When the power goes out, you want your home to keep running. The two common ways to make that happen are a home solar battery and a gas generator. They both keep the lights on, but they work very differently. Here's how to choose.
How each one works
A solar battery stores energy — from your panels or the grid — and switches on automatically and silently the instant the grid goes down. A gas or propane generator burns fuel to make electricity, and typically starts up when it detects an outage. One runs on sunshine you already collect; the other runs on fuel you have to buy and store.
Cost and running cost
A generator often has a lower upfront price, but you pay for fuel every time it runs, plus ongoing maintenance. A battery costs more upfront but has almost no running cost — especially when it's recharged by your solar panels — and it earns its keep every day by shaving expensive peak-rate hours off your bill, not just during outages.
Noise, maintenance, and emissions
Batteries are silent, produce no emissions, need essentially no maintenance, and live indoors or on a wall. Generators are loud, require fuel and regular servicing, and produce exhaust — which means they have to be placed and vented properly outdoors.
Which is right for you?
For most California homeowners — especially anyone with solar or planning it — a battery is the better long-term choice: it pays you back daily and backs you up automatically. A generator can make sense if you face very long, multi-day outages and want extended runtime from fuel. Some homes even use both.
Paxton Energy helps you weigh backup options honestly against your home and budget — no one-size-fits-all pitch. Reach out for a free assessment.