Inverters battery powered.

[KARNUT]

I’m doing research on the most efficient way to power my refrigerator and freezer during a blackout. I’m looking to avoid the gas powered small generator. I’m looking at two options. Battery backup with solar powered and truck powered recharging. Or my preference if possible. An inverter powered by my truck large enough to keep my refrigerator and freezer going during power outages. The goal obviously is not to have a generator and gas for power outages that may never happen. Experience responses preferred.

[shakenfake]

Battery backup solar powered would be my preference because you could use it during the year as well even when there was no power outage.

 

My parents installed a natural gas generator to power the whole house. A little overkill for what you want I know but my power goes out probably 20-30 times a year at least. That thing is incredible and doesn't skip a beat. Just my experience with power outages.

 

I don't know if I would trust that inverter to do such a thing.

[KARNUT]

14 minutes ago, shakenfake said:

Battery backup solar powered would be my preference because you could use it during the year as well even when there was no power outage.

 

My parents installed a natural gas generator to power the whole house. A little overkill for what you want I know but my power goes out probably 20-30 times a year at least. That thing is incredible and doesn't skip a beat. Just my experience with power outages.

 

I don't know if I would trust that inverter to do such a thing.

I have family members with whole home generators. There’re in trouble areas. I lost electricity once in 22 years for 5 days during a tropical storm. Just happens we were on an Alaskan cruise. Back on before we got home. 

[shakenfake]

Haha yeah I figured you didn't lose it a whole lot. We lose it monthly, doesn't matter the month either. Winter and the rainy seasons are the worst.

[Donstar]

My experience includes previously living in communities with unreliable power and keeping a generator for backup.  The generator was used to justify having it but never was really needed.  I have experienced many power disruptions and have found sources of heat to be a higher priority than keeping things cold.  (morning coffee is of a highest priority  )  We keep a freezer in the garage where we store food we won't be using right away and several ice packs and blocks  During a power outage we will limit opening the freezer except to retrieve a block of ice to keep our dairy items cool in a camp type cooler. (I need milk for my coffee!)  We are prepared to go for an extended period without power and do not keep a huge investment in refrigerated or frozen food.  

[diyer2]

Cost is the biggest factor. I went down this rabbit hole. First you should decide what you want to power during an outage. This determines the size of the backup power you need. 

The cheapest way I found was to buy an appropriate sized gas or propane/natural gas generator. Then have your electrical service panel modified to run the circuits you want off the generator. 

Generac wanted $10 K for an auto switch whole house system with a propane generator. We are on propane.

 

I decided 4 circuits in my service panel would need to be powered during an outage. 1 light circuit, 1 plug circuit (refrigerator), heat and water. We need to power a pump for water. I could have done this myself for $1500-$2000 using a gas backup generator. When there is a power outage you pull out the generator and plug it into the service panel.

Solar would be expensive. Used to have an off grid home.

I decided against it, I will take my chances. We have wood heat sources. 

 

A friend of mine set up a system using a gas generator and extension cords. The furnace has a pigtail installed to power it. Lights and fridge plug into extension cords. 

[KARNUT]

37 minutes ago, diyer2 said:

Cost is the biggest factor. I went down this rabbit hole. First you should decide what you want to power during an outage. This determines the size of the backup power you need. 

The cheapest way I found was to buy an appropriate sized gas or propane/natural gas generator. Then have your electrical service panel modified to run the circuits you want off the generator. 

Generac wanted $10 K for an auto switch whole house system with a propane generator. We are on propane.

 

I decided 4 circuits in my service panel would need to be powered during an outage. 1 light circuit, 1 plug circuit (refrigerator), heat and water. We need to power a pump for water. I could have done this myself for $1500-$2000 using a gas backup generator. When there is a power outage you pull out the generator and plug it into the service panel.

Solar would be expensive. Used to have an off grid home.

I decided against it, I will take my chances. We have wood heat sources. 

 

A friend of mine set up a system using a gas generator and extension cords. The furnace has a pigtail installed to power it. Lights and fridge plug into extension cords. 

My biggest concern was storing and getting gas. I just ordered a siphon hose to see if I can get gas out of my Avalanche. It holds over 30 gallons. I did check inverters. It would be expensive so that’s out. Now to battery back up power with solar panels and car charging. The only reason I’m interested in that is the ease of storage. You can park it next to the fridge and freezer. When done fold up the panels and store it all in a closet. Here’s the trick. Will it keep going? What’s the overlap. Can the panels or car charging keep up with usage. I’m only interested in power to the fridge and freezer. 

[KARNUT]

2 hours ago, Donstar said:

My experience includes previously living in communities with unreliable power and keeping a generator for backup.  The generator was used to justify having it but never was really needed.  I have experienced many power disruptions and have found sources of heat to be a higher priority than keeping things cold.  (morning coffee is of a highest priority  )  We keep a freezer in the garage where we store food we won't be using right away and several ice packs and blocks  During a power outage we will limit opening the freezer except to retrieve a block of ice to keep our dairy items cool in a camp type cooler. (I need milk for my coffee!)  We are prepared to go for an extended period without power and do not keep a huge investment in refrigerated or frozen food.  

