Power Inverters Can Save Your Life!

Though this statement might sound a bit dramatic, power inverters have the ability to save lives, especially under extreme circumstances.  I’m not referring to a situation where off-grid power inverters would keep in-home medical equipment, such as mobile oxygen concentrators or CPAP devices operating if the power went down for hours or even days.  I’m referring to circumstances far more serious.

Like it or not, and believe it or not, we live in very troublesome times.  One of the most potentially serious issues for Americans deals with cyber-attacks against our nation’s power grid system.  You might think, “That really wouldn’t apply to me”.    If that is your stand, you might want to rethink your position since the likelihood of America’s power system going down for a prolonged period of time is not only extremely problematic, it’s a very real threat—and this is where power inverters come in.   In a nutshell, off-grid inverters help one to optimize solar power, for example, by efficiently inverting DC (direct current) solar panel electricity into required AC (alternating current) for your home.

Though the information, here, provides insight on how vulnerable you and I and our friends and family are concerning power outages,  that insight it is intended to instill preparedness—the kind of preparedness that could mean the difference between life and death.  The adage, “The best defense is a great offense” certainly applies here.   As Americans, we need to not only be informed of what can happen to our families, but we need to be ready, if and when, the unthinkable were to take place.

Off-Grid Power Systems:

Off-grid solar inverters have been around for decades and are principally intended to be used with solar, wind or hydro-power systems for a home, totally disconnected from the electric utility companies.  They can, also, be used for providing emergency backup-power to homes that currently use the power from the electric company.   Off-grid solar inverters with a built-in AC charger option are especially well suited to provide seamless backup power.   They remain one’s best bet if the unimaginable were to happen to one’s source of electricity.    Off-grid power inverters provide grid-forming voltage and beautifully manage battery storage making them, in essence, private micro-grids.

Warnings Abound:

Since the beginning of 2013, major mainstream media sources such as ABC News, the Washington Post, the New York Times and CBS News have all issued sobering alarms concerning our nation’s vulnerable grid system.   In-spite of the warnings and revelations, many Americans are either unaware of the heads-up or choose to remain in denial since living without power is far too disturbing to even think about.  The nation’s sorely outdated power grid has spurned expectations that it is, indeed, vulnerable, which for some experts, seems to beg an attack.

Here are a few statements from various leaders in the US.  Though they represent only a mere handful of individuals within our government who are all-too-familiar with America’s aged power grid systems, their comments are stunning and sobering.   If what they say is true, any of us may want to proactively consider having a stand-alone or off-grid power inverter system in our homes, to be ready and able to generate electricity at a moment’s notice.

1:  Janet Napolitano — Janet Napolitano stepped down from her role as head of DHS in 2013.  She released some chilling tidbits to her successor as well as to the American public; and here are a few excerpts of what Ms. Napolitano had to say:  “A massive and serious cyber-attack on the U. S. Homeland is coming and a natural disaster—the likes of which the nation has never seen.”   The fact that Ms. Napolitano had access to inside information from NASA, seems to contribute to the validity of what she shared.  Napolitano went on to say, “An infrastructure attack could easily black out vast areas of the continent for weeks or longer—interrupting supplies of water (water systems use electricity), gasoline, diesel fuel and fresh food; and shut down communications.”   This, of course, would be especially difficult and life-threatening during extremely cold or exceedingly hot periods of the year.

2:  Ed Markey – Ed Markey co-authored the House Democrats’ ‘Climate Bill’ in 2010.   In 2013, he stated unequivocally:  “With one well-placed keystroke, Americans could be plunged into darkness and chaos through damage to our electric grid.  Foreign enemies are employing ‘Web Warriors’ to attack our way of life.  A great deal of our vulnerability lies with Iran and North Korea as well as natural threats such as geomagnetic storms from solar activity.”

3:  Byron Dorgan– Former North Dakota Senator, Byron Dorgan, co-authored a book concerning the shocking vulnerability of America’s electric grid.  He states, “Our power system is very vulnerable.  A shutdown by hackers in cyber-terror should be taken very seriously.  You could see a shut-down for months or more, crippling this country and causing tremendous havoc.”

4:  Trent Franks – Republican Congressman, Trent Franks, of Arizona states, “We are only one act of madness away from a social cataclysm unlike anything our country has ever known.”

5:  John Kappenman – John Kappenman is Principal Investigator of the US Congress EMP (electro-magnetic pulse) Commission.  His words echo the red-flags of Janet Napolitano and others ‘in the know’:  “Just one violent active region on the sun can cause continent-wide, perhaps even planetary-scale impacts to our critical infrastructure.”

6:  Yvette Clarke – Yvette Clarke is a Democratic Congresswoman from New York and serves as a Senior Member with the Homeland Security Committee.  Her words reflect not and if, but a when:  “The likelihood of a severe geo-magnetic event capable of crippling our electric grid is……. 100%.” 

Do she and Janet Napolitano and others know about something that will take place in the cosmos that the American public does not?

Power Inverters Could Be A ‘Life-Line’:

It wouldn’t matter how any electric-grid outage might occur; the only thing that would matter would be survival.  One would have to stay warm or cool during temperature extremes as well as eat and drink.  Everything else would be a bonus.  Getting the nation’s grid system to become functional, again, would be far more problematic than people realize.  For example, the huge transformers that are used in the electric grid systems aren’t  even manufactured in America; and expecting a quick import of ready-made transformers to help get the grid on its feet would be fantasy-thinking times a million.  One transformer typically takes up to 2 years to manufacture overseas—and that’s assuming the power-grids overseas would be functioning!

Off-grid power inverters are more than just alternative energy suppliers for remote military outposts, family camping trips or wilderness-exploration rendezvous—they should be viewed as potential life-savers for you and your family!   With off-grid inverters, microwave and toaster ovens, space heaters, electric blankets, fans, lights and communications equipment can operate seamlessly and efficiently.    And though thinking about the unthinkable might feel disturbing, being equipped for anything that could come our way should give us a sense of calm and reassurance, knowing power inverters would have the ability to keep us protected and prepared!