A national grid outage is not something new in the United States of America. On April 29, 2023, the journal Natural Communications published a study after three years of power outages nationwide.[1] The report indicates that Americans are already dealing with the pain of climate change, with regions of Louisiana, Arkansas, central Alabama, and northern Michigan facing the greatest risks of lengthy blackouts.
Such concerns and reports shape the future of energy infrastructures and investment opportunities, especially with the ever-intensifying climate change. The country-level power outages are only reported at the state level by the federal government, but their impact can be quite substantial. Thus, the importance of having a backup power solution, such as a battery generator, can never overlooked anymore.
With a powerful solar energy storage system in place, you can put your worries to rest. Companies like Jackery have focused on offering state-of-the-art solutions that provide unlimited power supply. Whether you want a power backup for home or a portable power station for camping, you will never go wrong.
And today, we introduce you to building your backup system to combat national grid outage issues. Keep reading to discover more.
Impact of National Grid Outages on Homes
Aside from the study mentioned above, it’s estimated that there were over 231,000 power outages in the USA, lasting over an hour nationwide. Among these, 17,484 lasted at least eight hours. The same trend continues today, with most counties experiencing events that last over eight hours.[2]
Imagine lacking power for over eight hours! Without a battery generator for home or some other solution, you are facing serious problems.
Here are some of the issues you are bound to face.
- Food spoilage
Every homeowner relies on the refrigerators to keep their food in good condition. These appliances depend on electrical energy to work. That means a national grid outage renders them useless.
Your ice cream, milk, fruits, vegetables, and everything that must be kept cold will warm and spoil. You can work with an outage lasting for an hour or less because the refrigerator may retail some cold temperatures. But when it goes beyond an hour, you must have a way to keep your food in the best condition.
- Loss of communication
Communication is an essential aspect of human socialization and interaction. Technology has made it easy, and now we have computers and smartphones that keep people connected. Phone calls, texts, social media, video calls, and more have made the world a global village. When you have an emergency, you can call for help easily.
However, these devices depend on electrical energy. With a national grid outage, it becomes impossible to charge their batteries, barring communication when they go off. The last thing you want is to lose their usefulness due to lack of power.
- Home medical equipment does not work.
Modern home medical equipment relies heavily on electrical power for its functionality. From basic monitoring devices to CPAP machines used at home, electricity is essential for their operation. A national grid outage could disrupt the functioning of these devices, which are crucial for monitoring patients’ health. For individuals reliant on continuous monitoring, uninterrupted power becomes critical. They require reliable backup systems to ensure the constant functionality of these smaller medical instruments.
- Sump pumping system outage
The sump pump is crucial in keeping water from your home during heavy rain and flooding. If it fails, excess water may damage your home. Since most sump pumps use your home’s electricity to run, national grid outage issues are among the main reasons for their failure.
The last thing you want is your sump pump failing when you need it the most. One way of ensuring this does not happen is to create a powerful power backup system. You can then rest peacefully, knowing you can pump out any excess water, even in prolonged outages.
Tips on Building a Backup Power System for Home
Building a backup power for home is a necessary investment for everyone who desires a continuous electricity supply. A well-established solar power backup system not only protects you from the issues mentioned above but also saves you on energy costs. Therefore, knowing how to build one correctly is extremely important.
Here are some tips that will get you on the right path.
- Determine your power needs.
The first and most important thing you must know when building a backup system is your consumption needs. Ask yourself the following questions:
- How many appliances do I want to run during the outage?
- What are the power needs of each appliance based on the rated watts?
- How long will each appliance run in case of an extended national grid outage?
- How many appliances will be connected simultaneously?
Answering these questions will summarize all your power needs and allow you to build the perfect backup system. Understand that solar generators are built with different capacities. You don’t want to underestimate or overestimate your power needs.
You need a backup system that will power all your appliances for the required time. This will allow you to match every component (batteries, inverters, and solar panels) correctly.
You can determine the energy consumption of your house by adding the watts of each device and appliance. For example, a 1000-watt inverter will only power appliances whose wattage equals 1000W or less.
- Select powerful solar panels.
Now that you know your power needs, select the best solar panels to deliver that power. There are different types of solar panels, some of which may be inefficient. Choose high-quality panels from a reputable manufacturer for durability and performance. Consider features like:
- Panel type: You can choose either monocrystalline or polycrystalline solar panels. The former has more efficiency than the latter, which means they produce more electricity backup for home systems. But more expensive.
- Panel color: Most solar panels feature a white back sheet design. However, a few have black back sheet options that create a more uniform blend. Black color holds more heat, making them more efficient in capturing solar energy.
- Panel size: Home solar panels vary in size, starting from 60-cell to 72-cell options. The panel size depends on your power needs.
- Panel production: Choose solar panels with the best output rating and efficiency. They vary from 80-watt portable panels to 400-watt.
In short, you should choose the highest quality solar panels. Also, ensure your panels are compatible with the other components.
- Consider the outage frequency.
Outrage frequency should also be considered when choosing the backup system size and design. Certain regions in the USA are more vulnerable to power outages than others.
As mentioned earlier, regions like Louisiana, Arkansas, and central Alabama will most likely be hit by lengthy outages. If your region faces such risks too often, and the outages last for extended periods, you need a powerful backup system that will take you through the period. You may not need such solutions if your region rarely has outages or they only last less than an hour when they happen.
- Consider the local climate.
Another consideration when building a power backup for home systems is the local climate. Experts link most power outages to local weather and climatic conditions. Researchers, as mentioned in the report linked, looked at how outages overlapped with severe weather, wanting to determine how climatic conditions can cause outages and which areas in the US are often hit by outage-causing storms. [2]
Heavy precipitation in an area makes it five times more likely to have an outage. Tropical cyclone storms with high winds create 14 times more chances of outages, while cyclones with heavy precipitation on hot days make outages 52 times more likely to happen.
