Backup Power Supply

In California there are earthquakes. Kansas is known for its tornados. North Dakota has its spring floods. Florida is Hurricane-prone. The one thing that they all have in common is that when the event strikes, residents will likely have to wait to have their commercial electrical power restored.

Loss of power can mean spoilage of food, loss of comfort (air conditioning), availability of fuel such as gasoline, loss of clean and drinkable water, and anything else that we might consider, well, inconvenient if lost.

Hospitals and government agencies already have emergency backup systems to keep them operational during the aftermath following a power shut-down. They are generally large power generators capable of producing thousands of megawatts to keep essential systems going. The key word is essential. We will have to decide what is essential as we make our decision on acquiring a power supply backup source.

Power to the average home, unfortunatley, is left to the capability of the power company and how soon they can repair damage and restore service. My guess is that only survival-oriented people will be prepared to carry on normally. They might have an earthen-covered home that keeps a comforable temperature throughout the year. They may also store a year's supply of fuel, water, supplies, and food. Most of us cannot identify with that and have not planned that far ahead.

There are options, though, for the average person to restore power at home when it is lost. First, we will review the types of available backup power supplies. Second, we will identify important considerations about buying and using them.

Types of power supply backup generators:
1. Battery backup power supply - Batteries are always avaiable to provide energy. This would be useful where you need specific energy source for a specific function, such as a stove, a set of lights, a fridge, or the like. Batteries are good for the near-term rather than a long-haul.

2. The solar power system- Solar has long been used to generate power as an alternate source. Solar collectors are used to "save up" energy for when it is needed. Consider it to be like a rechargeable flashlight battery that, when re-charged, will work over and over.

3. Wind generator - A windmill can produce energy to pull water from a well and generate power to run a generator. Some wind-generators are large enough to produce energy for an entire neighborhood. You will need to ensure that it will be sturdy enough to weather a storm and withstand the elements.

4. Hydropower - While there are other ways of producing a backup power supply, they aren't always readily availabile to the average citizen and may not be practical for the home. Hydropower, for instance (like a dam or water wheel-mill), would be hard to install in a neighborhood home.

5.Hybrid power - This is where you might have a gas generator hooked up to storage batteries that are instantly ready to provide the power you need. It's just another variation of the rechargeable battery idea, and a viable option.

6. Gas (or diesel or propane) generator - Just like a hospital, the permanent-type power generator is tied directly into the electrical system of a building and is programmed to automatically switch over to emergency power when normal power stops flowing. These are likely controlled by government rules and periodically inspected for compliance. Also available are portable generators that can be stored to be readily available to hook up to the home power box. You will, of course, need a safe place to store the fuel and have someone there to keep the fuel in the tank.

7. Wood-burning stove generator - similar to the gas generator, this type requires stacks of wood to be stored and someone to keep the fire going. They will need to be protected from the elements by a structure large enough to house what will be needed.

8. Biofuel option - While coal is what you normally think of when you hear biofuel, have you ever heard of using your garbage to heat your home? There is a way to do it. Again, the principle of creating heat is being used to create energy to run a generator that provides the power.

Considerations

1. Capacity and Size. How much power you need will dictate the capacity and how big a unit will you need to purchase.

2. Cost. Operating within a budget will dictate what you can afford and will determine just how far you can go to provide emergency backup power.

3. Space. If you choose a backup power supply that needs fuel, you will need additional protected space for storage. Within that space, too, will be the need to rotate your fuel stock to ensure that it will work during a crisis.

4. Location. Location will dictate what kind of unit is best for you. Both the physical location in a dry, wet, hot or cold climate and the area within a geographical location that may have restrictive covenants for living in a neighborhood. Be sure to check the covenants and code requirements before buying.

5. Features. Will you want a Key-start or do you want a simple cable-pulling start? You will need to consider who will have to start the generator.

6. Maintenance. To keep the equipment ready to work at moments notice, plan for the maintenance and upkeep requirements and add them to your do-list.

Do your homework. Study the field and review the options. If you are not educated in this area, you will need to quickly learn or get someone to help you. When you pick someone, please be sure to avoid a person who has a vested interest (a salesman) or a strong opinion that omits some of the considerations because they are not popular. Once you have all the facts, only you can decide what is right for your situation.

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