators. I may need to save up to purchase a dual fuel generator and use propane to charge up my power station. The information about the 40 amps to charge a 100 amp hour LifePo4 battery is invaluable. 🙏 Thank you!!!

[@TangoOscarMikeN3WS]

Great video. A multi tiered system is smart. I'm thinking about getting a second inverter as a backup as it is the key component of my system. With generators you have to be mindful that if you aren't drawing power to shut them off. People let them run even when there isn't much draw because it is convenient. Using a generator to charge a battery bank and then run everything off the battery bank/inverter offers that convenience and might be a more efficient use of your fuel. At least that is my thought.

[@charlierumsfeld6626]

Good talk. Sump pumps need power. Probably low consumption on the entire scale of what is needed but it has to cycle to keep ground water at bay.

[@jamesalles139]

Yes, at my previous residence (rental) I had two sump pumps that needed to be powered 24x7 to protect the stockpile in the basement. That necessitated 2000 watts of generator capacity. Ground water was high because the storm was wet.

[@KN4RAY]

In 2011, we had a week-long power outage due to a series of tornadic storms. I run a 2000-watt Honda inverter generator converted to propane. I also have four 180-watt solar panels to recharge a Bluetti 2000-watt power station. I would like to eventually pick up a few more panels and some bigger batteries. I mix the generator and bluetti while alternating the fridge and freezer units. Small 24 and 12 amp hour LiFePO4 batteries cover my coms system. My previous experience was in 1992, surviving over 3 months while they rebuilt the power grin in south Miami-Dade County. We had a small Coleman rattletrap generator back then. Nothing like camping in your home for months of South Florida summer. A supply of oil, spark plugs, and filters(if required) is also essential. Great video.

[@hazer72]

Whole house generators are pricey but they last forever and usually have extended warranties available. We have a 12 year old Generac that had the engine replaced under warranty a few years ago. Tests itself weekly too. We have a gas backup, but I only start it when I think about it and sometimes it's a struggle. Great vid though! I need to get some solar in case both my genies fail. 73!

[@NYHalfassprepper]

Generac has succombed to corporate greed. I don't recommend them anymore. Too much finicky stuff to break on them. Kohler and Cummins are better options if I had to buy one today.

[@bigharrybushcraft8364]

Thank you for the great information. After Helene I had my two smaller generators lent to neighbors so had to strategize using my big one not knowing when fuel would be available or I'd be able to get to it. Running all the heavy load items and charging several battery banks I was only running at about 28% load so it wasn't optimum. At some points I actually used the fast charging banks to charge the slower ones. A couple items that were amazing to note...6 pack of small cheap solar motion security lights ($35ish). Put 3 through the house at night to lessen lantern type usage and this ensures they have 2 days of sun to charge fully. Also, my 50,000 mAh USB bank was great for charging my tablet, phones, radios, weapon lights, etc. on the nightstand without having to move or cord off of a big bank. They are in a sweet spot price range now but you need to be careful of them advertising "fast charging" in reference to output and not input. Thanks again and be safe.

[@george564]

Hi. If I may suggest when generator shopping, keep in mind that you should be seeking "pure sine ( aka inverter) "generators if you want to power anything that has electronics, the less expensive "modified sinewave" types have too dirty of a signal and typically will not power your electronics.

[@jimbaggett1233]

