Generator size
How many watts a generator for your home needs: the math for running watts and starting watts, with three worked examples.
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What battery, power station or inverter you need so you’re never left in the dark.
Which battery for your inverter
What battery you need for a 500 to 6,000 W inverter: the amps it draws at 12, 24 or 48 V, how to work out Ah from hours of use, and common mistakes.
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Home battery types compared
LiFePO4, NMC, gel, AGM and lead-acid batteries compared: cycle life, weight, maintenance, safety and which one suits power cuts or solar panels.
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Protecting appliances from storms and surges
Surge protector, voltage regulator or UPS: which protection to use for each appliance and what to do in a thunderstorm, with or without protection.
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Pure sine vs modified sine inverter
Pure sine, modified sine or square wave inverter: which appliances work on each, how to choose continuous and surge watts, and what to check on the label.
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Home generators and carbon monoxide
A gasoline generator gives off carbon monoxide, an odourless gas that kills. Where to place it, poisoning symptoms, and safe cords and fuel.
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Fridge food in a power outage
Without power, a closed fridge keeps food safe for about 4 hours and a full freezer for about 48. Which foods to throw out, keep or refreeze.
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Battery capacity, series, parallel and inverters
How long a 100, 200 or 300 Ah battery lasts, which inverter you need for what you run, and what connecting batteries in series or parallel means.
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