Being prepared: How to know what kind of backup power is best for you

(BPT) - No matter where you live, you can be at risk for short- or long-term power outages. Between extended heat waves, hurricane season, wildfire risk and upcoming winter storms, the aging power grid can't always handle the many challenges Mother Nature dishes out.

For National Preparedness Month this September, learn about the range of options that are available for reliable solar power backup, whether you live in an apartment, suburban home or rural area.

What backup power generator is right for your home?

Knowing what's available in terms of size, portability and power output can help you make the right choice, so you're not overbuying or investing in backup power that won't be enough for your household's needs.

Here are some of the options available from Jackery, a global leader in home backup, innovative solar generators and green off-grid energy solutions. The Jackery Power Station that will work best for your situation depends on how much space you have, and how much power output you'll need.

A kitchen necessity: FridgeGuard

This is a versatile option for anyone who wants to safeguard the heart of the home: your refrigerator. FridgeGuard is the world's slimmest smart fridge backup, a design-forward solution that's built to keep refrigerators running during power outages, which is especially valuable during a heatwave when food safety storage is at risk.

FridgeGuard's ultra-slim design makes it easy to incorporate into almost any size apartment or home. It's built with a wall-mountable 2.6-inch profile designed to blend seamlessly into your kitchen, and you can tailor its orientation with floor-standing, bracket-mounted or wall-mounted options to fit any layout. Set it once and you're always ready: Just plug it in, keep it connected to your fridge, and let FridgeGuard deliver ≤10 ms UPS-level backup automatically when outages happen. With 1024Wh of capacity, FridgeGuard can run a refrigerator for up to 15 hours, recharges via AC, solar or car power, and pairs with an additional FridgeGuard for 2048Wh of capacity when more runtime is needed.

Compact energy backup: HomePower 2000 Plus v2 and HomePower 1000 v2

These units are both part of Jackery's newly expanded home backup lineup specifically designed for remote workers, apartment dwellers and homeowners who want reliable backup power and energy independence, but in a more compact footprint.

• HomePower 1000 Plus V2 is small and compact, making it ideal for apartment dwellers or homeowners in big cities due to its compact size that doesn't compromise on output. Its 1800W power station is built to fulfill dynamic energy needs for a wide range of everyday and professional backup power scenarios. In addition to home backup during outages, this unit is portable enough for use on outdoor work like job sites or film shoots, and electricity-equipped camping. The HomePower 1000 Plus V2's modular architecture allows it to scale up to 11 kilowatt hours (kWh), with the addition of up to five 2 kWh expansion batteries.
  
  
• HomePower 2000 Plus V2 is great if you live in suburban areas, as it can be stored away with ease, but also has enough power to keep you going during extended blackouts, especially as it's expandable with add-on batteries. Its 2kWh capacity backup battery is ideal for a small household to endure an outage of up to 8 hours, while the 2400W rated output (4800W peak surge) can power essential appliances like refrigerators, electric ovens and microwaves.

Larger capacity backup power: HomePower 3600 Pro Max

If your home needs larger capacity, or you live in more rural or remote locations, you may want to consider the HomePower 3600 Pro Max. While it's still ultra-portable and ready to roll effortlessly from the kitchen to the garage as needed to power your fridge, water pump, dryer and more, one unit runs it all: power heavy-hitters like the dryer, the AC, even an EV charger at 240V, while lamps and laptops keep going at 120V, no switching required. Start at 21.5kWh, or pair two units for 43kWh when a home needs more.

The HomePower 3600 Pro Max installs via Manual Transfer Switch and automatically switches to backup power in under 10ms when the grid goes down, so the fridge, WiFi, and lights never miss a beat. It recharges multiple ways, including solar and standard AC power, and offers automatic backup protection without the noise, fumes or complexity of traditional gas generators.

Longevity across the entire Jackery lineup

In all of these Jackery backup power options, their LiFePO4 battery chemistry is engineered to retain at least 70% capacity after 6,000 full operating cycles (about a 16-year average lifespan), along with eco-friendly, off-grid recharging via solar panels or vehicle setups for long-term emergencies.

Take the first step toward reliable backup power

Ensuring that you have sufficient home backup power gives you and your family more peace of mind, no matter the season or what's happening with the power grid. Emergency preparedness is all about having backup power just in case you need it, any time of year.

Visit Jackery.com to learn more about being prepared with your own portable power station.