Home Backup
Power outages don't give advance warning. A good home backup power station keeps your fridge cold, your lights on, your phones charged, and your router running until the grid comes back. You don't need a whole-home generator for most outages — you need the right station matched to the right loads. The key is honestly estimating what you actually need to run, and for how long.
What to know before you buy
A full-size refrigerator draws 100–400W and needs 3–5× surge power to start the compressor
Lighting, phone charging, and a router together add only 50–100W of continuous draw
For 24-hour outages, aim for 1,500–2,000Wh minimum if running a fridge
Larger expandable stations bridge multi-day outages when paired with solar panels
Look for 2,000W+ AC output so you can run a microwave or coffee maker in a pinch
Top picks for Home Backup
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Runtime Calculator
Select any power station and add your specific devices to see exactly how long the battery will last under your real load.
Guides & deep dives
Best Home Backup Batteries for Sump Pumps and Furnaces
Critical-load picks for sump, furnace, and selected circuits — compared on surge, 120V/240V truth, and transfer path.
Read article →Best Apartment Backup Batteries for Fridge, Wi-Fi, and Work-From-Home Outages
Renter-friendly plug-in batteries for fridge, Wi-Fi, and WFH — compared by capacity, surge, UPS speed, and apartment constraints.
Read article →How Big a Home Backup Battery Do You Actually Need for an Outage?
Size plug-in home backup in days, not hours — and why surge rating matters more than the Wh number on the box.
Read article →