We have frequent power failures, summer and winter. Split second to 8 hours to a month or more ( big wild fire).
I installed a simple solar power system which can deliver 500W for 8 hours as
120VAC/ 60 cps
Solar panels, 2 x 75W connected to:
Charge controller to protect the batteries connected to:
Several 12VDC deep cycle batteries connected to:
Pure sine wave inverter to make 117VAC with max 1200 watts.
Most small electric motors are "universal winding" design. This means that the motor acts as a dead short for the instant you turn it on. The "inrush" current to get it spinning is about 2X the current needed for steady running.
Square wave and "modified" sine wave inverters stop at zero in the AC cycle. The motor thinks it has been shut off so asks for inrush current every 50-60 times per second. That sucks your batteries down fast and very hard on the motor.
If all you ever wanted to do was some lighting, fine, go ahead, it will all be OK.
However, to run any sort of a motor (electric drill, coffee bean grinder, whatever), you need to buy a pure sine wave inverter which can power everything.
My Harman wood pellet stove has 3 electric motors in it. Two run continuously, one pulses with pellet delivery. I need 500W pure sine wave to make it all go at -20C.
Power goes off. Solenoid drops out and my power alarm starts chirping.
Find my "touch light." Go downstairs and push one button to light up the inverter. Pull the pellet stove plug out of the wall mains socket and plug it into the operating inverter (NEVER start them under load). Stove clears itself.
Back upstairs, I have one dedicated quad 117VAC set of plugs coming up from the inverter. I plug in a 9W LED light and point that at the kitchen ceiling.
Lights half the house and many windows. Just to let other people know, if their heat dies and they get too cold, they can all come over to my house and bunk in the warmth.
I installed a simple solar power system which can deliver 500W for 8 hours as
120VAC/ 60 cps
Solar panels, 2 x 75W connected to:
Charge controller to protect the batteries connected to:
Several 12VDC deep cycle batteries connected to:
Pure sine wave inverter to make 117VAC with max 1200 watts.
Most small electric motors are "universal winding" design. This means that the motor acts as a dead short for the instant you turn it on. The "inrush" current to get it spinning is about 2X the current needed for steady running.
Square wave and "modified" sine wave inverters stop at zero in the AC cycle. The motor thinks it has been shut off so asks for inrush current every 50-60 times per second. That sucks your batteries down fast and very hard on the motor.
If all you ever wanted to do was some lighting, fine, go ahead, it will all be OK.
However, to run any sort of a motor (electric drill, coffee bean grinder, whatever), you need to buy a pure sine wave inverter which can power everything.
My Harman wood pellet stove has 3 electric motors in it. Two run continuously, one pulses with pellet delivery. I need 500W pure sine wave to make it all go at -20C.
Power goes off. Solenoid drops out and my power alarm starts chirping.
Find my "touch light." Go downstairs and push one button to light up the inverter. Pull the pellet stove plug out of the wall mains socket and plug it into the operating inverter (NEVER start them under load). Stove clears itself.
Back upstairs, I have one dedicated quad 117VAC set of plugs coming up from the inverter. I plug in a 9W LED light and point that at the kitchen ceiling.
Lights half the house and many windows. Just to let other people know, if their heat dies and they get too cold, they can all come over to my house and bunk in the warmth.