3 Best Generators for Home Backup Power in Australia

Dealing with frequent power outages is no fun. Whether you’re experiencing Queensland thunderstorms, bushfires in Western Australia, or any other planned or unplanned power outage, having a home backup power system is a fantastic option.

Solar generators are the best backup option since they are safe with no toxic fumes to worry about and are ultra quiet, so bringing them indoors is safe and easy.

Whether you need emergency backup to power essential appliances or a whole-home backup to keep everything running, we will cover all your options.

EcoFlow’s Best Generators for Home Backup Power

1. Best For Entry Level Use: EcoFlow DELTA 2
2. Best For Expandable Home Backup: EcoFlow DELTA 2 Max
3. Best For Whole Home Backup: EcoFlow DELTA Pro
   

Best For Entry Level Use: EcoFlow DELTA 2

The EcoFlow DELTA 2 is a fantastic entry-level home backup option. It’s ultra quiet and boasts new LiFeoPO4 batteries that aren’t prone to toxic off-gassing or leaking acids like old lead-acid models and aren’t prone to thermal runaway of older lithium-ion batteries, making it the safest money can buy. 

It’s also robust enough to power 90% of household appliances, including refrigerators, TVs, and coffeemakers. Even if you run out of power, it recharges fully in just 2.3 hours using clean solar energy so you can get up and running once again. Of course, you can also use it without solar panels and recharge it when the grid comes back on.

Since it only weighs 12 kg, it’s also lightweight enough to carry with you on your next caravanning or tent adventure, making it one of the most versatile backup options you can buy. 

Specifications

• Storage Capacity (Minimum): 1024Wh
• Storage Capacity (Maximum): 3kWh
• AC Output (Maximum): 1.8kW continuous output (2.7kW Surge)
• Solar Charge Capacity (Maximum): 500W max (11-60V, 15A)
• Weight: 27 lbs (12 kg)
• Dimensions: 15.7 x 8.3 x 11.1 in (40 x 21.1 x 28.1 cm)
• Operating Noise Level: ~50 decibels
• Charging Options: Solar/AC/Car Charger
• Multicharge Options? Yes
• Battery Chemistry: Lithium Iron Phosphate (LFP/LiFePO4)
• Cycle Life: 3000 Cycles to +/-80% Capacity
• Depth of Discharge: 100%
• Warranty: Five years (no cycle life restrictions) 
• App Monitoring and Control?: Yes

Pros

• It’s an ultra-quiet generator with no excessive noise bothering your neighbours.
• Since there are no fossil fuels, there are no toxic fumes, so you can bring it indoors.
• Robust enough to power 90% of household appliances with its 13 assorted outlets.
• At only 12kg, it’s lightweight enough to bring in your motorhome or tent trips out in the bush, making it a great dual-purpose option.
• Fast recharging, up to 80% in just 50 minutes or 2.3 hours for a full charge using solar, so even if you use all your power, you can quickly recharge it and get your devices up and running.
• It can be expanded with extra batteries up to 3Kw for extended power outages or extra-long trips to the outback.

Cons

• Will not run very large energy-intensive appliances like dryers or large air conditioners.
• Not enough power to last for days or for very large homes with lots of energy usage.

Best For Expandable Home Backup: EcoFlow DELTA 2 Max

If the EcoFlow DELTA 2 doesn’t quite have enough power to run your essential appliances during a blackout, then the EcoFlow DELTA 2 Max will meet your family’s emergency power needs. With its larger storage capacity, it can run your essential appliances longer than entry-level models. 

Starting at an impressive 2048W, this model is also expandable with extra batteries for up to 6kW of power. This is critical if you are in a more remote area where power blackouts take longer to be resolved or if you have more essential appliances to run, like for those who work from home and need to keep computers, wifi routers, printers, or other essential tools running. 

You can also add optional EcoFlow 400W Portable Solar Panels to recharge it, even while using it. This means you can keep working without interruptions, almost like the grid was never down.

Specifications

• Storage Capacity (Minimum): 2048 Wh
• Storage Capacity (Maximum): 6kWh
• AC Output (Maximum): 2.4kW continuous output (3.4kW surge)
• Solar Charge Capacity (Maximum): 11-60V 15A, single port 500W; dual port 1kW
• Weight: 50.7 lbs  (23 kg)
• Dimensions: 19.6 × 9.5 × 12 in (49.7 × 24.2 × 30.5 cm)
• Operating Noise Level: ~50 decibels
• Charging Options: Solar/AC/Car Charger
• Multicharge Options? Yes
• Battery Chemistry: Lithium Iron Phosphate (LFP/LiFePO4)
• Cycle Life: 3000 Cycles to +/-80% Capacity
• Depth of Discharge: 100%
• Warranty: Five years (no cycle life restrictions)
• App Monitoring and Control?: Yes

Pros

• Larger capacity that is also expandable up to 6kW to run more appliances at once or to last longer during extended blackouts.
• It’s powerful enough to run up to 99% of household appliances.
• Thanks to its dual-charging capabilities, you can charge up to 80% in just 43 minutes when using a combination of AC electricity and solar panels, or charge it fully in just 2.3 hours using 2 EcoFlow 400W Portable Solar Panels.
• Ultra-safe LiFePO4 batteries mean they can be brought indoors without worrying about your loved ones.
• At 23kg, it’s still light enough to pack in your campervan for an outback adventure.

