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“I can go 5-7 days in the fall, winter, and spring without sunshine.”
Photo Credit: iStock
After an 11-day power outage, one homeowner began looking for a better backup arrangement than a generator with a messy tangle of extension cords.
The resident took to Reddit’s r/SolarDIY forum to ask about their backup setup.
In the Reddit thread, the original poster wrote, “I am trying to get a battery back-up system built in pieces. I am gonna use 16kwh battery bank. Now I’m trying to figure out how to power the house off the battery bank and simultaneously charge the battery bank with both 120V AC and PV during the winter in a blackout.”
The homeowner seeking advice in the Reddit thread prioritized lights, a well pump, a refrigerator, and freezers. They had connected those essential loads to a Reliance transfer switch with a 30-amp input.
OP then asked, “Is this possible?” Their question about adding batteries and solar panels prompted other homeowners to share how they keep essential appliances running while keeping generators as a backup.
Commenters shared several approaches, from hybrid inverters to expandable portable power stations. 
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The top comment read, “I have pretty much what you have except I have the 50 amp Reliance transfer switches with essential loads… I can go 5-7 days in the fall, winter, and spring without sunshine.”
Another user added, “Sure it’s possible. In fact most of the inverters and portable power stations can charge off an AC source and PV at the same time without a problem.”
A third homeowner described building a system with a 4,000-watt hybrid inverter and 33.6 kilowatt-hours of battery storage for about $3,700, excluding panels and wiring.
Meanwhile, others just shared pictures of their setups.
For readers exploring the solar portion of a backup system, EasyHome lets homeowners curate competitive bids from local installers with its free tools.
Other homeowners have wrestled with the same questions about how much battery storage they need and how to recharge during an outage.
• Two seniors weighing batteries against gas generators heard owners’ concerns about whether batteries would suffice.
• A homesteader considering battery backup for outages heard generator recommendations after a four-day blackout.
• Solar owners discussed recharging batteries from the grid, and one reported weathering a weeklong outage.
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© 2025 THE COOL DOWN COMPANY. All Rights Reserved. Do not sell or share my personal information. Reach us at hello@thecooldown.com.

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