WHEN THE POWER GOES OUT · BATTERY SYSTEMS
From a $25 power bank to a whole-home battery wall — there's a right size for every household. Here's how to find yours without overspending or underbuying.
FOUR TIERS
The right battery backup depends on what you need to power and for how long. Most households need more than a power bank and less than a battery wall. Start here to find your tier.
Tier 1 · $20–$60
Phones, tablets, small USB devices. 3–6 phone charges. Essential for communication during any outage.
20,000–30,000 mAh is the useful range.
Tier 2 · $10–$40
AA, AAA, and D cells for flashlights, headlamps, radios, and lanterns. Lower ongoing cost than disposables.
Keep disposable backups. Rechargeables fail to hold charge over time.
Tier 3 · $200–$2,000
AC outlets, USB, and DC outputs. Runs fans, CPAP, small refrigerators, LED lighting, and laptop charging simultaneously.
300Wh to 2,000Wh. Pairs with solar panels for recharging.
Tier 4 · $15–$300
Uninterruptible power for routers, medical devices, and computers. Bridges the gap instantly — no switching time.
15–60 min runtime. Not for long outages. For preventing damage from outage start and end.
TIER 1
Every household needs at least one high-capacity power bank. It is the simplest, cheapest, and most reliable way to keep phones running through any outage.
Target 20,000 mAh minimum. That charges a typical smartphone four to five times. A 30,000 mAh bank adds one or two more charges and still fits in a bag. Anything above 30,000 mAh runs into airline carry-on restrictions.
Look for USB-C Power Delivery on at least one port — it charges modern phones and laptops quickly. Two output ports let two people charge simultaneously.
Keep it charged. A power bank that sits in a drawer for six months will have lost significant charge capacity. Charge it fully every three months whether you've used it or not.
Smartphones, tablets, Bluetooth earbuds, portable Wi-Fi hotspots, e-readers, and any small USB device. A 20,000 mAh bank running a hotspot continuously lasts roughly 12–18 hours depending on the hotspot's draw.
It will not run a CPAP, a fan, a lamp with AC bulbs, or anything with a standard wall plug. Those loads need a battery station.
One bank per two household members is a reasonable starting point. Two banks gives you a buffer if one is low when the outage starts.
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TIER 3
A battery station is a large lithium battery pack with AC outlets, USB ports, and DC outputs. It fills the gap between a power bank and a generator — no fuel, no CO risk, no noise.
Battery station capacity is measured in watt-hours (Wh). Divide the watt-hours by the watts of your device to estimate runtime. A 500Wh station running a 50W fan runs for roughly 10 hours. The same station running a 400W mini refrigerator runs for about 1.5 hours.
For most households, a 500–1,000Wh station covers lighting, phones, a CPAP, and a fan through a single night. A 1,500–2,000Wh station adds the ability to run a small chest freezer for a day.
Units above 2,000Wh are heavy — typically 40–60 lbs. Consider whether you need to move it and who will carry it.
Most battery stations accept solar panel input through an MC4 or XT60 connector. A 200W panel recharges a 1,000Wh station in five to six hours of good sun. This turns a one-night battery backup into an indefinitely sustainable system during a multi-day outage.
Check the station's maximum solar input before buying a panel. Some units cap at 150W input even if the panel is larger, which wastes money on extra panel capacity.
The 200W solar project guide explains the full panel-to-station setup in detail.
WHAT A 1,000Wh STATION RUNS
Runtime estimates assume 85% efficiency and average device draw. Real-world results vary.
UPS SYSTEMS AND MEDICAL DEVICES
A UPS and a battery station solve different problems. Understanding the difference matters most for households with medical equipment.
A UPS sits between the wall outlet and your device and switches to internal battery power the instant grid power fails. The transition is seamless — no restart, no data loss, no equipment alarm.
Most UPS units provide 15 to 60 minutes of runtime. That's enough time to save work on a computer, finish a CPAP cycle, and switch to a longer-duration battery station.
A UPS also protects equipment from voltage spikes when power returns, which is when most surge-related damage occurs.
Register with your utility as a medical baseline or life support customer. Many utilities prioritize restoration for these addresses and have programs to notify customers before planned outages.
For CPAP users: most modern CPAPs draw 30–60W without heat and humidifier. A 500Wh battery station runs a CPAP for 8–16 nights, making it a practical long-term backup.
For home oxygen concentrators: these draw 150–600W continuously and are not well-suited to battery station backup for extended use. Discuss a backup oxygen supply with your medical provider before an outage forces the conversation.