Wondering how many of you have arranged to use your car for limited backup power in your home in case of emergency, and what hardware do you use to do it? Of course, you would need a full tank of gas, DC to DC converter, or DC to AC inverter, maybe an oversized alternator, a battery bank or solar backup battery system. Anyone?
Using car for emergency power
- Thread starter gfmucci
- Start date
wssix99
Well-known member
Probably the easiest thing to do would be to back the car up on to a hamster wheel or a treadmill that has a generator and interconnect to the house.
What could go wrong?
What could go wrong?
nadogail
Well-known member
While i have not had to put the knowledge to work yet; i have read the page of Epi Center dot Com and have come to the conclusion that trying to use a car for emergency power would be extremely wasteful. It would be like trying to heat your house by building a fire in your front yard.
A small engine coupled to an alternator, charging a battery, and if you need 120 Volt A.C. then use an inverter. The small engine will be operating at or near it's peak power output and near it's peak efficency.
Reliable small engines, like a Honda clone, are pretty cheap, add a mounting bracket, a belt and pair of sheeves, and a battery. that will give you a lot of power in a small package for cheap. Used lawnmower or pressure washer engines can often be had for cheap.
To feed a 200 horse engine for a 4 horse job will cost you too much. What about the cost of the hours on the big engine?
A small engine coupled to an alternator, charging a battery, and if you need 120 Volt A.C. then use an inverter. The small engine will be operating at or near it's peak power output and near it's peak efficency.
Reliable small engines, like a Honda clone, are pretty cheap, add a mounting bracket, a belt and pair of sheeves, and a battery. that will give you a lot of power in a small package for cheap. Used lawnmower or pressure washer engines can often be had for cheap.
To feed a 200 horse engine for a 4 horse job will cost you too much. What about the cost of the hours on the big engine?
finn
Well-known member
From what I recall, the new Ford lightning, properly equipped, will be able to power your typical suburban house for a couple of days.
A small rv with solar panels and lithium batteries can probably go infinitely, as long as you had a water source and a place to empty the tanks. My class B with AGM batteries can get along with minimal generator intervention as long as the sun shines at least a little bit during the day. Some of the newer small B and C motor home models are doing away with the generator, relying on lithium, solar, and an engine driven second alternator for backup.
A small rv with solar panels and lithium batteries can probably go infinitely, as long as you had a water source and a place to empty the tanks. My class B with AGM batteries can get along with minimal generator intervention as long as the sun shines at least a little bit during the day. Some of the newer small B and C motor home models are doing away with the generator, relying on lithium, solar, and an engine driven second alternator for backup.
dcg9381
Well-known member
Apparently dealers were loaning out the Ford trucks in the great snow disaster:
We are lucky enough to have RVs, which have some pretty decent "standby" capabilities.. But in the cold, it turned out we had more trouble keeping the RV warm (water lines freeze) than we did most of the residence.. RV did have onboard power (generator) and had 30 gallons of gasoline. Fresh water can't be kept potable for too long... My thoughts are just buy the 2500-4000 watt "standby" generator in dual-fuel fashion and keep that around.
F-150 with generator is getting worldwide attention after Texans use it to power homes
A 7-year-old boy and his kittens kept warm with a Ford F-150 as car dealers lend pickup trucks to Texas families in need.
www.freep.com
We are lucky enough to have RVs, which have some pretty decent "standby" capabilities.. But in the cold, it turned out we had more trouble keeping the RV warm (water lines freeze) than we did most of the residence.. RV did have onboard power (generator) and had 30 gallons of gasoline. Fresh water can't be kept potable for too long... My thoughts are just buy the 2500-4000 watt "standby" generator in dual-fuel fashion and keep that around.
slow
Well-known member
I have used my old duramax pickup to run a refrigerator after a hurricane. I had a 1000 watt inverter, and the truck had 2 batteries, I had 2 more batteries in the garage and used a jumper cable to connect the 2 battery banks together, kicked the high idle up on the truck and let it idle for about 20 minutes every few hours. I now have a Honda Eu2000 generator
Running a quality 2000-3000 watt inverter generator might run critical needs for 6-8 hours on 1 gallon of gas.
The generator might cost a $800- $2000
A quality inverter running a vehicle like 5 liter V8 would work. Not efficient, but it will work.
Cost will be all over the board based on the vehicle and inverter power needs.
Think the F150 hybrid ( properly equipped) would be better than the F150 Lightening if the need runs long.
There have been multiple prior posts on this exact topic.
The generator might cost a $800- $2000
A quality inverter running a vehicle like 5 liter V8 would work. Not efficient, but it will work.
Cost will be all over the board based on the vehicle and inverter power needs.
Think the F150 hybrid ( properly equipped) would be better than the F150 Lightening if the need runs long.
There have been multiple prior posts on this exact topic.
The hamster wheel would be great in a pinch, with enough hamsters. "Yup, I have a 1,000 hamster emergency power supply - it generates 100 watts continuously. But the feed bill is horrendous."
But if it's for a rare emergency it might be worthwhile.
Just joking to point out that out of the box thinking has to take over in an emergency. Avoid the normalcy bias. What we think is "inefficient" or "impractical" during normal times may be a great option when the SHTF.
For example, I'm considering a 10 amp, 12 volt to 48 volt DC to DC converter to charge my battery power bank in 3 to 4 hours with my car. This will generate 480 watts into an Ecoflow Delta (dozens of other options for less or more $$$) to store 1300 watthours.
