Which Small Home Electronics Are Worth Battery Backup During Outages?

Keep the lights on (and the internet) when energy bills spike: which small home electronics really deserve battery backup?

Outages are no longer rare; between extreme weather, grid maintenance and market volatility, many UK homeowners face short but disruptive blackouts. The hard choices are familiar: do you power the fridge, keep your internet and phone charged, or run the robot vacuum because the house has pets? This guide ranks small home electronics you should prioritise for home battery backup, explains how each choice affects PV+storage sizing, and gives practical steps to plan a resilient backup system in 2026.

Executive summary — the ranking at a glance

1. Wi‑Fi router & comms equipment — highest priority (low power, critical service)
2. Phone / laptop chargers & small personal devices — essential for communication and work
3. Lighting (LED circuits) — safety & comfort
4. Medical equipment and fridges — critical but require careful sizing (fridge has high surge)
5. Monitors & home office gear — important for remote work; select low‑power models
6. Robot vacuums & convenience gadgets — low energy draw but low priority
7. Large TVs, ovens, washing machines — avoid unless you have a large battery+inverter system

Why this order?

We prioritised devices by a mix of three criteria: importance during an outage (safety, communication, food preservation), power draw and surge behavior (continuous watts and start‑up spikes), and practical runtime cost (kWh consumed).

2026 trends that change backup priorities

• More grid‑forming hybrid inverters: Since late 2024 and accelerating through 2025, a rising number of hybrid inverters now support PV generation while islanded — meaning your rooftop solar can top up batteries during daylight outages. That reduces how much battery capacity you must buy for long daytime outages.
• LFP batteries dominate: Lithium‑iron‑phosphate (LFP) batteries are cheaper, safer and longer‑lived; their widespread adoption in 2025-26 lowers lifetime cost and encourages larger backups.
• Smarter load management: New battery systems and smart home controllers (Matter, Home Assistant integrations) make prioritising and auto-shedding devices during outages easier.
• Low export returns: Export tariffs remain modest in 2025‑26, so homeowners increasingly size storage for self‑consumption and backup rather than export revenue.

Device-by-device analysis and practical recommendations

1. Wi‑Fi router & home comms — the single best small device to back up

Typical router power: 5–20 W. A modem/router and small network switch rarely exceed 20W combined. Because internet connectivity enables remote work, emergency calls, and smart device control, a router should be first on your backup list.

• Why back it up: Keeps VoIP/phone tethering, alarm communications and smart plugs reachable; many smart battery systems can prioritise this load on a dedicated circuit.
• How to back it up: A cheap UPS (uninterruptible power supply) of 300–600 VA will keep a router and hub online for 4–12+ hours. For whole‑home battery systems, include the router on the critical loads subpanel.
• Tip: Use a low‑power router or mesh nodes with low standby draw. Many 2026 models deliver excellent performance at <10 W.

2. Phone and laptop chargers, wireless chargers — tiny draw, huge value

Typical draw: 5–30 W per device (wireless chargers around 5–15 W). These are energy-light but central to communication and work.

• Why back them up: Keeps you reachable, enables emergency contact, and allows work continuity.
• How they affect sizing: They add little to required kWh. For example, three phones and a laptop charging simultaneously for 6 hours might use ~1.0 kWh.
• Practical advice: Use USB‑C PD chargers and smart power banks. Set phone low‑power modes during outages to stretch battery life.

3. Lighting — small watts, high perceived importance

Typical LED lighting: 5–15 W per fitting. Lighting keeps households safe and comfortable — and it’s very cost‑effective to include in your backup plan.

• Strategy: Move a few essential lights (hallway, kitchen, bathroom) onto the backup subpanel rather than whole‑house lighting. Use LED bulbs and dimmers.
• Example: Four LED downlights at 8W each = 32W continuous; for 12 hours that's ~0.38 kWh.

4. Fridge / freezer — critical but tricky (surge and runtime)

Typical running power: 60–200 W depending on age and size; start‑up surge can be 3–6x running power.

