Questions tagged [power-backup]

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Looking for a whole home battery backup or generator

we live in rental home in Menlo Park, CA and we have experienced 3 power outages (lasting 36 - ~60hrs each) las winter. Normally, I wouldn't care too much since we can "deal with it" but we ...
lightweight's user avatar
0 votes
2 answers
427 views

Can micro inverters be fooled to feed back-up when grid is down?

I have a small roof that barely fits 12 panels, a row of 8 in portrait on top, and a row of 4 in landscape below. The 4 will get some shadow on the bottom for about 4 months of the year, so they would ...
Louis Somers's user avatar
1 vote
1 answer
328 views

Details on installing 240 volt line to garage for emergency generator and future EV charging

High level background: I have inherited a very well maintained generator from my father-in-law (Troy-Bilt 5550). He had a 240v outlet in his garage in the event that he needed to use the generator ...
highbandwidth's user avatar
1 vote
0 answers
106 views

Separate thermostat power source from HVAC unit for home battery backup

Here's my situation. I have two HVAC units connected to Ecobee smart thermostats. Both have C wires and were standard installs. We are having solar panels and an Enphase backup battery system ...
kenyons's user avatar
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1 answer
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EZ Generator Switch with Generac GB1000 and gas furnace

Can I use an EZ Generator Switch as a transfer switch with a Generac GB1000 battery and a gas furnace (Bryant 340aav). If so, should it be setup as bonded neutral or floating neutral (I'm guessing it'...
Felix's user avatar
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4 answers
2k views

Does it Matter if I use a 50 amp breaker in my main panel to hook up a 30 amp generator?

I have a 50 amp breaker and space to put it in my main panel. Can I use that breaker or do I need to use a 30 amp does it matter? I will install a main panel interlock switch and a 30 Amp Generator ...
Mike's user avatar
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0 votes
3 answers
522 views

Can a Modified Sine Wave input damage an OLED TV?

I live in an area where power cuts are common. In order to protect my TV from the sudden power loss from a power cut, I am planning to buy a uninterruptible power supply (UPS). Most of the cost ...
AB2008's user avatar
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3 votes
3 answers
1k views

Trying to power two panels from one generator

Our house is basically two houses stacked: each floor with its own load center located in the garage. The load centers for each floor are fed from two 200 amp main cutoffs located outside the garage ...
James Schlankey's user avatar
4 votes
6 answers
1k views

Electric backup just for heating system?

It occurs to me that it shouldn't take much power to operate the relays or electronics if a gas or oil heating system. That has me wondering about the practicality of putting that one device on a ...
keshlam's user avatar
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1 answer
217 views

Supplying 30 amp 4 prong transfer switch from type B output on power station

My home has a Connecticut Electric EmerGen Switch #10-7500 with a 4 prong 30 amp locking power inlet. I also have a Goal Zero Yeti 1500X Power Station (a lithium battery and inverter). Is it possible ...
daxelrod's user avatar
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1 answer
483 views

How do I avoid overcharging the inverter battery and keep it healthy [closed]

I have installed the Luminous Inverter Battery (lead acid) as power back up for essential electrical appliances at home. There is not much electricity cut. I just want to be sure that I'm not ...
CuriousMan's user avatar
2 votes
2 answers
155 views

How can I achieve blackout resilience on a grid-connected solar installation?

I recently installed a 3.6kw solar panel setup at home. I added an inverter and a 3.6kw battery. When I asked if that would work on case of a blackout the installer told me it won't - backfeed ...
Juan's user avatar
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0 votes
2 answers
895 views

Can't plug my Bluetti AC300 into the grid and turn on AC output on the AC300 when plugged into Reliance ProTran2 manual transfer switch

I have a Reliance ProTran2 manual transfer switch plugged into my Bluetti AC300 battery backup system which has a floating ground. The AC300 is supposed to be used as a UPS backup system and pass grid ...
Leon's user avatar
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1 vote
2 answers
184 views

Trying to practically size a generator

I am trying to size a generator by measuring power from the breaker. I would to get some advice from you guys on my plan. I put an A/C clamp around both the cables from each terminal wire ("red ...
amrog's user avatar
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1 vote
0 answers
202 views

Battery backup for 5HP VFD-driven well pump

I have a 5HP well pump that's paired to a Franklin Electric SubDrive Connect VFD - the unit converts input 240VAC single-phase into three-phase power (30hz-60hz). I'd like to put a battery backup in ...
atanamir's user avatar
  • 353
0 votes
1 answer
83 views

Electrical Back-up Solution

I have a 350 Watt appliance that I need to run pretty much continuously. An electrical outage of a few seconds isn't a problem but more than a minute or two becomes an issue. So I need a back-up ...
L84Dnr's user avatar
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1 vote
2 answers
1k views

How can I supply 240v power to my home with 120v generators?

