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Home backup power, done right.

Everything we know about keeping essential power on when the grid goes down, organized so you can go from confused to confident in one sitting.

The guides in this cluster

Read them in order, or jump to the one that matches where you are right now.

Step 1

Compare your options

Solar power stations, gas generators, whole-home batteries, and DIY, by cost, runtime, safety, and fit.

Read the comparison
Step 2

Size your system

The watt-hour math in plain English, with a worked example for a typical home.

Size it correctly
Step 3

Make your plan

Our free, printable 72-hour blackout plan and power-needs worksheet.

Get the plan
Go deeper

Solar vs gas, head to head

The two most common choices compared directly on cost, safety, runtime, and noise.

Read the matchup
Safety

Generator safety

Carbon monoxide, backfeeding, and fuel handling: the rules that keep a generator from becoming the hazard.

Stay safe
Run a fridge

How long will it run a fridge?

The watt-hour math, the surge-watt trap, and runtime by outage length.

See the runtime
Generators

What size generator?

Add running and starting watts for your essentials, with clear tiers.

Size a generator
Worth it?

Are solar generators worth it?

An honest, vendor-neutral look at who it is right for and who it is not.

Read the take

Related cluster: Emergency water storage and purification.