Few events can derail a renovation and ruin the working day for everyone as quickly as a power outage. The work is stopped and wasted, tools and equipment are useless, and subcontractors are sent home. Sometimes this happens because the electric company was performing maintenance; other times, it was because of an overloaded temporary supply, or the circuit was tripped by an electrician while doing the rewiring for which the customer paid them handsomely.
The purpose of this article is to offer some advice on preparing for the loss of mains (grid) electricity so that the interruption becomes a minor hiccup rather than an entire lost day.
Outages Are More Problematic for Renovations Than Completed Homes
Having the lights go out in the middle of the completed house is one thing – in the middle of a renovation, it is an expensive and frustrating stop to the work. Paid workers, subcontractors who have been sent to another site, and the schedule that relied on their presence are all affected in addition to the loss of productivity. Some renovation tasks are impossible to pause and resume at a later time; plaster, glue, concrete, and paint need the exact conditions to cure, so if the air needs to be circulated constantly for drying, an outage will ruin it.
A renovation site is more likely to have problems with interruptions in power than a completed house, and so it is rational to expect that they should prepare for some interruptions as a matter of course.
Power Audit Is The Starting Point
Before embarking on a search for ways to keep the site operational during a blackout, it is necessary to determine what needs electricity. A simple audit that walks the site and makes a list of all equipment connected and all tools that are used can make the preparation for an outage much easier. First, all devices that are essential to the current stage of the work should be noted. These will typically include lighting, circulating fans or dehumidifiers, or any other equipment needed to maintain the conditions necessary for the work’s completion. The things that would be beneficial to have powered but that could wait until the power is restored should also be written down – a radio, a kettle, a phone charger, or a computer with the designs open on it. Finally, the heavy tools that need electricity should be separated table saws, circular saws, angle grinders, hammer drills, and compressors.
Now, it is time to calculate what the power requirements of the equipment are. This is the point where the list will be used, and the numbers on the device’s plug will be taken seriously. Lighting is usually the lightest, with a couple of hundred watts at most, while a dehumidifier can take several hundred watts. Most tools made for continuous use have a motor rating between 700 and 1800W, but they can require even more during the initial surge when the tool is being started up. A typical rule of thumb for the latter is to add 2 or 3x the motor rating and temporarily increase the load when looking for the right battery for the tools.
The list that was compiled is now useful for the first time, being the basis for finding the right backup power station. There are two main options fuel generators and battery ones. Fuel generators can have significantly more power for the cost and run for extended periods of time, but they are also noisy, emit harmful gases, and require maintenance. The use of a fuel generator in a residential area is limited by local ordinances, and their use may be restricted entirely. Battery generators are much less powerful but are nearly silent and do not emit any gases. They can be placed in the same room as the equipment without the need to run extension cords. However, the stored power in the battery generator is limited, after which it will need to be recharged from the wall or from solar panels. It is important to note that the interior of a renovation site is rarely spotless and dry, so choosing the right power station is critical; for example, the SOUOP Waterproof Industrial Power Station has a good IP-level rating and is suitable for the conditions that a renovation site can offer, and such features should be compared across manufacturers.
A typical household renovation site would be served well by a battery-powered unit and a fuel generator. The generator can be used as a backup for the most powerful tools, but otherwise, the battery is likely better due to its size and convenience. Either way, it is important to test the equipment that is supposed to be running from the backup generator for a few minutes before relying on it during an outage. It is much better to find a problem on a calm weekday than on a Friday during a storm.
Essential Equipment and Materials Should Be Protected During a Blackout
When the power comes back on, electronics that were plugged in can be damaged by the surge in electricity. It is a good idea to unplug anything that was not in active use during the outage and to use a surge protector for the others. Most electronics will survive a brief period of power loss without damage, but a cheap UPS can save a much more expensive battery charger.
Cordless tools are essential during a blackout, but they will provide little power if their batteries are dead. Keeping spares on a charger at all times and having a couple of headlamps and flashlights in a known location is an important part of any backup power strategy. Sheets of plastic or tarps should also be kept on the site in case rain cancels the plans after an outage. After an electrical interruption, wet plaster or glue that has set overnight without the ability to dry will have to wait until another day. Likewise, the tools that were being used before the outage should not be left in open without covering to avoid exposure to the elements. If a wall has been opened and a ceiling is exposed, it is advisable to tape them up if there is a forecast of rain the next day.
Jobs Should Be Scheduled Around the Risk of a Blackout
When planning the day’s work, it is rational to schedule the most power-intensive tasks in the morning. In the afternoon, if the predicted outage occurs, the workers can do the jobs that do not require electricity. It is essential to keep a list of such tasks, and having a printed copy always at hand makes it much easier to keep people occupied for the time when the electricity is out. Such activities usually consist of measuring, marking, hand sanding, cleaning, demolition prep, material sorting, brush painting, and checking deliveries. Having such a list and handing it to the foreman during an outage is much better than sending everyone home while a generator is being set up.
It is a good idea to check the weather forecast and the electric company’s website for maintenance notices every week. Scheduled maintenance outages can give a few days to plan ahead. Keeping a log of outages can also be helpful, particularly if they recur in the same location or in the same circuits. Having this information will help when speaking with an electrician or the local utility company about the matter.
Basic Electricity Safety Precautions Should Be Followed During an Outage
Working in the dark can be dangerous, and it is important to get the essential lighting set up before doing anything else during a blackout. Generators that run on gasoline or other petroleum products should always be set up outside and away from windows. Carbon monoxide is colorless and odorless and can be deadly, even when the engine is not running. Fire safety is another concern during a blackout, and having a fire extinguisher always at hand is a must. A fire extinguisher is especially important when a generator is in use as fuel vapors can be highly flammable.
Connecting a generator to a house circuit is a particularly dangerous activity that should only be attempted by licensed professionals with the correct equipment. If a generator is to be connected to the building’s electrical system, it is necessary to contact an electrician and have a transfer switch installed. Finally, it is important to remember that house circuits are always live unless the breaker has been turned off. It is a good idea to always double-check whether the circuit is off before working on it.
Tools and Equipment Must Be Matched to the Backup Power Station
When choosing the right backup power station, it is important to remember that the biggest electricity draw is unlikely to happen consistently. It is useful to calculate what tools and equipment are expected to be used at the same time and then add the power consumption of the lights and fans. The calculated surges at the startup should also be taken into account. A rule of thumb is to add 1.5x the continuous power draw for such surges. The amount of time that the tools are expected to run will determine how large the battery should be; most generators with built-in batteries have a run-time specification that can be used as a reference.
For renovation sites where workers use several heavy tools simultaneously, a 5000W stationary power station is a good choice. It will allow the circular saw and the work lights to be used simultaneously, with some power left for other tools. For larger projects and higher continuous power needs, a higher continuous power rating should be sought. Some units, such as the SOUOP Portable Power Station 5000W, can also be upgraded with bigger battery packs, allowing more work to be done before the battery needs to be recharged. However, it is always important to keep in mind the list of tools and power needs derived from the power audit rather than a specific advertised power rating.
Summary
The main points of this article can be summarized in a few sentences. First, it is impossible to prevent a blackout, but it is possible to drastically reduce its impact on the renovation. To do this, it is necessary to know what equipment needs electricity, choose the right backup power source, and protect the equipment from damage. Additionally, it is important to keep a list of jobs that can be done without electricity and to take all necessary precautions to keep the workers and the equipment safe.