Grant Mercer

Grant Mercer is the founding editor of Power Backup Lab. He leads the site's research process and editorial standards across backup power, portable power stations, home battery systems, and outage preparedness. The Power Backup Lab approach does not rely on marketing claims. Every recommendation is built from three sources: official manufacturer specifications, independent lab and field testing published by trusted third parties, and verified feedback from real owners who live with these products day to day. The goal is simple and practical guidance, with no hype, so readers can choose the right backup power setup for their home and budget.

Generator Noise Levels: How Loud Is Too Loud? (Decibels by Model and Type)

September 19, 2026 by Grant Mercer

Enclosed inverter generator running on a lawn at dusk with a sound level meter on a tripod in the foreground and a lit house behind

Decibel ratings of popular inverter and conventional generators, why 10 dB means twice as loud, eight ways to quiet any unit, and what noise ordinances allow.

How to Cook Without Electricity During a Power Outage (Safely)

September 19, 2026 by Grant Mercer

Single-burner butane stove with a pot on a kitchen counter, window cracked open behind it and a battery lantern nearby during an evening power outage

Every cooking option ranked by safety, why a butane stove is the one to own, what a microwave costs in battery, and the fuels that never come indoors.

How Long Do Portable Power Stations Last? Battery Lifespan by Chemistry

September 18, 2026 by Grant Mercer

Portable power station on a workbench with its display lit, connected to a plug-in watt meter and a lamp for a capacity test

LiFePO4 vs NMC cycle life in years, the five things that age a battery early, how to test your unit’s health, and the routine that reaches the rated life.

Generac vs Champion vs Westinghouse: Which Portable Generator Brand Is Best?

September 18, 2026 by Grant Mercer

Three portable generators of different sizes lined up on a store floor: a compact inverter, a mid-size dual-fuel inverter, and a large open-frame unit

How the three most popular portable generator brands compare on price, dual fuel, build quality, service, and noise, with a winner in every size class.

Generator Won’t Start? A Step-by-Step Troubleshooting Guide for Storm Day

September 17, 2026 by Grant Mercer

Portable inverter generator on a driveway with its spark plug removed and lying on a rag next to a plug socket wrench and a fuel can

The five causes behind almost every no-start generator, a symptom table, the carburetor fix that takes 20 minutes, and what to do when it runs but makes no power.

How to Run a Window Air Conditioner on a Generator or Power Station

September 17, 2026 by Grant Mercer

Window air conditioner installed in a bedroom window with a heavy-duty extension cord running from it across the floor

AC power draw and starting surge by BTU size, what generator you need, runtime on a 2kWh or 4kWh battery, and the soft-start kit that lets smaller units handle bigger ACs.

Portable Power Station Safety: Charging, Storage, Heat, and Fire Risk Explained

September 16, 2026 by Grant Mercer

Portable power station charging on a wooden table in a living room with clear space around it and its wall charger plugged in

Why LiFePO4 power stations are safer than gasoline, the four things that still matter, warning signs to stop using a unit, and how to store it between outages.

Best Portable Generators Under $1,000 (and Under $500) for Home Backup in 2026

September 16, 2026 by Grant Mercer

Compact enclosed inverter generator next to a larger open-frame generator with wheels on a suburban driveway

What $500 and $1,000 actually buy in inverter and conventional generators, our picks in each bracket, what to budget beyond the unit, and the models to avoid.

Power Outage With a Baby or Elderly Parent at Home: Backup Power Checklist

September 15, 2026 by Grant Mercer

Calm nursery at night lit by a soft lantern with a portable power station on the dresser running a baby monitor and a humidifier

Safe room temperature, refrigeration for formula and insulin, indoor-safe power for monitors and CPAPs, and a written rule for when to leave the house.

How to Keep Your Internet, Wi-Fi, and Phone Working During a Power Outage

September 15, 2026 by Grant Mercer

Cable modem and Wi-Fi router on top of a small UPS battery backup with a phone charging beside them during an evening power outage

Why the internet usually survives on the provider side, how to power your modem and router for a full day, and how to keep phones alive when the cell towers start to fade.