My question is: For temporary use, is it better to hook up such converter to the vehicles' battery or to its alternator and why?
But if it's for a rare emergency it might be worthwhile.
Just joking to point out that out of the box thinking has to take over in an emergency. Avoid the normalcy bias. What we think is "inefficient" or "impractical" during normal times may be a great option when the SHTF.
For example, I'm considering a 10 amp, 12 volt to 48 volt DC to DC converter to charge my battery power bank in 3 to 4 hours with my car. This will generate 480 watts into an Ecoflow Delta (dozens of other options for less or more $$$) to store 1300 watthours.
My question is: For temporary use, is it better to hook up such converter to the vehicles' battery or to its alternator and why?
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Muckin_Slusher
Well-known member
Apparently we (Canada) are looking at portable trailer mounted nuclear, so there's that...
www.nrcan.gc.ca
Canada’s Small Modular Reactor Action Plan - Natural Resources Canada
Small Modular Reactors: the next wave of nuclear innovation Innovation in the nuclear sector plays a critic
TractorJeff
Well-known member
Hook it to the Battery which is already hooked up to the Alternator.
Showkey is right in that this Topic has been beat to Death many times already.
Showkey is right in that this Topic has been beat to Death many times already.
American Locomotive
Well-known member
It's been beat to death many times in this forum, several times this year already. Basically what it comes down to are these facts:
1) Car alternators are typically limited in capacity. 130-180a is only 1800-2500w
2) Car alternators typically can't output their full capacity at idle, and will need increased RPM to do it
3) Car alternators are not efficient
4) Car engines are not efficient at the very low (relative loads)
5) Good, high quality inverters are very expensive.
Basically in almost every single case it's cheaper, more efficient, and more reliable to have a backup generator instead. Especially if it's something like a Honda inverter generator. If you're in a serious pinch, running off your car will work, but it's not ideal.
1) Car alternators are typically limited in capacity. 130-180a is only 1800-2500w
2) Car alternators typically can't output their full capacity at idle, and will need increased RPM to do it
3) Car alternators are not efficient
4) Car engines are not efficient at the very low (relative loads)
5) Good, high quality inverters are very expensive.
Basically in almost every single case it's cheaper, more efficient, and more reliable to have a backup generator instead. Especially if it's something like a Honda inverter generator. If you're in a serious pinch, running off your car will work, but it's not ideal.
Milton Shaw
Well-known member
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During a weeklong power outage my sister would sit in her car and charge her cell phone so she could use it. Last time we had an extended power outage the cell tower generators ran out of fuel and they were off two. Her outage was from a narrow tornado that took out transmission network in a narrow area and didn't do much damage to her neighbor hood. Cell towers on the other side of the tornado path were still working. They discovered their solar yard lights worked inside for a few hours at night
Shiftless
Well-known member
If all you need is cell phone charging and a few lights, you can do what I did during a 40 hour localized outage.
I have 2 group 27 deep cycle lead acid batteries and 2 inverters.
A cell phone charger pulls about 5 watts and LED light bulbs pull about the same.
I have a couple of 12 volt LED bulbs that screw into a standard lamp base. Using those, you don’t need an inverter. Just run straight off the battery. Use a lightweight extension cord, clip off the plug, strip the ends of the wire and attach to a couple of battery clips. Now you’re ready to rock!
Each of those batteries is good for at least 500 watt hours without falling too far down on the discharge curve.
If the outage is local and long lasting, you can take the battery or batteries with your charger somewhere to plug in.
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Saying it's not efficient to run off the car in normal times is quite obvious, doncha think. This thread was not about "normal times." Yes, I already have a dual fuel generator and a couple of high powered solar power stations. My question was focused on Plan C situations -if additional power is needed in rare times during an emergency. Those scenarios will have you hunting for Hamsters and a wheel.
Saying it's not efficient to run off the car in normal times is quite obvious, doncha think. This thread was not about "normal times." Yes, I already have a dual fuel generator and a couple of high powered solar power stations. My question was focused on Plan C situations -if additional power is needed in rare times during an emergency. Those scenarios will have you hunting for Hamsters and a wheel.
American Locomotive
Well-known member
Even in an emergency, it's inefficient and a waste of precious fuel. You'd be much better off using the fuel in your car to drive somewhere with power, heat and running water then sitting there for hours charging up your phone.
I suppose that yes, if your generator failed and your various battery banks and phone chargers and solar power stations failed, an inverter running off a car is a viable "Plan C".
I suppose that yes, if your generator failed and your various battery banks and phone chargers and solar power stations failed, an inverter running off a car is a viable "Plan C".
Shiftless
Well-known member
If all you have to do is charge a cell phone, this pedal generator will work. It might be good to charge a small motorcycle battery too. Plus you and your family if you’re not alone can get some exercise while you’re waiting for the power to go back on.
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I've told this story before, but when I worked for my friend's pizza shop we had a power outage. I used my geo metro, a 1400w inverter, and two extension cords to run their POS/dispatch system. Two PCs, the router/switch and two thermal printers. This allowed them to dispatch the remaining deliveries, clock everyone out and do the closing process.
So an car/inverter setup has it's uses in an emergency.
So an car/inverter setup has it's uses in an emergency.
slow
Well-known member
you can charge your cell phone with the engine not running, get a simple 12V to USB charger. I keep a couple of portable USB power stations around for charging cell phones when on vacation and such, so they would be used first. Also note, many laptops can charge a cell phone even when turned off, my Dell XPS15 has a constant on USB port for this kind of purpose.