Power (not) cut

Some weeks ago we had  advance notification from our electricity network provider (SSEN) of an 8 hour power cut  today to allow them to replace a transformer.   

In fact the power only went off at around 9.45 and was back on before 4.00.   We were also across the Clyde for part of the day, but when we were in the house we tried out for the first time the sockets that give us direct  power from our batteries should the mains be disrupted.  .   They were only fitted after Storm Eowyn this year so this was an opportunity to see how they worked.

They were fine.  In fact all we did was boil a kettle twice, but given they were charging from the solar panels during the day we didn't seem to use much electricity at all. 

This could be a useful backup in future.