Hi everyone! I'm a new homeowner in California, and during the recent heatwave where temperatures soared above 100°F, we experienced a power outage. Within just 30 minutes, my home felt like an oven. I'm trying to figure out what's realistically possible for cooling my house during an outage. I'm not looking to cool the whole place, just one or two rooms. I keep hearing mixed opinions: some people swear by battery backups, while others argue that gas generators are the way to go. Has anyone successfully powered a mini-split or window A/C unit using only battery power during a blackout? I'd really appreciate hearing what worked or didn't, as I want to avoid spending a ton of money on something useless!
3 Answers
It can be done with good insulation and proper equipment. I run my mini-split and fridge smoothly off an 8 kWh battery system for about 24 hours, especially if I manage my energy use. It’s not the cheapest option, but it works great for me while keeping everything at a comfortable temperature. Just make sure to consider peak power requirements before diving in.
What kind of setup do you have? I’m looking to do the same but need to crunch some numbers.
Running A/C on battery is definitely tough because A/C units draw a lot of power. You’d likely need a really large, and thus expensive, battery system to keep even a window unit running for long. I’ve tried a high-capacity battery and could only keep it running for about 45 minutes. For practical cooling during outages, gas generators are usually the best bet unless you've got deep pockets for a massive battery rig.
Did you use any soft start for your unit? I hear that helps with the initial power draw.
Sounds like getting a generator is the safest route. I just went through my first blackout with 100°F heat too, and it’s brutal! Did you find anything else that worked for you in the meantime?
Battery backups for A/C usually aren’t practical unless you have a huge solar setup. Otherwise, you’ll end up with a generator. I wish there was a better way, but in my experience, a gas generator is the more reliable option.
I hear that a lot, but I’d really like to stick to batteries if possible. Anyone tried it with just battery power?
Thanks for the heads up! It’s frustrating dealing with all the heat just to think about generators.
That’s great to hear! I’ve got older insulation and big windows, so it might not work as well for me, but I’m curious about your battery size!