Preparing your home with emergency backup power is becoming more necessary. With natural disasters and storms taking down power more frequently, solar generators are the ideal solution to power your home. 
If you’re looking for a clean, reliable solution to power your home during a blackout, and is versatile enough to take camping, then read on to learn more about how portable solar generators may be right for you.

What is a solar power generator?

A solar generator, also known as a portable power station, stores energy from sunlight or the grid for emergency home backup power or off-grid activities, such as camping.

How do solar generators work?

Solar generators work alongside solar panels to collect energy that gets stored in a solar battery until it’s needed. This energy then needs to be converted from direct current (DC) into alternating current (AC) using an inverter so that the energy can power the electrical devices in your home.

Why might you consider a solar generator for your home?

Emergency portable power during a blackout

Emergency Home Power

One of the main reasons you might consider a solar-powered generator is if you live in an area that experiences frequent blackouts or inclement weather and are looking for a home backup system for emergencies.

Until recently, gas generators were the go-to choice, but many now see the overwhelming benefits of using solar power generators to power the home.

Solar Generators Can Be Used Indoors

To power one of those gas-guzzling generators, you need a constant supply of fossil fuel and space to store it. Storing gallons of gasoline can be impractical, not to mention dangerous. Gas generators produce emissions, such as carbon monoxide, so it’s essential to keep them outside and at a safe distance from your house. They can’t sit out in the rain, so fuel-powered generators must be covered yet ventilated.

Solar power systems don’t use fuel, and are completely clean and odorless, making them safe and convenient to use anywhere, including inside your home.

Natural gas generators are pretty noisy compared with silent portable solar power stations, averaging 60-70 decibels. That’s about the same volume level as a restaurant or an office. No, thank you. 

Solar Generators Can Save You Money

Whole house solar generators can be on the pricey side, so it's no wonder that people ask if they’re worth it. However, a significant reason for homeowners moving over to solar generators and solar panels is to harness sustainable energy and save money in the long run. 

The DELTA Pro ecosystem is constantly storing energy, so there’s less reliance on the grid for power. With the EcoFlow app, you can view a breakdown of how your home uses power, then customize your energy consumption to reduce your bills.

Using portable power stations to power appliances

There is, of course, an initial expense, especially if you’re preparing to power much of your home. However, you can start small using a solar generator and a few solar panels to power essential household appliances such as a TV or computer, and you’ll reduce your electricity bills gradually. Some devices, such as DELTA Pro, allow you to increase the power capacity with extra units and batteries.

Over time, you can become more independent from the grid, saving money on electricity bills in the process.

Home Battery Generators Offer Peace of Mind

Preparing to power your home using portable power stations during a blackout provides home security for you and your family. With the right size solar generator, you can run heaters, your fridge, and other essentials during a storm or power outage.

Better for the Environment

Solar energy is clean and the most abundant renewable resource available to use. So, no matter why you’re using a solar generator, you’ll be lowering your carbon footprint and helping to combat climate change. 

Solar Generators Can Power Your Whole House

Ecoflow Portable Power Station Ecosystem with Solar Panels
With the right combination of solar generators and panels, you’ll be able to power most of the appliances in your house. Location also plays a factor here. Places with more year-round sun are better suited to whole-house solar power. 

EcoFlow solar generators can be charged in a multitude of ways. So, even when there are overcast days, you can recharge using the grid or Electric Vehicle (EV) charging stations, a unique addition to the DELTA Pro.

Using a kit or specially designed ecosystem, such as DELTA PRO's, it's possible to integrate seamlessly with your home’s wiring. So, if you do experience a blackout, your whole house will be back on in less than a second.  

How to Choose the Best Solar Generator for Your Home?

Before buying a battery-powered generator, you should have a clear idea of how many watts you want to power. If you’re planning to run a few devices to cut utility bills or essentials during an outage, then a smaller battery is enough for lighting and essential electronic devices. To power your whole house, then you’ll need something larger. 

Once you know how many watts you want to power, you can look for a battery with the best capacity for your needs. If you’re considering sizing up at a later date, then look for an option with additional batteries or add-ons. Power Station Selector

Small Solar Generators for Some Household Appliances

Portable Power Station Ecoflow delta mini powering home appliances
If you only plan to power a few basic appliances, a battery generator between 500Wh and 1000Wh is plenty. DELTA mini has a capacity of 882Wh and an output of 1400W, allowing you to charge basics like your refrigerator and TV for around 5-6 hours. It’s also portable enough to take with you on a camping trip.

EcoFlow power stations use proprietary X-Boost technology that increases output to power appliances with a larger wattage. EcoFlow mini’s output jumps up to 2200W (from 1400W) when X-Boost is enabled, allowing it can power a 1650W toaster oven, but at 1400W.

Medium Solar Generators for Occasional Home Backup

Portable Power Station DELTA Max powering up home appliances

Portable generators with a capacity of 1000-2000Wh, such as DELTA Max, work perfectly as a temporary solution for home backup. With an output of 2400W, it can power almost all your electronics during a blackout. Plus, expand its capacity to 7.2kWh with a Smart Extra Battery or 10.8kWh with Smart Extra Batteries.

Large Solar Generators for Whole-home Power

Portable Power station with smart home panel
Portable power stations with a capacity of over 3000Wh are real powerhouses capable of keeping your entire house powered. These larger units are less mobile, but generators such as the DELTA Pro, have additional batteries available to increase capacity to a massive 25kWh. DELTA Pro can also integrate with your home using the Smart Home Panel (coming soon).

Whether you’re looking to reduce your electricity bills, prepare your home for a blackout or power your whole home, there’s a range of portable solar generators from EcoFlow that fit any scenario.
December 19, 2021 — Evgeny Boyarov