01
What Size Portable Power Station Do I Need?
A simple way to calculate the watt-hours and output you actually need before buying a portable power station.
Read this first →Backup power
Backup power & connectivity
Power banks, portable power stations, UPS systems, solar and practical ways to keep essential communications running.
Understand
What does “backup power” actually mean?
Backup power is not one product category. A power bank, UPS, portable power station and solar panel solve different problems.
Start by deciding what must keep working, how much power it uses and how long you need it to run. Watts (W) tell you what a battery can power at one time; watt-hours (Wh) tell you roughly how much energy is stored. If a device cannot tolerate even a brief interruption, transfer time and UPS behaviour matter as well.
For internet resilience, power and connectivity are separate questions: keeping your router switched on does not guarantee the broadband network outside your home is still available. A 4G or 5G connection can provide a second route, but that network can also be affected during a wider outage.
Start with three questions
01
What genuinely needs to stay powered?
02
How many watts does it use, and for how many hours?
03
Does it need instant continuity, or is a short interruption acceptable?
Start here
Useful first reads.
These guides establish the basics before you move into narrower product or problem-specific articles.
02
Best Portable Power Stations for Home Backup: A Practical UK Guide
How to choose a portable power station for UK home backup, with current examples from Jackery and EcoFlow.
Read this first →03
How to Keep Your Internet Working During a Power Cut
How to keep a router, fibre ONT and digital communications working during a power cut using a UPS, DC backup or portable power station.
Read this first →Relevant gear
Backup power gear, grouped by purpose.
Products are grouped by the job they do, so you can move from understanding the subject to the right equipment type without browsing an unrelated catalogue.
Portable charging
Compact battery backup for phones and smaller USB devices.
Anker 10,000mAh 30W Power Bank
Compact USB-C backup for phone charging, travel and smaller emergency kits.
Anker Zolo 20,000mAh 30W Power Bank
Higher-capacity USB-C backup for phones, travel and general emergency charging.
Home backup power
Larger stored-energy systems for selected household loads.
EcoFlow DELTA 2 Portable Power Station
A 1kWh-class portable power option to compare for home backup and larger emergency loads.
EcoFlow DELTA 3 Classic Portable Power Station
A 1024Wh LiFePO4 portable power station option for backup power.
Internet continuity
Equipment that can keep networking hardware powered or provide a second connection route.
APC BACK-UPS ES BE850G2-UK 850VA
UPS option for keeping suitable low-power electronics such as networking equipment running through short outages.
Solar charging
Portable panels and station-plus-panel bundles for compatible backup systems.
EcoFlow 220W Lightweight Portable Solar Panel
Portable bifacial solar-panel option designed for charging compatible portable power equipment.
Jackery Solar Generator 1000 v2 + 100W Solar Panel
Portable power-station and solar-panel bundle for users comparing integrated solar backup options.
Explore further
All Backup power articles.
Use these articles when you are ready to answer a specific question, compare equipment or solve a particular problem.
PAYG SIM vs Contract SIM for Emergency Backup Internet
PAYG or contract for a backup router? Compare standby cost, inactivity rules, data allowances, renewal and the value of a second mobile network.
Read article →Best PAYG Data SIMs for Backup Internet in the UK: What to Compare
How to choose a UK PAYG or prepaid data SIM for a backup router, including coverage, inactivity, data expiry, 5G access and network diversity.
Read article →Should Your Backup SIM Use a Different Mobile Network?
Why network diversity can matter for backup internet, how MVNOs complicate the picture, and why no consumer setup guarantees service in a major outage.
Read article →Can a VPN Help During an Internet Outage?
Why a VPN cannot fix a dead internet connection, and where it still fits when you switch to mobile data, a hotspot or another backup network.
Read article →How Long Will a Fridge and Freezer Stay Cold During a Power Cut?
How long a fridge and freezer stay cold in a power cut, the UK 4/24/48 guidance, food temperatures, backup power and what to do during a prolonged outage.
Read article →How to Keep Your Internet Working During a Power Cut
How to keep a router, fibre ONT and digital communications working during a power cut using a UPS, DC backup or portable power station.
Read article →Best Power Banks for Power Cuts: What to Buy in 2026
A practical UK guide to choosing a power bank for outages, from simple phone backup to high-output laptop charging.
Read article →Best Portable Power Stations for Home Backup: A Practical UK Guide
How to choose a portable power station for UK home backup, with current examples from Jackery and EcoFlow.
Read article →Jackery vs EcoFlow for Emergency Power: Which Suits Your Home?
Jackery Explorer 1000 v2 versus EcoFlow DELTA 3 Classic for home backup, comparing capacity, AC output, UPS switching, solar and real use.
Read article →What Size Portable Power Station Do I Need?
A simple way to calculate the watt-hours and output you actually need before buying a portable power station.
Read article →