Power Stations: What are you using and why?

[dC0m]

I've been planning to get a back up power station for some time now but everytime I start to research; there's millions of options, bunch of "brands", battery types, and capabilities.

What do you use and why do you recommend it?

I'm not even sure where to begin; I'm thinking something around 800 - 1000W with ample ports, and low discharge rate. I'm not a full SHTF prepper, but if the power goes out, or if I wanted to grab and go; I have a reliable power source to draw from.

[edgerly779]

First decide how much back up you need and go from there. Appliances, frig, lights, etc. Many options on amazon. Battery power is key. voltage 12, 24, 36 pr 48 vdc ampere hours best is 100 ah. How much KW do you need. Where to place solar array. I just picked up 4800 watts of 240 watt panels from remodel for a grand. All good panels. Offer up and craigslist are good sources. Pm me if you wish. Do you have room and want off grid for emergencies.

[Excitable Boy]

I have a Goal Zero Sherpa 1000X and am very happy with it. I've got 2x 100 watt flexible portable solar panels to charge it with if needed.

I also have a Jackery 290 watt that has been very reliable, I just wanted more capacity, so added the Goal Zero. I have a couple older Goal Zero Sherpa 50s that I've had for many years. The Goal Zero stuff isn't the cheapest, but seems to be best in class from what I've read over the years.

There's lots of other brands that can be found on Amazon, but to me, if it's something I want as part of my emergency preps, I want the most reliable stuff I can find.

[harbormaster]

Ford Lightning is the best choice in the market - you get a pick up with it and it supplies most houses 2-3 days.

[XDJYo]

[XDJYo]

Ford Lightning is the best choice in the market - you get a pick up with it and it supplies most houses 2-3 days.

Pfft. Not you again. Lol!


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[edgerly779]

1 dollar per watt hour with inverter charger and storage capability is cheap for solar.

[Misterclick]

Jackery 500 and 1500. They supplement the generator. The 1500 runs my Starlink Internet and computer stuff. 500 for other tasks as required.

[twinfin]

Start by clearly defining what you want to accomplish. Figure out what exactly you want to run and for how many hours. That will help you identify what will suit your needs. A good tool to help you is a kill-a-watt meter (see below).

You can use the meter to record how many watts per day, week, month etc., that your devices use. This helps you figure out how much power capacity you need. Devices like a refrigerator only run intermittently so you need to measure their power consumption over time to know what the daily power draw is for your calculations.

Yes, it will take a bit of work on your part but this is the only way to move forward without just throwing money at battery backups. Pick the devices you want to run, add up their power consumption in watts and how many hours per day you want them to run and for how many days. I'd shoot for at least three days but maybe you only want to get through the day of a single day power outage? At the most basic level, it's simple math. Good luck

https://www.amazon.com/P3-International-P4460-Electricity-Monitor/dp/B000RGF29Q/ref=sr_1_6_mod_primary_new?crid=2JQZVNT5PRK7R&keywords=kill+a+watt+meter&qid=1667599692&qu=eyJxc2MiOiI0LjA0IiwicXNhIjoiMy40NSIsInFzcCI6IjMuMzAifQ%3D%3D&sbo=RZvfv%2F%2FHxDF%2BO5021pAnSA%3D%3D&sprefix=kill+a+watt+meter%2Caps%2C1011&sr=8-6

[bruss01]

Jackery here. Great for small stuff like a boom-box at the drive-in so running the radio 2.5 hours doesn't run down the car battery.

For bigger needs I built my own lithium iron phosphate 840 amp-hour battery unit with built-in charger, inverter and solar input Jack. Can put out 2200 watts at 120v, also has multiple 12v DC output jacks. On wheels because it's a hefty hippo. Quite a project. Been running my home office off it most of this year with 840 watts of solar panels. It can power the fridge indefinitely with this setup, and power the gas furnace too if need be. Nice security.

[dC0m]

Thanks for the input, everyone!

Seems like there's a lot of good feedback for Goal Zero and Jackery (they seem to be in the game for a while and not just a fly-by-night Amazon drop-ship business).

At the moment, I don't forsee myself backing up major appliances like refridgerators/chest freezers; but who knows? Though I like idea of having that capability if the power was out for days (which I don't forsee as a problem living in a city-setting). I do like the ability to plug in random devices of varying power ranges for at least 3 days - that would be idea for an at home or off-grid situation.

As much as I'd like to get a Ford Lighting; my budget is not $52k, more like less than $2k at the most.

[user120312]

IDK, it depends. I set up to run the Oregon place without power for a week minimum. Water, lighting, food storage, everything is set up for no power operations. Easy to run coms off the truck power if/when needed.

Forex, the power is out right now, has been for an hour or two and no big deal; should be out for a day at least. Got light (oil lamps), internet (cell phone until the cell tower genset runs out of fuel), potable water (hot and cold in a water machine) plus about 100 gallons of house water in the pump house bladder tanks. No big refers or freezers to run.

I did all that genset stuff back in the 80's and 90's and decided to forego it and blend. No need to be the only powered up house in the canyon.

My neighbor has a nice 14Kw genset but she's clueless as to how to really use it. I gave up on trying to share my experience; she can pay some electrician big bucks and let him deal with the headaches. That part of my life is over.

Push come to shove it's easy to get a genset head for the tractor PTO; it'll do 10Kw no problem. Some days I think yeah that'd be cool but then I remember the old genset days and nah, leave it be.

[TheChief]

I have a Bluettii AC200MAX with three 200w solar panels (roughly $2,300 unless you find it on sale). The unit is a self contained 2048wh LiFePO4 battery, 2200w pure sine wave inverter, and has 1400w charge controller for the solar panel/DC/AC feeds. I can support a 2200wh sustained max load, though not for more than about 45 minutes, unless I add the expansion batteries --> $$$. It can run my fridge, and/or freezer, and/or HVAC fan for whole home heating since I have a gas furnace. It has multiple USB ports too which can run my comms for a month or more alone.

https://www.bluettipower.com/products/ac200max-power-station

The Bluetti, Jackery, and Goal Zeros, all reputable brands, are being called 'Solar Generators' in that they are self-contained power supplies designed to be recharged from solar panels or other sources, that are purchased separately. They include the batteries, charge controllers, and inverters in a nice neat package.

It sounds like you have a background in generative power, so as you likely know, your solution is going to depend on what your demand requirements are such as:
AC?
DC?
USB?
Watt Hours?
How long?
Can you run solar?
Max power draw at one time?
Computer or digital equipment (requires pure sine wave inverter or you risk frying what you plug in)?

All of this will determine what your needed solution is. Throw so number out here and maybe we can list some solutions based on what we have researched.

[TrailerparkTrash]

Two Honda quiet generators.
One large (8000 surge watt) natural gas running generator
One large (6500 surge watt) gas or propane running generator

Lots of spare fuel.

I think I’m set.

[Mr. Beretta]

Yes you are!