In the province of Quebec, we are quite privileged to be able to count on a reliable energy network. We turn on the switch and presto, our devices turn on and off as we want.
On the other hand, when an electrical outage occurs, you can quickly find yourself helpless.
If we have thought of the emergency kit which includes flashlight, bottles of water and non-perishable foods, we must however ensure the charging of communications devices such as telephones and computers, avoid opening freezers and refrigerators in addition to having to ignore the internet network.
We offer 3 types of backup systems that will allow you to compensate for the lack of energy and avoid having to run the generator or otherwise reduce its use. Also, we have added to our catalog of "ready to plug" systems, kits corresponding to the different types mentioned in the article, to see them, follow the link at the bottom of the article or consult the section On network of Solar kits.
The “on the go” backup battery system
Or we could also call it the take-home battery system.
It is not a question of obtaining a backup system strictly speaking, but of a battery allowing us to have access to a little energy to power a few key devices.
In fact, in this first option, we bring together all the systems or devices that allow us to have power without needing to call an electrician or mess with the electrical box in our home.
We are thinking, among other things, of portable charging stations such as the ARC-3 and the ARC-5 which are devices that include a lithium battery and a pure sine inverter. These devices have USB and 120V outlets that allow you to connect tablets, cell phones and computers, among others.
Convenient because they drag well, they are also devices that we recommend to camping enthusiasts, enough to be able to kill with one stone in one go.
At the moment these are the two models we have in stock, but we are looking to add more products like this that could provide even more power.
Other options:
Otherwise, if you want to have a little more capacity, it is always possible to equip yourself with a battery which you will connect to an inverter which will take care of transforming the alternating current into direct current and power our devices. These devices have 120V outlets that allow you to plug in the devices you want.
If the option of a backup kit that ships automatically piques your curiosity, the following should interest you.
The backup battery system connected to the network:
As its name suggests, it is one or more batteries that are connected to the network so that they fill and maintain themselves while waiting for a breakdown to occur.
To do this, we install a second electrical box connected to the one already in place. This auxiliary box is powered by the batteries and it is the inverter which will take care of the transfer during a breakdown. Everything is done automatically without any human intervention being necessary.
At this stage of the installation, to determine the reserve capacity of the batteries and the maximum power of the inverter, it is necessary to target the device(s) which absolutely must operate, breakdown or not. Only the devices in the auxiliary box will be powered in the event of a breakdown.
A little more about:
The batteries
There are different types of deep cycle batteries suitable for this type of backup system. For primary residences, we offer lithium batteries because they provide more convertibility options to communicate with other devices in the system. Also, they can discharge completely without being damaged, which can be practical in the event of a prolonged outage. Otherwise, it is always possible to plan ahead and ensure that the batteries can be recharged using a generator.
Each battery has its advantages and disadvantages, to find out more about the different types that exist, you can read our article: The ABC of battery types.
To see our different products in deep cycle battery, click here.
The inverter:
What's nice about the inverter on a backup system is that it can help us manage our energy consumption every day. It is possible to program certain inverters to ensure that at certain times of the day, the device draws its energy from the batteries of the auxiliary system, which can compensate the network during peak hours and reduce your monthly billing.
Different types of inverters are available on the market, however, to be able to be connected to the network, you will need one designed for that: these devices meet standards and provide a pure sine wave.
To learn more about inverters, you can read our article: The piece de resistance: The inverter.
Hybrid backup battery system connected to solar energy:
In addition to being connected to the grid, the batteries are connected to photovoltaic panels which ensure that they charge the batteries, maintain them and potentially send energy back into the grid in times when our production exceeds our consumption.
This option has the advantage of allowing you to recharge your system's batteries whether there is an outage or not, because you produce your own energy. It is possible to have the system switch from one network to another automatically, without the need for human intervention.
This self-production also allows you to be entitled to the net metering option, that is to say a reimbursement on your bill for the Kw produced when you are connected to the Hydro-Québec network. An interesting way to make the project profitable and which allows you to obtain some additional subsidies.
Grant programs:
You should know that in order to reduce the use of fossil energy, the federal government has set up a subsidy program orchestrated by Réno-climat which is divided into two components.
You can get up to $5,000 for the installation of a photovoltaic or so-called solar energy system and it is possible to have up to $1,000 additional for the batteries only.
You can find out more by reading our article on the subject: Solar energy and subsidy programs - Canada Greener Homes Grant.
If you are interested in purchasing such a system, complete a custom kit form in indicating in the notes that it is a backup kit or contact us at 1-833-341-1830.
*It is important to remember that you must view the battery as your energy reservoir. Its size will be determined according to the number of devices that we want to operate in the event of a breakdown, their consumption and the activation duration.