Cons

• It will not run the most power-hungry appliances like dryers or large central air conditioners.

Best For Whole Home Backup: EcoFlow DELTA Pro

If you have a very large home, a large family, and lots of energy-intensive appliances to run, or if you want freedom from the electrical grid altogether, the EcoFlow DELTA Pro is the option for you. It starts at an impressive 3.6kW capacity, powerful enough to run almost any household appliance, even dryers and air conditioners. 

The best part is that this model is also expandable up to an incredible 25kW. This is enough power to run almost any large home with energy-intensive appliances. If you pair this unit with optional solar panels, you can go off-grid completely and never worry about blackouts again. 

When the neighbourhood is out of power and doing community BBQs to cook food before it goes bad, you will never have to worry about throwing food out ever again. Integrating it with your household electricity using an EcoFlow Smart Home Panel is super easy and offers you the freedom of completely uninterrupted backup. 

While it’s heavier than the other models, it has a convenient handle and wheels, making it portable enough to move around or bring caravanning. 

Specifications

• Storage Capacity (Minimum): 3.6kWh
• Storage Capacity (Maximum): 25kWh
• AC Output (Maximum): 3.6kW continuous output (7.2kW Surge) 
• AC Output (Maximum): Expandable to 7.2kW continuous output (14.4 kW surge) with 2 x EcoFlow DELTA Pro + Double Voltage Hub
• Solar Charge Capacity (Maximum):  3.2kW with 2 x EcoFlow DELTA Pro (16 x 400W Rigid Solar Panels)
• Weight:  99 lbs (45kg)
• Dimensions: 25 x 11.2 x 16.4 inches (63.5 x 28.4x 42cm)
• Operating Noise Level: ~50 decibels
• Charging Options: Solar/AC/Car Charger/Smart Home Panel/EV Charge Station/Smart Generator (Dual Fuel)
• Multicharge Options? Yes
• Battery Chemistry: Lithium Iron Phosphate (LFP/LiFePO4)
• Cycle Life: 3000 Cycles to +/-80% Capacity
• Depth of Discharge: 100%
• Warranty: Five years (no cycle life restrictions)
• App Monitoring and Control?: Yes

Pros

• Powerful enough to run over 99% of household appliances.
• Expandable capacity with optional extra batteries to give you an amazing 25kW of power, more than enough to run almost any home, including most large homes with lots of appliances.
• It’s robust enough that you can use it to go completely off-grid with enough solar panels to recharge it, so you never have to worry about power outages again.
• Still portable enough with its handy wheels and carrying handle so you can bring it in your campervan for outdoor adventures.
• Ultra-safe and quiet, you can bring it indoors without worry. 

Cons

• More expensive than other models.
• Heavier than most at 45kg.

Choosing the Best Generator for Home Backup Power in Australia

Choosing the best home backup power for your family depends on several factors unique to your family’s needs.

Capacity

The battery backup size you need is based entirely on your energy needs. Make sure you calculate your household kWh usage to determine the best product for you. Always choose an option with at least a bit more capacity than you currently need in case your needs increase. 

Functionality

How are you using your battery backup? Do you just need it for a few appliances when the grid goes down, or do you need to run many appliances during extended blackouts? Do you want a whole-home backup, do you want to go off-grid, or do you want a portable unit to bring with you on outdoor adventures? 

These are important things to consider when buying a system since the capacity and weight vary significantly. Other factors are the types of outlet ports (AC, USB, USB-C, DC) they offer, as smaller or cheaper ones have fewer ports. 

Maintenance

Maintenance used to be a significant factor, and it still is if you opt for a fossil fuel generator, as these will need oil and filter changes and constant refuelling to keep your appliances running.

Similarly, lead-acid batteries also require maintenance to keep them running optimally. In contrast, EcoFlow’s Portable Power Stations that use the new LiFePO4 batteries require no maintenance to keep them at their best. 

Noise

Again, the noise was often a consideration in the past since fossil fuel generators are very noisy, so close neighbours may be bothered by them. Solar generators using batteries are ultra quiet, so no need to worry about noise anymore.

Frequently Asked Questions

Final Thoughts

Now, you should have all the information you need to choose the best home backup generator for your family. Consider your household energy needs and what you want from your backup power system. Do you want it to run a few appliances during an occasional blackout, or do you have many appliances, or are you prone to extended blackouts? The answers to those questions will help you decide the best system. 

No matter what size of system you need, EcoFlow’s DELTA series portable power stations offer versatile options that will allow you to find the perfect one.