BackupPowerAI publishes research-based recommendations. We do not test products, and we never claim to. Here is exactly how our guides and calculator are put together.
Product specs come from manufacturers
- Capacity (Wh), continuous and surge watts, battery chemistry, weight, solar input, outlets, fuel type and CO-safety features are read from each manufacturer's own product page.
- We record the page URL and the date we checked it, and link it on every product card.
- If a manufacturer page doesn't state a spec, we leave it out rather than estimate it.
Facts come from named, dated public sources
Outage and grid-risk statistics cite agencies such as EIA, NERC and DOE. Safety guidance cites CDC, CPSC, Ready.gov and FEMA. Typical appliance wattages cite published wattage charts. Each guide lists its sources at the bottom.
What we don't do
- No product-testing claims, fake reviews, testimonials, star ratings or user counts.
- No hard-coded prices. Prices change constantly, so we link to Amazon to check the current price.
- No scare tactics. We write about real outage drivers, not speculation: extreme weather, wildfire shutoffs, grid strain and rising demand.
How picks are chosen
We favor well-known brands with currently sold models, published specs and safety features (LiFePO4 batteries for power stations; automatic CO shutoff for generators). Each pick names who it's best for and its tradeoffs. Affiliate commissions do not influence which product the calculator matches to your numbers. It picks the smallest option on our list that meets your watts.
The sizing calculator
The quiz uses typical watts you can override, an inverter efficiency of 0.85, 20% headroom and a 20% continuous-power margin. Solar estimates use a planning assumption of 4 sun-hours and 75% panel output. All of this is shown on the results page.
Safety and professional work
Anything connected to your home's wiring (transfer switches, interlocks, standby systems) should be installed by a licensed electrician. Our medical-device content is power planning, not medical advice.
Updates and corrections
Every guide shows its last-updated date. If you spot an error, tell us and we'll correct it. See also our affiliate disclosure.