Backup power guides
The grid drops. What stays on?
A UPS, a power station, and a generator each cover a different length of outage. Size whichever fits from what you actually plug in.
How long do you need to cover?
- MinutesUPS / battery backupA modem, a router, a desktop. Rides through a flicker so nothing reboots.Size a UPS for your modem and router
- HoursPortable power stationThe fridge, a few lights, and phones for an evening. Limited by watt-hours, then it needs a recharge.Size a power station for your fridge
- DaysStandby or portable generatorFurnace blower, fridge, and chosen circuits for as long as you have fuel. Needs transfer gear. Never runs indoors.Compare standby and portable generators
The picks
One unit per job, chosen from the maker's numbers.
Each pick links to the guide that sizes it, and the store button under it goes to Amazon. Nothing here is lab-tested, and every spec on a pick card links to the page it came from.
Affiliate disclosure: some store links on HoldBackup are affiliate links. If you buy through one, HoldBackup may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. How HoldBackup makes money
Store linkPaid link
One line-interactive, pure sine wave UPS for a desktop, NAS, or modem and router.
Check price on AmazonHoldBackup earns a commission if you buy through this link. Amazon sets the price.
Store linkPaid link
One small standby UPS for a modem and router.
Check price on AmazonHoldBackup earns a commission if you buy through this link. Amazon sets the price.
Store linkPaid link
One portable power station for a refrigerator through an outage.
Check price on AmazonHoldBackup earns a commission if you buy through this link. Amazon sets the price.
Portable inverter generator
Champion 4000W Dual Fuel Inverter
Standby vs portable generators for home backup
Store linkPaid link
One portable inverter generator for a home's essentials, run outdoors.
Check price on AmazonHoldBackup earns a commission if you buy through this link. Amazon sets the price.
Newsletter
Get a reminder to check your backup gear before storm season.
Best picks and comparisons
Which one, and which brand.
Short lists ranked by the job, and two brands side by side, from the makers' own numbers. Nothing here is a test.
Best picks
Best inverter generator for a home outage
Three inverter generators for a house, ranked by the job: the light one, the dual-fuel one you can carry, and the one with the most watts.
Best picks
Best UPS battery backup for a home
A UPS for the router, one for a home office, and one for a gaming PC, chosen from APC's and CyberPower's own numbers.
Best picks
Best home battery backup power station
Five expandable power stations with 240 V output, from one box for a furnace and a fridge to a system behind a transfer panel, on the makers' numbers.
Compare
Jackery vs EcoFlow
Comparable pairs side by side on capacity, output, chemistry, expansion, solar input and warranty, with a verdict by job.
Compare
APC vs CyberPower
Pure sine wave or simulated, runtime, warranty and software, from both makers' pages, with a verdict by use.
Guides 01 to 115
Start from what must stay on.
Each one says what to check before you buy.
Start here1
Overview
Battery backup, UPS, and home generators
Which of the three fits your outage, and how to size it from the load.
UPS and battery backup24
UPS
A UPS for your router and modem
How a small battery backup can keep Wi-Fi up through short outages.
UPS
Choosing a 1500VA Sine Wave UPS for a Home Office
Plan which office devices share battery power, check the SMT1500C capacity, and separate SmartConnect monitoring from automatic computer shutdown.
UPS
Choosing a Pure Sine Wave UPS for a Home Network Closet
Map your ONT, router, switches and access points before sizing a network UPS. Check PR1500LCD specifications, runtime and monitoring requirements.
UPS
How to Estimate Battery Backup (UPS) Runtime for Your Devices
Estimate UPS battery backup runtime by measuring your real load and reading the maker's runtime chart at that load. Includes steps and checks.
UPS
Choosing a Battery Backup (UPS) for Your Garage Door Opener
How to choose a battery backup (UPS) for your garage door opener: motor surge, sine wave output, garage temperatures, and runtime at your own load.
UPS
Using a Power Station as a Battery Backup (UPS): Pass-Through and Switchover Time
Some power stations can stand in for a UPS. Learn how pass-through charging and switchover time decide whether your computer stays on during an outage.