• Why back up: Food safety — a single long outage can cause spoilage.
• Sizing notes: Because of surge current, ensure your inverter can handle motor starting. For a typical fridge running at 150W, a 3.5–5 kW inverter handles starts comfortably depending on fridge specs.
• Runtime math: A 3 kWh usable battery (after depth‑of‑discharge and buffer) powering a fridge at 100W average gives ~24 hours of runtime, but if you add other loads the time falls quickly.
• Advanced tip: Consider a small dedicated battery or an inverter with strong surge capability, and add a temperature alarm to your fridge to avoid food loss.

5. Monitors & home office equipment — important for remote work

Typical monitor draw: 20–40 W for 24–32" IPS displays; gaming monitors and ultra‑wide models can be 100+ W. Laptops are typically 30–100 W depending on workload.

• Why back up: Enables productivity and income continuity during outages.
• Practical suggestion: If you must prioritise, run a laptop in power‑saver mode with a single low‑power monitor (or use laptop screen only). A 40W monitor plus a 60W laptop for 8 hours is ~0.8 kWh.
• If you use a desktop PC/gaming rig, expect much higher sizing requirements and consider excluding it from the emergency circuit unless you have a large battery.

6. Robot vacuums & convenience appliances — low energy but least critical

Typical robot vacuum draw: 20–60 W while cleaning. Dock charging may draw slightly more while the vacuum replenishes its battery.

• Why they rank low: They are convenience devices that consume small amounts of energy, but they are non‑essential during outages. In a long outage, every kWh matters more for communication, food and heating.
• When to include: If you already have surplus storage or short daytime outages and want comfort/pet care, include them. Energy impact is small — running a 40W robovac for 1 hour uses 0.04 kWh.
• Tip: If you have pets and rely on daily cleaning, consider scheduling vacuum runs when PV is producing to avoid battery drain.

7. TVs, ovens, washing machines — typically excluded for small backup systems

These devices draw large continuous power or have high heating elements; include them only when you have big batteries (10 kWh+ and multi‑kW inverters).

How gadgets affect PV+storage sizing: practical maths and example scenarios

Two factors determine battery size for your chosen critical loads: energy (kWh) — how long you want loads to run — and power (kW) — the inverter’s capacity to run them simultaneously.

Core formulas

• Battery energy required (kWh) = Total continuous load (kW) × desired backup hours ÷ usable battery fraction
• Usable battery fraction: for LFP commonly 0.9 usable (90%) but installers often plan 80% to preserve life.
• Inverter sizing (kW) = Sum of simultaneous device power + margin for surge starting (especially motors/compressors).

Scenario A — Connectivity + lighting + phones (basic resilience)

Loads: Router 15W, 4 phone/laptop chargers 80W (charging bursts), essential lights 40W, small fridge averaged to 120W but excluded in this basic plan.

Total continuous load = ~0.135 kW (135 W). For 12 hours of autonomy:

Battery kWh = 0.135 kW × 12 h ÷ 0.8 ≈ 2.025 kWh → choose a 3–4 kWh battery to allow margin and future needs.

Inverter: A small 1 kW inverter is fine (but ensure UPS for router for zero‑transfer time).

Scenario B — Family who wants fridge + work setup plus comms (moderate resilience)

Loads: Router 15W, laptop + monitor 100W, lighting 60W, fridge average 150W (with 600W surge).

Continuous total ≈ 0.325 kW. For 24 hours autonomy:

Battery kWh = 0.325 × 24 ÷ 0.8 ≈ 9.75 kWh → pick a 10–12 kWh battery pack.

Inverter: 3–5 kW rated inverter to safely handle fridge surge and some headroom.

Scenario C — Full comfort (EV charging excluded)

If you include larger appliances (washing machine, EV charging), you rapidly need 10s of kWh and multi‑kW inverters — these are commercial‑scale home systems.

