Alternative Supply

I would say battery banks, hooked to solar panels. You get plenty of sun right?

An inverter converts DC into AC, a generator supplies electricity....Your appliances and lights and stuff run on AC power....Most generators supply AC power....You only have to select a generator that supplies sufficient current with a pure sine-wave for best results....and that runs on fuel supply that is most convenient, preferably natural gas...

My guess is that your best bet is using old technology like generators and maybe a NEMA type switch to switch between the grid and the generator.

Modern alternatives like wind power and PV cells probably will be both expensive and hard to find.

Generators will probably be much more common, lower cost, and parts and service much more obtainable.

In this situation I would say tried and true is better and simpler to maintain.

You make a good point. If you buy a generator, make sure you can get parts for it. I purchased a cheap Chinese made generator a few years back. Now that it needs repairs, I can't find anyone willing to fix it. If it's not a common or well known manufacturer, the regular repair shops won't touch it.

Dear Friend,

The suggestions given by our friends are good enough and you have decide which type of energy is suitable to your requirement, Solar panel or wind energy or combination of both.

In my opinion these are the alternatively to the invertor or UPS.

Odd, that you got so many good answers, but I suspect that it a matter of point of reference.

That may be a good idea for a developed nation, but not a third world nation where PV cells and inverters are probably very scarce, expensive to import, and the skill needed to implement them nearly non-existent.

Finally, I live in a developed country where hurricanes are a common threat along with the loss of power, sometimes for days or weeks. The number one tool used for personal power in Florida is the generator.

Why? Because it is [i[still the cheapest way to get emergency power when you need it where you need it.

The technology is mature, which means there is an abundance of parts and people to maintain them. They are highly portable and the cost is cheap compared to any other power source.

The inverter idea works good for our computers. Those are UPS, but they do not hold power for very long and can not power refrigerators or other power hungry equipment.

Inverters are very good for brief power interruptions or voltage sag on critical equipment, but expensive for whole house usage.

I agree with you, in case of prolonged power cut inverter is not the best solution. But for power outage of maximum 3 to 4 hours it goes well. A properly selected inverter can also feed power to airconditioner or refrigerator.

For domestic use inverter is preferred as generator makes noise ,needs special skill to operate and maintain.

thats very true

If You Have City power on a semi-regular basis and still want to have 24/7 power to the House, the best bet is:

(for the description you gave, estimating one refrigerator with 110VAC max 7 amps, one freezer with about same specs, Power saving lights(up to total draw when on ~500-750 watts), Misc loads including Entertainment system and TV. (about 1~1.5Kw total draw when in use))

Suggestion: Inverter / Charger 3.5 ~ 5 KW hooked to Deep-cycle Battery bank with approx Minimum 30KWH storage Capacity. Inverter hooked directly to House so Automatic swithching from city power to Battery power is done by the inverter auto switching circuitry.

Equipment suggested:

Xantrex or Magnum 4.5 or 5KW sinewave inverter charger. 24 VDC system

Battery Bank Minimum: 20 Units Batteries 6VDC 220 Amp deep-cycle (ie: Trojan T-105 Batteries or equivalent) Batteries connected in series/Parallel for 24VDC. (cross bridging Batteries @ 12 VDC will help with Charge/Discharge Cycles for Leveling Voltages bewteen the Series.

Such a system will provide enough Autonomy for long "Blackouts" from the city Power while recharging of Batteries will happen on next City power cycle.

With a minimum of 6 hours / 24 Hours city power availability, such a system will permit 24/7 continuous power supply to the house. Occasional very long Power outage (more than 24 hours possible to handle ! Autonomy in excess of 60 hours possible with some power coonsumption management within the house) If regular power Outages over 48 hours at a time with very short power on availability, 8 to 10 KW diesel generator with Auto on circuitry can be installed with generator Control (On and Off) directly triggered by Battery bank voltage where low battery voltage triggers timed generator cycles. and incoming city power would reset entire system and auto shut down the Generator.

Such a system, for application where City power is only available with a rolling Blaackpout schedule will permit 24/7 power availability to house with generator Back up for long temporary power outage.

Should this system be intended to operate totaly off the grid, then, Diesel powered generator to be replaced by Solar Panel installation with about 3 kw charging cappability. (ie: 16 units 200 watt/hour Photovoltaic panels installed in series/parallel for 24 VDC operation with overcharging Voltage regulator Circuitry) More capacity on the Solar panels will allow quiker Battery recharge time and also allow for bigger house draw)

I hope this helps you make a decision!!

That is a cool system. The cost is a little steep, but cool nevertheless.

Batteries are $120 each on eBay for a total cost of $2,400.

Inverter is listed at $2,200 for 4.4 kW.

NEMA automatic power switch is about $700.

thank you guyz and according to what i am getting in this forum i think i will go for the inverter