Backup Power
Best Solar Generators for Home Backup in 2026
Four portable power stations compared for home backup on capacity, power, cycle life, weight and price per watt-hour, using manufacturer specifications.
Updated
Independent guides for homeowners
How much will solar and a battery save you?
Get a realistic estimate in two minutes, then check every assumption. We show our math, our sources and the date we last checked them.
Free calculators
Simple tools with the formulas in plain sight.
Solar savings
Estimate system size, cost after incentives and payback.
Battery size
Find the usable kWh and kW you need for backup.
How many panels
Panels, system size and roof area for your usage.
Start here
The guides most homeowners read first.
Backup Power
Do Solar Panels Work During a Power Outage?
Most rooftop solar shuts off in a blackout for lineworker safety. Here is why, and the four ways to keep using your panels when the grid goes down.
Updated
Home Batteries
Home Battery Storage Cost in 2026: Full Price Breakdown
What a home battery costs in 2026: typical installed prices by brand and per kWh, what the quote includes, which incentives still exist and how to pay less.
Updated
Backup Power
Home Battery vs Standby Generator: Cost Over 10 Years
Compare a home battery with a whole-home standby generator over 10 years: installed price, fuel, warranty, how long each can run and which suits your outages.
Updated
Home Batteries
How Long Will a Powerwall Run My House During an Outage?
A Powerwall 3 stores 13.5 kWh. See how many hours that runs an average home in an outage, why the starting charge matters and how to estimate yours.
Updated
Home Batteries
How Many kWh Battery Do I Need to Power a House?
How many kWh of battery storage a home needs for essentials or whole-house backup, worked out from EIA usage data, with the batteries it takes to get there.
Updated
Solar by state
Electricity rates, sun hours and net metering rules change everything. Pick your state.
Latest comparisons
Home Batteries
AC-Coupled vs DC-Coupled Batteries: Which Fits Your Home?
How AC-coupled and DC-coupled home batteries differ, why their efficiency ratings are not directly comparable, and which one fits new or existing solar.
Updated
Backup Power
DELTA Pro 3 vs HomePower 3000 vs Anker SOLIX F3800 Plus
EcoFlow DELTA Pro 3, Jackery HomePower 3000 and Anker SOLIX F3800 Plus compared on capacity, expansion, 240 V output, solar charging, UPS and price.
Updated
Backup Power
Home Battery vs Standby Generator: Cost Over 10 Years
Compare a home battery with a whole-home standby generator over 10 years: installed price, fuel, warranty, how long each can run and which suits your outages.
Updated
Why trust OwnerHandbook
Every guide is written from primary sources such as the EIA, NREL, manufacturers and utilities, fact-checked, and dated. We tell you when solar is not worth it.
- Primary sources cited on every page
- Dates on every number
- Formulas shown, not hidden
- Affiliate links never change our numbers
