Standby System

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Do I Need a Home Electrical Emergency System?

Batteries for Emergency Stand by System

Controls for Emergency Stand by Solar Electrical System

Stand By System (BackHome Magazine - October 1996)

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Do I Need a Home Electrical Emergency System?
© Copyright 1995 By Charlie Collins From "Ask Mr. Solar" Column Published 7/18/93 Daily Spectrum

Question: Is it possible for me to have a solar electrical system in conjunction with my grid power?

Dennis P. Cedar City, Ut

Mr. Solar: Dennis, this is a very wise and prudent to have a home electrical stand by system (HESS) which work very well in conjunction with your local grid power. Today with all the modern electrical toys sometimes we forget how helpless we would be without electricity. Many of us have planed ahead with our food, as we have a large supply on hand which will last many months should the need arise. But we have not planed for an electric energy outage. There has been several power outages in the past due to earthquakes, floods or other national disasters. Our food will last us for many months or perhaps years however our electrical power will only last a millisecond. We need to realize that it is extremely important today to make plans to have a stand by electrical system. We must have electricity to start our modern water heaters, furnaces, move the heat around the home as well as to start our gas stoves, run our refrigerators and other appliances. Consequently we must have electricity to cook our stored food, light and heat our home.

Several months ago we discussed with our readers the need for a Home Emergency Stand-by System (HESS). We are happy to note that many people we know have installed a HESS. This is a good time for us to sit back and appraise our power needs as well as evaluate our electrical requirements.

We have developed three completely automatic Home Emergency Stand-by System (HESS) packages designed starting for well under $2,000.00. The starter package that will give the homeowner approximately 48 hours of electricity when wisely used. The standard HESS package which includes power renewing American made electric solar panels will give the homeowner years of power. We have also designed a deluxe HESS that can be used now to give the homeowner full power now and this will enable you to disconnect now from the local power company. Whatever system that you have installed you will find that in the event of any power outage you will not be without power and therefore you will be able to carry on your life in a normal state, rather than "camping out" in your home.

We hope that every home will someday have an Home Emergency Stand-by System (HESS). Dennis if you desire to have an never-ending source of electricity then there really is no other choice for you. With this system you will be truly self reliant. If you would like to see a working system that has been installed here in Southern Utah please send us a SASE and we will be happy to send you their addresses along with more information.

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Batteries for emergency stand by system
© Copyright 1994 By Charlie Collins From "Ask Mr. Solar" Column Published 2/20/94 Daily Spectrum

Question:Thank you for your interesting article which I read in the Daily Spectrum a couple of weeks ago about how I can prepare for a electrical power outage. I am wondering if there any special batteries that would work better than others for a small electrical back up system. Helen W. Washington, UT.

Helen W. Washington, UT.

Mr. Solar: Helen, the systems I designed for the homeowner are to be use with as little maintenance as possible. This is a very important aspect for the home emergency systems as the homeowner just wants to know that if and when another emergency strikes they will have the emergency electrical power available to them so that they do not have to "camp out" in their living room.

As I have stated many times the batteries are the weakest link in any alternative electrical system and normally require the most maintenance. I have been experimenting with the new German Sonnenschein Technology gell lead acid batteries manufactured in this country by East Penn Manufacturing Co. They appear that at this time these are the ones which I would recommend for a small emergency back up system in the home. For a large system which is fully integrated into the electrical daily usage of the home I would recommend using the new Nickel Iron batteries.

There are several important factors to consider when setting up an emergency power system. The area where you wish to place the batteries is an important consideration. The use of batteries that do not give off gas or leek acid during normal usage is good as they can easily be stored anywhere. You may be aware the normal lead acid batteries have a tendency to "create" holes in my clothes when I get within a few feet of them. Therefore I normally only recommend the usage of alkaline type batteries, however with the new gell cell technology I feel that these are an excellent choice for a small system. They can be set up to be charged on a continuing bases with an automatic charger from the local power company. Then when your electricity is off for any reason then an automatic switch will turn on your inverter and draw power from your batteries. When the local power is restored then your electrical system will automatically be returned to the grid power and your batteries will be recharged with your battery charger and ready for the next emergency.

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Controls for Emergency Stand by Solar Electrical System
© Copyright 1994 By Charlie Collins From "Ask Mr. Solar" Column Published 2/27/94 Daily Spectrum

Question: When we have a prolonged power outage in Ivins, I first disconnected the main ( and all the high amperage circuit breakers), then I connected the output from a small inverter into a garage wall outlet. This allows us to use some of our house outlets. My question is do I have to disconnect the outside power? Everything in my solar system is fused. I am not sure what happens when outside power comes on if I plug the inverter in without disconnecting the main. Thank you

Bernard V. Ivens, UT.

Mr. Solar: Bernard, the problem with what you have described is that you are generating electricity at your home, however you may be sending that electricity on to the public utility lines and it could cause a problem for a lineman who does not expect any power from your end.

