Backup power for your home: from a UPS to a solar system
First work out what must run during a power cut
The main mistake when buying backup power is getting the biggest unit. The right way is the opposite: list the appliances that must keep running and note each one's power in watts. Mark separately anything with a peak start-up load: a fridge, a pump or a compressor draws more when it starts. Add the hours of backup you need.
These two numbers, power and duration, decide the battery capacity or the generator size. It also matters what supply you already have: a stable grid with voltage swings, or a full outage.
What solutions exist
- For a computer, router and heating. UPS units: line-interactive or online, a pure sine wave output for boilers and pumps, battery type.
- Portable power. Power stations: capacity in Wh, inverter power, charging speed, sockets and USB ports.
- Long backup. Generators (petrol, diesel, inverter, gas): power, noise, fuel use, run time on a tank.
- Energy storage. Batteries (AGM, gel, lithium LiFePO4): voltage, capacity, number of cycles.
- Your own generation. Solar panels and solar system equipment: power, inverter, controller, mounting.
- Protection and conversion. Voltage stabilisers and converters: input range, power, output type.
How it works on BlaBlaPrice
You write a request in your own words: what must run, for how many hours, in which city. You can add one photo, for example of your distribution board. The request is checked, and you get hints about what else sellers need to know.
Sellers of equipment reply in the chat with what they offer, the price or what it depends on, warranty, delivery and sometimes installation. BlaBlaPrice shows the best offer by value first, with reviews next to it. Sellers see their place among the others and compete on terms. Contacts stay hidden until you choose. Read more on the “How it works” page.
How to compare offers
Compare real output, not the marketing figure. For power stations, look at how much the unit delivers continuously, not the peak power. For batteries, look at usable capacity and the number of cycles. For generators, check the output type: electronics need a clean sine wave, and inverter models are quieter and more economical.
Ask whether the price includes connection. A house or boiler is connected to a generator through a special changeover switch, and a qualified electrician should do it.
Common mistakes
Ignoring the starting current, buying a very cheap modified-sine inverter for a pump or boiler, or not planning a place for the generator. Never run a petrol generator indoors: carbon monoxide makes it dangerous.
Installation, warranty and maintenance
Each type of equipment needs its own care. A generator must be started now and then and its oil changed. Lead-acid batteries hate deep discharge, and lithium ones need the right charger. Ask the seller about service, warranty and the availability of consumables.
For solar systems, find out who does the installation and whether mounting, cables and protection are included.
If you are looking for a solution for a home or a small business, describe what must stay powered: a boiler, a pump, lights, a fridge. Sellers will suggest different setups, and you will see what pays off more: one powerful unit or several smaller ones.
