If you would like to have the security of owning a reliable back up, automatic generator, but have been struggling with locating the unit on your property,…or perhaps you don’t have access to natural gas? No place to locate an LP tank,… or maybe you are concerned about the noise or fumes associated with internal combustion engine-powered traditional generators? Condo rules a problem? Your search for the perfect fit may be over. Battery-based backup generators are here, and they are ready to do the job.
We take UL Listed Instantaneous transfer switches and automatic battery charge controllers, and use a battery bank as our standby power source. The battery bank is normally charged from the grid, but we can add a solar input so the bank can be charged from a permanent or temporary solar array as well. We can then take 8-12 critical circuits from your main electrical panel, such as refrigeration, heat, hot water, communications control box, sump pumps, lighting, TV and computers, a microwave oven, etc. and create a subpanel full of our most important emergency circuits. We power this subpanel and the battery charge controller from the grid. The grid power keeps the batteries fully charged. The transfer switch monitors the available utility or grid power. In the event of an outage, the switch transfers the load directly and instantly on to the battery bank. If a solar array is available, we can continue to recharge the batteries even during a power outage. The inverter changes the power from the battery bank from DC (direct current) to pure sine wave AC power and provides this power to all circuits in our emergency subpanel. As in the case with all standby generators, when utility power is restored the loads in the subpanel are instantly transferred back to the utility grid, the generator returns to standby mode, and the batteries are recharged from the utility power. You are now ready for the next power outage. These systems can be designed to give you hours or days of back up emergency power.
While these systems can power large loads such as air conditioning and electric cooking, they are better suited (cost is a factor) to back up the lighter loads we have described above. If cost and space for the larger battery enclosures required for larger systems are not a concern, then battery based units can back up even many of these larger loads. Battery based standby generators can be housed in rust proof aluminum enclosures designed to be used on a balcony, any exterior location or even a wet basement. If you prefer, they can also be housed in attractive, finished hardwood cabinets you can locate anywhere in your home.
For more information regarding Battery Based Generators, hybrid or traditional standby generator systems you may visit my website at www.guerreraelectric.com .
Generators PA is authored by Anthony Guerrera, ME., and factory authorized standby generator technician