Integration tips: making PV + storage work during outages

1. Install a backup subpanel: Put critical devices (router, select lights, fridge, medical devices) on a dedicated transfer switch. This prevents accidental overloads and simplifies inverter sizing.
2. Choose a grid‑forming inverter: If you want your PV to recharge batteries and support loads while islanded, specify a grid‑forming hybrid inverter that supports PV during outage. Many systems sold in 2025–26 offer this feature, but confirm with your installer.
3. Account for surge currents: Appliances with motors (fridges, pumps) need inverters with high surge capacity or dedicated soft‑start modules.
4. Use smart load management: Program automatic load shedding (e.g., pause the robot vacuum, dim non‑essential lights) to extend backup time. Modern systems integrate with smart plugs and home hubs.
5. Install UPS for low‑latency devices: A UPS for your router and VOIP hub prevents dropouts during transfer. Many hybrid inverters provide brief transfer times, but a small UPS ensures seamless connectivity.

Practical checklist before you buy

1. Audit your devices: list nameplate power and typical run hours. Measure with a plug‑in meter for accuracy.
2. Decide your target outage duration (hours) and whether you want PV to contribute while islanded.
3. Choose critical loads and move them to a backup subpanel via a certified electrician.
4. Specify inverter power by summing simultaneous loads and adding surge margin (x2–3 for motors).
5. Pick battery capacity = energy needed ÷ usable fraction (choose 80–90% usable for LFP to be realistic).
6. Ask your installer about grid‑forming capability, PV during islanding, and firmware updates — these became standard selling points in late 2025.
7. Fit a small UPS for your router and any latency‑sensitive devices.

Real‑world example (case study)

Household: two adults working from home, one small fridge, essential lighting, router and two laptops. They want to survive a full working day (9 hours) without grid power.

• Measured loads: router 15W, lights 60W, laptops combined 120W, fridge average 130W → total ≈ 0.325 kW.
• Energy needed: 0.325 × 9 = 2.925 kWh. With an 80% usable fraction → 3.66 kWh required.
• Decision: install a 5 kWh LFP battery with a 3 kW hybrid inverter (grid‑forming), and a 1 kW UPS for router. Result: comfortable day of work + fridge and lights with headroom for phone charging.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Underestimating surge currents — a fridge or pump can trip undersized inverters.
• Expecting PV to feed loads during islanding without confirming your inverter supports it.
• Putting too many non‑essential loads on the backup subpanel — this burns kWh quickly.
• Relying purely on smart plugs for critical circuits — they can be useful but should not replace proper wiring and transfer switches.

Final recommendations — what to power from your home battery first (short checklist)

1. Router & comms (UPS + backup circuit)
2. Phone and laptop chargers (USB power banks as second line)
3. Essential LED lighting
4. Medical devices & fridge (if inverter and battery sized to handle surge)
5. Monitors and modest home office gear (power‑saver modes)
6. Robot vacuum and convenience gadgets only when surplus energy is available

Wrapping up: plan for priorities, not every gadget

In 2026 the economics and technology for home backup are better than ever — cheaper LFP batteries, more capable grid‑forming inverters and smarter load management. But the smartest approach isn’t to back up everything; it’s to decide what matters (connectivity, food safety, health), right‑size your battery and inverter for those loads, and use PV intelligently to stretch runtime during daytime outages.

Start with a short audit, protect the router with a UPS, move essential loads to a backup subpanel, and discuss grid‑forming PV+storage options with an installer. Don’t forget routine testing — simulate a 2–4 hour outage to confirm priorities and tweak settings.

Need help building a custom backup plan?

We help homeowners in the UK compare vetted installers and choose the right PV+storage configuration for their priorities. Get a tailored sizing worksheet and a shortlist of installers who can deliver grid‑forming hybrid systems and handle surge‑capable inverter selection.

Call to action: Ready to prioritise the devices that matter to you? Use our free outage‑planning checklist and get three competitive quotes from local, certified installers to design a PV+storage system that keeps your home running when the grid doesn’t.

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