Passive House, storms and power cuts

[bgmill]

19 hours ago, JohnMo said:

Priced and checked running cost, then went petrol

 

As it's for emergency backup I'm less concerned about running costs plus not having to worry about storing a decent supply of petrol does appeal to me.

[Onoff]

15 minutes ago, bgmill said:

 

As it's for emergency backup I'm less concerned about running costs plus not having to worry about storing a decent supply of petrol does appeal to me.

 

Also, modern petrol can go off unless you put in an additive.

[JohnMo]

You can buy a petrol from chainsaw supplier that does not go off.  Intend to have some ready to go.  

[Ferdinand]

20 hours ago, dpmiller said:

I note that the comments negating the likelihood of outages *aren't* coming from folk that live out in the sticks where power is HV *and* LV overhead...

 

They all have power cuts and can#'t log on ?

[Roger440]

10 hours ago, Onoff said:

 

Also, modern petrol can go off unless you put in an additive.

 

This is why i bought a diesel genset.

[Onoff]

Picking up the free storage batteries and controller tomorrow. No ideas what I'm getting! ?

[SteamyTea]

31 minutes ago, Onoff said:

Picking up the free storage batteries and controller tomorrow. No ideas what I'm getting! ?

PP9s and a buzzer.

[Russdl]

1 hour ago, Onoff said:

Picking up the free storage batteries and controller tomorrow. No ideas what I'm getting! ?

 

Be sure to report back ?

[SteamyTea]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-somerset-60453727

 

Don't use four candles.

Still, at least their fire brigade has a roof.  Was told that one of the fire stations lost it's roof, along with the RNLI at Sennen Cove.

[Russdl]

Have I found the answer to my problems in a power cut?

 

 

This little rascal is the EcoFlow River 2 Portable Power Station.  I can plug it in to the mains and then plug the MVHR into it. In the event of a power cut it will instantly take over (in 30ms according to the blurb) and run the MVHR. 

 

If I’ve got the maths correct and more importantly I’ve understood the electrickery bits properly it’ll run the MVHR on setting 2 for over 11 hours (standing by for being slated on both the above points…) It’s capacity is 256Wh and the rated power of the Brink on setting 2 (200m3/hr) is 23W. 

 

On top of all that, when I go wild camping (I don’t) I can take it with me to power the ghetto blaster for ages!

 

Does anyone have any experience of the portable power stations? Is my planning sound?

 

 

[ProDave]

So it was you we passed walking up Cairn Gorm with a gheto blaster on his shoulder spoiling the peace and quite was it?

 

I would describe that as a UPS rather than a "power station"

[Onoff]

Dunno, got this for nothing and even got two new batteries for it, for nowt, the other week. 500W. Just use it for the phone, answerphone and router. 

 

[Russdl]

@Onoff nowts a good price - nice one 👍

 

1 hour ago, ProDave said:

 

So it was you we passed walking up Cairn Gorm

 

Unlikely. I would have been running. 
 

But how about the question, have I got the sums about right?

[Nick Thomas]

Just as an aside, it's weird to call them passive houses when they require active ventilation. I'm sure it's not a novel observation.

[Russdl]

@Nick Thomas fair point. Trades description act and all that.
 

Passive ventilation is available but no good in a passive house as you throw all the heat away and get nothing in return. 

[Nick Thomas]

Heh. I'm currently reading about earthship-style "earth tubes" that apparently provide passive hx ventilation in cold climates

 

A battery + MVHR is probably more pragmatic

 

[Kelvin]

1 hour ago, Russdl said:

Have I found the answer to my problems in a power cut?

 

 

This little rascal is the EcoFlow River 2 Portable Power Station.  I can plug it in to the mains and then plug the MVHR into it. In the event of a power cut it will instantly take over (in 30ms according to the blurb) and run the MVHR. 

 

If I’ve got the maths correct and more importantly I’ve understood the electrickery bits properly it’ll run the MVHR on setting 2 for over 11 hours (standing by for being slated on both the above points…) It’s capacity is 256Wh and the rated power of the Brink on setting 2 (200m3/hr) is 23W. 

 

On top of all that, when I go wild camping (I don’t) I can take it with me to power the ghetto blaster for ages!

 

Does anyone have any experience of the portable power stations? Is my planning sound?

 

 

 

Yes my electric car. Technically meets the definition of a portable power station. I powered a 1600W concrete breaker from it on and off for 9 hours for several days. We also have a portable induction hob we use for camping. We had some builders at the farm in the summer and there was a power cut. I ran an extension cord for them to let them power their concrete mixer and charge their batteries. So yes your battery pack will work fine. The main thing is to keep it charged and to actually use it occasionally. Power cuts are infrequent after all. 

[Nick Thomas]

We're not super-rural here but we've already had at least six power cuts this year. None of them long, but it's not exactly inspiring confidence.

 

Fortunately, I already have the battery and EPS-touting inverter; just need to add some wiring to make it useful throughout the house.

[Russdl]

@Kelvin  Thanks for that, the plan is that it will be plugged in 24/7 so fully charged all the time and only discharging to the MVHR in a power cut (or when I take it away for a day trip up some mountain somewhere). 
 

It would appear from the blurb that its was primarily designed for off grid use but also functions as power station, UPS, call it what you will. 
 

I think I’ll go for it. 

[SteamyTea]

10 hours ago, Russdl said:

It’s capacity is 256Wh and the rated power of the Brink on setting 2 (200m3/hr) is 23W. 

 

9 hours ago, Russdl said:

have I got the sums about right

256 [Wh] / 23 [W]

 

The watts cancel out leaving the hours.

 

256 / 23 = 11 [h]

 

Yes

 

How much is it?

Edited February 13, 2023 by SteamyTea

[SteamyTea]

9 hours ago, Nick Thomas said:

Just as an aside, it's weird to call them passive houses when they require active ventilation. I'm sure it's not a novel observation.

There is a purely unpowered, mechanical, solution, but looks dreadful.

And rattle.

 

[Adrian Walker]

11 hours ago, Russdl said:

Have I found the answer to my problems in a power cut?

 

 

This little rascal is the EcoFlow River 2 Portable Power Station.  I can plug it in to the mains and then plug the MVHR into it. In the event of a power cut it will instantly take over (in 30ms according to the blurb) and run the MVHR. 

 

If I’ve got the maths correct and more importantly I’ve understood the electrickery bits properly it’ll run the MVHR on setting 2 for over 11 hours (standing by for being slated on both the above points…) It’s capacity is 256Wh and the rated power of the Brink on setting 2 (200m3/hr) is 23W. 

 

On top of all that, when I go wild camping (I don’t) I can take it with me to power the ghetto blaster for ages!

 

Does anyone have any experience of the portable power stations? Is my planning sound?

 

 

For ~£300 it will give you comfort during power cuts and I’m sure you will find other uses for it during the year and yes the numbers work. 

[MikeSharp01]

9 hours ago, Russdl said:

Passive ventilation is available but no good in a passive house as you throw all the heat away and get nothing in return. 

We have that as an option but it requires power to open the rooflights so won't work in a power cut. 

[Russdl]

1 hour ago, SteamyTea said:

How much is it?

£269 the cheapest I’ve seen so far, so an expensive solution to a rare problem but it’s not a one trick pony which is what tempts me. 

[SteamyTea]

29 minutes ago, Russdl said:

£269 the cheapest I’ve seen so far, so an expensive solution to a rare problem but it’s not a one trick pony which is what tempts me. 

If it was just for the MVHR, I would be tempted to buy a cheap inverter that runs of a leisure battery, which is on a trickle charger.

But that is probably £200 quid in reality.