You pretty much described my way of handling power outages since most are short term, Helene did offer some challenges though. I'm located in SC about 30 miles south of the hard hit NC area and our area experienced electrical outages of 3 to 10 days. My power was only out for about 4 days but my neighbor and daughter were without power for about 8 days. I have seven 100ah Lifepo4 batteries and several inverters ranging from 500 to 2000 watts, 2 of the small Bluetti AC2A's and a power station I put together myself. We have 2 refrigerators and a full size fridge, fortunately all of them seem very efficient as each will run at for 24 to 30 hours with a single 100AH battery and a 1000 watt inverter. I use one of the Bluetti's to run my network and internet gear which only consumes about 60 watts and the other powers my TV which uses about 100 watts. if power is out for more than 2 hours I hook a 100 ah battery to each of the Bluetti's using the solar inlet with an xt60 connector and they constantly stay charged to full. When the batteries need recharged I use a small 1000 watt inverter generator (very quiet) and a 30 amp Victron charger, I can recharge one battery in about 3 hours and recharge 2 batteries on 1/2 gallon of gas. It's a little bit of work but since I have spare batteries I only have to run the generator about 3 hours a day and can get by with keeping very little gas on hand. I also have 400 watts of solar if needed but generally just use the generator.

[@robertkubrick3738]

I agree that you should have two generators at least. One that will run everything except heating water, a well pump or cooking with electricity and a larger one that can handle those power intensive functions on brief as needed basis. You just made me think of an idea. I need a panel with all the power hungry functions which would allow shedding the continuous functions and it really wouldn't take that big of a generator to power the large loads one at a time. The well pump and simple resistive loads may not even need a pure sine wave power supply.

[@johnmal5975]

Great video lots of great advice. I was out of power for a week with milton. I have 5 pecron portable power stations and 2 expandable batterys and 1800 w's of solar panels and a champion dual fuel. The solar was enough to keep me going for the week but I will invest in more solar this winter. I have been running my fridge and chest freezers 24/7 for over a year now. I let my neighbor use the champion they are great generators. My advice is to buy slowly over time because I could never afford what I have now in one purchase. Your first purchase should be the dual fuel generator then buy solar to extend its run time until you no longer need it consistently. I am slowly taking my home off grid as much as I can. The more solar I get the more comfortable I live when these storms hit or whatever else happens.

[@kevinm234]

My journey started with being a backpacker both warm and winter seasons. I still have all that equipment for both me and my wife. We have also spent a lot of time Boondocking in our RVs and collected all that equipment. Now we have installed 18000 watts of battery backup in the house and 5400 watts/hour of solar and three trifuel generators along with big buddy heaters and a large stockpile of fuels. The true test of how prepared you are is in how many levels of backup you actually have. Our kids grew up backpacking and are very self reliant but know that if all goes to S#1t we have a place for them and our grandkids.

[@aa3konthego]

Not only powering a well pump you have to conside a septic system pump. Also those solar installations need commercial power to sync the inverters to.

[@kaboom4679]

Microinverter systems need grid power to output , however , not all solar installs utilize microinverters . Systems utilizing integrated chargers and inverters , such as AIOs ( all in ones ) , hybrid inverters , and , off grid inverters , do NOT require grid power to operate . Microinverters are useless for back up power , unless you want to jump through hoops to trick them into thinking that the AC you are feeding them IS the grid . This is doable , just not very convenient or expedient .

[@robertmeyer4744]

Great video. For us in cold climate we have to think about back up heating source like a diesel heater or pellet stove. Some have basements so back up sump pumps are great to have. home Depot has battery one. Not too hard to install. I has a gasoline trash pump as well. I have a diesel gen set as well. Earthquakes can cut power and natural gas as well. as well as water . I am in NY so our biggest threat is storms like blizzard or left over hurricane . or high winds . Tornadoes are rare but we do get them like last summer. 73

[@KenNORTHPLAINSOR]

One thing I have found, that backup for the backup, pays off. I have a little 2000w inverter generator that I can move to the point of need. It is the backup for the 10kw generator that will run the house with the exception of the furnace. It can run 11hrs on a gallon of gas. Remember, your 2k generator is 2k running on Gasoline. Much less power on propane, and WAY less power on natural gas. Once again, plan for "Worst Case Scenario" on max power needed and have a generator that can supply that under the worst full available. I have an off-grid 1800w solar that I designed and build. It powers all the house but not all at once. We lose power many times a year, ranging from hours to weeks.

