Steps towards being prepared for the inevitable loss of AC Mains power.
A prior QTH offered the opportunity to have a solar battery system connected into the home’s AC panel, with manual transfer switch and two EcoFlow Delta Pro units to provide 220VAC power to the home. Today’s QTH does not offer that choice — leading to an extension cord based “overlay” system. Sequence is: power goes out, turn on battery units, plug in desired items to operate off of battery power, then reverse order after power is restored.
Have a small Goal Zero Escape 150 system that’s based on a lead-acid battery. It’s modified for power-pole +12V output leads and has a pair of 15W solar panels for field charging. Use this mostly for the hanging LED lights it came with. It will run the ICOM IC-705 station for hours and occasionally supports such use in the field. This item is getting closer to end-of-battery-life again. Do not plan to replace the $45 battery a fourth time.
December 2025 addition is a 90,000 mAh (288Wh) Anker C300X DC to provide DC only power (300W). This unit does not have an inverter to supply AC power. Confirmed operation of all output ports, operating/charging a USB-C laptop PC, iPads, phones, and the IC-705 transceiver (consuming 11W in RX mode for the ICOM and a iPad running SDR-Control software). Did not see any RFI on the waterfall with radio plugged in. This will also run the 12V car refrigerator in a pinch. Much smaller/lighter than the Delta 2 system and has a bluetooth app to locally monitor power output and battery status. Can be charged by solar, the car, or a 100W brick that came with the unit. .
The EcoFlow Delta 2 system is relatively new, a-bit larger, and provides accessory and in-house power back up (extension cord overlay) and automotive 12V refrigerator power on the go. A solar panel can be deployed on sunny days to charge as needed.
The EcoFlow Delta Pro with extra Smart Battery is assigned to the computer network (including POE for remote items) and freezer. It’s a brute, with each piece weighing over 90 lbs. Run time with my loads is impressive and 30A 12V power-pole connection is a plus*. Can be charged via solar on sunny days.
Have added to the deployable solar panel collection and now can setup over 1 KW of charging on sunny days. Have only short-term tested these and hoping to avoid an actual deployment when power fails. Am sure I will be using these eventually... (!!!)
When batteries run low, use portable gas powered inverters/generator to recharge the EcoFlow units. Generator provides KW charging power and keeps the EcoFlows going (and operating overnight without noisy generators keeping everyone awake).
Periodic Operations: Generators are warmed up and load tested on the first of each month. Goal Zero and EcoFlows get topped off via a digital timer a few times a week. WiFi/BT is monitored to ensure all is well.
* Non-standard power pole orientation requires a simple DIY wired adapter to convert to standard Amateur Radio configuration.
