Chainbreaker
Well-known member
- 1,757
- 1,873
- 113
- Location
- Oregon
My 5 kW MEP-002a with ~7 kW surge capacity work just fine in WINTER, when most of our local utility outages occur, with a little load management since I don't need AC then.
However, we are now facing more & more issues with fire danger out here during our peak hot dry low humidity summer months. The utility companies have resorted to preemptive power shutdowns in dry summer conditions when low humidity coupled with high winds are forecasted above a certain threshold. If its 100+ outside I really would like to have the option of running the whole house AC unit. Last year we had a few days of 100 to 107F days during peak summer fire conditions, thankfully no utility shutdowns during those particular no/low wind conditions. I doubt the MEP-002a would be able to run the household with a soft start kit on the AC unit even with judicious load management.
Thus, I've been on the hunt for a 10 kW MEP-003a (the easiest solution for me) due to parts compatibility with the MEP-002a's & the amassed spares inventory I already have on hand. However, no luck so far on finding a MEP-003a within the area. Locally gensets suddenly seem to all have been snapped up due to a BIG Ice storm a month ago leaving thousands w/o power for weeks!
The thought of investing in Solar Panels with Battery Storage is starting to look somewhat interesting considering the utility company's "Net Billing" solar back-feed credits offered. But the upfront costs are high. My thought is perhaps I should consider biting the bullet & installing solar panels/battery storage with a 10 kw+ upwards rating. I'm thinking that during a summer power outage I could supplement the solar panel's battery storage with my existing 5 kW genset(s) if ever needed due to any insufficient solar conditions & still run whatever I need (AC +...).
Or... I could go on the hunt for a nice MEP-803a for summer use. But then I have two completely different breeds in the "genset stable" to maintain & stock different filters, spares, manuals, knowledge, etc.
Ideas... thoughts?
However, we are now facing more & more issues with fire danger out here during our peak hot dry low humidity summer months. The utility companies have resorted to preemptive power shutdowns in dry summer conditions when low humidity coupled with high winds are forecasted above a certain threshold. If its 100+ outside I really would like to have the option of running the whole house AC unit. Last year we had a few days of 100 to 107F days during peak summer fire conditions, thankfully no utility shutdowns during those particular no/low wind conditions. I doubt the MEP-002a would be able to run the household with a soft start kit on the AC unit even with judicious load management.
Thus, I've been on the hunt for a 10 kW MEP-003a (the easiest solution for me) due to parts compatibility with the MEP-002a's & the amassed spares inventory I already have on hand. However, no luck so far on finding a MEP-003a within the area. Locally gensets suddenly seem to all have been snapped up due to a BIG Ice storm a month ago leaving thousands w/o power for weeks!
The thought of investing in Solar Panels with Battery Storage is starting to look somewhat interesting considering the utility company's "Net Billing" solar back-feed credits offered. But the upfront costs are high. My thought is perhaps I should consider biting the bullet & installing solar panels/battery storage with a 10 kw+ upwards rating. I'm thinking that during a summer power outage I could supplement the solar panel's battery storage with my existing 5 kW genset(s) if ever needed due to any insufficient solar conditions & still run whatever I need (AC +...).
Or... I could go on the hunt for a nice MEP-803a for summer use. But then I have two completely different breeds in the "genset stable" to maintain & stock different filters, spares, manuals, knowledge, etc.
Ideas... thoughts?