What’s Your Go-To Backup Power Solution?

[MarigoldBreeze]

Curious what folks rely on for backup power when the grid goes down. I’ve got a solar generator and a small stash of propane, but always looking for better/safer options. Anyone here tried wind turbines or have tips on solar setups for cloudy regions?

 

[MarigoldBreeze]

Solar’s been decent for me but it really struggles during our gloomy Midwest winters—panels just don’t keep up if it’s grey all week. I keep a portable propane heater and a couple small tanks as backup, since we’ve had ice storms knock power out for days. Looked at wind, but the cost and local zoning rules make it tricky here. Has anyone managed a good wind setup on a smaller suburban lot?

 

[EchoTangoFox]

I’ve found gas generators noisy but rock-solid for short outages, though fuel storage is a hassle. Ever try trickle-charging a battery bank indoors during those cloudy weeks?