[CharlesWayneCT]

Another advantage of batteries is that you could spend some more money and buy solar panels and charge them during the day. That cuts down on the generator use, gives you noiseless operation when people tend to be up and about, and provides one more source of energy.

Even when you run out of propane and the natural gas cuts out, so long as the sun shines, you have some power to use.

And you could always buy a wind generator as well. And if you have a stream nearby, you could buy a water-powered generator.

One thing I’m working on is building up some LED lighting. Whenever I see clearance sales, I buy one or two. They use so little electricity, that if you were to use a battery system, you’d need very little to light up your house (and frankly, light is one of those things we all take too much for granted.

[PA Engineer]

Another advantage of batteries is that you could spend some more money and buy solar panels and charge them during the day. That cuts down on the generator use, gives you noiseless operation when people tend to be up and about, and provides one more source of energy.

Excellent point. The arrangement is the primary leg of a stand alone system. I have 6-85watt helios stored away with a charge controller. This was until recently my worst case scenario purchase to run the well.

Western PA has not seen any blackouts this summer, but there definitely have been brown outs. The EPA has started forcing the coal plants to close. This will create shortages, where before we had about 20% overcapacity.

I have been using a data logger for line voltage and have recorded measurements to 105 volts. I do expect the problems to worsen. Now my worse case may end up being the full 5KW minimum load. The AstroEnergy 245Watt panels (20) look interesting. That however is one heck of an investment for a worst case scenario.