[@ronhawkins8604]

Very few people talk about what you call layering. My career in the USAF taught me two important rules; multiple redundancy and graceful degradation. My poco is great and at 9c/kwh going off grid just doesn't make any sense and commercial power is up 99% of the time. I have a 2kwh power station and 5 100ah lifepo4 batteries and a diy 1kwh hobo freight toolbox power station. 700w of solar panels. I'm on a well but have enough potable water to last a couple days and rain water plus a spring feed pond to handle toilet flushing and washing up. My battery capacity can keep my fridges and freezers running. Than i have 4 generators of various sizes to run the whole house minus stove and HVAC and smaller ones to run the fridges and charge batteries. My priority is to not lose the thousands of $$ of food. My final step will be a large propane tank. Something i am learning, my batteries take close to 8 hours to charge from zero with a 20a charger. Everything you do takes more than you think. Learned that ages ago doing a bath remodel that cost twice as much as estimated. You for a good review of a topic that isn't stressed enough.

[@Sylvan_dB]

My strategy (implemented prior to Y2K) was a large inverter and battery bank which could run my well pump. Then I did not need a large generator. Any generator that can provide more than my average use could charge the batteries. That was all I could afford at the time. Then a few years later I added solar panels to charge the batteries.

[@catdrnan]

Well done ! I will start acting on this today

[@davemichaeli5339]

Great video as always. I was in Florida with my daughter and her husband last month during hurricane Milton. They lost power for about four days and here are some things I learned: We had a Champion portable inverter gas generator that has 2800w output. We ran it 24hrs a day but used the economy mode to conserve fuel. I found it to be very fuel efficient, burning less than five gallons per day. I brought five filled 5-gal gas cans with me when I traveled from SC to FL, and that was helpful because as the storm approached, both gas and gas cans became difficult to find locally. I brought a bunch of long extension cords with me but ended up getting a 12ga 50’ cord and wiring a square metal junction box with four 20a outlets. That way I only needed one heavy duty cord to run from the generator into the house, and then we split off from there. I also had a small Anker solar generator, similar in size and output to your Oupes. We kept that plugged into generator power 24hrs a day and used it as a power distribution center for lights, USB devices, and even the fridge since the best location for it happened to be nearby. The generator ran out of gas one evening while we were all asleep, so the fridge and fans kept running off the Anker. Before we evacuated, I plugged the Anker solar generator into the wall outlet, and then plugged the fridge into the Anker. My thought was that when the storm knocked out power, the fridge would run off the Anker for a half day until we could get back and get the gas generator fired up. I had the inverter turned on, but also enabled economy mode on the Anker. When we got back after the storm it seemed that the inverter had shut off, and the batteries were still near 100%. I think that economy mode turned if off at some point to conserve energy. I need to test that more, but that was a clear fail. No more economy mode on the Anker. Overall, the setup worked really well. We kept the fridge going, the Keurig making coffee, and some lights and fans on. Also, having Starlink for a backup internet connection was super helpful, and let us and the neighbors get messages out to friends and family. Hope this is helpful info. Thanks again - your channel is awesome.

[@TonyYarusso]

I’d say another big point to remember is that if your strategy relies on a generator, you need to be storing some amount of fuel for that yourself. I think most people planning to run on propane have propane tanks, but most planning to run on gasoline forget that gas stations need electricity, so gas becomes unavailable. It’s a bit more expensive, but using non-oxygenated/ethanol-free gas for infrequent use small engines like this makes a huge difference in how well it keeps sitting around long-term.

[@robertkubrick3738]

Usually there is some warning, fill cans but definitely figure out a way to get gasoline out of a vehicle/s you might own.

