If you work from home—even part-time—you rely on power. No power means no internet, no laptop, and no income. If you’ve got a child in the home, it’s not just your job that’s at risk during an outage—it’s comfort, communication, and safety.
You don’t need to live in a hurricane zone for this to matter. Grid maintenance, winter storms, rolling blackouts—any of these can knock out power for hours or even a day. And in an apartment, you don’t have the luxury of a gas generator or a dedicated solar setup on the roof.
But you do have options.
Here are three solar battery backup solutions under $300 that work well for apartment dwellers. These are indoor-safe, portable, and can keep you running through a short-term outage with minimal disruption.
✅ What You Should Be Looking For
- At least 250Wh capacity (enough to run a laptop, charge phones, or power a fan/light for several hours)
- Pure sine wave AC outlet (for safely powering electronics)
- USB-A and USB-C ports
- Solar panel compatibility (panel usually sold separately)
- Quiet, odorless, indoor-safe
🔋 1. Jackery Explorer 300 Portable Power Station
Price: ~$279
Battery: 293Wh
Outputs: AC (x2), USB-A (x2), USB-C (x1), DC car port
Solar Compatible: Yes (with Jackery SolarSaga 100W, sold separately)
Why It Works: Jackery is a trusted name with a solid warranty. This model can recharge a phone 30+ times or run a laptop for 4–5 hours. It charges fast via wall or solar and is very apartment-friendly.
🔋 2. Bluetti EB3A Portable Power Station
Price: ~$299
Battery: 268Wh
Outputs: AC, USB-A, USB-C, wireless charging pad
Solar Compatible: Yes (up to 200W input)
Why It Works: Fast-charging, app-controlled, and built with LiFePO4 batteries for a longer lifespan. This is a more “tech-forward” option, with solid bang for your buck. Bonus: charges to 80% in under 30 minutes on wall power.
🔋 3. EcoFlow River 2
Price: ~$239
Battery: 256Wh
Outputs: AC (x2), USB-A (x2), USB-C, DC
Solar Compatible: Yes (up to 110W)
Why It Works: Compact, reliable, and charges extremely fast—100% in 60 minutes from the wall. Great customer support and app integration. This one is ideal for smaller setups or people who want something ultra-portable.