Blackouts happen, and generators can make them a lot less awful. But what kind of generator do you need, and how powerful does it have to be? Here’s how to tell.

A home standby generator is a luxury, and for some people a necessity. Also known as whole-house generators or stationary generators, these units cost about $2,000 to $5,000. And the professional ...

Portable generators and home standby generators do the same basic tasks. But the two types couldn’t be further apart when it comes to cost and convenience. All the portable models in our generator ...

The power just went out—again. As you dig around for candles and wonder whether your laptop is fully charged, you think, “I’m finally going to get a generator.” Let’s say you want a generator that can ...

To get the best efficiency for my battery backup system I want to make sure that the backup battery is large enough to cope with at least twice the total amp hours required in my calculations. So, in ...

Dear Jim: There have been some power outages, so I am considering getting a backup generator. What are the best types to get to take care of the entire house? Can I run it continuously to lower my ...

If you experience regular power outages or live somewhere that's considered high risk for disasters such as hurricanes or fires, a home generator or large power bank may be worth investing in. Both ...

Cost, sizing, and ROI explained.

Q: I plan to install a backup generator for power outages. How do I determine what size I need? Would it make economic sense to just use one all the time? A: Smaller portable or large whole-house ...

"Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or revenue on some items through these links." The power just went out—again. As you dig around for candles and wonder whether your laptop is fully ...