In stand by systems which we have helped install or design we always include an automatic transfer switch. This device is very economically priced. It sends electricity to pre-designated circuits from the public utility. When there is a power outage from your public utility this transfer switch automatically turns off the incoming leg of public power and turns on your inverter power. The way it is made it is impossible to have electricity from two sources flowing into the same outlet. It is also impossible for the electricity to flow from the public utility to your inverter or from your inverter to the public utility.

Another problem that you may have with your setup is that when the power comes on again at your home then your inverter may be ruined with incoming AC electricity. Because it is not made to handle this incoming electricity you could ruin it.

This problem is common and can easily be corrected with the proper addition of automatic transfer switch. Bernard, this type of difficulty arises when a homeowner does not seek the advise of a solar professional, and we strongly recommend that any one who has any questions to get competent advise from someone that lives completely on solar electricity.

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Stand By System (BackHome Magazine - October 1996)
© Copyright 1996 "Ask Mr. Solar" Column Published 10/97 BackHome 10/97

Dear Mr. Solar:

The articles in the BackHome magazine regarding the use of the sun's energy I found quite interesting & hope the method could be of some benefit in my situation.

My wife & I are seniors & have a 67-acre farm. Our water supply is from a 40-foot deep well with a 1/2 horse pump. Our heating is a wood/oil furnace, hot water is from that wood furnace in the winter & an electric water heater in the summer. The kitchen range is LP gas & we have a three-fuel 6000-watt, and a 3600-RPM generator on LP for storm days when the elec. co-op may not be able to provide electricity.

The electrical supply is the uncertainty that I would like to make back-up for, both long and short term contingencies. I did purchase a 2500-watt inverter however it does not have a charger built in. I would like to recharge some batteries--whatever kind and number--and possible set up solar PV collection for those as well. We use 790 KWH per month and have refrigerators, freezers, Dishwasher, microwave, washer/dryer, fans etc. Any advice on the best steps is appreciated.

Fred C..... McKenney, VA Hello Fred --

Thank you for your question - - during this hurricane season it is apparent that many are without electrical power for extended periods of time.

I would recommend a back up system so that when your co-op is not able to provide electricity you will be able to use most of the electrical items that you have become accustomed to enjoying.

I would suggest that you install an additional 110 VAC distribution box in your home. I would pick items for this new distribution box that you may wish to have available during a normal power outage such as your refrigerator, dishwasher, fans, TV and etc. Then I would find out the watts each item takes and proceed to install an automatic back up system so that you will not be in the dark. This system will operate off a set of batteries and inverter giving you the needed electrical power to operate your "picked items" as above. The system that you install must have the capability of operating your "picked items" for 24 hours without additional charging.

We will describe how you can use your existing equipment as well as have it automatic so that you or your spouse do not have to worry about storms and hurricanes in the future.

As you may know an electrical stand by system consists of three major parts:

• - a system to charge your batteries,
• - a bank of batteries for storage,
• - and an inverter / charger with a automatic transfer switch.

Your batteries may be charged in one of three ways. When the grid is down then you can start one of your generators and charge your batteries. You need to get a large battery charger or a new inverter/ charger so that you can charge your batteries quickly at over 100 amps per hour and not at the usual 10 amps that the small battery chargers produce. This fast charge rate will mean that you will not have to operate your generator but a couple hours a day rather than full time. This is much better on your generator as operating it at a low load is not good for the life of your generator. When your grid power is available then your inverter/ charger will automatically charge your batteries. The third alternative is for you to have a bank of solar electric panels and charge controller that will keep your batteries at a full charge.

The bank of storage batteries should be large enough for you to operate your home for at least 24 hours. I would recommend either using the Trojan L-16 or the GNB gell Sunlyte. Both batteries should last you about 10 years, providing that you operate them using only the top 1/2 of their stored capacity. Trojan batteries are lead acid which require some maintenance and you will need to keep them at a high of charge state to prevent freezing. The Gell batteries will not freeze and do not require any maintenance.

The inverter system will change your stored DC power into user friendly VAC electricity. I realize that you have purchased an inverter, however you will need to add to your system a large charger such as a IBE Industrial type and a transfer switch. This equipment can easily be added and enabling you to operate with your current inverter. However I would recommend for a preferred set up that you install either a new easy to operate Heart or Trace Inverter/ charger in your home. They will automatically switch from grid power to battery power when the need arises as well as operate as a large battery charger when you are in need of quickly charging your batteries.

Regards to operating your 1/2 horse pump I do not know if your current inverter will operate it. When you start your pump it requires a large surge or start up power available to get it pumping. I donšt believe you have this extra power available. This is another reason for your getting a heavier inverter.

Fred, I hope that I have answered your question. I welcome you or your friends questions and I will look forward to answering them in this area. Or you are invited to visit our WWW site at http://www.netins.net/showcase/solarcatalog/

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