If this recent cold front taught us anything, it’s that power isn’t guaranteed—and when it goes out, it goes out hard. Families were left in the dark, homes dropped into unsafe temperatures, and suddenly everyday conveniences like cooking, charging phones, or running medical devices became real stress points... beyond staying warm in the process.
This article isn’t about selling fear or telling you to sign a 20-year contract with a solar company that slaps a lien on your home (hell no... don't do it). This is about practical, affordable preparedness—solutions you can order today, set up yourself, and rely on when the grid fails.
Because sometimes the smartest move is owning your backup plan. Tech to the rescue!
Why Portable Solar & Battery Kits Make Sense Right Now
Portable solar generators and battery kits have come a long way. These aren’t science experiments... they’re plug-and-play power stations that don’t require permits, installers, or monthly payments.
Key advantages:
No home lien
No long-term contracts
Can be used indoors safely (no fumes)
Portable enough to move room to room (as needed)
Some kits are perfect for charging phones, lights, and radios, while larger units can power:
Refrigerators
CPAP machines
Fans or space heaters (carefully)
Routers, laptops, and small TVs
You choose based on your needs, not a sales pitch.
Tip: By the way, you can charge battery kits through generators as well.
Starting Small? USB & Emergency-Level Solar
If budget is tight, small solar panels and battery packs are still incredibly useful.
They won’t run your whole home—but they keep communication alive, and that alone is priceless during an outage. The particular solar generator seen here... delivers 220Wh/300W + 40W solar panel for $159.99 (16% Off). Add on the $34.99 protection plan and this combo is less than $200 before taxes.
Smaller options are not the best choice if you want to connect a heater (even a small one). You can have 300W generators for certain uses as mentioned above, but... for heaters the battery will be depleted in no time.
Step It Up: Battery Power for a Room
Mid-range solar/battery kits can realistically power:
One room’s lighting
Medical equipment like CPAP machines
Mini Fridge (100W)
This is the sweet spot for most families—enough comfort and safety without overextending your budget. The particular solar powered generator you see here... is the HomePower3600+. It comes with two SolarSaga 200W solar panels, which can charge the generator in a matter of hours, giving you a *night's worth of warmth when you need it most or *days of power (don't miss the asterix).
So you will be able to charge this 3584Wh/3600W generator in about 10 to 13 hours, and it would run you around $2,099 (at 43% Off) and if you add a 4 year warranty for $229.99 (via Amazon) you'd still be under $2,500. There are plenty of combo options to choose from, including a HomePower 3600 Plus with the SolarSaga 500 X for $2,299 (at 39.5% Off). So you would be able to charge the generator in shorter period of time, which is more appealing if you want to capture enough juice before the sunlight goes bye bye for the day (about 9 to 10 hours). More juice is possible in a shorter time... so exercise your options (realistically). Now back to that asterisk.
See: What Size Generator to Run a Space Heater
This is a win and if you have to do a payment plan, its optional. Going through the Jackery Amazon Store, you have less payments (i.e. $141.58/mo at 0% APR vs $67.24/mo at 10 - 36% APR) to knock out the purchase sooner, but at 0% APR... you're winning!
This is one of many options, but this brand isn't known for frequent returns and it's also a CES Picks Award Winner, SEAL Sustainable Product Award Winner, Red Dot Award Winner, etc. You'll find that they're compared to their fellow premium solar award winning competitor, EcoFlow. So compare and see what works best for your budget.
Cooking from the Car? Yes, It’s Possible
If you can’t cook because the power’s out, don’t panic—adapt.
A crockpot (120W)
A car power inverter/adapter (300W)
Extension cord run safely to the vehicle if you don't have a 12V outlet in the trunk
You can cook meals from your car or even the trunk (engine running, outdoors or well-ventilated area). It’s not glamorous, but it works—and hot food does wonders for morale. Nachos anyone?
Cold Weather Survival: Think Small, Not Big
In winter outages, heating the whole house is unrealistic. Instead:
Bundle up
Stay in smaller spaces (even a closet)
Tip: If you have a decent sized walk-in closet, you could help increase the heat of that small space with a small heater. This is where wattage comes into play, because you need to make sure these don't exceed the wattage of the generator. A family of four or so can bundle up in this space if needed and maximize the use of a lower powered option if you can't power your home fully. The first heat setting is all I need, your body heat should do the rest (in theory). The small heater in my office keeps me warm, my office is 8+ times the size of the walk-in storage closet. I'm in Orlando, Florida... but we're definitely feeling the chill. Here's the forecast from Google Weather.Layer blankets to trap body heat
Keep doors closed
And this part matters:
👉 Don’t send kids outside to play.
If they get cold and wet, you may not have the ability to warm them back up safely. Get creative inside instead—board games, write stories to tell each other at a set time, and offline entertainment are great options. The time can fly by when you fun it up doing games like in-door basketball buzzer beaters. Every round each person has to score a basket to remain in the competition.
You Don’t Need to Go “All In” to Be Ready
Preparedness isn’t about extremes—it’s about options.
You don’t need:
A lien on your home
A $30,000 install
A perfect setup
You just need something. One light. One battery. One plan.
Because when the grid goes down, the families who adapt early stress less later. By the way, you don't technically need the fridge if its that cold outside. If you have a patio and even a blow up pool, you can sit a cooler inside of it with some of the snow and keep your food cold. Do the old ice and penny trick to make sure the ice didn't melt during this time. Refrigerated items wouldn't require ice inside, but a cooler should keep them cool if its sitting in the snow (for things like medication and dairy).
Weather is getting more unpredictable and infrastructure isn’t getting stronger overnight. But you can.
Adapt. Be well. Stay warm and… game on.
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