Power cuts in Delhi

YC73

We have just moved to Delhi and the apartment we are renting does not have any back up generator. Our landlady has told us to get an inverter. Does anyone know how efficient these are, roughly how much they cost and how bad the power cuts are in Delhi over the summer (we are in GK II). Can you run an air conditioner off an inverter?

Thank you

capt_mahajan

Inverters are effective.

A good brand of, say, a 800vA inverter with 150AH (2) Exide batteries can cost upto 12/14000 rupees in Delhi . Others can be cheaper, locally made with/without local batteries. If for a few years, I would suggest buy a cheaper inverter but don't skimp on the batteries, there can be safety issues with those.


This inverter will not run airconditioners. It will allow you to run quite a few lights and fans, though.

A few months ago, I read an ad in some paper that you do get domestic inverters which run a/cs. No idea about those.

Nick-H

I think you need quite a stack of batteries, as well as some pretty tough circuitry, to power stuff like an AC unit. These things can be 2Kw-plus, and the compressor probably takes quite a surge to get started.

How long do the Delhi power cuts last? The Chennai ones are usually only half an hour, and one can survive without fan or AC for that long. It is pretty uncomfortable when they last into the night, though.

I just have a UPS for the computer, which also powers a table lamp, and a couple of the rechargable "emergency" lamps.

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YC73

Thanks very much. Do you know how often power cuts happen. I am pregnant and having a baby in May so am trying to find out how bad these power cuts can be around that time and I'll find it quite hard in the heat, and so will the baby when it comes!

capt_mahajan

I dont have an idea of GKII, but in some other good residential areas, power cuts for upto 2/3 hours a day are not uncommon in summer.

If you are on the top floor it can be bad if the outside temp is around 40C+

What you can do is run an aircooler with the inverter. An aircooler (desert cooler) has just a fan and a small pump, doesnt consume much, and specially if installed in a window, is very effective. (other models are quite effective too)

Minus, a little noisy, and you have to leave a window open as else it gets very humid.

Costs 4/5000 upwards. Many brands and types are available, just be sure they are not too heavy on power consumption and the inverter can take the load.

This will work only in dry heat, which is peak summer. After that, Delhi gets humid. These days airconditioners are in use much after summer in Delhi because of the humidity.


PS: Search Google Images for desert cooler

Nick-H

It is said that their frequency and length can be very much reduced---

By living nextdoor to a politician!

Sorry... Chennai is the only city I know about living in.

With a new-born babe, I think you should go for the best facilities you can afford, although more for your comfort than the baby's. I guess [s]he will be born fairly-much acclimatised!

YC73

Thank you to both of you, thats very useful!

capt_mahajan

If possible install an inverter directly in the mains, so you can choose which fans and lights you want on; if you exceed the load the lights dim and the inverter gives a warning beep.

Else you will have just the lights/fans the inverter is connected to, during a power cut.


You won't be able to run many kitchen gadgets, microwave and refrigerator on a normal inverter, though.

And do ask a neighbour about the power cuts so you can plan accordingly.

Nick-H

One fridge is probably equal to one AC --- it is the same kind of machine.

brownboy66

but very true!

In the summer just past there were power cuts of up to 8 hours a day in some parts of Delhi. They started in feb/march - and only really stopped in september (daily power cuts that is). We still get the occasional power cut now - but just a momentary loss of power maybe once in the month. At its height - there could be 5-6 cuts a day - some lasting for hours as mentioned above - and sorry, GK2 was affected (like all parts of Delhi).

As nick and Capt have said - the problem with trying to run an AC off an inverter is the surge needed to overcome the inertia of the compressor (the motor). Its the same with anything that's powered by a motor (fridge, mixer, washing machine, etc). The bigger the motor, the more power that is needed to get the rotor turning from a dead stop. Once its running its fine. Typically - it might be a 1-3 ratio, hence a 650watt pump motor will need say 1900-2000 watts to get it moving. Once it is running - it doesn't need so much to keep it turning.

Theoretically you could run an AC from an Inverter - but it would have to be big. Not sure how long it would run for either before the juice runs out. Really - you best bet is a generator. Even a smaller portable one of say 10 kilo watts should be sufficient to run a single ac for a few hours (lots of noise though).

Nick-H

What a good idea.

Ashamed to say I didn't think of making that suggestion .

When we last discussed them here someone said the latest generation are not very noisy.

brownboy66

yeah - they come with all the mod cons these days. Sound proofing, electric start, high temp warning, low fuel warning, etc. You can get them in both diesel and petrol. The size of the generator, again, would depend on the size of the compressor in the AC that you wanted to run - so best to check that first.

Keep in mind though that most portable gensets are a temp, short term solution only - i.e, they're only suppose to run for a few hours at a time unless they come with their own cooling system. Like any motor - if they overheat then bye bye!

capt_mahajan

I thought of a geny but..

The only one I have seen at close quarters happened to be in Delhi. Was an older model. As brownboy says, overheating (in Delhi summer) was a problem, and, in the end, it was more trouble than help.

But the newer ones may be better.

YC73

A company has quoted me 92,000 INR for a Sukom inverter with 8 batteries to run a 1.5 AC for a few hours. This seems a lot to me, does anyone know if it would be cheaper to just get a generator? Thanks

sinraj

well!! inverters can work only if u take the high end inverters , otherwise u will be wasring your time and money on useless stuff , cetainly its advisable to buy high end branded luminous inverters ..... but guess what in summers you can face few more trouble as due to heavy powercuts , even the inverter backup are not very sufficient ..... so think twice before u take decision !!!!!!
u can mail me for further advice ... as it comes free of cost hahahahahah