01Resilience
Storm planning
Backup power
Size a portable power station for an Irish power cut on all three limits that matter: continuous load, simultaneous peak and motor start-up surge, from the fridge to a well pump.
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Verdanyx category · Ireland
Home resilience tools
Plan backup power for an Irish outage on all three limits that bind it: what the battery holds, what the inverter can hold, and the surge a fridge or pump draws when it starts.
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Size backup around essential loads and realistic runtime
Backup power is a prioritisation exercise, not simply a search for the largest battery. The system must provide enough instantaneous power to start and run the chosen appliances, while also storing enough energy to keep the essential ones operating for the intended outage.
Build the load list from what genuinely needs to remain available. Separate continuous loads from short bursts, note motor or compressor startup demands, and use measured wattage where available.
Power and runtime are separate limits
An inverter can be overloaded even when the battery stores plenty of energy. Conversely, a high-power unit can run out quickly if several steady loads remain connected.
Startup surges matter
Fridges, pumps and similar equipment can draw more power when starting than their normal label suggests. Allow headroom rather than sizing exactly to the steady total.
Plan for losses and degradation
Not every rated kilowatt-hour reaches the socket. Conversion losses, reserve settings, temperature and battery ageing reduce usable runtime.