Backup Power Guides: Generators, Power Stations and Home Batteries
Start with what you need to keep running, not with a product. A fridge, lights, phones and a router need about 300 to 500 W, which a 1 to 2 kWh power station covers for a day. A well pump, furnace blower or sump pump adds a startup surge that usually calls for a generator or a large home battery.
These guides compare generators, power stations, home batteries, solar panels and transfer gear by the specs that decide fit: running and surge watts, battery capacity, fuel use per day and solar input.
20 backup power guides
Cheapest Power Station Per Watt-Hour: Most Battery for the Money
Every LiFePO4 power station we list ranked by price per watt-hour. The FOSSiBOT F3600 Pro is $0.31/Wh, about 2.5 days of fridge for around $1,199.
Top picks: FOSSiBOT F3600 Pro, FOSSiBOT F1800, BLUETTI Elite 300
Updated Oct 13, 2026
Cheapest Solar Panels for a Power Station (Cost per Watt)
Rigid panels cost about $0.62 a watt vs $1+ for folding ones. Matched panel kits for 500 W, 1,000 W and 2,000 W power stations, with the daily Wh math.
Top picks: Callsun 100W N-Type Solar Panel, 4 pack (400 W), Callsun 200W N-Type Bifacial Solar Panel, 4 pack (800 W), FOSSiBOT F1800
Updated Oct 13, 2026
FOSSiBOT vs BLUETTI: Which Power Station to Buy
FOSSiBOT vs BLUETTI at 1 kWh, 2 kWh and 3+ kWh: price per Wh, inverter, solar input, UPS speed and weight, with fridge hours per charge.
Top picks: FOSSiBOT F1800, BLUETTI Elite 100 V2, FOSSiBOT F3600 Pro
Updated Oct 13, 2026
How Long Does a 20 lb Propane Tank Last on a Generator?
A 20 lb tank runs a mid-size dual fuel generator about 10 to 12 hours at 1,500 W. Hours per tank for 16 generators, and how many tanks a 3-day outage takes.
Top picks: Flame King 20 lb Propane Tanks, 2 Pack, Flame King 100 lb Propane Tank, Westinghouse iGen8200TFc Tri-Fuel Inverter
Updated Oct 13, 2026
Jackery vs EcoFlow vs BLUETTI: Which Brand to Buy
Jackery vs EcoFlow vs BLUETTI compared at 1 kWh, 2 kWh and whole-home size. Real specs, prices and which brand fits CPAP, fridge, camping or solar.
Top picks: BLUETTI Elite 100 V2, Jackery Explorer 1000 v2, EcoFlow DELTA 3 Plus
Updated Oct 13, 2026
EcoFlow DELTA 3 Plus vs Jackery Explorer 1000 v2
DELTA 3 Plus vs Explorer 1000 v2 spec by spec: capacity, watts, solar, UPS, weight, expansion and price, plus which one to buy for CPAP, fridge or camping.
Top picks: Jackery Explorer 1000 v2, EcoFlow DELTA 3 Plus
Updated Oct 13, 2026
Power Outage Kit Checklist: What to Buy, Tier by Tier
The power outage kit to buy before the next storm: a small basics kit, a power station for the fridge, a generator for heat and well water, and long-outage gear.
Top picks: Lepro (LE) 1000LM Battery Powered LED Camping Lantern, Jackery Explorer 1000 v2, Westinghouse WGen9500DF Dual Fuel
Updated Oct 13, 2026
Best Heat Source for a Power Outage: What Keeps You Warm
The best heat in a power outage is your gas furnace on a generator or big battery. Then indoor-safe propane heaters and electric blankets, with the math.
Top picks: Westinghouse iGen2550DFc Dual Fuel Inverter, Mr. Heater 9,000 BTU Portable Buddy Radiant Propane Heater, BLUETTI Elite 200 V2
Updated Oct 13, 2026
How Long Will a Power Station Run a Space Heater?
A 1 kWh power station runs a 1,500 W space heater about 1 hour. Hours for 1, 2, 3.8 and 6 kWh units at 1,500 W and 750 W, plus heat that lasts all night.
Top picks: BLUETTI Elite 100 V2, Anker SOLIX F3800 Plus, Sunbeam Queen Microplush Electric Heated Blanket, 2 Controllers
Updated Oct 13, 2026
Best Portable Generator for Home Backup in 2026
Portable generators for home backup by load tier: essentials, well pump and window AC on 240V, and near-whole-home tri-fuel, with hookup and fuel math.