[@shelton126]

That’s exactly what I did. I have an 800 watt propane generator that runs 50 hours on economy mode. I have 2,000 watt solar generator for my refrigerator that runs for at least 12 hours. The same for my propane furnace which in the winter gets me about 16 hours with an instant on water heater. I have many smaller solar generators 600-700 amp for lights etc that can run a long time. Instead of buying more solar generators I started getting 1200 amp batteries and use a DC to DC charger. These batteries are much cheaper and I use that charger to plug into the solar ports of the generator to extent the run time by another 6 to 8 hours and use my generator to charge them. Its much cheaper the using the brands batteries. Also have a pure sine 2000 water inverter to use when needed. Yes this is a pain to keep everything charged but I don’t hear a generator running at night and longer power outages measured in days happen only about 2 times a year at most. My longest though was 7 days. I will eventually go whole house when I can afford to but go with 3,600 watt propane generator to basically power the outlets for lights and recharging the solar generators.

[@clmccomas]

Jason, AC is a critical life support system for me and a lot of other people because of medical conditions. The trick is to zone off your home, and keep the cooling to a small area. I did this at my old home by using a window mount AC that I set-up in my master BR during extended power outages. In my current home, I have a split unit heat pump that supplies only my office,

[@KM4ACK]

My apology for not thinking that statement through well enough and pointing out that some may require AC for health reasons. Thanks for the zoning tip.

[@clmccomas]

@ no worries man. Thanks for all of your hard work

[@Scaliad]

I'm looking at a Duromax XP7000iH (duel fuel) mainly for charging my 15kW SOK 100Ah 48v bank for those rare few periods when solar is so low that my 9kW PV can't keep up. I figure propane will keep it ready and clean.

[@aaronblake1533]

I bought a 500w and a 1kw 48v charger to go with my little 2kw inverter generator to charge my 11kwh battery bank in case the 11.7kw solar panels aren't enough (clouds, snow, nighttime, etc.). It's good to have a backup. I also have a Chevy Volt that can serve as another backup to the backup.

[@rickgilbrt]

Layering is about both the risk and the response. Whole house solar and whole house generator are great so long as the "whole house" is not compromised by the event. Even folks with while house backup may want more portable backups as well.

[@temporarilyoffline]

If you're power is going to be out for a few days, move into your RV during that time - less footprint to consume power and (should be) built to consume less power from the start.

[@KM4ACK]

That's certainly on my option list. Completed a 4 day offgrid stay about two weeks ago.

[@dougdaniels]

Excellent perspective, 2 is 1, 1 is none. Is there a simple way to determine the "sweet spot" of battery size and inverter size to run a specific appliance like the refrigerator you mention?

[@KM4ACK]

Simplest way I know is to pick up a watt meter and run a few tests to see what each of your appliances consumes. The you can run some calculations that will tell you how long a battery will last running a particular appliance.

[@dpos89]

You may want to run 20 a or better battery charger with your small generator? Use sleeping bags, blankets, or extra insulation of some sort on fridge and freezer. Eat thawed food 1st, It may go 2-3 days without gen? Grundfos makes well pumps that run on 110v and maybe DC.

[@tooshieg2059]

Too many think about "stuff" when a "system" is what's needed. One does not have to go expensive on a whole-house setup. Try a tri-fuel, portable, 7,500watt gen, wired into the house panel. Natural gas is convenient and so is power at the flip of a switch. My whole setup was $1,500. A little propane and gasoline storage provides a lot of options. Run it a few hours each morning to charge batteries and bring house/freezers to temps and again in the evening. Couple that with a multiple 100amh setups: battery/inverter/charger and you have everything one could need for all day or all-night use. Solar panels are fine but the sun doesn't shine everyday. Considering dollar/watt, they are not a great investment.

[@steveschroder8782]

What about the need for a pure sine wave generator? Is one needed for modern refrigerators with digital boards? A 240 V pure sine wave generator is very expensive if you only one generator that needs to run a well pump.

[@oneisnone7350]

I have solar batteries that can charge very quickly. The larger generators are actually better, because they are running at a constant output and are more efficient. But if you are solely running off of a generator, you want the smallest you can get away with.

[@anthonymarino4260]

GREAT IDEAS

[@samuelonthewall]

Please share with us the 40 amp charger that you bought, since you left out this tiny detail from your video.

