We are basically simple ordinary middle class people concerned about the stress and consequences of a short-term or long-term power outage or even a catastrophic power outage when we realized many reasons why and how it actually could happen. Rather than fearing the consequences of a disaster, we decided to plan and prepare for a grid failure disaster as a hobby. We have learned that preparedness reduces the stress level dramatically.

We believe any catastrophic event unleashed in America will be short lived and Americans will march forward and rebuild as history shows from the past. We will learn from our mistakes and we will continue to build an even greater America for all people.

Your comfort level and chance of survival will be directly dependent upon your preparedness efforts.

Preparing for a grid failure is not difficult or complicated. Choose a weekend to switch your grid power off at the panel box and experience two days with no electricity whatsoever. Then, start taking notes of necessity and prioritize your results. Preparedness includes food, water, supplies, communication, energy souce, security, and defense.

Our house is all electric, no gas, no oil and includes a medium sized Interconnected Grid-Tied Hybrid Solar System with battery backup. Four of our outbuildings are powered by independent small solar systems with batty backup to provide our outbuildings with exterior lighting at night and 24 hour security cameras if needed. We own several gas fueled generators and understand that gas fueled generators can only produce electricity as long as fuel is available, otherwise it is worthless. Fueled generators make noise and attract attention!

How We Set Up Our Outbuilding Off-Grid Battery Backup Solar Systems

One of our outbuildings are powered by two 100 watt panels, a 20 amp charge controller, two 12v 35 amp deep cycle batteries, and a 150w inverter. With 14/2 romex wire for interior 12v light bulbs and 16AWG 2pin electrical wire for two exterior 12v flood lights and one 120v security camera. This building solar panels pointed south with excellent sunlight.

A second outbuilding is powered by two 100 watt panels, a 20 amp charge controller, two 12v 35 amp deep cycle batteries, and a 300w inverter. With 14/2 romex wire for interior 12v light bulbs and 16AWG 2pin electrical wire for three exterior 12v flood lights. This building solar panels pointed east and did not get much direct sunlight.

A third outbuilding is powered by one 100 watt panel, a 10 amp charge controller, two 12v 35 amp deep cycle batteries, and a 300w inverter. With 14/2 romex wire for interior 12v light bulbs and 16AWG 2pin electrical wire for two exterior 12v flood lights and one exterior porch light. This building solar panel pointed east and did not get much direct sunlight.

A fourth outbuilding is powered by one 100 watt panels, a 10 amp charge controller, one 12v 35 amp deep cycle battery, and a 300w inverter. With 14/2 romex wire for interior 12v light bulbs and 16AWG 2pin electrical wire for two exterior 12v flood lights. This building solar panel pointed south with excellent sunlight.

Totals: Six 100 watt panels, four charge controllers, seven 35 amp deep cycle batteries, and four inverters. This set up lights up our back yard every night and serves as an option to create one 600 watt emergency solar system if needed.

Note: All solar panels are identical 100 watt 12 volt monocrystalline solar panels (compact design) and all solar batteries are identical 12v 35 amp AGM deep cycle solar batteries. Using identical panels and batteries allows us to use our solar equipment in many different configurations, if or as needed.

• If you want to run 12v electric in your shed, you will need a small fuse block (Blue Sea Systems ST Blade ATO/ATC Fuse Blocks). I ran 10/2 With Ground Romex Wire from the battery(s) to a low voltage battery disconnect switch (CZH-LABS LVD Low Voltage Disconnect Module), then 10/2 with ground romex wire to the fuse block. The low voltage battery disconnect switch will disconnect the battery(s) from the fuse block when the battery or battery bank voltage is lower than a set amount (10v - 11.4v) to protect the battery(s) from extreme discharge damage. The low voltage battery disconnect switch is a good idea to protect your battery(s) from over discharge and promote battery long term health.

• From the fuse block, I ran 14/2 With Ground Romex Wire to several interior light switches and lighting using 12v light bulbs. I also ran 16AWG 2Pin Electrical Wire to several 12v Female Socket Plugs to power any 12v appliance or device using a cigarette lighter type plug.

