Power Backup HQ is a practical guide to home backup power systems, portable power stations, solar generators, standby generators, battery backup, and outage preparation. The goal of this site is to help homeowners understand their backup power options before choosing equipment, speaking with an installer, or preparing for an outage.
Backup power can be confusing because every home has different needs. A small home may only need enough power for a refrigerator, lights, internet, and phone charging, while a larger home may need a standby generator, home battery system, solar battery setup, or essential-circuit backup plan.
The guides on this site explain how backup power works, what different systems can and cannot do, how to think about sizing and runtime, and what safety issues matter before using or installing backup power equipment.
Start Here
If you are new to backup power, start with the main guides below. These pages explain the basics and help you understand the different options before comparing products or installation choices.
- Home Backup Power Systems Guide
- Beginner’s Guide to Home Backup Power
- Complete Guide to Home Backup Power Options
- What Size Home Backup Power System Do You Need?
What You Will Find on This Site
Power Backup HQ covers the main questions homeowners have when researching backup power. Topics include system sizing, generator safety, fuel planning, home batteries, solar backup, portable power stations, installation considerations, and outage preparedness.
- How to work out what size backup power system your home may need
- How generators, batteries, solar batteries, and portable power stations compare
- What appliances and circuits are usually most important during an outage
- How long backup batteries and generators may run in real-world situations
- What to know about transfer switches, permits, placement, and installation
- How to prepare for storms, winter outages, wildfire shutoffs, and extended blackouts
Popular Backup Power Topics
These guides answer common questions about choosing and using backup power at home.
- How Much Backup Power Does a House Need During an Outage?
- Is a Battery Backup Better Than a Generator?
- Portable Power Stations vs Standby Generators
- Solar Battery Backup Systems for Homes
- Generator Fuel Consumption and Runtime Planning
Safety and Installation Guides
Backup power is useful, but it needs to be planned and used safely. These guides cover important safety, installation, and placement topics.
- Do You Need a Transfer Switch for a Backup Generator?
- Portable Generator Carbon Monoxide Safety Guide
- Where to Place a Generator to Prevent Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
- How Much Does Home Backup Generator Installation Cost?
- Generator Placement Requirements for Home Backup Systems