Whole house battery backup system?

[aja8888]

Charger status is typically available via an app (at least for Tesla).
Alternatively, anytime we have a power outage, it has always been easy to find out the geographical area of the coverage.

When we had the hurricane last year here, ALL the EV chargers were inoperative for a couple of days. Didn't matter what EV you had. Maybe some 500 miles away were working, but good luck getting to them.

 

[RetMD21]

Interesting. Million didn't cause any significant EV charging problems in Florida

 

[neihn]

If power is out in your area, how can you be sure the nearby EV chargers are working? (just curious)

I actually could check the charge stations availability before heading to there. There are several charge stations within 20 miles radius of my home.

 

[aja8888]

Interesting. Million didn't cause any significant EV charging problems in Florida

Interesting, power to some of those chargers may be off the normal grid and not get affected by a power outage. But ours were out here (locally) as I had to charge my Bolt using a small gas gen set for a couple of days.

 

[Texas Proud]

LOL... now another possible problem with an EV... that everybody is using theirs for backup power and then a run on the charging stations to 'refill' your car...

Don't laugh... when there is little to no electricity stations that have gas pumps (and gas) that work have a LONG line...

 

[Koolau]

I wonder if there are separate circuits to the Fast Charging stations (separate from the regular grid)? If not, I wonder if there is a way to do that.

 

[Zathras]

LOL... now another possible problem with an EV... that everybody is using theirs for backup power and then a run on the charging stations to 'refill' your car...

Don't laugh... when there is little to no electricity stations that have gas pumps (and gas) that work have a LONG line...

So, possible problem that gas cars already have??
I would suspect DC fast chargers are less likely to loose power, simply because of how they are set up.

As earlier noted, even in the event of a large 500 mile radius where power is lost for a “couple of days”, a fully charged EV should be good for at least a couple of days. In my case a week (although there are no hurricanes where I live).

Just as other hurricane preparedness, make sure to charge your car beforehand.

 

[Texas Proud]

Well, well, well.... had an outage last night... and generator kicked in like we expect...

A bit miffed at the neighbor who also bought one recently and installed it between our houses next to his AC unit... really loud when we were trying to sleep...

But, 3 1/2 hours later got grid power back... another successful use of the gen set... but, since it was bedtime I probably would not have noticed if it had not ran...

 

[AudiDudi]

Well, well, well.... had an outage last night... and generator kicked in like we expect...

A bit miffed at the neighbor who also bought one recently and installed it between our houses next to his AC unit... really loud when we were trying to sleep...

But, 3 1/2 hours later got grid power back... another successful use of the gen set... but, since it was bedtime I probably would not have noticed if it had not ran...

Sounds like you either need to get the neighbor to build some sort of sound deadening around it or move your bedroom to the other side of the house. Maybe of he ran an exhaust extension which are popular in RV land.

 

[Zathras]

Well, well, well.... had an outage last night... and generator kicked in like we expect...

A bit miffed at the neighbor who also bought one recently and installed it between our houses next to his AC unit... really loud when we were trying to sleep...

But, 3 1/2 hours later got grid power back... another successful use of the gen set... but, since it was bedtime I probably would not have noticed if it had not ran...

You should have talked up battery options when chatting with him.
They are very quiet

 

[REWahoo]

Another update:

Heard back from the co-op and they confirmed no added monthly charge for the required app.

On including the monthly credit language, I caved. They were unwilling to modify the lease agreement to include a statement that I would receive a monthly credit to my bill for the cost to recharge the batteries for power they sell to the grid. Reading between the lines it appears that since this is a pilot program involving fewer than 20 Members they were unwilling to ask their legal folks to modify the agreement for one [grumpy old] Member. However I did get the following from them:

There is not a set monthly credit you will receive during the lease term – it is currently $40, but based on the numbers received during the Pilot program, our Engineers along with our Accounting team will determine the monthly credits after the first year. We understand that because the batteries are set up “behind the meter” there is a cost to Members, which we will be offsetting.

With that I decided to declare victory, sign the lease agreement and retreat. After all, I do have the get-out-of-jail free for $450 option to terminate the lease.

I'll post photos once the batteries are installed.

 

[MichaelB]

Good luck! Looking forward to the updates and photos.

 

[skyking1]

^ what he said. Congrats on getting a little peace of mind.

 

[Texas Proud]

You should have talked up battery options when chatting with him.
They are very quiet

Heck... I did not know he was going to put in a generator... it just showed up!!!

I know he did mention mine on one short outage saying how quickly it came on... missed the moment...

 

[Koolau]

Another update:

Heard back from the co-op and they confirmed no added monthly charge for the required app.

On including the monthly credit language, I caved. They were unwilling to modify the lease agreement to include a statement that I would receive a monthly credit to my bill for the cost to recharge the batteries for power they sell to the grid. Reading between the lines it appears that since this is a pilot program involving fewer than 20 Members they were unwilling to ask their legal folks to modify the agreement for one [grumpy old] Member. However I did get the following from them:


With that I decided to declare victory, sign the lease agreement and retreat. After all, I do have the get-out-of-jail free for $450 option to terminate the lease.

I'll post photos once the batteries are installed.

Keep us posted. It does sound interesting. I hope it all w*rks out well for you.

 

[REWahoo]

Installation scheduled:

 

[braumeister]

they were unwilling to ask their legal folks to modify the agreement for one [grumpy old] Member.

It's a relief to know that you don't have to turn in your curmudgeon card.

Best of luck with it!

