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Inversores in the Dominican Republic.
Because of the unstable nature of the Dominican Republic’s power and electricity
supply, it is a practical necessity to have an alternative power source
available in your home or business. In some parts of the country, mains
electricity is only supplied for a few hours a day, and can virtually halt all
movement. For those who own a business loss of power can mean the loss of
valuable time, and in some cases, loss of money.
There are two main options for alternative power sources in the Dominican
Republic. You can either get a generator, una planta, that is fuel powered, or
you can opt for a power inverter, un inversor, which consists of a charger and
high-voltage batteries. Either source provides quality power during a power
outage, though in many cases a power inverter can be the better option.
The benefits of inverters cannot be understated. Once power is out the inverter
automatically kicks in, and if it is a quality inverter, appliances such as TVs,
computers and fans will not shut off. They will continue to work normally. Also,
if the voltage and size of the inverter are high enough, other appliances like
refrigerators, microwaves, and irons will also be able to work during power
outages.
Power inverters come in a variety of sizes, and the size of the inverter will
depend on your house or apartment, and on the amount of appliances you want to
run during outages. Inverters begin at 0.5 kW (Kilo Watts), and increase in size
by increments of 0.5, so you can have an inverter of 0.5kW, 1.0kW, 1.5kW, and so
on. Also, inverter batteries are never mounted as single batteries; they are
always mounted in pairs.
The type of battery will determine the quality and price of your inverter. There
are two different batteries on the market that are considered to be of the
highest quality - the Trojan brand and the Black Eagle brand batteries. Both of
these have long lasting power, and are considered by many as being among the
best.
The cost of an inverter will depend on its size, the type of batteries used,
installation fees, and the materials used in installing the inverter. For
example, a 3.0kW inverter, with installation fees, and all materials included,
could cost around RD$17,000. An inverter of this size will give you about 10
hours of continued power, without fail, and will usually come with a one year
guarantee.
When dealing with questions of electricity it is important to pay for quality
work. Don’t attempt to install an inverter yourself, unless you are familiar
with electricity. Always ensure that the technician is a professional from a
reputable retailer, and that the purchase of your inverter comes with a
guarantee, in case there is some sort of problem with the product.
If you are looking for inverters at reasonable rates you can go down to Av. 30
de Marzo, in Santo Domingo, for example. On this street you can fill most of
your electro-domestic needs, so you can wander the street and get an idea of the
process and its varied costs.
Generators are another alternative to solving your electrical problems during
power outages. Generators are fuel operated and are turned on automatically once
the power goes out. Though generators provide an alternative power source they
can be extremely noisy, and the constant need for fuel to power the generator
can become a hassle, not to mention an expense. There are certain advantages in
running generators. If you plan on owning a small farm in the Dominican
countryside, generators are probably a better option. During your time in the
countryside you will probably use natural light most of the time, as you will be
outside most of the time, and the generator will be mostly in use at night, for
just a few short hours.
The cost of the generator will depend on the size, the brand, whether it is
diesel or gasoline fueled, and the company that sells it. Examples of the cost
of generators vary, but a 3.5 kW generator can cost around US$945, while a 4.5
kW generator will cost in the range of US$1,300 A 5.5 kW generator could
cost upwards of US$1500, and a used 7.5 kW generator could cost around US$
2,000.
If you’re looking for renewable energy sources you could install solar-powered
panels or windmills in your home or on your property, though this could be quite
expensive.
Be aware that because of the history of power outages in the Dominican Republic,
Dominicans have practically become experts in the area of inverters and
generators. So if you have any questions, just ask someone you trust, and they
will probably point you in the right direction.
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