How to Build a No-Pressure Backup Power Checklist
The most common backup power mistake is buying a product first and figuring out what it needs to power second. The checklist approach flips this: write down what matters, check whether portable products cover it, then decide what to buy — or whether a professional installation is the right answer. It takes 15 minutes and prevents a $300–$900 mismatch.
Step 1 — List what must stay on
Write down every appliance or function that would be a problem if it went off during a blackout. Be specific.
Essential list (most households):
- Modem and Wi-Fi router (stays connected, receives emergency alerts)
- Phone charging (communication)
- Medication refrigeration or medical equipment
- Lighting (at least one room)
- CPAP or respiratory equipment (if used)
Important but not essential:
- Laptop for work
- Small bar fridge (food safety beyond 4 hours)
- Security camera recording
- Baby monitor, video intercom
Nice to have:
- Television
- Full-size fridge
- Air conditioning (almost certainly beyond portable backup)
Separate your list into these three groups. The budget goes to essential first, important second, nice-to-have only if remaining capacity allows.
Step 2 — Check watts for each essential item
Every appliance has a watt rating on its label or in the manual. Look it up now, not during the outage.
| Appliance | Typical running watts |
|---|---|
| Modem + router | 15–25W |
| Phone charging | 10–20W |
| LED light (10W) × 4 | 40W |
| CPAP (no humidifier) | 30–50W |
| Laptop (working) | 45–65W |
| Bar fridge | 80–120W |
| Full-size fridge | 150–200W |
Add up your essential items. That total watt figure is the minimum output your backup source needs to handle. It tells you which product tier applies.
Step 3 — Match to product tier
| Total essential watts | Recommended capacity | Product tier |
|---|---|---|
| Under 50W (modem + phones only) | UPS 850VA | CyberPower UPS — $76 |
| 50–150W (modem + CPAP + devices) | 300–600Wh station | ALLPOWERS R600 — $319 |
| 150–250W (modem + CPAP + laptop + fridge) | 600–1,000Wh station | Anker SOLIX C800 — $549 |
| 250–400W (multiple appliances overnight) | 1,000Wh+ station | EcoFlow DELTA 2 — $869 |
Step 4 — Decide on runtime
How long do you need backup to run? Most Australian grid outages clear within 4–8 hours. A handful each year run 12–24 hours. Extended bushfire or weather events occasionally run longer.
Runtime estimate: station capacity (Wh) ÷ total load (W) = hours of runtime
Example: 600Wh station ÷ 100W total load = 6 hours
If you need more than 8 hours at your essential load, either move up a product tier or add a portable solar panel to recharge the station during the day.
Step 5 — Check the gap
If your essential list includes whole-home circuits, air conditioning, electric hot water, or life-critical medical equipment, portable stations cannot fill the gap. The right solution is either:
- A professionally installed home battery system with a backup circuit
- A licensed electrician installing a changeover switch for a generator
- DNSP life support registration for medically critical situations
Write "needs professional assessment" next to any item you cannot cover with portable products. That is useful information — it defines the scope of a future conversation with an installer or electrician.
List essentials first (modem, CPAP, phone charging), check their watt totals, then match to a product tier. For most households the starting point is either a $76 UPS for the modem or a $319 portable station for the first night of essentials. Decide what you need before browsing products — not the other way around.
Browse Backup Power picks for UPS units and portable power stations.