When the power goes out, a backup source can keep a fridge, a router or a phone charger running. This guide covers how to work out what you need to run, what Health Canada and Ontario’s Electrical Safety Authority (ESA) say about generator safety, and which battery power stations and gas generators are top sellers on Amazon.
Watch the 20-second version: how far to run a generator from your home.
Quick picks
Affiliate links (paid links) below. Details
| Model | Good for | Where to buy |
|---|---|---|
| Jackery Explorer 1000 v2 power station | Several household items at once; 1,500 W AC output | Check price on Amazon |
| Anker SOLIX C1000 Gen 2 power station | Larger loads; 2,000 W output across 10 ports | Check price on Amazon |
| PowerSmart 4000-watt gas inverter generator | Long outages with bigger loads, run outdoors only | Check price on Amazon |
| BLUETTI Elite 30 V2 power station | A router, phones and lights through a short outage | Check price on Amazon |
Start with what you need to run
ESA’s generator guidance begins with sizing: understand your electricity requirements so the unit is the correct size and voltage for your use. (Source: Electrical Safety Authority, Generator Safety.) In practice, list the items you want to keep running, find the watts on each item’s label or manual, and add them up.
Then compare that total with two numbers on each listing: the continuous (running) output and the surge (starting or peak) output. The listings below give both. For battery power stations, capacity is given in watt-hours (Wh). Capacity divided by the watts you’re drawing gives the hours you could get at best, so a 1,000 Wh unit powering a 100 W load tops out at about 10 hours. Treat that as a ceiling, not a promise.
Power station or gas generator?
- Battery power station: the three power stations below run on batteries according to their listings, and they recharge from a wall outlet or, per the listings, from solar panels. Output and total energy are limited by the battery size, so match the model to your list.
- Gas inverter generator: the listing for the model below gives 3,200 running watts and about 10 hours at 25% load from one 5 L tank. It also burns fuel, which brings the safety rules in the next two sections.
What Health Canada says about generators
Health Canada’s carbon monoxide guidance for portable generators is specific. (Source: Health Canada, Carbon monoxide: Preventing exposure.)
- Never operate a fuel-burning generator indoors, or in a garage or shed.
- Operate it at least 6 metres (20 feet) from buildings and direct the exhaust away from open windows and doors.
- Close the windows and doors closest to or downwind from the generator.
- Choose one that automatically shuts off when carbon monoxide levels are high.
- A generator doesn’t replace the need for carbon monoxide alarms in your home, and people and pets should stay away from it while it’s on.
Our carbon monoxide alarm guide covers where to put an alarm and which models are top sellers.
What ESA adds
ESA regulates electrical safety in Ontario, and its generator page is worth reading wherever you live, though rules differ by province. (Source: Electrical Safety Authority, Generator Safety.)
- If you need extension cords, use grounded three-prong cords rated for your use. Coiled cords can get extremely hot, so uncoil them and lay them flat.
- To connect a generator to your home’s wiring, you need an approved transfer device or switch. ESA says it prevents generator power from flowing back into the utility system. In Ontario, a permanent connection requires a notification of work filed with ESA, and ESA recommends a Licensed Electrical Contractor.
- Before refuelling a gas generator, let the engine cool for at least 2 minutes and use fresh gasoline. ESA notes that gasoline and its vapours are extremely flammable.
- Never connect a portable generator to appliances or wiring that water has affected or damaged.
- Fans or open windows and doors won’t provide enough fresh air to make running a generator indoors safe.
Top-selling picks on Amazon
These show a top Best Sellers rank in Amazon’s Outdoor Generators category (checked October 16, 2026). Rankings change daily, and the details below come from each product listing, so confirm them on the product page.
Jackery Explorer 1000 v2 portable power station
- Listing describes a 1,070Wh battery, a 1,500W AC output with a 3,000W surge peak, and three pure sine wave AC ports plus two USB-C ports, one USB-A port and a DC car port.
- The listing says the battery keeps over 70% of its capacity after 4,000 charge cycles, and that a full recharge takes 1.7 hours by default, or about one hour with emergency charging turned on in the app.
- Best for: running several household items at once during an outage.
Anker SOLIX C1000 Gen 2 portable power station
- Listing describes 1,024Wh of capacity, 2,000W of output and 3,000W peak across 10 ports.
- The listing says its UPS switchover takes under 10 ms and that its LiFePO4 battery keeps at least 80% capacity after 4,000 cycles. It lists a 1.8-hour full recharge with 600W of solar input.
- Best for: larger loads, since it has the highest rated output of the three power stations here.
PowerSmart 4000-watt portable inverter generator (gas)
- Listing describes a 149cc engine rated at 4,000 starting watts and 3,200 running watts, with a 5 L (1.3 gallon) tank and about 10 hours of runtime at 25% load (800W).
- Outlets listed: one 120V 30A, two 120V 20A, a 12V 8A DC port, and USB-A and USB-C ports. The listing gives 59 dBA at 23 feet at 25% load.
- The listing text we read doesn’t mention automatic carbon monoxide shut-off, which Health Canada advises looking for, so check the product page before you buy.
- Best for: long outages with bigger loads, where you can run it outdoors, 6 metres (20 feet) from buildings.
BLUETTI Elite 30 V2 portable power station
- Listing describes a 288Wh battery, 600W continuous output with a Power Lifting mode the listing says reaches 1,500W, and a weight of 9.4 lbs.
- The listing says its UPS switchover takes 10 ms, to keep laptops and routers running when power cuts out, and gives 0 to 80% charging in 45 minutes from a wall outlet.
- Best for: a router, phones and lights through a short outage.
Before you buy
- Add up the watts of the items you must run, and check the total against both the continuous and the surge output on the listing.
- For a battery unit, divide the watt-hours by your load in watts to see the best-case runtime.
- Check the outlet types and count against what you plan to plug in.
- For a gas generator, plan a spot outdoors at least 6 metres (20 feet) from buildings, look for automatic carbon monoxide shut-off, and have working CO alarms in the house.
- Electric heaters draw a lot of power, so check any heater’s wattage first. Our space heater safety guide covers what to look for.
- Don’t connect a generator to your home wiring yourself. Ask a licensed electrical contractor about a transfer switch.
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