Solar power stations are having a moment. They're popping up in homes nationwide, tasked with everything from trimming electricity bills to providing a resilient power source for the increasing number of weather emergencies we're now apparently required to endure. Just the other day, someone was fretting about a super El Niño potentially crashing the party this year.
But here's the thing about your shiny new power station: it comes with its own set of risks that might not be immediately obvious, issues that can surface during an emergency and turn a bad situation worse. So let's talk about getting your solar generator ready for a weather emergency, because I've been using these things for years - from portable setups for off-grid adventures to big rigs that can power a home for days. I'm also an avid hiker, bushcrafter, and all-around outdoors person who's taken courses in everything from first aid to the UK version of SERE (that's Survive, Evade, Resist, Extract, for those not in the know).
Step one: know what kind of emergency you're facing. The bad news is you have plenty to choose from, depending on where you live. Power stations are generally safe - I've bounced one around in a truck and had one next to my head in a slowly-flooding tent - but don't forget they're boxes full of lithium-ion batteries that can output thousands of watts of easily lethal AC power.
They're designed to work optimally at room temperature (68°F to 77°F, or 20°C to 25°C), but will usually charge between 32°F (0°C) and 95°F (35°C) and discharge between 14°F (-10°C) and 104°F (40°C). Moisture is where it gets dicey: treat a power station like an AC outlet or extension cord. It's happy in 0% to 60% humidity when operating and up to 80% when stored. Water is a no-go unless the unit is specifically designed for it - rain, spills, or flooding can damage internal components and create a safety hazard.
Fire is also a concern, though worrying about lithium-ion versus safer lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO4) batteries is somewhat moot when a wildfire is about to consume your property. Wind can also become serious, ripping solar panels off roofs, tearing wires, and turning 100-pound power stations into projectiles.
Every situation is different, but here are some considerations: get your important documents in a waterproof/fireproof lockbox or safe, because lost paperwork is a real pain.
Once preparations are done, it's time to step up a gear. Two possibilities: best case, the emergency passes and things are mostly back to normal with just cleanup. Or the primary emergency passes but leaves secondary havoc that could take days, weeks, or more to sort out. If your property is intact but AC power is out, conserve power, focus on essentials, and think about recharging via solar panels or a generator - using that generator sparingly, since fuel might be limited.