Clear, cited backup power guidance — by appliance, with real watt numbers from manufacturer data, not retailer estimates.
Each guide covers real-world numbers from manufacturer test data — no guesswork, no retailer estimates.
Liberty, Zoeller, Wayne and Basement Watchdog compared on manufacturer data, plus a runtime estimator.
Calculators that show their formula. Every result is a starting point — verify with a licensed electrician.
Add appliances, see running and starting watts, get a minimum generator size.
How many days a battery backup protects your basement, based on your pit size, pump cycles and the manufacturer's runtime data.
Transfer switches, interlock kits, and standby generator costs — with code considerations for US homeowners.
Covers the types of generator transfer switches, what the code requires, and how to match a switch to your generator.
Every watt value on this site traces back to a manufacturer document or published test. Here is how.
We read manufacturer installation manuals, spec sheets, and published test reports before looking anywhere else. Retailer listings are not cited as fact.
Each watt figure, runtime claim, or flow rate includes a numbered source at the bottom of the page. If we can't cite it, we don't publish it.
A 10-ft head test is not the same as a 5-ft test. We note the exact conditions under which each number was measured so you can compare apples to apples.
Every calculator displays the equation it uses. You can verify the math yourself, or take the result to a licensed electrician for a second opinion.