Alternative power system designers are now able to upgrade grid-connect clients to a grid back-up inverter system.

An inverter system that has the ability to export excess generated renewable energy to the grid allows system owners to take advantage of the renewable energy certificate (REC) and local feed-in tariff schemes, as well as provide the added security of battery back-up power.

Grid back-up inverters

Grid back-up inverter systems enable grid and battery bank power-use management. For example, an appropriately configured grid back-up inverter can protect owners from the unnecessary costs of exceeding grid power use (tariff) thresholds.

This is important when national grid network changes are considered, with a growing demand on infrastructure, electricity price increases and a wider enforcement of punitive tariffs by energy retailers.

During a power outage, or when a configured grid input limit is reached, a grid back-up inverter automatically provides battery-sourced power to the loads, offering the user peace of mind.

Applications for grid back-up inverters are infinite, from power-dependent commercial and rural applications to residential fringe-of-grid situations.

One Victorian couple saw significant benefits of a grid back-up system: providing power security when it is most needed during the bushfire season.

Grid back-up inverter helping Kinglake family prepare for future fires

Kinglake residents, John and Mary Broda were caught unaware by the 2009 Black Saturday fires.

They had approximately 15 minutes between noticing the smoke over the hill and fighting a blaze on their property.

A major problem faced by the Broda family was having no electricity as power lines were destroyed by the fires.

Like many others, relying on the mains to power emergency equipment such as communications, water pumps and lighting, the Brodas were left with no means to ascertain fire direction and location and no means to defend their property once it arrived.

“We had no warning when fire hit, we just wanted to grab hoses and fight but [we] don’t have mains water so needed electricity to power water pumps to fight the fire. Instead, [we] had to run to the old generator and manually start it, then go to the meter box and switch it over, by then…the front of our place was already burning,” says Mr Broda.

Miraculously, the Broda family and their property have survived with little damage.

Grid back-up inverter automatic switchover

As part of their emergency preparation plan following Black Saturday, Mr and Mrs Broda have now installed an SP PRO Grid Back-Up inverter system (SP Plus Energy Kit) with the expectation that when they experience a power cut, this system will automatically power their house, emergency lighting and fire-fighting equipment, by using electricity stored in pre-charged batteries and an auto-start, back-up generator.

“We like the inverter system because it takes care of itself and does the switching over [from the grid to battery back-up] automatically. You don’t have to worry about it, you just have to grab your hose and off you go,” explains Mrs Broda.

The Broda family had no electricity for a week after Black Saturday. Their new SP PRO inverter back-up system can be expanded to include renewable power sources such as solar, which would allow them back-up power during prolonged grid outages and would reduce their reliance on a diesel generator.

Selectronic Australia would like to thank John and Mary Broda for kindly sharing their story.