Top picks: Westinghouse iGen5000DFc Dual Fuel Inverter, Westinghouse iGen8200TFc Tri-Fuel Inverter, DuroMax XP13000HXT Tri Fuel
Updated Oct 13, 2026
How to Connect a Generator to Your House Safely
The three safe ways to hook a generator to your house: heavy cords, an interlock kit or a transfer switch. Costs, outage-day steps and why never to backfeed.
Top picks: GenInterlock SD-200A interlock kit (Square D QO and Homeline 150/200A panels), Reliance Controls 31410CRK 10-Circuit Transfer Switch Kit, Iron Forge Cable 12/3 50 ft heavy-duty extension cord
Updated Oct 13, 2026
Best Solar Generator for Home Backup in 2026
Solar generators for home backup by tier: 2 kWh fridge kits, expandable 4 kWh units and whole-home 240V stacks, with panel math and a solar vs gas verdict.
Top picks: Anker SOLIX F3800 Plus, EcoFlow DELTA 2 Max, EcoFlow DELTA Pro 3
Updated Oct 13, 2026
Best Portable Power Station Under $500 for Outages
The best power stations under $500, with what each runs in an outage: fridge hours, CPAP nights, router hours and phone charges, worked out from the specs.
Top picks: BLUETTI Elite 100 V2, BLUETTI AC70, EcoFlow RIVER 3 Plus
Updated Oct 13, 2026
Best Power Station for a CPAP, Sized Night by Night
Which power station runs a CPAP all night? Nights per charge for 288 Wh, 768 Wh and 1,024 Wh units, UPS bedside picks, humidifier math and travel rules.
Top picks: EcoFlow RIVER 3 Plus, Jackery Explorer 300 v2, BLUETTI Elite 100 V2
Updated Oct 13, 2026
Best Dual Fuel Inverter Generators for 2026
Dual fuel inverter generators by class: 2,500 W, 4,500 W and 8,000 W+ picks, the propane output penalty, noise, CO shutoff, run time and the right cords.
Top picks: Westinghouse iGen5000DFc Dual Fuel Inverter, Westinghouse iGen2550DFc Dual Fuel Inverter, Westinghouse iGen12000DFc Dual Fuel Inverter
Updated Oct 13, 2026
Best Generator for a Well Pump: 240V Models With the Surge to Start It
A 1/2 HP well pump needs about 3,000 W to start and 1 HP about 6,000 W at 240V. Sized 240V picks, tri-fuel options and the battery alternative.
Top picks: DuroMax XP13000HXT Tri Fuel, Westinghouse WGen9500DF Dual Fuel, Westinghouse iGen12000DFc Dual Fuel Inverter
Updated Oct 13, 2026
Best Home Battery Backup Without an Installer: Plug-In Systems Compared
Plug-in home batteries compared by kWh, kW, 240V and full-stack cost: Anker F3800 Plus, EcoFlow DELTA Pro Ultra, BLUETTI Apex 300 and more.
Top picks: Anker SOLIX F3800 Plus, EcoFlow DELTA Pro Ultra, BLUETTI Apex 300
Updated Oct 19, 2026
Best Power Station for a Refrigerator: Hours of Cold per Charge
How many hours a 1 kWh, 2 kWh or 3 kWh power station runs a fridge, which units have the surge to start it, solar recharge math and when a generator wins.
Top picks: Anker SOLIX C2000 Gen 2, BLUETTI Elite 100 V2, BLUETTI Elite 300
Updated Oct 13, 2026
Best Generator Interlock Kits and Transfer Switches for 2026
Interlock kit vs manual transfer switch vs cords: what each costs installed, why backfeeding kills, which kit fits your panel, and the battery equivalents.
Top picks: GenInterlock SD-200A interlock kit (Square D QO and Homeline 150/200A panels), Reliance Controls 31410CRK 10-Circuit Transfer Switch Kit, Reliance Controls PB30 30A Power Inlet Box
Updated Oct 13, 2026
Best Off-Grid Solar Kit for a Cabin, Shed or RV (Sized by Daily Watt-Hours)
Off-grid solar for a cabin, shed or RV: power station plus panels vs a 12/24 V component kit vs a 48 V all-in-one, sized by daily watt-hours and sun hours.
Top picks: Callsun 200W N-Type Bifacial Solar Panel, BLUETTI AC200L, Growatt 3500W 48V All-in-One Solar Inverter
Updated Oct 28, 2026