Buying a System
How to size a system
What appliances do most people power during an outage?
In residential settings, refrigeration, gas- or oil-fueled heating systems, and lighting are most common. Electronic appliances such as computers, home entertainment components, and security systems don't consume much electricity and can easily be added to a home's backup subpanel. If you use pumps to supply water, keep a basement dry or pet fish alive, include these items in your backup power plans. Many gas appliances require only a small amount of electricity and should be included on the sub-panel. Comfort and convenience appliances such as fans, coffee makers, microwave ovens and garage door openers are other items your may want to use during an outage.
In an office setting, computers, printers, modems, fax machines and telephone systems are the most common equipment to run along with lighting. It makes sense to include whatever you need to keep your business functioning efficiently. Just remember that the more things you power, the bigger your system will need to be.
What appliances can an inverter/battery Backup Power system run?
Almost anything. But appliances that require exceptional amounts of power are best to avoid, if possible, as they are very expensive to run from batteries or a generator. Examples include central air conditioners, heat pumps, electric hot water heaters, electric clothes dryers, electric ranges and electric space heaters.
What if a power outage is too long?
For protection from long outages, include a generator or solar panels in your Backup Power system. Shorter outages can be handled by a battery-only system. Solar panels are significantly more expensive than a generator, but can provide year-round electric bill savings and require no fuel or maintenance.
Xantrex top-of-the-line systems, using sine-wave SW Series inverters, come in three power output levels and integrate easily with a generator for automatic starting and system recharging. Several lower-cost Xantrex systems are intended primarily as battery-only systems. Your Xantrex dealer can help you select the system that best meets your needs and answer any additional questions.
Sizing you system step by step…
In order to size your backup power system you need to properly size your inverter and battery bank.
The first step to size your system is to size your inverter. Build a list of critical loads you would like to secure during a power outage, and their power rates in Watts. A useful formula for this step is: Amps x Volts = Watts. Most appliances have a power tag on the back with this information, if there isn't one, use the estimates provided in the Average Power Consumption of Common Appliances chart. Define what appliances on your list will possibly work simultaneously, and add thir power rates. The number you arrive at will determine the size (the power rate) of your inverter.
The next step to sizing your backup power system is to size your battery bank. Determine the average daily power consumption of your critical loads (expressed in watt hours per day), using an Example of Power Consumption Chart for Battery Sizing. a chart below as an example. Be as accurate as possible, and consider ways you can conserve power.
Getting the figure of the power consumption needed, add another 10% to the losses in your system. Then, considering the depth of discharge for your batteries at 80% level, you will arrive at the final number of watt-hours of your power storage required. This number will determine the size of your battery bank.
What appliances do most people power during an outage?
In residential settings, refrigeration, gas- or oil-fueled heating systems, and lighting are most common. Electronic appliances such as computers, home entertainment components, and security systems don't consume much electricity and can easily be added to a home's backup subpanel. If you use pumps to supply water, keep a basement dry or pet fish alive, include these items in your backup power plans. Many gas appliances require only a small amount of electricity and should be included on the sub-panel. Comfort and convenience appliances such as fans, coffee makers, microwave ovens and garage door openers are other items your may want to use during an outage.
In an office setting, computers, printers, modems, fax machines and telephone systems are the most common equipment to run along with lighting. It makes sense to include whatever you need to keep your business functioning efficiently. Just remember that the more things you power, the bigger your system will need to be.
What appliances can an inverter/battery Backup Power system run?
Almost anything. But appliances that require exceptional amounts of power are best to avoid, if possible, as they are very expensive to run from batteries or a generator. Examples include central air conditioners, heat pumps, electric hot water heaters, electric clothes dryers, electric ranges and electric space heaters.
What if a power outage is too long?
For protection from long outages, include a generator or solar panels in your Backup Power system. Shorter outages can be handled by a battery-only system. Solar panels are significantly more expensive than a generator, but can provide year-round electric bill savings and require no fuel or maintenance.
Xantrex top-of-the-line systems, using sine-wave SW Series inverters, come in three power output levels and integrate easily with a generator for automatic starting and system recharging. Several lower-cost Xantrex systems are intended primarily as battery-only systems. Your Xantrex dealer can help you select the system that best meets your needs and answer any additional questions.
Sizing you system step by step…
In order to size your backup power system you need to properly size your inverter and battery bank.
The first step to size your system is to size your inverter. Build a list of critical loads you would like to secure during a power outage, and their power rates in Watts. A useful formula for this step is: Amps x Volts = Watts. Most appliances have a power tag on the back with this information, if there isn't one, use the estimates provided in the Average Power Consumption of Common Appliances chart. Define what appliances on your list will possibly work simultaneously, and add thir power rates. The number you arrive at will determine the size (the power rate) of your inverter.
The next step to sizing your backup power system is to size your battery bank. Determine the average daily power consumption of your critical loads (expressed in watt hours per day), using an Example of Power Consumption Chart for Battery Sizing. a chart below as an example. Be as accurate as possible, and consider ways you can conserve power.
Getting the figure of the power consumption needed, add another 10% to the losses in your system. Then, considering the depth of discharge for your batteries at 80% level, you will arrive at the final number of watt-hours of your power storage required. This number will determine the size of your battery bank.