More than just lights!
Growing up in Phoenix we lost power a lot. We experienced a lot monsoons. It really wasn’t a big deal. We had a gas stove for cooking, mom had oil lamps for lighting and we adjusted. I remember playing hide and seek, games on the coffee table lighted with the lamps, watching the lightning shows outside our ‘huge’ picture window.
We have dealt with the same here, with the exception of heavy rain showers instead of monsoons. We have oil lamps, a gas stove, we have played games or just sat around talking.
One of the things we didn’t have to deal with growing up but I do now, is the need for keeping a medical device running. While I have had a CPAP for a long time (almost 10 years) I have never really worry about the power going out. If it did during the night, I would wake up and take my mask off. If the outage was a long one (we had one last 5 days) I just wouldn’t sleep at all with it and thought nothing of it.
I have since learned that I don’t do well without it, plus I am now more aware of the dangers of doing so.
A few years back we purchased a Diehard Jump Pack for automotive emergencies, but it also had outlets and a couple of USB ports as well as a cigarette lighter port.
We pulled it out a couple of weeks ago and because we didn’t keep it charged, it was not strong enough to run my CPAP at all. Once you let a battery go dead you need to replace it. We have found that the battery can be changed, https://youtu.be/9Rv2L0BbdHU we are just not sure if that is the direction we want to go. Besides, I would really like to look for a source that can be charged by solar as well. Here’s a video showing you how. https://youtu.be/GaefxeSJsp4
My husband received a gas generator for Father’s Day a couple of years back. It will take care of the lights and minor stuff like that but it will not support our refrigerator or freezer. Plus it is loud and in an emergency I would rather not advertise that we have power.
I have recently learned that you can join (parallel) two lesser powered generators to give you more power.https://youtu.be/ZdeFgTgUS0A
How about paralleling two different brands and sizes. https://youtu.be/bsu3C15WNhE
Then paralleling two of the same size vs. 1 larger one.https://youtu.be/ES0f-3Mr7m0
With that thought of the noise, I was directed to Solar generator or backup battery banks. Here are a few that we looked at for my CPAP needs.
Before you can choose, you’ll want to know what your needs are.
How much power do I need?
Amps x 110=watts
Watts divided by 12=amps used per hour
Amps used per hour x hours used = power needs in amp hours
Because I was/am so new at this stuff, I consulted the University of YouTube. I found a video of the Top 10 Backup H]Power Sources for CPAP Machines.
#10 SereneLife Power Station (about $136)
#9 Medistrom Pilot 24 Lite (about $339)
#8 Webetop Inverter (about $155)
#7 FF Flash Fish 300 wh 330 w (about $249.99) 166 wh 200 w (about $129/with solar panels (about $294.99)/solar panels (about 165.99)
#6 Renogy GP10 (about $206.87) CPAP adaptor sold separately (about $206.87) ?solar
#5 Rockpals Off Grid with solar panels-foldable (about $280.99)
#4 Freedom Kit (about 328.95/solar panel $299.99)
#3 Aeiusny Generator is fireproof/solar chargable with 80w-120w max (about $289/with panels $489.97/panel $189
#2 Jackery Explorer 1000 with panel $1,499/solar saga 60w panel $179.99
#1 Maxoak K5 White $299. Grey $219. with panels $375.99
Here are a few others that I found:
Zopic Explorer *Backup TSA Certified
-Mini $329
-5500 $479
Can charge items with regular plugs, USB, solar panels fold $269
**plus you can keep it plugged in to the outlet & have the CPAP plugged into the Zopic & if you loose power, it will kick on without you needing to wake up and plug in to a unit.
AIMTOM Portable Power Station (is like SereneLife) $250
-will run for 5 nights w/o humidifier
PowerPalX $129.99 PPRocker
Novoo $169/with panels $326.98
The I turned my views toward a broader perspective
Portable/Travel units with a bit more power
-Gas https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XSPs8rImhtY
-Gas/Propanehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hSK_lEqHGr8
-Solar https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-nAkPCai2qQ
-Solar/Wind
-Solar Panels https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c-auRHKq2-A
So, then I started thinking about the house and appliances like the refrigerator and deep freezer.
Whole Home Power Backup or Off-grid
-Gas
-Gas/Natural Gas/LPhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nbWRb45n49w
-Muffling the sound https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nbWRb45n49w
-Gas/Solarhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uNXsC_592kI
-Solar/portable
-Solar/stationary
–Growatt
–Titan Point Zerohttps://www.pointzeroenergy.com/
—expandable
—-batteries
—-panels
Solar Panelshttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c-auRHKq2-A
DIY Solar Power with Will Prowsehttps://www.youtube.com/c/WillProwse
There is a lot to think about, but we aren’t putting it off. Do your research. Do what is best for you. Don’t put it off. Start really small and work up, if necessary, especially if you need it for medical reasons.
But please DON’T go into debt. That stress will not help in the least.
Be careful of these programs that say you can sell electricity back to the power company. When the power goes out, so will yours. That’s not a deal to me.
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