I want to hook up two 3kw inverter generators together to power my house in case of power loss. They only have 120V not 240V. How can I make this work while supplying power to all circuits 120V & ...
argentbear 's user avatar
1 vote
1 answer
193 views

Standalone circuit for emergency power

I'm looking to setup an option for long-term power outages. Our house was built in the 70s and the circuit layout is nowhere near logical enough to be able to say "these 3 circuits need emergency ...
Drew's user avatar
  • 901
11 votes
1 answer
2k views

Can a Backup Generator SubPanel Neutral be tied to the Main Panels Neutral bus, if both panels are energized at the same time from different sources?

Im new here, and Ive learned alot from many of these posts, although I have not found my exact issue yet, so I decided to upload this. I have a question regarding my installation, if its safe, and if ...
Nate's user avatar
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3 answers
325 views

Secondary Generator Wiring

I have a Generac Guardian 22kw hardwired in via an RTS switch. When the power goes out (and it does so fairly often) the generator kicks on automatically and there is barely a flicker in the lights. ...
Jafruech's user avatar
1 vote
2 answers
211 views

Feeding single circuit from two different subpanels (with interlock)

I have a main panel and a critical loads sub-panel fed by a PV inverter + battery backup. I need to avoid overloading the normal capacity in the critical loads panel (50A), and I'm already at a ...
jcoleman's user avatar
  • 165
2 votes
1 answer
3k views

Battery backup system for tankless gas water heater (outdoor install)

I have a Takagi T-K3-SP tankless gas water heater, which is installed outdoors. It still needs electricity though, so when I lose power at home, there's no hot water. The manual states it uses 86W ...
K. Don's user avatar
  • 407
-1 votes
1 answer
146 views

How to deal with a Diesel generator (PDU6500E)?

Shortly after hurricane Sandy I installed a generator (Powerland PDU6500E), which kept me and the rest of the county without a major power outage since. With winter approaching yet again, I went to ...
Mikhail T.'s user avatar
-1 votes
2 answers
320 views

Automatically turn off power to home appliances power supply switches to backup generator

Scenario at my home: In my home, refrigerator, washing machine etc and other heavy duty appliances(16A current) and lights and fans are connected to the same power line. It was a mistake done during ...
Shashi's user avatar
  • 99
1 vote
1 answer
2k views

feeding both sides of load center from 120vac backup source

In a situation of temporary backup power (short-term grid outages), is it ok to feed both "sides" of a standard split-phase main load center from a single 120vac backup source (e.g. an inverter driven ...
RustyShackleford's user avatar
3 votes
2 answers
871 views

How do I relocate a generator inlet box?

From the images above, I have a 30 amp generator inlet that connects to a transfer switch. I’d like to relocate that inlet box to the outside of the house so that I don’t have to run my L14-30 cable ...
Tito Valentin's user avatar
1 vote
1 answer
157 views

What do I need to switch power automatically from utility to solar offgrid inverter with no downtime at all during the transfer?

I want to switch power somewhere where power outage happens frequently from utility to inverter and back and forth kind of like a UPS without giving up on my inverter and what I already have.
Superhuman's user avatar
21 votes
4 answers
7k views

Getting UPS Power from One Room to Another

I’d like to run power from a Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) in ROOM A to where a work computer is used in ROOM B. I was thinking of installing an outlet box in ROOM A near where the UPS is plugged ...
staticGenerator's user avatar
2 votes
1 answer
473 views

Should I Ground a Generator Powering an UPS?

My inverter generator's manual states that "If this generator will be used only with cord and plug-connected equipment, National Electric Code does not require that the unit be grounded." I am not ...
Gaia's user avatar
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0 votes
1 answer
96 views

How to use two UPS one online and the other as backup?

I have two UPS 10kva 220 volt used for controlling system. I need one ups online and the other one as backup. If the Grid supply out the main ups pick up the load and if the main ups fail to do that ...
user avatar
0 votes
1 answer
7k views

Turning off Power to Thermostat to Replace It

I'm replacing my old thermostat due to issues with it somehow not staying at my set temperature. It's a Simple Comfort 2001, and I'm replacing it with a newer model, a Simple Clean 2001L. Both of them ...
BestQualityVacuum's user avatar
0 votes
3 answers
1k views

20 kW generator overkill for a home?