UPS
Why Is My UPS Beeping? What Each Battery Backup Alarm Means
A beeping UPS is telling you something: on battery, low battery, overload, or a worn battery. Learn what each alarm means and what to do next.
UPS
Choosing a UPS Battery Backup for a Gaming Console and TV
How to pick a UPS for a gaming console and TV: sine wave output, sizing from your own watt numbers, outlet layout, and realistic runtime.
UPS
Choosing a UPS Battery Backup for Security Cameras and an NVR
Size a UPS for your NVR, PoE switch, and router from your own numbers, check runtime at your load, and keep cameras recording through an outage.
UPS
How to Size a Battery Backup UPS for an Aquarium Air Pump or Filter
Keep your aquarium air pump or filter running in an outage. Learn how to size a UPS from your pump's label and the maker's runtime chart.
UPS
Choosing a Battery Backup (UPS) for a Gas Boiler and Circulator Pump
How to pick a battery backup (UPS) for a gas boiler: pure sine wave output, sizing from the nameplate, runtime at your load, and a safe hookup.
UPS
UPS VA vs Watts: How to Read a Battery Backup (UPS) Rating
VA and watts are not the same on a UPS. Learn which number to size by, how to find your load, and what to check on the spec sheet before you buy.
UPS
Line-Interactive vs Standby UPS: Which Battery Backup to Buy
Standby UPS units switch to battery for outages or voltage outside tolerance. Line-interactive models add AVR. Compare voltage correction, runtime and waveform.
UPS
Choosing a UPS for a Home Security Alarm Panel and Keypad
How to choose a small UPS for a home alarm panel, keypad, and internet gear: check the panel battery, measure your load, and read the runtime chart.
UPS
Choosing a UPS Battery Backup to Keep a Cordless Landline Phone Working
A cordless phone base goes dead when the power does. Here is how to choose a small UPS that keeps the base and your modem running in an outage.
UPS
How to Choose a UPS Battery Backup for a Pellet Stove
Size a battery backup (UPS) for your pellet stove: find its running and igniter watts, check for sine wave output, and match runtime to your outages.
UPS
UPS vs Surge Protector Strip: Which Battery Backup (UPS) Your Electronics Need
A surge protector stops spikes. A UPS also keeps power on during outages. Here is how to tell which one your electronics need and what to check.
UPS
Do UPS External Battery Packs Add Enough Runtime to Be Worth It?
When a UPS external battery pack is worth it, which units accept one, and how to check runtime at your own load before you buy.
UPS
Choosing a UPS Battery Backup for a Desktop Computer
Choose a desktop UPS from your PC and monitor load, power-supply requirements and shutdown software. Check the CP1500PFCLCD against your setup.
UPS
Choosing a UPS for a Home Office NAS
Check the exact NAS and UPS pairing, USB or network signaling, shutdown settings and runtime before relying on automatic storage protection.
UPS
When to replace a UPS battery in your battery backup
How to tell your UPS battery is failing, how often to plan a swap, and how to match the right replacement cartridge to your battery backup.
UPS
How to test UPS battery health before the next outage
Check your UPS battery with the maker's self-test and runtime guidance, recognize damage, and choose a replacement that matches your exact model.
UPS
Choosing a battery backup (UPS) for a fiber ONT and router
How to choose a UPS that keeps your fiber ONT and router running in a power cut: measure your load, read runtime charts, and check outlets.
UPS
Can a UPS battery backup run a refrigerator during an outage?
Most desktop UPS units are not built for a fridge compressor. See which ratings to check and how to find your refrigerator's real draw.
Portable power stations33
Power station
Running a refrigerator on a portable power station
Check the startup surge and the watt-hours before the outage, not during it.
Power station
Keeping a few lights and phones on in an outage
What one LED bulb draws, why this is an hours job, and the power station that covers it.
Power station
How to Charge a Portable Power Station From a Generator During a Long Outage
Yes, a generator can charge a portable power station. Match the wattage, use the AC input, and plan charging blocks for a long outage.
Power station
Choosing a Portable Power Station for Apartment Renters
Can't run a generator in your apartment? Here's how to size and choose a portable power station for outages, using your own devices' numbers.
