What you need
Every setup does four things: make power, move it, store it, and let you use it. Here's yours.
| 1 | Power stationStores power and gives you outlets |
| 4 | Folding panelsRefill it from the sun |
| 1 | Add-on batteriesMore runtime |
How much power you use
Your answers come to about 3.5 kilowatt-hours a day — the same unit on a power bill. That one number sizes everything else.
In your darkest weeks the sun doesn't quite keep up, so the batteries end each day a little lower. Top it up from the wall when the grid's back, or add a panel.
In summer the sun does most of the work, and the batteries barely dip.
Starting full at 6pm, the batteries run the night, drop to their lowest around 8am (0%), then the panels make about 1.7 kWh a day in your darkest month against about 3.5 kWh used. After two days they sit at 5%.
Go deeper: the math
Your answers add up to about 3.5 kWh a day.
Kentucky gets about 2.8 hours of strong sun a day in December, its darkest month (NASA data). Wires and heat lose about a quarter, plus 10% for luck.
3.5 ÷ 2.8 ÷ 0.77 × 1.1 = 1.8 kW → 4 × 200 W (roof limit)To cover your outage, you need about 3.5 kWh stored. Each unit holds about 1.8 kWh you can actually use.
3.5 × 1.0 = 3.5 kWh → 2 unitsWant to plug in your own numbers? Use the sizing calculator. More: How much power do you use? · Peak sun hours · kW vs kWh
Panels make it
4 folding panels. Set them out in the sun and they refill the station.
Match the maker to your power station so the plugs just fit.
The catchThey only work set out in the sun, not living on a roof.
Recommended. In your darkest month it takes 10+ days to refill — more panels or a generator helps.
Go deeper: panels
- Aim them at the sun and move them once or twice a day for the most power.
- Match the maker to your station so plugs fit without adapters.
More: What is a solar array? · Fewer big panels or more small?
Add-on batteries more runtime
1 add-on battery. With them, your essentials run about 25 hours with no sun.
Go deeper: batteries
- Get a LiFePO4 model — it lasts thousands of cycles longer than older lithium.
- Keep it plugged in and full between outages.
More: Server-rack batteries, explained · LiFePO4 vs lead-acid · Batteries in cold weather
The power station store it & use it
Battery, charger and outlets in one box you can carry. Plug the fridge straight into it.
What it costs, and what it saves
You pay once. After that, the power is yours.
| One-time cost | $3,500 – $4,500, parts and wiring |
|---|---|
| Power bill you won't pay | about $150 a year at today's rates |
Over a lifetime
- TodayBuy it once
- ~10 yrsNew station, if it's worn
- AlwaysPanels keep going
Prices move. This is a ballpark from the last price check. More: What off-grid solar costs
See it running
Real setups like this one. Watch how it's going for them.
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1
Will Prowse YouTube · DIY Solar Forum · Independent teardowns and tests of batteries, inverters and power stationsWatch
Tests the gear so you don't have to. (Earns from affiliate links too)
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2
OutdoorGearLab Lab tests · Side-by-side lab tests of 14 power stations (updated 2026)Watch
Where the emergency pick is cross-checked.
Running something like this yourself? Share your setup and help the next person.
Parts checklist
Everything in one list. Tick things off as you get them.
Never type this again. A free account keeps this setup, your location and these checkmarks on any device.
Some links are affiliate links.
Questions people ask
How many batteries do I need for a emergency kit?
For typical emergency kit use (about 3.5 kWh a day) with about a day, about 2 A LiFePO4 power station batteries. Tap the questions above to size it for your exact life and location.
How many solar panels do I need?
About 4 × 200 W panels (0.8 kW), sized for your darkest month rather than the average, so winter doesn't catch you out.
How much does it cost?
Roughly $3,500 – $4,500 one time for parts and wiring. After that the power is free.
Make this guide better
Know a cheaper, better way? Every idea gets read, the good ones get tested, and when one changes a pick, you get the credit.
If it saved you time or money, chip in to keep it free and fund the next guide.