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.

Portable Generator Maintenance Checklist: Monthly, Yearly, and Before Storage

September 9, 2026 by Grant Mercer

Portable generator on a garage floor with engine oil, a spark plug, an air filter, a funnel, and a rag laid out beside it

The full service schedule for a portable generator, the three failures that cause most no-starts, and a five-minute troubleshooting table for storm day.

Generator Carbon Monoxide Safety: The Placement Rules That Actually Save Lives

September 9, 2026 by Grant Mercer

Portable generator placed far out on a lawn away from a suburban house with a long extension cord running back to the home

Where to put a generator, why the garage is never safe even with the door open, which CO alarms work during an outage, and the symptoms people mistake for the flu.

Best Portable Power Stations for Home Backup in 2026 (Sized by Outage Length)

September 8, 2026 by Grant Mercer

Portable power station on a kitchen counter at night powering a refrigerator and a lamp during a power outage

Our top picks for keeping a refrigerator, Wi-Fi, CPAP, and lights running through an outage, with real runtime numbers for 1kWh, 2kWh, and 4kWh units.

How to Connect a Portable Generator to Your House Safely: Interlock Kit vs Transfer Switch vs Cords

September 8, 2026 by Grant Mercer

Open residential breaker panel with a generator interlock kit installed next to a generator power inlet box on the garage wall

The three code-compliant ways to feed your home from a portable generator, what each costs installed, and the one method that kills lineworkers every year.

How to Break In a New Generator (Step by Step, Without Wrecking the Engine)

August 13, 2026 by Grant Mercer

A two-hour break-in procedure that seats the piston rings properly: oil, no-load hour, early oil changes, and light load done right.

Solar Panel Angle and Positioning: How to Get More Watts From Portable Panels

August 12, 2026 by Grant Mercer

Tilt, aim, and timing tricks that pull 25 to 40 percent more energy from a portable solar panel, no extra gear required.

How Long Can a Portable Power Station Run a CPAP? Real Numbers by Model Size

August 11, 2026 by Grant Mercer

Real CPAP runtimes by battery size, with and without a heated humidifier, plus the DC cable trick that adds 20 to 30 percent.

Generator Wattage Guide: How Many Watts Do Common Appliances Really Use?

August 10, 2026 by Grant Mercer

Realistic running and surge wattage for 25 common appliances, plus worked examples showing exactly how to size a generator or power station.

Generator Safety After a Hurricane: CO, Flooding, and Refueling Mistakes That Kill

August 7, 2026 by Grant Mercer

Carbon monoxide, floodwater, hot refueling, and backfeeding kill people after the storm passes. The rules that prevent every one of them.

How to Prepare Your Home for a Multi-Day Hurricane Blackout

August 6, 2026 by Grant Mercer

A weekend of preparation carries your home through three to seven days without power. Food, water, light, heat, and a 48-hour countdown.