What have done towards your prep?

[Mortblanc]

1k watts is where the price goes out of sight in inverters over here!

A 1000w unit that has 1500w peak draw is usually affordable and over that is often way out of my price range.

Saying that I caught a 1200w unit with 1600w peak on sale a while back. It will power any of my power tools in an emergency but I have almost totally switched to cordless rechargeable due to them not requiring the heavy draw of current. You can very easily recharge your cordless on a 400w inverter that will not come anywhere near running a corded drill.

PG, are you running the house mains off the inverter or going to a separate 12v circuit?

The way my house is wired, since I wired it myself, I can disconnect the house from the grid completely by pulling the mains fuse, then plug the alternate power source, inverter or generator, through an outside 30amp waterproof RV plug.

If you are running the house mains you probably need to do a good power audit and find what circuits can be eliminated while on emergency power.

Generally the fridge and furnace blower consume more than any other items short of washing machines and dishwashers. The fridge compressor will probably go over the peak rating in most inverters. A small fridge might not be so bad.

If you have switched to LED house lights you are probably running your entire lighting system on the power one 75w bulb used to draw. I do not think there is a single bulb in my house that draws more then 5w at this point. I can turn on every light in the house and not use 70w.

I hate to admit it but I greatly opposed the forced change a couple of years ago, but now am glad of it due to the reduced current needs.

This time of year a fridge is not a concern since food will keep in a cooler on the doorstep or patio. Summer is different of course.

I am currently looking into a 12v fridge for my gear. I saw one at the "truck stop" on the motorway that was 12v and no larger than a common ice chest and designed to be used long term in an over the road truck sleeper.

You can also find 12v microwaves, ovens, slow cookers, fry pans and other 12v items that would be handy in a camper van.

I have been looking at the offerings lately due to anticipating the purchase of a pop-up camper that will need some work.