Backup Power

[rreihart]

What's everyone's plan for dealing with a power outage? A power inverter and a battery was suggested as an option. Am I right in thinking a 1000W inverter would give me about 8 amps (at 120V)? How can I determine the time a certain battery would power this?

Thanks, Rob.

 

[Nofossil]

What's everyone's plan for dealing with a power outage? A power inverter and a battery was suggested as an option. Am I right in thinking a 1000W inverter would give me about 8 amps (at 120V)? How can I determine the time a certain battery would power this?

Thanks, Rob.

That's about right. That translates to a draw of more than 80 amps on the battery at full load, though. Not many batteries can stand that for long.

I use a pair of deep cycle marine batteries that are rated for 100 amp/hr each. That translates to a total of 2400 watt/hrs. A circulator is around 100 watts, so that would power my circulator for 24 hrs, not counting inverter inefficiencies.