Power station
Choosing a 1000Wh Portable Power Station With Fast Charging
How to pick a 1000Wh portable power station with fast recharging: check capacity, inverter watts, recharge time, outlet layout, and battery chemistry.
Power station
A 2000Wh Portable Power Station for Home Essentials
How to size a 2000Wh portable power station for a fridge, lights, and Wi-Fi during an outage, and the specs to check before you buy.
Power station
Can a Portable Power Station Run a Window Air Conditioner?
Often yes, if its output covers the AC's running and startup watts. Learn how to check your unit's label and estimate runtime before an outage.
Power station
Why a portable power station shuts off when a motor starts
A fridge compressor's startup surge can trip a power station's inverter. Learn the checks that tell you whether a unit can start your fridge.
Power station
How Many Watt-Hours You Need in a Portable Power Station
Size a portable power station the right way: measure your watts, decide how many hours, then add headroom. A simple sizing method plus the specs to check.
Power station
How to Store a Portable Power Station Between Outages
Keep a portable power station ready between outages: storage charge level, temperature, top-up timing, and the checks that keep it ready to run.
Power station
Portable Power Station Expansion Battery vs Buying a Second Unit
An expansion battery adds watt-hours but not watts. A second unit adds both. Here is how to decide which one fits your outage plan.
Power station
Can a Portable Power Station Run a Basement Dehumidifier During an Outage?
How to tell if a portable power station can run your basement dehumidifier during an outage: check starting watts, measure real draw, and plan runtime.
Power station
Running Box Fans Overnight on a Portable Power Station
How to check whether a portable power station can run box fans through a summer outage night, using your fan's real draw and the maker's runtime chart.
Power station
Can a Portable Power Station Run a Coffee Maker or Electric Kettle?
Yes, if the station's continuous output is higher than the watts on your appliance's label. Here is how to check, and how to estimate brews per charge.
Power station
How Long Can a Portable Power Station Run an Electric Blanket Overnight?
Work out how many hours a portable power station can run your electric blanket using your blanket's watts, its heat setting, and the station's watt-hours.
Power station
Can a Portable Power Station Run a Gas Furnace Blower During an Outage?
How to tell if a portable power station can run your gas furnace in an outage: blower load, startup surge, runtime math, and safe hookup.
Power station
Running a Gas Range or Oven Igniter from a Portable Power Station
How to size a portable power station for a gas range or oven igniter during a power outage, what to measure first, and how to connect it safely.
Power station
How to Size a Portable Power Station for a Full Remote Workday
Size a portable power station for a full remote workday in an outage: measure your load, do the watt-hour math, then check outlets and output.
Power station
Solar Generator vs Gas Generator: Which Portable Power Station Fits Your Outage?
Portable power station or gas generator for outages? How to decide by runtime, output, recharging, safety, and your own device loads.
Power station
Can a Portable Power Station Run a Sump Pump? Sizing for Surge and Runtime
How to tell if a portable power station can start and run your sump pump, and how to estimate hours of runtime from your own pump's numbers.
Power station
Portable Power Stations With Enough Surge for Large Loads
How to pick a portable power station that can start motor-driven loads: surge watts, continuous watts, capacity, and the outlet checks that decide it.
Power station
Running a Chest Freezer on a Portable Power Station
How many watt-hours a chest freezer needs in an outage, how to do the runtime math, and what to check on the inverter before you buy.
Power station
Can a power station run an electric kettle during an outage?
Check your kettle's wattage, the power station's continuous AC output and the energy needed for each boil before choosing outage backup.
Power station
Can a Portable Power Station Run a Hair Dryer?
Whether a portable power station can run your hair dryer depends on two numbers: the dryer's label watts and the station's continuous AC output.
Power station
Can a Portable Power Station Run an Induction Cooktop During an Outage?
Yes, if the station's continuous AC rating beats the cooktop's draw at your setting. Here is how to check both and size the battery for real meals.
Power station
Can a Portable Power Station Run a Microwave?
Yes, if the station's continuous output beats your microwave's input watts. Here is how to read the label, check surge, and estimate cooking time.
Power station
Can a Portable Power Station Run an Electric Space Heater?
A space heater can drain a portable power station fast. Learn how to check your heater's watts, estimate runtime, and decide if it's worth it.
