How the planner works
The planner compares; it does not predict. It checks what you tell us against what manufacturers publish, and shows the options that meet those figures.
1. Your items
Wattages for listed items come from Honda’s generator wattage guide. Where Honda gives a range, we use the higher figure. You can add your own items using the watts on their labels.
We add up the running watts, then add the largest single starting surge, because motors such as fridges and sump pumps draw extra power for a moment when they start.
2. Safety first
Before anything is ranked, safety rules remove generators if you live in an apartment or condo, have no outdoor spot at least 20 feet from doors, windows and vents, or cannot store fuel. These rules only ever remove options.
3. Matching
- Power stations match when their published continuous output covers your running total and their published surge rating covers your starting moment. If no surge rating is published, the continuous rating must cover the starting moment.
- Generators match when their running and starting ratings, on their lower-rated fuel, cover your totals. We list only generators with a stated CO shutoff meeting ANSI/PGMA G300-2023 or UL 2201.
- Battery + generator pairs a matching power station with the smallest verified generator rated above that power station’s published maximum charging input.
Within each type we show the closest fit first: the product with the least unused power above your needs.
4. Ordering the three options
- If generators are ruled out, or you are planning for a few hours or overnight: battery first.
- For outages of a day or more where you need quiet nights: battery + generator first.
- For outages of a day or more otherwise: generator first.
What we do not do
- Estimate runtimes or say how long anything will last.
- Plan hard-wired or 240-volt equipment, or any connection to home wiring.
- Plan power for medical equipment.
- Let commissions affect anything above. The comparison code never receives price or commission data.
Comparison model V0.1. Product data checked 2026-10-04.