• From the fuse block, I ran 16AWG 2Pin Electrical Wire to a JVR 12V Timer Switch that was wired to several exterior GLW 12V AC or DC LED Flood Lights to turn on at night for about 5 hours every night.

• From the fuse block, I ran 16AWG 2pin electrical wire to a second JVR 12V Timer Switch that was connected to a BESTEK 300Watt Pure Sine Wave Power Inverter using a 12v female socket plug and ran 14/2 with ground romex wire from the inverter to an exterior receptacle to power 120v Christmas lights at night for about 5 hours every night as needed.

• From the fuse block, I ran 16AWG 2pin electrical wire to a third JVR 12V Timer Switch that was wired to a 150w inverter to power an outdoor 120v Defender PhoenixM2 Security Camera for 8 hours every night or as needed. An idle security camera uses less watts than a led light bulb.

We Recently Installed A 12v Water Transfer Pump

We use a 12v Water Transfer Pump to move water from a seven foot deep underground rain water spout pit to our fruit and vegetable garden water tanks because our house faucets were a distance from the garden and the rain water pit was near the garden with an abundace of rain water. And, in an emergency situation when electricity is not available and food is not available or scarce or expensive, we can water our gardens as often as needed as vegetables and fruits need water to grow fast and healthy.

We use a 12V 35 Ah Sealed Lead Acid Battery with alligator clips to run the 12v water transfer pump, works like a champ for hours upon hours with little or no battery drainage! It appears that a much smaller battery would work as well. Anytime I can move from gas or propane fuel to a battery, I am in, not because I prefer the battery over gas or propane, but because solar will keep on working when gas and propane are no longer available in any significant emergency situation. Nice advantages are that battery energy is quiet and I don't have to spend time to refill fuel tanks or money to purchase fuel.

And, We Recently Installed A 300w Inverter To Charge And Maintain All 12v Batteries

Since my travel trailer, 12v water transfer pump, household and yard power tools, mowers and off-road recreation vehicles require some type of batteries that can be recharged and maintained, I installed a 300w inverter and a NOCO GENIUS2 2A 6V and 12V Smart Battery Charger, with alligator clips, in one of my sheds that already had a small solar system installed and is where I now charge and maintain all of my batteries opposed to in my basement using my utility company power. A savings in electricity bill and ability to charge all of my precious batteries in the event of an emergency situation. I am taking full advantage of the solar energy I capture... and I am liking it!

We Are Also Considering A Solar Generator

A Solar Power Generator with a lithium battery pack was another interesting alternative energy source that is capable of running heavy load appliances too, including an entire home if desired. Solar generators usually include solar panels, a built-in charge controller to charge the built-in batteries, and a built-in inverter to power AC devices and appliances. Nice advantages are that it runs silent and indoors (no toxic fumes), no long extension cords, little or no maintenance. Recharging can become a nuisance, but you will have energy to survive. Good for short and long-term emergency plan.

For a larger solar generator system to power more devices and appliances is quite simple. Just add a few more panels and a few more add-on batteries and presto! Repeat the process to power even more devices and appliances.

The disadvantage is that you have to move the generator close to the solar panels to charge the internal batteries. But, you will have power.

So, What Can We Say About Solar Energy?

We were so impressed with solar energy that we eventually hired a professional solar system installer to install a grid-tied solar system with batteries for our home with the panels installed on our garage rooftop. A grid-tied solar system is connected to the power grid and feeds excess power it generates into the power grid. A grid-tied solar systems acts like a generator. With the flip of a fuse block switch, our electricity source switches from grid power to our solar power. It happens (and purposely) that our house was built all electric, no gas, propane, or oil. And now, no dependency on gas, propane, oil, or power grid electricity.

If you have a significant or moderate savings account, investing in a solar system could be a very smart life decision. If the power grid fails, cash and credit might become useless or not available at all. In the meantime and thereafter, you could benefit financially and personally from the continuous supply of free and reliable energy. As retail prices rise and the supply chain weakens, you might not have the opportunity and options like you do now.

The benefits of a solar system are: self-dependence, self-reliance, lower or no electric bill, and mainly no stress about how to survive in a short-term or long-term power outage or blackout. When the power grid goes down for a few hours or forever, you have uninterrupted continuous electrical power. Now, that's a reason to get up in the morning.