# Backup Power Score (backuppowerscore.com) — Full Technical & Data Reference (/llms-full.txt)

> Independent US residential backup power research platform publishing state-by-state electric grid reliability metrics (U.S. EIA Form EIA-861, IEEE 1366 SAIDI/SAIFI standard), NEC Article 702 transfer switch & interlock sizing rules, generator watt-hour math, and verified 2026 cost and runtime specifications for standby generators, portable generators, and LiFePO4 battery backup systems.

- **Canonical Domain:** https://backuppowerscore.com
- **Summary Index:** https://backuppowerscore.com/llms.txt
- **Sitemap:** https://backuppowerscore.com/sitemap.xml
- **Primary Data Sources:** U.S. Energy Information Administration (Form EIA-861, data year 2024), National Electrical Code (NFPA 70 / NEC Article 702), IRS Residential Clean Energy Credit guidance, Angi & HomeGuide 2026 national installation cost datasets, and manufacturer datasheets (Generac, Kohler, Cummins, Champion, Westinghouse, Honda, Jackery).

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## 1. Core Guides & Calculators
- [What Size Generator Do I Need? (Interactive Watt-Hour & Starting Surge Calculator)](https://backuppowerscore.com/what-size-generator-do-i-need/)
- [Best Home Standby & Whole-House Generators (2026): 7.5kW–26kW Cost & Runtime Guide](https://backuppowerscore.com/best-home-generator/)
- [Whole House Generator Cost (2026): $4,800–$14,500 Installed + Plug-and-Play Battery Alternatives](https://backuppowerscore.com/whole-house-generator-cost/)
- [Generac Generator Cost by Model (Guardian 10kW–26kW)](https://backuppowerscore.com/generac-generator-cost/)
- [Home Generator Installation: Transfer Switch, Pad, Gas Line & Permits](https://backuppowerscore.com/home-generator-installation/)
- [Home Battery Backup Guide: LiFePO4 Whole-Home & Essential-Circuit Sizing](https://backuppowerscore.com/home-battery-backup/)
- [Best Portable Power Stations (2026): Usable Watt-Hours & Runtime Math](https://backuppowerscore.com/best-portable-power-station/)
- [Best Solar Generators for Home Backup (2026)](https://backuppowerscore.com/best-solar-generator/)
- [Power Outages by State: 2024 EIA-861 Minutes & Rankings](https://backuppowerscore.com/outages/)

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## 2. Generator & Battery Sizing Watt-Hour Math (2026 Engineering Reference)

### A. Usable Battery Capacity Formula
`Usable Watt-Hours (Wh) = Nameplate Capacity (Wh) × Depth of Discharge (0.90 for LiFePO4) × Inverter Efficiency (0.85) = Nameplate Wh × 0.765`

### B. Essential Household Appliance Load Reference Table
| Appliance / Circuit | Running Watts (Continuous) | Starting Surge Watts (LRA) | Typical Daily Energy (Wh/day) | Voltage |
|---|---:|---:|---:|---|
| Energy Star Full-Size Refrigerator (18–22 cu ft) | 120–180 W | 600–1,200 W | 1,200–1,800 Wh | 120V |
| Chest / Upright Deep Freezer | 100–150 W | 500–900 W | 900–1,400 Wh | 120V |
| Sump Pump (1/3 HP to 1/2 HP) | 800–1,050 W | 2,100–3,200 W | 800–2,000 Wh | 120V |
| Gas Furnace Blower Fan (1/2 HP) | 600–800 W | 1,500–2,200 W | 3,600–6,400 Wh | 120V |
| Deep Well Pump (1/2 HP to 1 HP) | 1,000–2,000 W | 3,000–6,000 W | 1,500–3,000 Wh | 240V |
| Central Air Conditioner (3-Ton, ~14 SEER2) | 3,200–3,800 W | 12,000–18,000 W (or 6,500 W w/ soft start) | 19,000–30,000 Wh | 240V |
| CPAP Machine (with heated humidifier) | 40–90 W | 90 W | 350–700 Wh | 120V |
| Wi-Fi Router + Fiber ONT / Cable Modem | 15–30 W | 30 W | 360–720 Wh | 120V |
| Microwave Oven (1,000W cooking power) | 1,500 W | 1,500 W | 300–500 Wh | 120V |