 

[KarenF]

Half the capacity would power my house for less than a day. I don’t think that is worth it. We do have natural gas and got a whole house generator after Helene. We hope we don’t ever need it, but if we need a generator it would be for long term. If you want to pay $74/month so you have water during short outages that is up to you.

 

[indiajust]

For folks with existing nat gas or propane: put in the sub panel with the loads you want to supply, automatic transfer switch, ready to go slab and weather cover... Buy the gen at best price (usually in front of a hurricane). Get the entire installation done and wait for the weather to trigger the gen purchase/install.

For heat system backups in ice storms, I like a single solar panel/inverter/battery/ATX for the point source need. No changes to house wiring at all, just power for the relevant appliance.

For water pump loads, since you are rural you might consider an elevated storage tank of sufficient size to get through your design outage length. Put pump on timer to fill tank at night or during off peak times. Much cheaper to store water than electricity.

I can see why utility is pursuing this. If they have one battery in a long rural circuit, you are in an ideal spot to support neighbors on that circuit.

You might consider a swamp cooler as an interesting option. Just needs fan loads and control power. My parents house in houston had one. Its a great SW solution.

Always keep the data/wifi computer power on a backup. Helps with boredom in outages.

For investors, it is easier to slam a whole house system, panels on roof or on an outboard support structure. Quote the whole thing and reap the tax bennies.

 

[BasketCase24]

I did not read all the entries, so I apologize if someone else gave this advice.

As the batteries and auto-transfer/disconnect are being installed, it may be possible now to add a connection for your temporary generator to charge the batteries during an extended outage. That way you could charge up when you're awaken and around, and let the batteries power your home while you're sleeping. Just a thought.

When in rural Illinois, we had whole house generator backup installed after running portable generator for three days during an ice storm. Convinced me, and gave great peace of mind when the Mrs. was home while I was traveling.

 

[REWahoo]

I did not read all the entries, so I apologize if someone else gave this advice.

As the batteries and auto-transfer/disconnect are being installed, it may be possible now to add a connection for your temporary generator to charge the batteries during an extended outage. That way you could charge up when you're awaken and around, and let the batteries power your home while you're sleeping. Just a thought.

Good thought. See post #27.

 

[RetMD21]

Half the capacity would power my house for less than a day. I don’t think that is worth it. We do have natural gas and got a whole house generator after Helene. We hope we don’t ever need it, but if we need a generator it would be for long term. If you want to pay $74/month so you have water during short outages that is up to you.

Isn't the choice $74/month vs $10,000 upfront?

We have a natural gas whole home generator too but overnight I think it is usually just running the refrigerator and our phone chargers. If we were starting over we would look into some sort of battery with a portable generator backup.

 

[REWahoo]

If we were starting over we would look into some sort of battery with a portable generator backup.

Which is what we will have once the battery installation is done.

 

[ychuck46]

I'm looking for input/opinions:

Our electric co-op has a new pilot program offering to lease co-op members without solar panels (that's us) a whole house battery backup system. The offer is for a 10 year lease (early termination fee of up to $500) with no up front installation charge. I can lease one or two 25 kWh batteries at a cost of $37/mo per battery, including tax. The co-op owns and manages the batteries, handling all maintenance and warranty-related work.

Here's the catch: The batteries will be used to help support the grid when needed but will always reserve a minimum of 50% of the battery capacity for our use if we lose power. The co-op will also provide us with a monthly bill credit (currently set at a flat $40) to pay for the electricity to charge/recharge the batteries.

We live in a rural area in an all-electric home, no gas. When the power goes out we lose all services, even water. We experience two or three outages every year, generally lasting only a few hours, but have had longer outages. I have a portable generator which we have used to run a window a/c unit or portable heater if the outage was in the peak of the summer or winter. That involves running extension cords and always making sure I have fresh fuel for the generator, which is a bit of a pain. That's why this offer has caught my interest.

Some brief research says the cost to purchase an installed whole house battery system of that size would be $25,000 or more, something that doesn't come anywhere close to passing my cost/benefit threshold. But leasing a two battery system for $74/mo is tempting.

The co-op says they will lease only 20 batteries in this pilot program and I got my application in early so I'm on the list. I got a call Friday saying all the info and the photos I sent with my initial interest form look good, all that is remaining is for them to come out and get an in-person look next week, then sign the lease agreement.

Thoughts?

We had a 20 Kw backup system installed at our house about 7-8 years ago; it was the largest we could buy at that point in time. We have a large house and a number of outdoor sources of power draw as well, so we couldn't put everything on the system; not a huge downside. The cost was nowhere near what you were quoted, and ours had the additional expense of wanting it tied into our natural gas line with that run coming from the opposite side of the house through the crawlspace.

My concern with only having 50% capability available would be that electrical codes would probably dictate (much like in our situation) many sources of draw would have to be left off the system, since most codes authorities look at things like maximum draw, and in your case 50% of 25Kw would only be 12.5 Kw. That could be why you are looking at a two battery system.

Personally I would bite the bullet and buy your own system. Too involved for me the scenario you posted, and my wife also doesn't like sharing, being an only child

 

[bcbix001]

Whole house generator systems, 20kw, with 500 gallon buried propane tank cost about $25K here (SWFL). A decent size solar system without battery backup seems to run about the same. Adding batteries will double or triple the cost. My plan is a 2kw Honda with a portable AC and extension cords We don't need heat and that will keep the freezer and fridge going, a little cooling for the bedroom, a little power for the laptops. We have propane grill and a butane burner for cooking. If outage is extended beyond a day or two, may temporarily relocate as that likely means our town is a disaster zone (lost power max of 3 days with Irma and Ian, 6 hours with Milton).