Solar Generators

[Paslode]

The price of food and fuels are skyrocketing. If you live on the Eastern side of the state line of my AO they are getting raped on NG due to a merger. Rolling blackouts are becoming more common in the area during the summer. It could be devastating to lose the contents in the refrigerator and deep freeze by thaw.

How practical would a 2000W/3000W solar generator being in limiting the loss of refrigerated/frozen goods and allow a semi off the grid lifestyle.

Examples:

https://ecoflow.com/products/ecoflow-delta-pro-portable-power-station

https://ecoflow.com/products/delta-max-portable-power-station?variant=39435795988553

[The Reaper]

I think that is a great idea.

Too many people have unrealistic expectations of the grid, back-up power systems, and what power can be reasonably produced. We cannot expect to generate whole house AC and heat, hot water, clothes washing and drying, 24/7.

A smallish array of 7-10 panels of 300 watts each would allow you, in the event of a grid collapse for whatever reason, to sustain (on a rotating basis) refrigeration (chest freezers with thermostatic controls are a good substitute), limited task lighting, air circulation, small device charging, entertainment, communications, food prep, etc.

The system, without battery back-up would inherently be limited to mostly sunny to clear days, during daylight hours. Depending on how far north you are, this could be anywhere from a few hours of usable light per day, to more than 12 hours.

The solution would seem to be off the grid small systems that will meet the needs you have calculated that you require. The best generators out there will not run for long when fuel deliveries stop. Your freezer does not need to run all day long to keep your food cold. If you have 3,000 watts of tracking panels with the associated inverters, charge controllers, connectors, cabling, etc., perhaps with a small number of deep-cycle batteries or a small LP/NG generator for emergency power after hours or during extended overcast conditions would put you ahead of probably more than 95% of your fellow citizens.

Anybody with a deal on a Honda EU2200i, feel free to clue me in.

Just my .02, YMMV.

TR

[Golf1echo]

I see companies like Tesla and Generac are selling back up power solutions for home, to include solar. For convenience I know at least the Generac solutions work fairly well when maintained and run regularly.

Some other strategies for protecting food would be a supplementary freezer kept in the coolest part of the house. Keeping food separated and well packed can mitigate loss of cooling when opening the freezer. Block ice can supplement refrigeration as well as insulation.

For a simpler solution I found in the many power outages we experienced in Winter and hurricane season a good cooler ( ie yeti ) placed in the shade and wrapped with a good insulation, perhaps with thermal reflective qualities you can keep food and drink cold for long durations. Organize the content to keep open time to a minimum. Having made gear lists and review after action reports following events I noticed one item always crept to the top of the list. Cold beer turns out to be important indeed, now if you could just get your hands on a good thermal reflective insulation...;)

[G2squared]

TR has got most, if not all consideration well covered. Your idea of a small 2000-3000 “solar generator” and focusing on specific needs, refrigeration, is great. By doing that you avoid a lot of other clutter information. I use computer UPSs for isolated backups like my tankless water heater that runs on propane but uses 3ah power for electronics controls. So as long as I have municipal water flowing, I can take a hot shower to get the cob webs out and deal with all the rest of emergency power needs. And of course hot water for other stuff. A similar setup could be used for refer/freezer needs. This type of backup doesn’t shut off when not needed though. So even though your freezer will stay below 0 for days if not opened, you’ll still be eating up your battery. YMMV.
If you’re a DIY type of person, you can get a power inverter and wire up as many batteries as you feel you need and take advantage of LiThium Iron phosphate LiFePo, technologies for adding longevity. One of the other threads has more on battery systems for off grid. LiFePo batteries are $$$$ but they protect themselves from complete discharge unlike lead acid.
If you are considering whole house or random circuits in your house, be aware that any transformer, adapter for power, and any device that waits for a remote controller to turn it on, that is on the circuit will eat power with no “actual use”. And any GFCI/AFCI circuit will eat power at you breaker panel (they make a lot of heat in the panel). Knowing what’s using power in the background, vampire loads, will have your backup working longer. Simple solution is unplug everything not actively in use.
Conservation is also an easy and fairly cheap win for making backup solutions last longer. LED bulbs, and unscrewing the excess one is huge. One example is the kitchen light switch that turns on 6 lights!! If you only need 2 or 1, unscrew the extras if on e-power! Or all the time. I have an entry chandelier that has 18!!!!! F’n light bulbs in it!! WTFO?!!
Using reflective bubble wrap stapled to the inside of roof joists can help both keep heat out in summer and in during winter. Home Depot sells the stuff by the rolls and it’s easy to staple in place. You can also use it for wrapping a tank style hot water heater. I’ve used it to line a cardboard box as a cheap beer cooler. Works pretty good for all the above listed uses.
If heat is an issue in your region, the state of Florida did a study, using a white rubberized coating to “paint” your roof will reduce the building temp significantly. And the rubbery stuff also might help seal some holes. Black roofs soak up heat.

Sorry, got a little off topic on you specific post but some info may help in the larger scope of your situation.
Hope this helps, I’ve had to learn a lot about dealing with sketchy power supplying medical facilities over the years. The grid isn’t nearly as stable as peeps want to believe.

YMMV,

G2

[Paslode]

Here's an article from WSJ which discusses the problems with the US power grid.

The U.S. power system is faltering just as millions of Americans are becoming more dependent on it—not just to light their homes, but increasingly to work remotely, charge their phones and cars, and cook their food—as more modern conveniences become electrified.

https://archive.fo/cWkaG#selection-3565.0-3569.164

What actually got me seriously thinking about alternative energy sources was a recent visit to an Amish Farm property. Electricity, natural gas and potable water provided by utility companies in turn provides me with the comforts of home. And without those I just have shelter.

An Amish refrigerator/freezer is a ice house packed with blocks of ice. Lighting is provided by Coleman lanterns, oil lamps and candle. Hot water is provided by a 50gal hot water tank that is tied to a wood burning heat exchanger (they were on county water). Their wash machine was a old wash tub that was powered by a Briggs & Stratton engine. The main floor was an open space that was heated by a wood burning cooking stove. The house had a walkout basement that faced North, so on these hot summer days you could cool off in the basement. The landline phone in the barn was powered by a couple small solar panels.

By modern standards that's bit of a austere lifestyle, but it's doable if need be. Seems like 2000W Inverter with a NG/LP conversion and solar generator might make an Amish like Lifestyle a bit more palatable.