The short answer
Look first at capacity (Wh), continuous AC output (W) and surge (W). Treat marketing modes such as boost and lifting as extras with conditions, and read cycle-life claims with their end-of-life capacity.
Glossary
| Term | What it means | How to use it |
|---|---|---|
| Capacity (Wh) | Energy the battery stores | Runtime = Wh × 0.85 ÷ average watts |
| Continuous AC output (W) | Power the inverter can supply for long periods | Must exceed everything running together |
| Surge or peak (W) | Short burst for starting motors | Must exceed your biggest starting load |
| Boost / lifting modes | Some makers let the inverter reduce voltage to run heavier resistive loads | Conditions apply; not a substitute for real output |
| Pass-through | Powering loads while the unit charges | Check the maker's limits and whether it affects battery life |
| UPS / switchover time | How fast it takes over when mains power drops | Matters for routers and computers |
| Cycle life | Charge–discharge cycles to a stated capacity (for example 80%) | Compare end-of-life capacity, not just the count |
| Solar input (W, V, A) | The panel power, voltage and current the unit accepts | Panels must stay inside all three limits |
Our product pages show each of these figures with its source tier and date.
Common traps
- A big watt-hour number paired with a small inverter: long runtime, few things you can run at once.
- A big output number with a small battery: it can start the load but not run it for long.
- Bundles: a headline price may include panels or batteries; our pages compare the base model.
- Expansion capacity quoted as if it were included.
Figures marked as Wattstanding calculations show their working; product figures come from the sources on each product page. How we work