Re: Typical last mile battery runtime (protecting against power cuts)

[William Herrin <bill () herrin us>]

On Fri, Feb 3, 2023 at 9:36 PM Mark Tinka <mark@tinka.africa> wrote:
> On 2/4/23 07:29, William Herrin wrote:
> > If it's just a little gasoline generator, 30 minutes is about right.
> > It takes 10 minutes to decide the power isn't coming back soon and
> > another 10 to drag the generator out of the shed, hook up the wires
> > and get it going even though it's cold, wet, and hasn't been run for
> > several months. That leaves 10 minutes to spare figuring out how to
> > convince the UPS that the generator power is good enough to retransfer
> > and stay.
>
> Indeed - I was guessing given how reliable PG&E have been for Sabri, a
> lot is probably pre-wired. I may be wrong.

Pre-wired makes it a standby generator, which 9 times out of 10 is
automatic start with an automatic transfer switch. It's running within
seconds whether you're home or not. Electricians cost too much and
20kva natural gas / propane generators with an ATS don't cost enough
more than the portables.

Compare:

https://www.costco.com/honeywell-18kw-home-standby-generator-with-transfer-switch.product.4000106705.html

and:

https://www.amazon.com/Honda-2200-Watt-120-Volt-Portable-Generator/dp/B079YF1HF6

understanding that an electrician will cost you $2000-$3000 for the
labor with any genset modification to the house wiring.


Regards,
Bill Herrin


-- 
For hire. https://bill.herrin.us/resume/