I've got solar panels, a 18kw battery, and I'm about to buy a generator.
We lost power for 3+ days recently. The battery lasted about 12 hours, and I do need to figure out why, but a propane generator with batteries is (IMHO) what you want, even with solar.
I ran off the batteries for 4-5 hours at a time, and used battery powered lights. My network was on a separate ups, but that was only good for a few extra hours.
I got lucky and was able to charge the battery when the sun came out, but without a generator you're at risk of losing food.
Oh yeah, I have a wood stove and a propane stove, so I wasn't suffering, but if sun hadn't come out, I'd have been SOL...
tanbronson t1_j3992so wrote
Reply to Back-up Generator for Entire House by ReadBonny
I've got solar panels, a 18kw battery, and I'm about to buy a generator.
We lost power for 3+ days recently. The battery lasted about 12 hours, and I do need to figure out why, but a propane generator with batteries is (IMHO) what you want, even with solar.
I ran off the batteries for 4-5 hours at a time, and used battery powered lights. My network was on a separate ups, but that was only good for a few extra hours.
I got lucky and was able to charge the battery when the sun came out, but without a generator you're at risk of losing food.
Oh yeah, I have a wood stove and a propane stove, so I wasn't suffering, but if sun hadn't come out, I'd have been SOL...