Blackout Starter Kit: A Simple Path for Backup Essentials
A blackout starter kit is not a whole-home power system. It is a set of products that keep the three or four things that matter most running for as long as the outage lasts. The kit that costs $76 and keeps your modem on is more useful during a 30-minute outage than a $2,000 power station. The right kit matches the likely outage duration and the loads that matter to your household.
- Modem + router: $76 UPS. Keeps internet on through almost any brief outage. Most important, cheapest purchase.
- Phones + laptop: $70–$120 power bank. A 100W USB-C model covers both simultaneously.
- CPAP / medical device: 300Wh+ power station. 4–8 hours of quiet, reliable runtime.
- Full-size fridge: 1,000Wh+ power station ($869+). Only necessary for extended overnight outages.
- Lighting: rechargeable lantern ($25–$60) charged before the storm. No station needed.
The core kit: three purchases, most households covered
For the majority of Australian households, three products cover the most important outage needs:
1. Modem UPS — $76
CyberPower UT 650VA / 360W — $76.00, 4.4 ★ (28 ratings).
Plug into a wall socket. Your modem and router plug into the UPS. When the grid drops, the UPS switches to battery power instantly — zero interruption. You keep internet access, NBN phone calls, contactless payment connectivity and the ability to check the outage status with your network provider.
Runtime: 20–35 minutes of modem and router backup. Long enough for most brief outages, or until the grid comes back.
This is the single highest-value first purchase for most households. $76, no installation, immediate protection for your most connectivity-critical devices.
2. Power bank — $70–$120
A 100W USB-C power bank charges phones, laptops and tablets with no power station needed.
UGREEN Nexode 20,000mAh 100W — $69.98, 4.4 ★ (4,918 ratings). Charges a laptop from flat to full once. Charges a phone 4–5 times. Works at a desk or in a bag during the outage.
Anker 737 24,000mAh 140W — $119.99, 4.6 ★ (16,645 ratings). For MacBook Pro or other high-draw laptops where 100W may not be enough.
3. Power station — sized to your priority load
Only buy this if your household needs more than phones, laptop and modem during an outage.
ALLPOWERS R600 299Wh — $319.00, 4.3 ★. Covers CPAP (full night), phone charging and lights. Cannot run a full-size fridge overnight.
EcoFlow DELTA 2 1024Wh — $869.00 (was $1,099.00), 4.6 ★. Covers fridge for 5–8 hours overnight. Add the modem UPS and power bank above and this setup covers every priority load in most households.
Kit options by outage scenario
| Outage type | Likely duration | Recommended kit | Approx. cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brief power flicker | Seconds to 5 min | Modem UPS only | $76 |
| Routine short outage | 30 min to 2 hours | Modem UPS + power bank | $146–$196 |
| Storm-related outage | 4–8 hours | UPS + power bank + 300Wh station | $465–$515 |
| Extended overnight outage | 8–16 hours | UPS + power bank + 1,000Wh station | $1,015–$1,065 |
What the kit does not cover
- Air conditioning: no portable station can run a split system for any meaningful period
- Electric hot water: an instantaneous system draws 3,500–4,500W — beyond any portable station
- Whole-home power: for whole-home coverage, a fixed home battery with a licensed electrical installation is required
None of these gaps make the starter kit less useful. They simply define its scope — essential loads for a defined window of time.
- Anyone who has experienced a blackout and felt underprepared
- Households with a CPAP user who cannot miss a night of use
- Renters and apartment residents — all three products are plug-in, no installation required
- Home-office workers who need internet and device continuity
- Anyone expecting whole-home backup from portable equipment
- Anyone planning to wire any product into the switchboard — do not do this
Start with the modem UPS at $76. Add a power bank if phones and laptops matter during outages. Add a power station only if CPAP, medical equipment or the fridge is a genuine priority. Each product solves a specific job; you only need the ones that match your list.
Browse Backup Power picks for UPS units, power banks and portable power stations.