Power and heat
Keep the lights on and one room warm through an Ontario winter outage. Start with batteries and power banks, then write down what you need to run before you buy anything bigger.
Energy calculator
How much battery and fuel to keep the lights on and one room warm.
WHO'S IN THE HOUSE
Adults & teens
Kids 4 to 12
Little ones 1 to 3
FOR HOW LONG
POWER
85 Wh
a dayPhones, LED lights and a radio.
BATTERY
300 Wh
station covers itSized for 3 days without sun.
HEAT
4 lb
5 one-pound cylinders4,000 BTU indoor heater, 8 h a day.
SAFETY
1
battery CO alarm per floorTest it before the season starts.
Power and heat reviews
Gear I've put through a real outage test.
BEST WHOLE-HOME BACKUP
Jackery Explorer 2000 Plus
About $2,000–$2,500 CAD
Big, expandable battery that can run a fridge and essentials for a day or more.
Read the reviewSee on Amazon.ca
BEST INDOOR-RATED HEATER
Mr. Heater Portable Buddy
About $140–$180 CAD
Small propane heater rated for indoor use, with tip-over and low-oxygen shutoffs.
Read the reviewSee on Amazon.caMore reviews comingEcoFlow DELTA 3 · Folding 200 W solar panel · Inverter generator · Battery CO alarm
How-tos
Step-by-step guides for power, light and heat when the grid is down.
