Outages are predictable in only one way: they arrive when the household is least ready. A winter storm takes the power, the furnace fan stops and the question of which generator to buy is suddenly being answered from a phone, in the dark, with the last of the battery.
Almost everything about choosing backup power can be worked out in advance, on paper, in an evening. That is what this site is for.
Who we write for
Homeowners and renters across the United States who live where storms, ice or heat waves take the grid down, and who want to choose and use backup power sensibly.
Everything here lives in one category, Backup Power: comparing portable and standby generators, understanding portable power stations, sizing a load list, storing fuel and understanding what a licensed electrician does at the panel.
How we work
- We start from the load list. What you need to run decides the machine. A brochure’s headline wattage does not.
- We separate running from starting watts. Motors need a surge to start. Ignoring it is the most common sizing mistake.
- We say when the cheaper option is enough. A power station that runs the fridge and phones may beat a generator for many short outages.
- We keep safety in front. Carbon monoxide kills every winter. Every article repeats where a generator may and may not run.
Where we stop
Wiring and installation. Transfer switches, interlocks and panel work are for licensed electricians and local inspectors. We explain what they do. We never tell you how to do it.
Code and permit interpretation. Rules differ by city and utility. We tell you to ask your building department and do not say what it will require.
Health and safety diagnosis. If anyone has symptoms of carbon monoxide exposure, leave the building and call emergency services.
Who writes here
Dale Henning — Editor. Dale spent fifteen years behind an electrical-supply counter and then as a generator sales consultant in Michigan, where every November brought customers asking which machine would run a furnace through an ice storm. That counter is why this site starts with the load list and ends with safe hookup.
How this site is funded
Standby Power Lab is free to read and is supported by display advertising, plus affiliate links on some pages. If you use an affiliate link and buy something, we may earn a commission at no additional cost to you. Advertisers do not see our articles before publication and have no influence over them; ads are placed automatically by third-party networks. Affiliate commissions do not decide our recommendations either — much of our advice is to buy a smaller unit and a proper fuel plan, which is the least profitable advice in this category. The full disclosure is on our Disclaimer page.
Corrections
Models, rules and prices change, and we sometimes miss one. If something here is wrong, send it through our contact form with a source. We will verify it, correct the article, and record what changed and when.
Get in touch
Questions, disagreements and topic suggestions are welcome through our Contact page. We cannot size your panel or inspect your setup, but we can usually tell you which two questions to ask your electrician.