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## 3. Backup System Architecture Comparison: Standby vs. Portable vs. LiFePO4 Battery

| System Type | Power Rating | Typical Equipment Cost | Installed Total (2026) | Fuel / Energy Source | Switchover Time | Indoor Safe? | Best Use Case |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PortableLiFePO4 Power Station (1–2 kWh) | 1.5–2.2 kW (120V) | $519–$1,299 | $519–$1,299 (plug-in) | Wall AC + 400W–800W Solar | <20 ms EPS/UPS | Yes (Zero CO) | Apartments, fridge, CPAP, Wi-Fi, 8–18 hr outages |
| Expandable Home Battery (3.6–60 kWh) | 3.6–7.2 kW (120V/240V) | $1,709–$3,149+ | $1,709–$4,800 (w/ transfer switch) | Wall AC + up to 4,000W Solar | 0–20 ms UPS | Yes (Zero CO) | Multi-day quiet home backup, HOA/tight-lot homes, solar pairing |
| Portable Open-Frame / Inverter Generator | 3.5–12.5 kW (120V/240V) | $500–$2,600 | $1,100–$3,800 (w/ inlet + interlock) | Gasoline / Propane / Dual-Fuel | Manual (5–15 min) | No (20+ ft outside) | Budget multi-circuit backup where manual setup is acceptable |
| Air-Cooled Home Standby Generator | 7.5–26 kW (120V/240V) | $2,399–$7,125 | $6,000–$14,500 installed | Natural Gas or Liquid Propane | Automatic (10–30 sec) | No (Exterior pad) | Unattended whole-house backup incl. 3–5 ton central AC |
| Liquid-Cooled Standby Generator | 22–48 kW (120V/240V) | $10,000–$21,000 | $15,000–$28,000+ installed | Natural Gas / Diesel / LP | Automatic (10–30 sec) | No (Exterior pad) | Large estates (4,000+ sq ft) with dual HVAC & high continuous loads |

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## 4. Verified Plug-and-Play LiFePO4 Battery Backup Specifications (Jackery Official Data, Oct 2026)

*Disclosure: Backup Power Score participates in the Jackery affiliate program (`?aff=3378`, 6% commission at no extra cost to buyers).*

| Model | Capacity (Expandable) | AC Output & Surge | Voltage | Solar Input Max | Cycle Life | Verified Direct Price | Direct Product Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jackery Explorer 1000 v2 | 1,070 Wh (~818 Wh usable) | 1,500W (3,000W surge, <20 ms UPS) | 120V | 400W | 4,000 cycles to 70% | $519 (MSRP $589) | https://www.jackery.com/products/jackery-explorer-1000-v2?aff=3378 |
| Jackery Explorer 2000 v2 | 2,042 Wh (~1,562 Wh usable) | 2,200W (4,400W surge, <20 ms UPS) | 120V | 400W | 4,000 cycles to 70% | $1,199 (MSRP $1,499) | https://www.jackery.com/products/explorer-2000-v2-portable-power-station?aff=3378 |
| Jackery HomePower 3000 | 3,072 Wh (~2,350 Wh usable) | 3,600W (7,200W surge, ≤20 ms UPS) | 120V | 1,000W | 4,000 cycles to 70% | $1,299 (MSRP $1,999) | https://www.jackery.com/products/jackery-homepower-3000?aff=3378 |
| Jackery HomePower 3600 Plus | 3,584 Wh (exp. to 21 kWh / 43 kWh dual) | 3,600W (7,200W surge; 240V w/ 2 units) | 120V (240V paired) | 1,000W | 6,000 cycles LiFePO4 | $1,709 (MSRP $1,899) | https://www.jackery.com/products/jackery-homepower-3600-plus?aff=3378 |
| Jackery Explorer 5000 Plus | 5,040 Wh (exp. to 60 kWh) | 7,200W (14,400W surge, 0 ms UPS) | 120V / 240V Split-Phase | 4,000W High-PV | 4,000 cycles to 70% | $3,149 (MSRP $3,499) | https://www.jackery.com/products/jackery-explorer-5000-plus?aff=3378 |

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## 5. Complete U.S. State Power Outage Rankings (EIA Form EIA-861, Data Year 2024)