Power station
Can a portable power station run a well pump during an outage?
Check your well pump's voltage and starting surge to see whether a portable power station can run it during an outage.
Power station
Choosing a Compact Portable Power Station Under 600Wh
How to pick a compact portable power station under 600Wh for a short outage: sizing your own loads, watt limits, recharge speed, and outlet checks.
Power station
How to Choose a Portable Power Station for Camping and RV Trips
How to size a portable power station for camping and RV trips: watt-hours, output watts, outlets, recharging on the road, and what to check before you buy.
Power station
500Wh Portable Power Station With One-Hour Fast Charging
How to choose a 500Wh LiFePO4 portable power station with fast charging: sizing, output limits, ports, and the runtime checks that decide it.
Power station
Is it safe to run a portable power station indoors?
Battery power stations make no exhaust, so indoor use is normal. Here is how to manage heat, load, charging, and damaged batteries safely.
Power station
LiFePO4 vs NMC Portable Power Station Batteries for Home Backup
LiFePO4 or NMC for a home backup power station? See how battery chemistry affects lifespan, weight, and safety, and what to check on the spec sheet.
Generators46
Generator
Standby vs portable generators for home backup
How each connects to the house, what it needs installed, and the safety rules.
Generator
Can a Portable Generator Run an Electric Water Heater?
Read your water heater's data plate, then match a generator's running watts and voltage. How to size it, connect it safely, and run it in shifts.
Generator
What Size Portable Generator Runs an Electric Stove or Range?
Size a portable generator for an electric range: read the nameplate, confirm 240-volt output, add your other loads, and connect through a transfer switch.
Generator
Can a Portable Generator Run an Electric Clothes Dryer?
Size a portable generator for your electric dryer: check the model's required voltage, running and starting demand, and a safe connection with your electrician.
Generator
How Much Gas Does a Portable Generator Use in a Day?
Work out your generator's daily gas use from its runtime chart, your real load, and the hours you run it. Simple math, no guesswork.
Generator
Portable Generator Outlets Explained: What Each Plug Is For
Learn what each generator outlet does, from 5-20 household receptacles to L14-30, L5-30, and TT-30 locking and RV plugs, and what to check before you buy.
Generator
How to Size a Whole-House Standby Generator
Size a whole-house standby generator from your own loads: running and starting watts, whole-house vs essentials, fuel type, and a load calculation.
Generator
How Much Fuel a Home Standby Generator Burns per Hour
How to find a standby generator's real fuel burn per hour at your load, on natural gas or propane, and size your tank or gas supply to match.
Generator
Is Your Gas Meter Big Enough for a Natural Gas Standby Generator?
Before you buy a natural gas standby generator, confirm your gas meter, pressure, and piping can carry it plus every other gas appliance at once.
Generator
How loud is a standby generator, and will the neighbors hear it?
How loud a home standby generator is, how to read its decibel rating, and where to place it so neighbors are less likely to be bothered.
Generator
Portable Generator for Central Air: Soft Starters, Sizing, and Safe Hookup
How to tell if a portable generator can start and run your central air conditioner, what a soft starter changes, and what to check before you buy.
Generator
Running a Furnace Blower on a Portable Generator
How to size and connect a portable generator to run a gas furnace blower during a winter outage, plus the wiring and carbon monoxide rules that apply.
Generator
What Size Portable Generator Do You Need to Run a 240V Well Pump?
Size a portable generator for a 240V well pump: read the pump nameplate, cover the starting surge, and plan a safe transfer switch hookup.
Generator
How often to change portable generator oil during a long outage
In an outage, a generator hits its oil interval in run hours long before the calendar limit. How to track hours, check the level, and change oil safely.
Generator
A Quiet 2200-Watt Inverter Generator for Home Backup
How to size, place, and run a 2200-watt inverter generator during an outage, plus the outlet and runtime checks to make before you buy.
Generator
Dual Fuel Portable Generator: Propane or Gasoline in an Outage
How to choose a dual fuel portable generator for outages, and when to run propane instead of gasoline. Runtime, wattage, and safety checks explained.
