During an emergency, city power can be shut down or limited in availability. This can happen during earthquakes, hurricanes, and heatwaves, among others. In these situations, a home battery can help provide power to essential devices like lights, refrigerators, and cell phones. However, it is important to know which devices and appliances use the least amount of power so your home battery will last longer.
Top 5 Gadgets and Appliances That Won’t Drain A Home Battery Fast
1. Cell Phone Charger
Cell phones are basically a must-have in today’s world. This is especially true during emergencies. Cell phones use very little power to charge and operate. The average cell phone charger only draws 2 to 6 watts of power per hour. This means you can keep searching online, texting, and making necessary phone calls without draining your home battery very much.
2. Light Bulb (LED)
The lowly LED light bulb is critical to have when it turns dark and you need to see around your home during an emergency. If your power goes out, you’ll need to know which appliances and gadgets to turn off so you can keep your lights on. The average home LED light bulb uses 9 watts of power per hour to run.
Just make sure to purchase light bulbs that are suitable to use with your home battery. Also, make sure they are the right size and wattage for your needs.
3. Ceiling Fan
It may surprise you that a ceiling fan uses very little power compared to other appliances. This means that you can run your ceiling fan for long periods of time without draining your home battery. The average ceiling fan uses 60 watts of power per hour to operate.
You can also use your ceiling fan to help circulate air and keep your home cooler. This can help you save money on your energy bill, as well as help reduce your carbon footprint.
4. Laptop
Fortunately for most people, their laptops can be used during an emergency without causing too much power to drain from their home battery. The average laptop uses around 65 watts of power per hour to run or to charge a laptop battery.
If you absolutely need to use your laptop, there are a few things you can do to help minimize power usage and make the most of your battery life. Close any apps or programs that you’re not using. This includes web browsers, email clients, and anything else that might be running in the background. Every little bit helps when the power goes out and you need to preserve the charge on your home battery.
5. Water Dispenser
Drinking water is necessary during an emergency, so keeping a water dispenser running is a must. The good news is that water dispensers use a small amount of power to operate. The average water dispenser uses 100 watts of power per hour to keep running.
Top 5 Gadgets And Appliances That Drain A Home Battery Quickly
1. Electric Clothes Dryer
Unfortunately, if your clothes are wet during an emergency, using an electric clothes dryer may not be the best idea. Clothes dryers are known for being energy hogs, and when you need to preserve a home battery, it is best to simply not turn one on or use it. The average electric clothes dryer draws 5400 watts of power per hour when running.
If you absolutely must, use the lowest heat setting and make sure that the lint screen is clear so that clothes dry as quickly as possible. Otherwise, you may be better off line-drying your clothes.
2. Electric Oven
Electric ovens are great for baking, but not so much during a power outage. The average electric oven uses 2150 watts per hour to operate.
If you have an electric oven and find yourself in a situation where you need to preserve the charge on your home battery, here’s what you can do. Unplug the oven from the wall outlet. Next, remove the racks and any food from inside the oven and set them aside. Then, open the oven door and prop it open slightly with something like a wooden box so no one attempts to turn it on.
3. Electric Stove
Next to or above an electric oven is the electric stove. This is another big energy user and should not be turned on during an emergency. Not only do they drain home batteries fast, but they can also be a fire danger if there is a power surge. The average electric stove uses 2100 watts of power per hour to use.
To help avoid any potential dangers, make sure to unplug the electric stove.
4. Dishwasher
It may be tempting during a power outage to want to wash up all your dishes after eating, but using a dishwasher can take up quite a bit of energy. The average dishwasher uses 1500 watts of power per hour to operate. This means, that keeping your dishes clean can drain your home battery fast.
5. Microwave
If you can’t use the electric stove or oven to cook, then what about the microwave? Sorry. The microwave is another appliance that uses lots of energy. The average microwave draws around 1000 watts of energy per hour while running. So, unless you want to drain your home battery fairly quickly, you might have to find another way to heat your food.
To Close
In an emergency, choose not to use certain gadgets and appliances to conserve home battery power. Leaving your electronics plugged in overnight or for extended periods of time can drain your battery more quickly. To prevent this, be sure to unplug any devices that are not in use, and only plug them back in when you need to use them again.
Additionally, consider investing in a smart power strip that can automatically cut off the power supply. When an emergency occurs, it is better to have a home battery that is well-charged so you do not run out of power for essential uses.
