I'm looking for some good suggestions for a battery backup system that I can charge during off-peak hours and use to power my computer desk mainly during peak times. My local utility has just rolled out time-of-use rates, with off-peak at $0.11 per kWh and peak rates going up to $0.52 in summer and $0.40 in winter. I'm considering the Ecoflow Delta 3 at $624, which has a capacity of 1500 Wh. I'm also thinking about adding solar panels to it since I can place them on my deck. My daily power consumption is about 1 kWh, and I'd love to find something portable for outdoor trips as well. I'd like to keep things on the cheaper side and not go for a whole-home solution. After doing some calculations, it seems like I could get free backup power in around five years with this setup. Any recommendations?
3 Answers
I looked into a similar idea about two years back and found that with all the minimum fees and distribution costs, the savings per kWh can really drop. It might take longer than expected to see any real payoff, so just think it through.
Honestly, spending over $600 just to save $0.35 a day doesn’t seem like a great investment. You might want to reconsider if that’s really worth it in the long run.
I bought a Bluetti AC180 after the LA fires and it works perfectly for my needs. I charge it during off-peak times and use it during peak. It's also been great for camping trips - keeping my fridge cold for up to three days. I haven’t tracked the savings closely, but it definitely adds a lot of fun to my outdoor adventures!