Scaling Your System Needs: Backup Power 101
The first step to any meaningful backup electricity plan consists of prioritizing your power needs. Most of us have little or no concept of how much electricity it requires to power the devices we use in our homes every day.
In fact, most of us have virtually no understanding of electricity at all. We can’t go 5 minutes without checking our phones, yet we don’t know the difference between AC and DC power, or a watt versus a volt.
We’re not saying that every prepper needs to be a certified electrician, but a functional understanding of the basics, as well as safety precautions, can come in very handy.
It’s important to think very specifically about the appliances you’d like to run in a long-term power crisis. Refrigeration is a big one. A refrigerator, even a small one, or a deep freeze should be factored into your power plan.
Lighting is another major consideration. Lighting is important for both safety and convenience, but it presents a challenge for some setups because it consumes power at night — when things are quiet and generator noise is easiest to detect.
Electricity Consumption of Common Appliances:
- Refrigerator: 188 Watts
- Freezer: 273 Watts
- Incandescent Bulb: 60 Watts
- CFL Bulb: 18 Watts
- Water Heater: 479 Watts
- Toaster: 1,100 Watts
- Coffee Machine: 1,500 Watts
- Ceiling Fan: 74 Watts
- Portable Fan: 100 Watts
- LCD TV: 213 Watts
- Laptop: 50 Watts
- Wireless Router: 7 Watts
- Window Unit A/C: 1,000 Watts
- Central A/C: 5,000 Watts
- Cell Phone Charger: 4 Watts