I see 20kW backup generators advertised for homes, but this seems like total overkill, or maybe my math is wrong? According to my energy bill I use about 400 kW hours of electricity per month. So, ...
Tyler Durden's user avatar
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2 votes
2 answers
1k views

"power buffer" in front of generator for peak power shaving?

I need to do some work off-grid, and I only have a 1000W generator to drive my power tools, which easily draws twice that (and probably more when starting up) when cutting steel. Instead of getting a ...
oligofren's user avatar
  • 307
1 vote
2 answers
2k views

Will a consumer UPS clean up power from a conventional genetator

I have a DeWalt DXGNR7000 generator with a bonded neutral. I’m okay with house wiring, the fine folks here on Stack helped me out with that. However, I know that these types of gensets create 60hz ...
Kerry Thomas's user avatar
0 votes
1 answer
1k views

What is in the 4-pin DC cable?

I received a used DVR, which expects a power supply like this -- note the 4-pin connector. I want to feed the DVR and the cameras from a battery-backed system like this so that the whole setup ...
Mikhail T.'s user avatar
2 votes
3 answers
2k views

What do i need to stop my computer from rebooting in electricity fluctuations [closed]

AC 240V location. My computer at home keeps restarting at the time of fluctuations and i loose all my work, this happens minimum once every day and some days more than 2 times. I have 1100va ...
user avatar
0 votes
2 answers
3k views

Can I use a heavy gauge extension cord from the wall to a UPS?

I have a 900VA/480Watt UPS/surge unit, and it doesn’t quite reach the wall where I need to plug it in. I'm using it to power an iMac. The unit has a 3x16 AWG cord. Is there any harm or difference, in ...
v15's user avatar
  • 509
0 votes
5 answers
2k views

Use small UPS to power steam boiler

I have a steam boiler (natural gas fired) and I'm wondering if I can safely use a small UPS to backfeed power to the boiler, in case of a power outage. I'm not sure how much total run time I'd get - ...
Jeremy's user avatar
  • 257
0 votes
1 answer
45 views

Distribution of lengths of power outages

I am looking for a distribution graph of power outages. I am assuming the graph would show that the lengths are positively skewed. From this I would be able to determine how long to have my ...
Eric Johnson's user avatar
1 vote
1 answer
1k views

Can I connect the UPS neutral to my mains neutral permanently?

I am trying to wireup a UPS (old one bought for my PC once) to power one of my ceiling lamps so it works as an emergency light. (Stupid idea? Yeah? :P) But since the ceiling lamp wiring is already ...
Ε Г И І И О's user avatar
0 votes
2 answers
733 views

Open Compute Server needs 220v to run. Can I use voltage convertor to run it?

So I bought an open compute kind of server and it runs on 220 volts and 700 watts power supply. So I decided to purchase a voltage converter(Transformer) My question is is this stable and will I ...
john doe's user avatar
3 votes
3 answers
32k views

How to determine (not estimate) starting amperage of a motor?

I want to buy an inverter-generator to run my Trane heating system in case of a power outage. The Trane is on a 20 amp circuit. The sticker says it needs a minimum of a 15.2 amp circuit. My question ...
Yehuda_NYC's user avatar
  • 1,321
0 votes
1 answer
2k views

Discharge back-up sump above ground?

With a TON of rain in my area recently (Northern Ohio), my basement flooded (around 2" of water). The sump pump came with the house, and I never gave it a second thought (I should have). Now that I'...
Dave's user avatar
  • 455
1 vote
1 answer
230 views

How do I select the right generator?

I'm looking for advice on what kind of generator I should get for my mobile home. We have had 3 pretty bad storms (2 hurricanes, 1 blizzard) and am looking to give my home backup power. Now I have ...
Jeremy RI's user avatar
4 votes
2 answers
391 views

Could I use a UPS to power my humidifier on an underrated breaker with a little trickery

I recently bought a house with really nice hardwood floors, but the builder didn't put any thought into installing a humidifier system. I'm now looking into my options and steam humidifiers seem to ...
Jake's user avatar
  • 143
4 votes
2 answers
312 views

What Good and Affordable Alternative Power Source Would You Recommend?

I am woking on a startup (read: using my computer always). 80% of the time, I generate my own electricity with a petrol/gas generator. On new years day, the Nigerian government increased the price of ...
OoTheNigerian's user avatar
2 votes
1 answer
917 views

Solar powered charger for laptop

How do I build a solar powered charger for a laptop with dc rating 19v, 3.42A? I'd also prefer to use some other batteries to store the electricity? How can I accomplish this?
user avatar
3 votes
2 answers
187 views

Solar panel: Current-related question

I found a solar panel rated 9v, 70mA. I want to use it to create a power backup for a 9v, 1A router. Is this possible?
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