[@KM4ACK]

40A LiFePO4 Charger - amzn.to/4flHOeG (affiliate link)

[@ChrisKD9YSW]

Yep I am thinking of doing half the size your currently using

[@sh839c]

Look into the chargeverter from signature solar.

[@k5wxp22]

I'm on a pretty solid grid that powers a nearby old folks home (so we rarely lose power, even during Snowmageddon a couple years back), but disasters don't take that into account. I am considering a propane powered generator, but fresh water and how to store it is my biggest concern. Great ideas here, Jason...thanks for sharing! 73, Brett K5WXP

[@KM4ACK]

Water is a pain. Heavy and takes up a lot of room. It's doable though with some creative thinking.

[@bwillan]

When considering a portable battery bank like the EcoFlows, Bluetttis, Jackerys, read the specs and note the amount of AC power they will use to recharge. A another youtube channel I watch just did a comparison of 3 portable battery banks he has and found that one of them that had the largest battery capacity only charged at 300 watts even with a regular A/C plug. Knowing that then factors into how long your gas generator will need to run to recharge these portable battery banks.

[@KM4ACK]

Great point! That's exactly one of the specs I looked at during my review of the Oupes power station. It can charge at 1300W which brings the base unit to 100% in roughly an hour.

[@ipcamper9940]

One thing many people don't seem to understand, is that you really don't have to run the generators 24/7. I have been through week long outages, and will run the generator in the morning for a couple of hours. Make breakfast, run the fridge and freezer, maybe the gas furnace. Then through most of the day just rely on battery powered equipment and natural light. In the Evening, I run the generator for 3 to 4 hours, for dinner, chill the fridge and freezer, furnace, charge up batteries, etc. Then use battery powered lights or an oil lamp during the night. We use the propane grill for cooking, and an old Coleman camp stove. If your house cools off so fast, that you have to run furnace through out the night, then you need to improve the insulation!

[@djrtime1398]

Just in case I need to bug out, I like to keep my emergency power, food, and water small enough to be portable. This is worse case scenario. In the bed of my truck I can put a 65 gallon fresh water tank, a mini fridge, 13 kw of combined power stations and expansion batteries, a 4250 watt inverter generator and several containers of cannned and dry food. A tent with sleep pads and bags. Finally, don’t forget the toilet paper.

[@charleswtuggle]

consider USB light, fans and 12 volt TV also 12 volt refrig. (Cooler) these Items will keep your power station running longer. By not running the AC inverter which will draw a lot of power from your power station. As much as 20 to 30% over a 24 hour time.

[@KM4ACK]

Great tip and something I am slowly moving towards.

[@richgarrett4082]

Power is not measured in Amps. Power is measured in watts and horsepower. Whole house generator are good but like any mechanical it can fail. My genarator has failed twice. Once the oil pressure sensor started leaking oil. Second ignition coil failed. Not a reason not to have whole house genarator but a reason to layer.

[@Drew_K.79.]

I have 2 inverter generators from wen. 1 I've had for 6 years (2000 watt) the other I just got (2800) dual fuel. If gas is hard to find (definitely was after Milton) I can use propane. If i need more watts then I bought a parallel kit to combine both jennys. If one generator fails I still have the other until I can repair the one. And it's easier to transport one at a time versus one giant heavy one. I also have four ecoflow solar generators which I can charge with the little generator to run my stuff at night. Or I can use the solar generator, here in Florida, where it's almost always sunny. I also keep a bunch of oil and spark plugs on standby in case I can't get those in the event of an emergency or long term power outage. Not bragging, just prepping to help my family and others

[@mannyfragoza9652]

I don't think I heard you mention charging your batteries with solar. I charge my 150Ah battery with 500 watts of solar which takes about 3 hours with a 20 amp charger. If it's cloudy I usually won't try to charge up my battery. I do have a Gas Generator but never use it to charge batteries maybe I should on cloudy days? I really don't care if I have to plug into the grid from time to time. BTW I have heard that using more than 20 amps to charge a 100Ah battery can diminish its life I think this was a rule of thumb I don't hear many channels talking about this though.

