Posted on 11/13/2012 9:37:39 PM PST by Kartographer
Harris has an upcoming interview on that very topic - he was challenged, went out and did the research and testing, then will present his results.
I’m kinda psyched about it. I’ve been wanting to set up the battery bank backup system at the house for a while.
I’ll listen for his recs on battery suppliers, but I think the Costco golfcart batteries are going to be the best bang for the buck.
The batteries do have to be deep cycle. I was getting surplus sealed glass-mat telecom batteries for a pretty cheap price, but you gotta dig for the deals.
Breakers, disconnects to code (I wasn't required to go code, but I did, for safety), monitoring equipment, wire sizing, etc... add a lot of safety, but cost more.
My load in the shack in the mountains wasn't a lot, but having the elecktrikity was nice.
/johnny
I’d like to get a small battery system with solar panels to charge. It will probably be a while before I can as I’m putting firearms higher on the list.
Yeah, I can see where you are as making a difference. Here in CNY, the backroads would be the way to go.
But you do have to know them.
4 22AH sealed Pb batteries, new ($152), a charge control with cutoff ($55), and a couple of 40W panels ($229 total).
I use Anderson power pole connectors for safety.
With the small inverter I have for that setup, I can't run much, but I can recharge phone batteries, run radio equipment, a light or 2 and a fan.
It will run a small fan all night long. That much I know from the last power outage. ;)
/johnny
Could you add more batteries and increase its capacity? The panels should keep them charged for light use. One advantage I have here in Florida is the amount of sunlight we get.
The systems I’ve seen online are much more expensive then what you just posted.
Remember though, this was not a plug and play system. I spec'ed the parts and built it myself, then drew up the wiring diagram.
/johnny
Am I right in understanding that an inverter costs between $800 and $3500?
I agree completely.
I live in one of the collar counties of Washington DC. We were close enough here to see the smoke rising from the Pentagon. There are military and intelligence installations here. This county may not be a target per se, but DC is, and some of the major escape routes run through this region. These roads are hideous on the average sunny Friday afternoon. They are worse than you can imagine in the rain or snow. They'd be functionally useless during an emergency, unless you're a bad guy and want to just walk up to helpless drivers and hold them up.
Until recently I had a horse. I trained her for cross-country riding and jumping so that I could ride her through the countryside without bothering with roads. The idea was to join up with a girlfriend who also has a very durable horse and ride to a place deep in the country where we could shelter for a bit. From there we worked out alternative plans for places to go, depending on what the emergency is.
However, I ran out of money and don't have my horse anymore. :-((Guess I'll be doing this on foot, if the worst happens (unless a miracle happens and I can figure out a way to make enough money again). If you are trapped on the road in your rig during the collapse, you are a sitting duck.
I don't know how comfortable you are pushing electrons, so it's your call.
/johnny
The same Outback 3500 watt inverter ranges from $1700US to over $3000US, depending on the vendor and if it's pre-wired or not.
I had the opportunity to use Outback equipment in the mountains, and it is as good, or better than the Trace equipment I used back in the late 90s. I wouldn't buy Trace today, but I would buy Outback. Just my .02. I don't sell either. I simply appreciate smart engineering.
/johnny
I do basic wiring stuff but when you get into the power controls and battery systems I’d prefer to have a professional design it.
My electronics knowledge is more down to the component level with mill-amps and 5 or 12 volts. Of course most of that was on classified military stuff which does me no good these days.
Shouldn’t be that much unless your looking for pure sine and high efficiency. Harbor freight has the size I’m referring to for $50-$70.
Bad news: If we get pulsed instead of having an internal collapse, that 80% casualty rate will cover everybody.
Consider this: You’re in the city and out of food. Where is food made? The country.
I suspect we will see refugees, especially if we get an EMP attack, which will make the cities worse than useless for a time.
I wouldn’t trust a single prediction or prophecy of this type. The Bible is not a code book, and we are not going to learn the day or hour of either the Tribulation or His coming by interpreting His word like a pile of entrails.
True, but plenty of folks who live in urban America who are not on drugs but live by swiping the EBT...once the food in their fridge is gone, they will go somewhere. The urban non-poor should be considered as well. If you’re a person who works for a living and has some skills but is not a prepper, do you hang out in a dead city full of looters looking to take the little you have left or do you hightail it? Some will.
True, but plenty of folks who live in urban America who are not on drugs but live by swiping the EBT...once the food in their fridge is gone, they will go somewhere. The urban non-poor should be considered as well. If you’re a person who works for a living and has some skills but is not a prepper, do you hang out in a dead city full of looters looking to take the little you have left or do you hightail it? Some will.
For most people food is made in the supermarket. The country is something you fly over as you joke about banjo music.
Most people will not be able to walk 10 miles let alone 50 miles in the best of times. After ten days without food they will be eating each other but not walking out to the country.
IMHO anyway.
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