Because shutoffs are announced in advance and can repeat, a battery power station recharged by solar suits the essentials, and any generator must be used with fire risk in mind: hot exhaust and refuelling near dry vegetation are real ignition risks. Check local fire-agency rules during red-flag conditions.
Why the plan is different
- You usually get warning, so you can charge batteries fully and run through the numbers beforehand.
- Outages can recur, so recharging matters more than raw capacity: solar panels are the natural partner for a power station.
- Smoke and poor air quality may keep you indoors — a battery with no exhaust can power a fan or air purifier indoors under the maker's rules, where a generator cannot.
Common loads
Refrigerator and freezer, internet, lighting, phones, a garage door opener, medical equipment where relevant (ask the device maker), and sometimes a well pump. The refrigerator and well pump pages list which products cover them.
Using a generator in fire country
Carbon monoxide guidance still applies: outdoors only, away from openings. See generator safety.
Figures marked as Wattstanding calculations show their working; product figures come from the sources on each product page. How we work