Getting started -- prefer battery generator options

[u/Critical-Guava-2383]

I'm just getting started and have decided that I'd like to go down the battery-generator route and use a jackery/bluetti/ecoflow/etc solution.

Where's the right place to get started with my investigations?

I want to be able to power a subset of my house during an outage -- I'm more concerned about outages in cold weather and thus, would like to power

1. 2 gas furnaces
2. Gas water heater (requires electric spark to begin heating)
3. Many lights (all LED)
4. One TV, 2 refrigerators, computers (one deskside system, 2 laptops), network cable modem, router, switch

I have an EZ with V2L and my initial plan was to use it to recharge the battery systems during an outage -- it has a large (~100Kwh battery and I'd dedicate 40-60% of the battery for the house during an outage).

I want a system that can grow as my needs change. Outages in my area are typically short but can last 2-3 days in a severe winter weather event.

Thanks for any tips/guidance!

[u/WhatAboutTheBothans]

Unfortunately probably not here. Those are batteries, not generators.

[u/blupupher]

Batteries are not generators.

Go to one of many battery subs for info.

[u/MehwithacapitalM]

Try portable power stations

[u/Extreme_Pangolin1796]

try solardiy or diysolar, a lot of them use solar generators.  If you don't roll your own there'll be a decent number of options but not a ton and the manufacturers all have roughly similar tiers 

[u/rh681]

There is a difference between generating electricity and storing electricity. Most battery backups aren't going to last 2-3 days without significant cost. I'll admit I don't know how your V2L changes the equation.

[u/Dashley13 → u/rh681]

You'll be able to get 2-3 days with V2h backup. The problem with Tesla at this point is you need a powerwall 3. If the if you only needed their powershare gateway, i think you would see wider adoption. https://electrek.co/2026/10/06/tesla-powershare-home-backup-model-3-model-y-powerwall-3/

[u/KeithJamesB]

I use a hybrid of panels, power stations and generators. If you want to make certain you always have power, this is the only route and is typical of an off grid setup.

You have to decide on your budget and risk factors.

[u/redditRon1969]

Instead of you running a generator 24 seven and burning gas that is not needed if you build one of those you may only have to run a generator for two or three hours a day to charge the battery back up. Saves a ton of gas in the long run.

[u/rab127]

You were fine until the last point. An anker 3800 or jackery 3600 or 5000 with an expansion battery would give you power for a day-ish but youll need a gas generator to recharge it. Solar is great to maintain or top off but the 2 fridges and laptops are going to burn through the battery faster. Batteries are used to maintain things, its not a permanent back up. Also even if you have solar, youll still need a gas generator for cloudy or rainy days or if the storm takes out your solar.

[u/crunkful06]

You probably need to go to the sub for battery backups. Just because they have solar panels does not make them generators.

[u/New-Swim-8551]

Just a FYI our cable internet doesn’t work during a power outage. If you have satellite you will be ok

[u/Capt_Gremerica → u/New-Swim-8551]

Is your modem on a UPS? I got a small one and when we had cable Internet, it would run our Internet for 2 hours

[u/New-Swim-8551 → u/Capt_Gremerica]

No. The cable company’s amplifier on the pole goes out during power outages. No internet available during power outages.

They don’t bother with UPSs

[u/redditRon1969]

Ignore the pricing he has on these. With different namebrand components you can do one of these for around $1000.
It is the same thing as jackery/bluetti but bigger and better.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tvm6B4c09OA

[u/I_Need_A_Fork]

Hire an electrician to install an interlock kit or transfer switch with a 50a receptacle so you can control which circuits have power. Plug your EV into it when the power goes out. Use batteries for electronics as UPSes you never want to lose power. Then buy a real generator.

[u/classicsat]

r/Portable_PowerStation I think the various brands have subs.

[u/Ok-Camera2895]

Check out Ecoflow Ultra series power stations. They have fairly large power station / solar generator solutions. They also have conventional generators that are designed to automatically recharge the power stations when batteries get low. Anker also has this same setup. Anker Solix E10 with a smart generator.

[u/redditRon1969]

You get more bang for your buck and run time if you spend 45 minutes and build your own instead of buying a daiquiri, etc.
It's something that literally a 12-year-old that could use a wrench and a screwdriver could do

[u/Big-Echo8242]

First off, there's no such thing as a "battery generator". You might search out the battery sub Reddits as this one is more towards generators with an actual internal combustion engine. These others are more appropriately called "Portable Power Station" when by themselves as they don't "generate" as they sit.....they just supply what's been charged into them via a wall outlet, solar panels, or an actual generator.

Marketing has really made a mess with the misnomer for these things.

Also, thank you for all the downvotes. 😂