It’s really hot here. 100 today. The fridge and freezer will get warm quickly. My wife is concerned with food shortage. We recently got access to lots of beef for the freezer. Otherwise we were hesitant to spend more on saving food than the food cost. Especially since we only lost electricity once in 22 years. The threats of blackouts have raised the concern level from the addition of renewables here in Texas. No I’m not kidding. 

[diyer2]

Are you saying use solar panels to charge a car battery, then a use a converter hooked to the car battery to power your fridge?

If so won't work. Educate yourself on solar power. 

[KARNUT]

26 minutes ago, diyer2 said:

Are you saying use solar panels to charge a car battery, then a use a converter hooked to the car battery to power your fridge?

If so won't work. Educate yourself on solar power. 

No. I’ve been researching battery generators with solar panels as backup. Truck powered inverter and regular gas powered generator. My brother years ago used an truck powered inverter to power his refrigerator and lights during a blackout. The only reason I’m looking into a truck powered inverter is the 33 gas capacity. So the truck becomes the generator. Battery powered generator for the same reason. Only if the solar panels can keep up. They also can be recharged by a vehicle. So yes I’m educating myself. If you ever experience an event that kills power like a hurricane. Your without power for 5-7 days minimum. Usually gas stations during the evacuation and the following week run out of gas. You add the price of gas solar battery generators become an option. I never considered solar powered charging a car to use an inverter. All this only comes into play because the possibility of food shortages and I recently loaded up the freezer. And possible rolling blackouts. 

[Donstar]

20 hours ago, KARNUT said:

It’s really hot here. 100 today. The fridge and freezer will get warm quickly. My wife is concerned with food shortage. We recently got access to lots of beef for the freezer. Otherwise we were hesitant to spend more on saving food than the food cost. Especially since we only lost electricity once in 22 years. The threats of blackouts have raised the concern level from the addition of renewables here in Texas. No I’m not kidding. 

FWIW  Keeping a well stocked pantry will see you through an extended emergency situation.  I understand keeping a full freezer for convenience and to save trips to the store but non-perishable foods are your best option for your emergency kit.

[KARNUT]

42 minutes ago, Donstar said:

FWIW  Keeping a well stocked pantry will see you through an extended emergency situation.  I understand keeping a full freezer for convenience and to save trips to the store but non-perishable foods are your best option for your emergency kit.

We have the pantry and a small bedroom stocked up.

[pokismoki]

i've done this already for powering a home fridge refer in my cargo trailer.. works amaizingly well and cheap, with no Generator needed ever.

 

I built my solar panel system utilizing a Large old house PV panel i found on craigs list for $50, it puts out 250 watts, next I purchased two 6volt golf cart batteries (US battery red units), picked up an MPPT charge controller, and two breakers to manually disconnecting the PV and the Battery.  my cost was $450 

 

this whole set up runs a large office fridge 24/7..   if the sky gets cloudy i do have issues keeping enough power in the battery tank.  this is where I would recommend two Large house PV's to compensate for solar loss of a single panel when it gets overcast and foggy

 

so to do it again, I would lay out room for 2 PV's on my cargo trailer roof for off grid travels of 14-30 days

 

 

golf cart batts are a must have, otherwise the power draw  overnight on a deep cycle battery is too large, and it cant recharge by the next day

 

 

 

On a side note.. also loading up the frige or freezer with food or those blue liquid freezer gel packs, actually increases the efficiency of the refer system and consumes less power to maintain the low temps inside. i learned that by leaving the fringe empty and it sucked a tremendous amount of energy just to maintain a chill temp inside

Edited June 13, 2022 by pokismoki

[KARNUT]

To put a period on this. The simple way and practical for me currently. A predator 9000 generator by Harbor Freight. It will power Fridge, chest freezer and a window AC at the same time. As far as gas. If I can’t siphon out of my Avalanche. I’ll get a drum from the shop. Another consideration most people overlook is raining while using. Not recommend. Fortunately my garage is detached and behind my garage is an overhang. I may even build an enclosure like whole house generators use. 

[KARNUT]

Lessons learned so far. If you buy a generator with a carbon monoxide detector your exhaust needs to be outside whatever enclosure you use. The only place you can buy the exhaust pieces are on line. I bought my generator from harbor freight hoping for some help. Not with exhaust. Even if you buy a go cart engine no exhaust. Probably a green energy thing, even in Texas. Can’t get a straight answer on how long the cord can be. Waiting on a call back from the electrician. He going to hook up the interlock. So far I haven’t started the thing yet. I’m waiting for the exhaust pieces. I don’t want to go through heat cycles until that’s done.