Generator
How to Choose Extension Cord Gauge for a Portable Generator
How to pick an extension cord gauge for a portable generator: match the cord's amp rating to your load and length, and use outdoor-rated, grounded cords.
Generator
Running Two Inverter Generators in Parallel: How a Parallel Kit Works
How a parallel kit links two inverter generators, when two small units beat one big one, and what to check before you buy.
Generator
Inverter Generator vs Conventional Portable Generator for Home Backup
Inverter or conventional portable generator? How to choose by load, noise, fuel use, and power quality, and how to connect either one to your home safely.
Generator
New Generator Break-In: First Start and First Oil Change
Break in a new portable generator the right way: add oil, start it outdoors, run a light load, and do the early first oil change your manual calls for.
Generator
Portable Generator Carbon Monoxide Safety: Distance, Placement, and Alarms
Where to place a portable generator, why 20 feet is the floor, and the CO alarms and shutoff features to check before the next outage.
Generator
How to Clean a Portable Generator Carburetor After It Sits Unused
Generator won't start after sitting? Clean the carburetor safely, step by step, and learn the storage habits that keep old fuel from gumming it up again.
Generator
How to Run a Portable Generator in Freezing Weather
Cold-weather generator tips: oil, fuel, starting, snow, and carbon monoxide safety, plus what to check before a winter outage.
Generator
Generator Sizing for Electric Baseboard Heaters
Size a portable generator for electric baseboard heaters: add up heater labels, check running watts and voltage, and plan a safe home connection.
Generator
Can a Portable Generator Run a Heat Pump in a Winter Outage?
How to tell if a portable generator can run your heat pump: read the nameplate, compare starting and running watts, and plan a safe connection.
Generator
What Size Portable Generator Runs a Washing Machine?
How to size a portable generator for a washing machine: find your washer's running and starting watts, add other loads, and connect it safely.
Generator
Portable Generator GFCI Keeps Tripping: How to Find the Cause and Fix It
Why a portable generator's GFCI outlet keeps tripping, how to find the cause step by step, and what to check before you buy a generator.
Generator
Does a Portable Generator Need a Ground Rod?
Most portable generators feeding cords from their own outlets need no ground rod. Learn when one may be needed and what to check in your manual.
Generator
Portable Generator at High Altitude: How Much Power You Lose and How to Adjust
A portable generator makes less power as you go higher. Learn how to find your derate, resize your load, and set up the engine for elevation.
Generator
Running a Portable Generator in the Rain: Shelter, Placement, and Safety
Yes, with the right shelter. How to keep a portable generator dry, where to place it outdoors, and how to avoid shock and carbon monoxide risks.
Generator
How to Check and Replace a Portable Generator Spark Plug
Step-by-step help to check, read, and replace a portable generator spark plug safely, plus what to look for in a generator that is easy to service.
Generator
How to Store and Maintain a Portable Generator Between Outages
Store a portable generator so it starts at the next outage: stabilize or drain the fuel, change the oil, exercise it on a schedule, and keep it dry.
Generator
Can a Portable Generator Run a Tankless Gas Water Heater?
Most tankless gas water heaters need electricity only for controls, igniter, and fan. Here is how to size a generator and connect it safely.
Generator
How to Lock Down a Portable Generator So It Isn't Stolen
Chain it to a ground anchor, lock the fuel, light the area, and record the serial number. Keep a portable generator safe and running outdoors during an outage.
Generator
Portable Generator Won't Start: A Step-by-Step Troubleshooting Guide
Generator won't start after storage? Work through fuel, oil, choke, spark plug, and battery checks in order, and learn how to store it so it starts next time.
Generator
Air-cooled vs liquid-cooled standby generator: which one fits your house
Air-cooled standby generators suit many homes; liquid-cooled ones handle larger loads and long runs. Decide from your load, fuel, and site.
Generator
Home standby generator did not start in an outage: what to check
Your home standby generator stayed silent when the power went out. Check the controller, battery, fuel, breakers, and transfer switch, in that order.
Generator
Standby Generator Placement: How Far From Windows, Doors, and Walls
How far a home standby generator must sit from windows, doors, vents, and walls, where the real numbers come from, and what to check before you pour a pad.
