Santa Ana wind season means Public Safety Power Shutoffs across Southern California Edison territory. Foothill neighborhoods and mountain towns tend to get the notices first. Most households start with a portable power station. Many find out during the first long shutoff that it does not run the fridge overnight. Here is how to tell which setup you need, and what a step up looks like.
What a PSPS is, and how long it lasts
SCE describes a PSPS as a shutoff to "reduce the risk of its equipment causing a fire". It considers one when strong winds, low humidity and dry vegetation line up. SCE sends its first notice about three days ahead and a final notice one to four hours before the power goes off. SCE also says "PSPS events may last over 24 hours".
That last line is the one to plan around. A day without power is a different problem from an hour.
The SCE rebate
SCE offers rebates for households in shutoff areas. Its backup-power page says customers in a "PSPS-affected area" can get "up to a $200 rebate on qualifying portable power stations". It lists "up to an $800 rebate on generators". Rebates are claimed through the SCE Marketplace, and only qualifying products count. Check sce.com for current terms and eligibility before you buy.
Households that rely on powered medical equipment should also ask SCE about its Critical Care Backup Battery program. SCE says it provides free portable batteries for eligible customers.
When a portable power station is enough
SCE's own description sets the bar. It pitches the power station rebate at keeping "laptops, phones, tablets and router running". That is the right job for a box.
A power station is enough if your list looks like this:
- Phones, laptops and a Wi-Fi router
- LED lamps and a fan
- A CPAP for one or two nights (check the machine's wattage first)
- A short outage, not a multi-day one
To check, add up watts times hours for each item. Compare the total with the station's capacity in watt-hours, and leave margin.
When to step up to a lithium bank and an inverter-charger
The step up happens when the list grows. These are the usual triggers:
- The refrigerator. It cycles all day and night. Over 24 hours or more, it outruns most boxes.
- A furnace blower or a well pump. Both have start-up surges that trip smaller inverters.
- A 24 hour or longer shutoff, or one repeated several times a season.
- Someone at home on medical equipment who cannot wait for recharge.
At that point, a fixed lithium bank with an inverter-charger does the job better.
- Battery: the Eco-Worthy 12V 280 Ah LiFePO4 stores about 3.5 kilowatt-hours at nominal voltage. Two or more can be paralleled for longer outages. It has low-temperature charge protection, which matters in mountain towns. We do not stock heated lithium batteries.
- Inverter-charger: the Victron MultiPlus-II inverts battery power to 120 volts during a shutoff. When the grid is back, it recharges the bank. Our MultiPlus-II sizing guide helps you pick the model, and the tiny house MultiPlus-II guide covers a fixed-building install.
- Monitor: a SmartShunt gives you a real state-of-charge reading. Lithium voltage alone will not tell you.
- Fusing: a lithium bank needs a Class T main fuse. The Lynx Class-T Power In mounts one. Our cable, fuse and busbar sizing chart covers the rest.
If you only want to run a few items off a battery without touching the house wiring, a smaller path works. Use a 1000W inverter with extension cords to the fridge and router. Keep the bank topped up between shutoffs with a Blue Smart IP22 charger.
Transfer switches and the electrician
This is the part not to improvise. Connecting any backup source to your home's wiring is electrician work.
- Never backfeed. SCE warns: "Never try to power your home by plugging a generator into a wall outlet or temporarily wiring into the electrical panel." Backfeed can electrocute you, your neighbors or line crews.
- Use a licensed electrician and a transfer switch. SCE's guidance calls for a licensed electrician to install a power transfer switch that meets national, state and local codes. The same logic applies to a battery and inverter feeding house circuits.
- Tell SCE. For a permanently wired generator, SCE says California state law requires you to notify it first, at 1-800-655-4555. Ask your electrician whether your battery setup needs the same notice or a permit.
We do not stock transfer switches or generator inlets. Your electrician will spec those for your panel.
Solar recharge between shutoffs
Shutoffs often run over more than one day. Solar refills the bank while the grid is down. A SmartSolar MPPT 100/30 or 100/50 charges a 12V lithium bank from a small panel array. Our MPPT pairing chart shows which controller fits your panels. Our solar panel buying guide covers how many watts you need. Santa Ana days are usually clear and sunny, which helps.
A grid-tied rooftop solar system is different. Many shut down during an outage for line-crew safety. Ask your installer what yours does. Do not assume it will run the house.
Sizing it with us
Bring us your list: what has to run, for how long, and where you live. We will help you decide between a power station, a small inverter setup and a full MultiPlus-II bank, and point you to an electrician for anything that touches the panel. The counter in Upland is open if you would rather talk it through in person.
Everything ships from Upland, California.