For Independence or Disaster: Home Power Systems

May 21, 2006 – Vol.11 No.9

FOR INDEPENDENCE OR DISASTER: HOME POWER SYSTEMS

With the Atlantic hurricane season set to begin many along the US Gulf Coast and Eastern seaboard, and many miles inland, must be thinking now’s the time to consider a back-up power supply for the home, a generator for instance.

But why not use the opportunity to begin building a totally independent home power plant?

Two companies, Northern Tool and Equipment and Sentry Power Technologies, are offering battery back-up power supplies large enough to provide power for most of, if not all of, a whole house.

(The products are essentially big boxes of lead-acid batteries that include charging equipment and an inverter to convert DC to AC.)

Northern says that its product could be connected to a solar system: the beginnings of that independent-from-the-grid power supply. Sentry doesn’t make that claim but chances are they’d agree.

The downside is long and short term cost. Northern’s system, which will supply power for 72 hours, costs about $4000 and the batteries will need replacement every 1600 charge/recharge cycles.

And, most likely the systems should be exercised on a regular basis - not left unused in the basement or garage - to keep the batteries healthy and full of charge.

Still the concept of a big battery pack for the home holds possibilities.

--- With more equipment, and the right billing agreement with the utility company, the batteries could be recharged at night when rates are cheaper.

--- As the foundation for an independent home power system, solar panels can be added one or two at a time as bank accounts allow. Or in breezy areas a small wind turbine or two could be installed to keep batteries charged.

--- There are business opportunities as well: designing, configuring and installing battery systems that can be used for back-up power, off-peak power storage and the foundation of an independent power system.

Sentry Power Technologies has recently been purchased by Power Technology Inc. which has been developing lead-acid batteries using carbon foam coated in lead tin alloy as current collectors in the batteries.

Northern Tools has been in business 25 years, according to the website and has 50 stores in 11 states and has catalog and Internet sales. Visit Sentry Power at http://www.sentrypowertechnology.com/ , Northern Tool at http://www.northerntool.com/ (click Generators, Residential Standby Generators) and Power Technology at http://www.pwtcbattery.com/