Generator
Standby Generator Exercise Cycle: How Often a Home Standby Generator Should Run
How often a home standby generator should exercise, why the regular test run matters, and what to check after each cycle so it starts in an outage.
Generator
What Size Portable Generator Do You Need to Run a Refrigerator?
Size a portable generator for your refrigerator using its label, its startup surge, and everything else you plan to run. Plus safe setup steps.
Generator
What Size Generator Runs a Sump Pump: A Portable Generator Sizing Guide
How to size a portable generator for a sump pump: find your pump's starting and running watts, add headroom, and run it safely outdoors during an outage.
Generator
How to Size a Portable Generator for Your House
Add up running watts, add the biggest starting surge, and leave headroom. A plain guide to sizing a portable generator for home essentials.
Generator
What Size Propane Tank Does a Generator Need?
How to size a propane tank for a standby or dual-fuel generator: read the fuel chart, count usable gallons, and work out how many days you get.
Generator
How much gasoline to store for a portable generator, and how to keep it fresh
Work out how much gasoline your generator needs for an outage, store it safely, and rotate it before it goes stale.
Generator
Should you add a propane conversion kit to a portable generator?
When a propane conversion kit makes sense for your portable generator, when a factory dual fuel model is simpler, and what to check before you buy.
Generator
How to refuel a portable generator safely
Shut it off, let it cool, refuel outdoors where it runs. Here is how to refuel a portable generator safely and plan fuel so you refuel less often.
Transfer gear and accessories11
Transfer switch
Floating vs Bonded Neutral: Matching a Transfer Switch to Your Portable Generator
Find out whether your portable generator needs a floating or bonded neutral for your transfer switch, and what to confirm with your electrician.
Transfer switch
How to Balance Portable Generator Loads Across Transfer Switch Circuits
Split your generator's watts evenly across both legs of a manual transfer switch. Map circuits, add up loads, and switch them over in the right order.
Transfer switch
Generator Interlock Kit vs Transfer Switch for a Portable Generator
Interlock kit or manual transfer switch for your portable generator? Compare circuit choice, panel fit, and install work before you call an electrician.
Transfer switch
Manual vs Automatic Transfer Switch: Which Fits Your Home Generator?
Manual or automatic transfer switch? How each works, which generator it suits, and what to check before an electrician installs one.
Transfer switch
Never Backfeed Your Generator: Use a Transfer Switch Instead
Backfeeding a generator through a dryer outlet can hurt line workers and start fires. Here is why, and what a transfer switch does instead.
Transfer switch
Transfer switch switchover steps: to generator power and back to the grid
The safe order for moving circuits from the grid to a generator through a manual transfer switch, and back again when utility power returns.
Transfer switch
Load Shedding Modules for an Automatic Transfer Switch: Do You Need Them?
What load shedding modules do on an automatic transfer switch, when you need them, when you can skip them, and what to check before buying.
Transfer switch
Transfer Switch Permits: Do You Need One and an Electrician?
Installing a generator transfer switch usually means a permit and a licensed electrician. Here is what to check before you buy a switch kit.
Transfer switch
How to read transfer switch wattmeters without overloading a generator
Learn to read the wattmeters on a manual transfer switch, balance both legs, and keep your generator under its running rating during an outage.
Transfer switch
Choosing a 10-Circuit Transfer Switch for a Portable Generator
How to choose a 10-circuit, 30 amp manual transfer switch for a portable generator: circuit count, amp rating, outlet match, and professional installation.
Transfer switch
Generator Power Inlet Box and Transfer Switch: How They Connect
An inlet box is the outdoor connection point for generator power. See how it feeds a transfer switch and what to check first.
The rules
What HoldBackup will not do.
Link to anything but backup power.
Backup power only: UPS units, power stations, generators, and the cords and transfer gear tied to them. Nothing else gets a page here, even if the listing says generator.
Invent a test.
No made-up ratings, runtimes, or savings. Numbers come from spec sheets, the EnergyGuide label, the USDA, or the CPSC. Where a guide gives a typical range instead, it says so.
Hide how it earns.
A live store button says "Check price on Amazon", and the note under it says HoldBackup earns a commission if you buy. A grey "Check current price" button goes nowhere. How HoldBackup makes money