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How much backup power do you need for your home?

How much backup power do you need for your home?

2024-06-02

Electricity is crucial for modern living, but unforeseen emergencies like power outages disrupt daily routines. During such times, backup power becomes particularly vital. To ensure that the backup power supply meets the household's needs, some calculations and planning are necessary.

Before determining the backup power needed for a household, let's first understand the difference between kWh and kW ——

Introduction to kWh and kW

kW (kilowatts) is a unit of power, representing the rate at which energy is produced or consumed per unit of time. 1 kW is equal to 1000 watts (W).

kWh (kilowatt-hours) is a unit of energy, representing the total amount of energy consumed or generated. 1 kWh refers to the energy produced or consumed at a rate of 1 kW for one hour.

Therefore, the conversion between kWh and kW is based on time:
1 kWh = 1 kW × 1 hour
For example, if an appliance with a power rating of 1 kW operates for 2 hours, then the energy consumed is 1 kW*2h = 2 kWh.

Understanding these basic principles will help you calculate the backup power required for a household:


Calculation of Household Backup Power

1. Find out how much power a device need:

Firstly, you need to identify the electricity needs of your household. Determine which appliances must be ensured to operate without interruption during power outages, such as lighting, communication devices, refrigerators, life-saving medical equipment, etc. You can obtain power information by checking the labels and manuals of your appliances.

If the power consumption of some appliances is not specified on the label, but the labels indicate "A" (Ampere, unit of current) and "V" (Volt, unit of voltage), you can calculate the power consumption of the appliance using "watt = volts x ampere".


2. Calculate the Total Power Consumption:

Once the power ratings of each appliance are determined, it's also important to consider their corresponding usage durations.

If you want the backup power in your home to smoothly transition through a 24-hour power outage, list the time each backup appliance will be used within these 24 hours. Multiply the power consumption of each appliance by its corresponding usage time to obtain the required energy.

Finally, add up the energy required by all appliances to determine the backup power capacity needed for your home during a 24-hour power outage.

 

Example Calculation:

Power of Appliance

Quantity

Hours of Use

Electricity Consumption

Light

10W

5

5h

0.01kW*5*5h=0.25kWh

Television

110W

1

2h

0.11kW*1*2h=0.22kWh

Laptop

100W

2

2h

0.1kW*2*2h=0.4kWh

Mobile Phone

5W

2

2h

0.005kW*2*2h=0.02kWh

Coffee Maker

1200W

1

0.5h

1.2kW*1*0.5h=0.6kWh

Fridge

150W

1

24h

0.15kW*1*24h=3.6kWh

Microwave Oven

650W

1

1h

0.65kW*1*1h=0.65kWh

Heater

1300W

1

5h

1.3kW*1*5h=6.5kWh

Total Electricity Consumption

12.24kWh


In summary, this household requires 12.24kWh of backup power to endure a 24-hour power outage. Three units of Hinen's Max 5b 5kWh battery, or Base 5b (with 3 modules), or Max 8b 7.7kWh high-voltage battery (with 2 modules), would be adequate. Additionally, when paired with a solar photovoltaic system, the duration of backup power could be notably prolonged, potentially leading to energy independence and self-sufficiency.

Best Home Backup Power: Hinen Energy Storage Solutions

The most ideal way to provide backup power for home is to install a solar energy storage system. During the day, solar panels convert sunlight into electricity to power appliances, with excess electricity stored in batteries or fed to the grid earning revenue. At night, the stored electricity in the batteries directly powers the appliances. This self-generation and self-consumption system eliminates dependence on the grid, achieving energy independence for the home.


Hinen offers a variety of energy solutions for single-phase, three-phase, and off-grid buildings. In the event of a power outage, the inverter's EPS function automatically activates, switching to battery power within 20ms, ensuring a seamless transition without even noticing the power outage. Hinen's energy storage batteries come in capacities ranging from 5 to 120kWh, allowing users to choose the solution that best fits their needs and enjoy stable, clean energy, contributing to the creation of low-carbon households.

Welcome to contact us! We will assist you in selecting the product combination that best suits your household needs, providing professional service throughout the entire process.

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