SOLIX C1000 Gen 2, tested and passed on
I tested one, then gave it to my sister.
Real-world picks for when the power goes out
Notes on power stations, radios, and backup gear, plus estimates for how long a station runs a real load.
Spec-checked against manufacturer docsFree runtime calculators
Watt to Give
Ham radio, prepper, Meshtastic, power station and solar gifts worth giving, with budget tags and the gear we actually own and use marked.
Power stations
Elite 30 V2 for a lift recliner
It keeps a powered lift recliner usable through an outage.
DELTA 3 Plus with the Smart Extra Battery
We own one, plus the Smart Extra Battery.
The blower on the wood stove insert
It runs the blower on our wood stove insert.
A compact DC station for phones, laptops, and 12 V gear
It has no AC outlets, and no wall charger comes in the box.
Elite 100 V2 for freezer duty
Match panel Voc to the 12 to 60 V solar window.
Jackery and BLUETTI, compared on the label
Compare watt-hours, continuous inverter watts, and whether you can add a second battery. A cabin photo is not a runtime.
Generators
Featured: Champion 4500W electric start dual fuel inverter
On propane it is 3150 W run, and it weighs about 99 to 104 lb.
Budget fallback: Pulsar GX400BN dual fuel inverter
On propane it is 2800 W run, with recoil start only, and it is not CARB compliant.
Radios
CB is not just for truckers
No antenna or AC supply comes in the box.
Our EDC mesh node
It measures 92 by 59 by 7.5 mm, IP66, with built-in GPS and magnetic charging.
A pair of cased Heltec V4 nodes
The stock stub antenna is enough for a first test on the bench.
A GMRS pair, and the range you can walk
Transmitting on GMRS needs an FCC license, and the 36 mile listing is an open-terrain maximum.
Solar
A 450 W foldable that earns its bag
Voc is about 45.9 V, and it is the wrong match for inputs under about 30 V.
Meters
MECHEER PM01-US-W, the reading stays
It keeps its readings when I unplug it.
Transfer switches
Manual transfer on the furnace circuit
I had one installed on my oil-fired furnace circuit about four years ago.
Two PROwatt automatic transfer switches
The station feeds the load, and the grid is the fallback.
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Calculators
Each estimate uses the published figures for that load.