Batteries that kick in when power goes out

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http://www.charlotte.com/mld/charlotte/living/home/15420852.htm

With summer storms here in earnest, prudent homeowners are thinking about what to do if the electricity goes off. And while gasoline-powered generators are a common solution, they are not a realistic option for those who live in apartments and those who do not want to store gasoline.

Advances in battery technology have made it possible for homeowners to have clean, quiet and virtually instantaneous emergency backup power without firing up gas generators.

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Alta Power Corp. in Trumbull, Conn., sells the 1,500-watt Sumpro backup system, which can be used to run critical equipment like sump and well pumps, furnaces and refrigerators.

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"Depending on what you're backing up," Cotrona said, "you're looking at anywhere from 28 to 85 hours of run time." The Sumpro costs about $1,400, including shipping.

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