With that in mind, one must consider building a power backup system to meet the current demands. The more the likeliness of outages due to local weather, the bigger the backup you will need.
- Consider your budget
While building a power backup system is the best way of dealing with outages – and the most cost-effective, the upfront costs can be overwhelming. And this is why you need to carefully consider your budget. It can take thousands of dollars to install a high-quality backup unit that guarantees protection against national grid outage impacts.
Whereas the initial investment is substantial, consider the long-term benefits of installing a powerful system. The promise of continuous power delivery and the surety of high performance should matter even more. So, while you may want to get the most affordable system, do not compromise quality.
Jackery’s Power Solutions for National Grid Outages
Building the best solar power backup system could be as easy as buying from a reputable brand. Jackery has become a true leader, especially in the US market. With over a decade of experience, the company has various solutions to meet consumer needs.
Here are some of their solutions for national grid outages:
- Jackery Solar Generator 3000 Pro
Are you looking for the most portable and yet portable indoor generator? Consider the Jackery Solar Generator 3000 Pro. With the help of a licensed electrician, you can integrate this powerhouse into your home’s circuits via the Transfer Switch by choosing up to 6 circuits from the breaker panel. It offers the following benefits:
Enough power to keep your food from spoiling and ensure communication
A national grid outage can easily cause food spoilage. Connecting the Jackery Solar Generator 3000 Pro to breaker panels such as refrigerators, light switches, and outlets in the main living areas allows you to keep a consistent power supply after the outage. With a 3024Wh power capacity, this generator is large enough to keep your refrigerator running and other appliances operational.
Meeting high power needs
Power needs are another crucial consideration when choosing a home backup system. The Jackery Solar Generator 3000 Pro has a large capacity that allows you to connect different appliances simultaneously. It is capable of powering your refrigerator, TV, coffee maker, lighting, heater, microwave, electric grill, and mobile phone, and you will still have more power to connect other things.
Resilience in cold temperatures
Local climate is among the main considerations when choosing a home backup system. You need something that can withstand the extremes. The Jackery Solar Generator 3000 Pro auto-adjusts its performance according to the remaining battery level when working at temperatures between -10 ℃ and -20 ℃. It’s the perfect backup system for most regions in the USA.
- Jackery Solar Generator 2000 Plus
The Jackery Solar Generator 2000 Plus is another incredible solution for a national grid outage preparation. Delivering a mega 2kWh to 24kWh expandable capacity, you can add a battery pack and other solar panels to create an ideal off-grid power solution for extended blackouts. It promises the following benefits:
Long-lasting battery
As stated above, your power needs should be among the top considerations when building a power backup system. With the Jackery Solar Generator 2000 Plus, you can create the ideal backup to meet all these needs. Its expandable capacity allows you to add five battery packs at a time, which is excellent for heavy-duty home emergencies. It will power up to 99% of your appliances, including refrigerators, sump pumps, charging phones, home medical equipment, and much more.
Perfect for heavy-duty devices up to 6000W –high-performance
The Jackery Solar Generator 2000 Plus is expandable to 6000W, a 30% increase in the rated power, assuring constant energy delivery for all your essential devices. Additionally, it features the latest and innovative LFP battery technology with high-temperature resistance for efficient and safe operation. The innovative charge shield technology boosts battery life by 50%, enabling it to run through extended power outages.
Powerful solar panels
One thing that stands out in all Jackery solar systems is the panels. Jackery provides SolarSaga 100W and SolarSaga 200W Solar Panels that utilize the latest technology for quick and highly efficient charging. Even in areas with the lowest sunshine, you will still enjoy fully charged generators.
Additional Tips for Homeowners to Prepare For and Respond To National Grid Outages
Sometimes, a national grid outage will come without warning unless it’s planned. Therefore, you need to be prepared at all times. Here are some tips to consider:
- Create an emergency preparedness kit: Assemble essential items like food, water, first aid provisions, and other necessary supplies required in the event of a power disruption.
- Have a backup plan for communication: Consider investing in a battery-powered radio or satellite phone to stay in touch with family and friends during a national grid outage.
- Have some working flashlights in place: Ensure your family members know where the flashlight is, just in case the outage happens at night and you have not yet connected the solar generator.
- Ensure proper installation of your backup generator: have a licensed or qualified electrician from Jackery install your generator. Ensure your generator has enough capacity at all times.
All these tips will help more if you understand more about power outages and disturbances. You will be more prepared, for example, if you know the risk and frequency of outages in your region. Keep in touch with the metrological department and power supply companies to anticipate possibilities of outages.
Conclusion
As national grid outages continue to pose concerns in various US regions, especially due to climate change, homes are significantly affected. Interruptions in electrical power lead to food spoilage, communication breakdowns, and disruption of vital home medical equipment.
To counter these issues, investing in a backup power system becomes crucial. Considerations such as power needs, solar panel selection, outage frequency, and local climate are key in building an effective backup solution. Brands like Jackery offer reliable options, ensuring consistent power during outages.
Moreover, homeowners should prepare emergency kits, have backup communication plans, and stay informed about weather and outage forecasts. With the right backup systems and proactive measures, households can mitigate the impact of national grid outages, ensuring uninterrupted power supply during unexpected situations. Reach out if you have any questions or want to know more.
Reference
[1] Spatiotemporal distribution of power outages with climate events and social vulnerability in the USA. Available at:
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-023-38084-6.epdf?sharing (Accessed on November 16, 2023)
[2] Four regions of the US are hardest hit by power outages. Available at:
https://deohs.washington.edu/hsm-blog/these-four-regions-us-are-hardest-hit-power-outages (Accessed on November 16, 2023)
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