End-user perspective on small office tools & technology

Webinar: An Affordable Strategy for Whole Home Backup Power

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As promised some weeks ago, I’ve created a presentation that describes our experience arriving at a strategy for whole home backup power. Since there seems to be some interest in this sort of thing, I’ll be presenting it via Zoom on Thursday, July 25th at 7pm CDT.

The presentation draws upon the experiences from Hurricane Ike in 2008, Winter Storm Uri in 2021, the derecho in and Hurricane Beryl in 2024. It traces our evolution from a wholly ad hoc approach, to running our entire home (including 4T AC) from a portable inverter.

Topics to be covered include:

  1. Generator Safety
  2. Evaluating your needs
  3. Methods of connecting power to loads
    • Extension cords
    • Inlet & interlock
    • Alternatives
  4. Instrumentation – the ability to measure power in real-time
  5. Generator basics
  6. Inverters vs Generators
    • Open vs closed frame designs
  7. Fuel options – gas, propane, natural gas, diesel
  8. Central air conditioners – understanding loads
    • Single & two-stage AC systems
    • Variable speed AC systems
  9. Central air conditioners – Modifications
  10. Alternatives to central air conditioners
  11. Whole home battery backup systems

Formal registration is not required. This is entirely non-commercial. Just a neighbor sharing his first-hand experience with other neighbors.

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