[@KM4ACK]

I typically prefer to charge mine at 20A but it's nice to have the capability to charge faster if you were charging from a generator and needed to conserve fuel

[@mannyfragoza9652]

@@KM4ACK i agree. I'm tempted to buy a 25 or 30-amp charger for my 200Ah -battery

[@jamesalles139]

A well pump is intermittent high power draw, on demand with constant stand-by necessary. This best served by batteries and a generously sized split-phase pure sine-wave inverter. Harvesting the sunlight is OK to supplement charging, but do the fast-charging from a (smaller) generator when it is scheduled to run. Some math is needed - a 12v LifePo4 battery might be charged with up to 100 amps (see Manufacturers rating) That is done with ~11 amps of 120 VAC input. That can be accomplished with as little as a 1,500 watt generator, but running for a short period of time. This is opposed to say, 20 amps at 240 volts = 4,800 watts plus a substantial motor starting surge current. You don't want a generator that big sitting there idling most of the time. Freezers are similar, but smaller single-phase 120v inverters are fine. But, don't put all of your eggs in one basket with a single battery/inverter system (above). Modern refrigerators should be phased out of use as the outage continues. This is due to high power demands of the defrost cycle for the purpose of lower overall energy usage (over time). Get the frozen stuff distributed into the running freezers, consume the refrigerated stuff as much as practical, and go to an ice-box concept, where you make the ice while the generator is running. Coolers might be more practical for this purpose. As always, YMMV Also, be prepared for the city water to stop running. The one tornado that affected my community took out the pumping station, and we had no water for days while repairs were made. Meanwhile our home had power from the electric utility the whole time. Thanks for the food for thought in the video!

[@robertkubrick3738]

Capacitors like a six pack of beer will start it.

[@googacct]

The next best thing to a whole house generator is get a plug installed at your main electrical panel with a disconnect. You plug your generator into that and you do not have to run extension cords all over.

[@Scaliad]

Low Frequency (LF) inverters beat out HF for longevity and surge capability. Inverter/chargers offer more capability, even if you aren't needing one or the other just now.

[@WaltWashburn-up3np]

Jason - thank you! Inciteful and helpful.Well done, sir. Walt KT0D

[@KM4ACK]

Thanks Walt.

[@tubular031]

What about your car or truck? Whenever a weather event is coming I always fill up my tanks. Not the most efficient thing but you can idle the truck and use the alternator to make 100 ish amps of 13 vdc to charge things or run an inverter. No one ever talks about this idea. Not great but something everyone can do without spending a ton on batteries and generators and propane tanks etc. I do have 2 gens and propane tanks. Remember 1 is none and 2 is 1. Redundancy!!

[@robertkubrick3738]

The alternator at idle is not making 100 amps. You would need to idle it up to about 2,000 rpm maybe 2500 rpm to make 100 amps.

[@mariofazio6006]

Thanks, Jason! All your comments are very interesting, greetings LU4EOU

[@MarkSpohr]

Solar and batteries never run out of fuel. Generators need fuel and you will eventually run out.

[@aaronblake1533]

After Helene passed, many owners of solar generators complained that there wasn't enough sun for the two days following the storm to recharge the batteries.

[@MarkSpohr]

@@aaronblake1533 That's like having not enough fuel stockpiled or having too small of a generator. More solar panels is always a solution.

[@KM4ACK]

I agree with both of you. Solar for all I can get out of it and a generator to back it up. Solar and batteries or power stations like the Oupes will run most appliances. If it's a cloudy day, fire up the generator as needed to recharge the batteries. Then shut it off to conserve fuel and run what you need from the batteries.

[@robertkubrick3738]

Solar burned my brother's roof. Also, damage to one panel can be problematic.