MicroPowered Appliances for Emergency Use Richard Perez and Sam Coleman An Emergency MicroPower System (EMPS) is a low power electrical system for emergency use when all else fails. It contains a power source (usually a PV panel), a small portable battery, and a small inverter. If an EMPS is to be effective, great care must be taken in selecting appliances for the system. Low power consumption and efficiency are paramount. This article discusses the Home Power Crew's choices for EMPS lighting and communications equipment. Low Power Consumption An EMPS is small (less than 10 pounds & fitting into a backpack or briefcase) and portable. It must be able to travel and be set up quickly just about anywhere. Its size and therefore its performance is limited. For example, a typical EMPS battery will contain about 43 Watt-hours (Å3.5 Ampere-hours at 12 VDC). A portable PV panel (like the Sovonics SP-105) produces about 35 Watt-hours daily. A regular 25 watt lightbulb can drain the EMPS in 1.5 hours. If a light is required for four hours nightly and a radio/TV is used constantly, then these appliances must be low power consumers. Lighting The only type to consider for EMPS use is fluorescent lighting with an electronic ballast. It makes little difference to the EMPS whether this lighting is 120 vac via the micro inverter, or 12 VDC directly from the battery. Our best pick for 12VDC lighting is the low power consumption PL light. The 5 Watt PL5 is ideal and costs around $45. An EMPS can power this light for 3 to 4 hours nightly and still have enough power leftover for 24 hour per day communications gear. On the 120 vac side, our best pick is the Dulux "EL7" compact fluorescent. this has an electronic ballast, consumes 7 Watts, and costs about $25. Most Home Power advertisers either stock these lights or can get them. In any battery based system the cardinal rule is, "If you are not using an appliance, then turn it off!" In an EMPS, conservation is even more important because of the EMPS's small size. If you're not using the light for even a few minutes, then shut it off. Conservation of the EMPS's power will assure that the energy is there when you really need it. Communications In an emergency situation communications are critical. The information provided through radio and television can be lifesaving. At the very least, effective communications can relieve the anxiety of not knowing what is going on. When we picked the communications gear for the EMPS, we used low power consumption and performance as main criteria. During an emergency, listening to certain communications channels can most effectively provide useful information. We selected the following: NOAA weather radio (164 MHZ.), FM stereo band, AM radio band, VHF TV audio (channels 2 thru 13), CB band (27 MHz.), Police and Fire Bands (VHF in the 150 to 170 Mhz. range). Radio Gear The following radios will cover some or all of the frequencies listed above and have low enough power consumption to function well in an EMPS. The least expensive is the Radio Shack Patrolman¨ SW-60 (RS#12-779 for $99.95). This radio covers AM, FM, Shortwave (6-18Mhz.), and the VHF Fire, Police, & Weather band frequencies. The SW-60 can be operated via the microinverter at 120 vac or by the EMPS directly through the DC/DC regulator (12 to 6 VDC converter supplied with most EMPSs). Power consumption is low, about 0.06 to 0.1 Amperes. Size is 10.5" X 12" X 4". For those wishing a higher quality radio, the best is the Sony ICF Pro 80. This amazing radio is very tiny (3.5" X 6.25" X 2.2") and weighs about 1.5 pounds. The Sony ICF Pro 80 gives continuous coverage between 150 kHz. to 216 MHz. This means it covers AM, FM, TV sound, Police, Weather band, Fire, Aircraft band, CB band, and all shortwave bands, including Ham bands. It features direct access digital tuning, 40 memories, and four varieties of scanning. Power consumption is low (Å0.05 Amps) and the price is high about $380. What makes the Pro 80 so attractive for EMPS is it incredible coverage. It will listen in so many places (and quickly via scanning) that information is sure to be available regardless of the magnitude or type of emergency/disaster. Its small size makes it very portable. It can be powered by internal AA batteries, 12 VDC (with optional Sony DCC-127A converter), or via 120 vac (with the optional AC-D4L converter). For those wishing a TV set to use with the EMPS, our pick is the color LCD TV marketed by Radio Shack (RS#16-119 for $219.95). This TV used a two inch Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) instead of a picture tube. This gives it not only small size (5.2" X 3.25" X 1.25"), but also low power consumption. It can be powered by internal AA batteries, or optional adaptors for 12 VDC or 120 vac.