Is this possible?

[beachtimeagain]

We have central heating but oil not gas. When we had a power cut we could not run the heating, even though we had oil, because the boiler needed electricity to do its thing.

We have disabled children who did not cope well with the last power cut so are trying to get a back up in place. Is there anyway we get the boiler running by other means? Thinking petrol generator or powerful solar powered battery?

Thanks!

Some info here, latest updated 2019, it sounds expensive!
community.screwfix.com/threads/generator-supply-to-operate-central-heating.62470/

You need a generator to supply electricity for the boiler.

You can get an electrician to install a Herat or back up system. Will be fairly pricey!

generator as a No idea what a Herat is.

Thanks everyone! And thanks @HelpIneedsomebodywontyouplease that was a really useful read!

Why not just get some electric heaters for each room? Seems more straightforward and cheaper. You can very likely find them secondhand too.

How would they work if she had a power cut?

Wow

You could just buy a small generator (Honda ones are good ) boilers use maybe a couple of hundred watts. The modern generators are now really quiet and to minimise noise you could place it in an outbuilding and run an extension lead to the boiler. Just leave the outbuilding door slightly open for airflow.

Not sure how long a tank of fuel will last suppose it depends on the model but should run for quite a while.

You could run your fridge//freezer off an inverter from your car - we just run the car every few hours to top up the cold
www.halfords.com/search?q=inverter&srule=price_increase_rule and run your car to power it every few hours.~For lighting we have some that comes on in a power cut
www.screwfix.com/c/electrical-lighting/emergency-lighting/cat840804
and others that are portable - recharge via the inverter
www.screwfix.com/search?search=rechargable+lighting
You may be able to get some alternative wiring for your boiler installed so you can plug it in to the inverter.
Alternatively a small generator would be ideal but they can be noisy.

Frankly for heating it uses a LOT of energy to do fan heaters etc, so I recommend extra layers and a hot water bottle (heated with camping stove is quicker we also cook one one www.halfords.com/camping/cooking-equipment/?prefn1=type&prefv1=Camping%20Stoves), but an oil filled radiator will give out heat for a long time after reaching full heat.

I've never used one so can't recommend, but there are portable indoor gas heaters available, that run on a bottle - like a gas bbq. Different styles available from approx £110.

Little diesel generator should help. We are in the country and loose our easily so have one and also woodburning stoves to heat rooms when we have no power.

If you have vulnerable people at the property, let the energy supplier know and they will put you on the priority list, then if there is a cut they have to get you back on quicker, either by restoring supply or via generators.
Personally I'd go for the inverter option above as it's low maintenance and should cover until the supplier sorts something out.

@@mindutopia

how do you propose to run electric heaters in a power cut???