this post was submitted on 27 Nov 2023
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Home Automation

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Home automation is the residential extension of building automation.

It is automation of the home, housework or household activity.

Home automation may include centralized control of lighting, HVAC (heating, ventilation and air conditioning), appliances, security locks of gates and doors and other systems, to provide improved convenience, comfort, energy efficiency and security.

Warning: Working with electricity can result in injury, property damage, or even death if it is not done properly. Please keep this in mind while assisting others. If you are not sure about what you are doing, hire a licensed professional.

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What do you guys think about using one of those portable power stations as an expandable home power backup for a smart home? (alien.top)
submitted 9 months ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]
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To me it looks like a much cheaper option if you compare it to something like a Tesla Powerwall or an LG Chem battery, with the added benefit of also having power expandability if you need to increase the storage at any point (again, at a cheaper price point). I saw this Bluetti AC300+B300 on sale for $1200 less, so I was wondering what do you guys think about the idea.

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[–] [email protected] 1 points 9 months ago (3 children)

I'd say it depends on your needs. Since my home would consume four or five of these in a singe hour, I'd say that they were undesirable to me at any price.

For an application such as my own, a whole-house generator is the preferred solution. It costs as much as three or four of these, but can carry the house for days before requiring refueling.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 9 months ago (2 children)

You don’t need to power everything in an emergency.

But if you get your heating and cooking with electricity and you’re in an environment that NEEDS cooling…

I use 10kwh/day average. But that includes power-hungry “steam” washer/dryer and dishwasher, none of which I need for a few days outage.

I’m lucky to have gas water heater and gas steam boiler. The boiler needs about 10 watts on standby and max 25 operating (ecobee, damper, auto-fill, etc.)

I’ve already rigged it with a cord and if there’s an emergency I put it on a little 300W/400 WH Jackery over night (will run it for close to a day) so I don’t have to run a generator. I plan on rigging up some kind of UPS with a few days capacity though.

I just bought a 1000W/1kWh gently-used Jackery for $450 from a neighbor who upgraded to a 2000Plus. That’ll run the fridge over night.

The Jackeries have great general utility and are both very portable.

Just got a 3000W 120V portable generator and that’s all I need for everything else. Stove top is gas, takes a match or lighter. Oven is electric I don’t need to bake cookies during an outage. Air fryer, toaster, microwave are fine on the generator, one at a time.

I’d eventually like one of those expandable battery systems with a 10 circuit automatic switch and load-shift during peak hours. The prices are coming down rapidly. Ecoflow looks good but plenty of competition coming.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 9 months ago (1 children)

I use 10kwh/day average.

Some of us use a LOT more than that.

But regardless of the number, when planning for comfort, I plan for peak load. Average doesn't help me when I need things to work. I opted for whole-house backup and it runs the entire house.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 9 months ago

but hopefully most of us use a LOT less than that. I use about half of it, but I don't have a dryer. I use a cloths line.