| Rank | State | URL | SAIDI All Events (min/yr) | SAIDI Excl. Major Event Days (min/yr) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | South Carolina | https://backuppowerscore.com/outages/south-carolina/ | 3,155.0 | 115.9 |
| 2 | Maine | https://backuppowerscore.com/outages/maine/ | 1,748.6 | 274.0 |
| 3 | Texas | https://backuppowerscore.com/outages/texas/ | 1,614.3 | 153.4 |
| 4 | North Carolina | https://backuppowerscore.com/outages/north-carolina/ | 1,518.1 | 143.9 |
| 5 | Florida | https://backuppowerscore.com/outages/florida/ | 1,487.6 | 66.7 |
| 6 | Georgia | https://backuppowerscore.com/outages/georgia/ | 1,208.1 | 211.4 |
| 7 | West Virginia | https://backuppowerscore.com/outages/west-virginia/ | 1,165.5 | 486.1 |
| 8 | Virginia | https://backuppowerscore.com/outages/virginia/ | 962.1 | 245.1 |
| 9 | Vermont | https://backuppowerscore.com/outages/vermont/ | 895.8 | 231.8 |
| 10 | New Hampshire | https://backuppowerscore.com/outages/new-hampshire/ | 735.5 | 84.2 |
| 11 | Nebraska | https://backuppowerscore.com/outages/nebraska/ | 697.8 | 69.8 |
| 12 | Washington | https://backuppowerscore.com/outages/washington/ | 643.5 | 157.3 |
| 13 | Louisiana | https://backuppowerscore.com/outages/louisiana/ | 630.6 | 215.9 |
| 14 | Mississippi | https://backuppowerscore.com/outages/mississippi/ | 607.3 | 279.0 |
| 15 | Oregon | https://backuppowerscore.com/outages/oregon/ | 579.3 | 124.1 |
| 16 | Kentucky | https://backuppowerscore.com/outages/kentucky/ | 537.7 | 145.7 |
| 17 | Arkansas | https://backuppowerscore.com/outages/arkansas/ | 527.8 | 201.9 |
| 18 | Ohio | https://backuppowerscore.com/outages/ohio/ | 511.0 | 133.3 |
| 19 | Michigan | https://backuppowerscore.com/outages/michigan/ | 481.7 | 161.3 |
| 20 | New York | https://backuppowerscore.com/outages/new-york/ | 477.3 | 142.8 |
| 21 | Hawaii | https://backuppowerscore.com/outages/hawaii/ | 382.6 | 219.3 |
| 22 | Pennsylvania | https://backuppowerscore.com/outages/pennsylvania/ | 353.1 | 131.5 |
| 23 | Montana | https://backuppowerscore.com/outages/montana/ | 341.7 | 152.3 |
| 24 | Alaska | https://backuppowerscore.com/outages/alaska/ | 323.2 | 192.4 |
| 25 | Indiana | https://backuppowerscore.com/outages/indiana/ | 310.0 | 123.3 |
| 26 | Wisconsin | https://backuppowerscore.com/outages/wisconsin/ | 296.8 | 97.5 |
| 27 | Kansas | https://backuppowerscore.com/outages/kansas/ | 289.8 | 104.0 |
| 28 | Tennessee | https://backuppowerscore.com/outages/tennessee/ | 289.3 | 169.9 |
| 29 | California | https://backuppowerscore.com/outages/california/ | 285.0 | 164.4 |
| 30 | New Mexico | https://backuppowerscore.com/outages/new-mexico/ | 272.6 | 152.0 |
| 31 | Colorado | https://backuppowerscore.com/outages/colorado/ | 257.0 | 118.9 |
| 32 | Minnesota | https://backuppowerscore.com/outages/minnesota/ | 222.4 | 91.5 |
| 33 | Oklahoma | https://backuppowerscore.com/outages/oklahoma/ | 220.7 | 121.3 |
| 34 | Missouri | https://backuppowerscore.com/outages/missouri/ | 212.6 | 106.6 |
| 35 | Idaho | https://backuppowerscore.com/outages/idaho/ | 204.4 | 152.5 |
| 36 | Iowa | https://backuppowerscore.com/outages/iowa/ | 200.3 | 84.1 |
| 37 | Alabama | https://backuppowerscore.com/outages/alabama/ | 197.7 | 120.8 |
| 38 | New Jersey | https://backuppowerscore.com/outages/new-jersey/ | 173.3 | 98.8 |
| 39 | Nevada | https://backuppowerscore.com/outages/nevada/ | 158.9 | 63.8 |
| 40 | Illinois | https://backuppowerscore.com/outages/illinois/ | 158.0 | 59.1 |
| 41 | Connecticut | https://backuppowerscore.com/outages/connecticut/ | 152.8 | 73.6 |
| 42 | Wyoming | https://backuppowerscore.com/outages/wyoming/ | 137.8 | 116.0 |
| 43 | Maryland | https://backuppowerscore.com/outages/maryland/ | 118.1 | 75.1 |
| 44 | Delaware | https://backuppowerscore.com/outages/delaware/ | 117.9 | 66.8 |
| 45 | Utah | https://backuppowerscore.com/outages/utah/ | 115.4 | 105.0 |
| 46 | Rhode Island | https://backuppowerscore.com/outages/rhode-island/ | 104.3 | 60.8 |
| 47 | Massachusetts | https://backuppowerscore.com/outages/massachusetts/ | 103.7 | 77.0 |
| 48 | North Dakota | https://backuppowerscore.com/outages/north-dakota/ | 102.7 | 87.0 |
| 49 | South Dakota | https://backuppowerscore.com/outages/south-dakota/ | 85.6 | 61.5 |
| 50 | Arizona | https://backuppowerscore.com/outages/arizona/ | 83.6 | 69.8 |
| 51 | District of Columbia | https://backuppowerscore.com/outages/district-of-columbia/ | 32.6 | 26.4 |