As much as you want smooth sailing on perpetual electricity at home, I’m afraid your human powers are no match for volatile weather conditions, ferocious storms, uneventful lightning, car accidents, or even naughty animals that think they can make a home out of transformers and fuses! All of which cause – power outage.
So what do you do when there’s a power outage? Uhhm.. Basically, nothing. On the flip side, if you invest in a portable generator, you can still go about the usual hurly-burly you do at home using your appliances. And you can choose a power backup that fits your preference. Here are the top 5 backup power options for home use.
1. Solar Panels with Inverter
There is a reason why this method is sitting in the number one spot because it’s one of the best options due to its environment-friendly factor. Isn’t its greatness obvious? Solar panels are powered by solar energy or the sun! Solar panels for home are a very viable option if you live in a country that gets sun during most months of the year.
However, in times of power outages, some solar inverters come with an automatic shut-off system which stops supplying the stored energy to electrical equipment due to safety reasons. So find an inverter that counters this system, so when the electricity goes down but the sun is still shining, you’ll have a continuous supply of clean energy.
2. Portable Generators
This is definitely the go-to generator for most people especially the avid outdoor seekers. These portable calibers either run on gasoline, diesel, propane, natural gas, or solar energy! Because it’s very easy to carry around, campers and RV enthusiasts alike can take this with them to experience a little luxury in the wilderness.
Take note however that the smaller the generator is; the lesser amount of wattage it supplies. So if you are not planning of powering the entire house, top portable generators might be best for you. It powers basic appliances (although not everything simultaneously) like refrigerator, dryer, television, water heater, and even the air conditioner! So you can be sure you still get a comfortable sleep even when the grid is down.
3. Standby Generators
This is probably one of the best home generators that can definitely take a full-on electrical system beating. The difference between portable generators and standby generators lies in the installation. While the former mostly doesn’t need any installation, the latter is permanently installed. But what it lacks in portability, it makes up for in power. The size of the standby generator that you buy depends on your needs. You can read the 10 Power Up guide to assist you in making the right choice. This powerful machine can run for days or even months on end!
4. Battery Backup
Batteries really don’t cost that much so budget-wise, this is probably one of the cheapest ways to keep a power backup at bay in your house. All you have to do is gather a number of batteries, connect each of them so it will be like one big battery. This is popularly called a ‘battery bank’. Then figure out a way to plug the bank into the power supply in the house to charge it continuously so, in the event of an unfortunate blackout, the bank will come to the rescue!
5. Wind Turbines
If you are living in a windy area, this alternative is perfect for you. Wind turbines convert kinetic energy into electric energy so next to solar-powered alternatives, this is a brilliant option for a sustainable energy! The air gets propellers to move and power is then transmitted to the shaft in a generator which then transforms it to, voila, electricity! Assuming that budget is not a factor, this is the second most expensive option (next to solar) which will shell out around $15,000 to $40,000 upon installation.
