Home backup
Run your house from a portable battery: the four ways to connect one
Anything that connects to your breaker panel is a job for a licensed electrician, with a permit and inspection. That covers inlet boxes, interlock kits, transfer switches and the makers' smart panels.
Never power house wiring by plugging a battery or generator into a wall, dryer or range outlet with a double-ended ("suicide") cord. That is called backfeeding: it is illegal, it can electrocute utility lineworkers and neighbors on the same transformer, and it bypasses your home's circuit protection (CPSC, OSHA).
The four ways, side by side
| Method | What it powers | Rough cost* | Electrician and permit | Our models that support it |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Extension cords | Only what you plug in: fridge, lights, router, CPAP. Nothing wired in (furnace, well pump). | $38.50 to $197.97 for one to three 12-gauge outdoor cords | No | Every power station we list (see them all) |
| 2. Inlet box + interlock kit | Any circuit in your main panel, chosen by flipping breakers. You keep the total under the battery's output. | Inlet box $20 to $100; interlock installed $400 to $850; permit $50 to $350 | Yes, always. The interlock must be one made for your panel model, and your inspector has the final say. |
|
| 3. Manual transfer switch | A fixed set of circuits (often 6 or 10) wired to the switch, each flipped to grid or battery. | Installed $400 to $1,300, plus permit. Anker's 10-circuit switch lists at $789.99 before installation. | Yes, always. | |
| 4. The maker's smart panel | A backed-up subpanel that switches over automatically when the grid fails; some also manage solar and a generator. | From the maker's list price (right) plus installation; Anker also sells its own install service at $2,000, permit not included | Yes, always. Anker says a licensed electrician is required. |
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*Installed ranges are HomeGuide's (figures last updated April 5, 2023, read November 14, 2026); your electrician's quote is the real number. Maker prices are the regular price on each maker's US store on November 14, 2026, before any timed discount code.
Which one fits your house
Before any of this, size the battery: the power outage backup calculator adds up your appliances and outage length, and best portable power stations compares every model with dated prices.
One thing to settle with your electrician: the neutral
Some batteries and generators bond neutral to ground inside the unit; others leave it floating and rely on the bond in your main panel. Which one you have decides whether the transfer equipment must switch the neutral too. Bluetti's own hookup guide puts it plainly: neutral bonding matters most. Anker warns that a missing neutral or ground wire at the inlet box or transfer switch can damage appliances. Ask the battery maker which kind yours is before the electrician buys parts.
Hookup guides by model and appliance
- Hookup pickerFive questions: how to connect a battery to your house, what size, and the parts
- Anker SOLIX F3800 Plus hookupInlet box, Anker's transfer switch or the Home Power Panel
- Bluetti Apex 300 hookupAT1, interlock or manual transfer switch, and the neutral question
- Growatt HELIOS 3600 vs Bluetti Apex 300Built on the 240 V question
- Power station for a well pumpStarting and running watts from the pump's nameplate
- Power station for a pellet stoveIgniter vs running watts and switchover time
- Bluetti Elite 200 V2 solar panelsWhich panels fit its input limits, series or parallel
A 240 V battery in stock
Disclosure: We may earn a commission if you buy through these links. It never changes our recommendations. How we make money.
The Bluetti Apex 300 (opens in a new tab) We earn a commission if you buy through this link. ($1,499 on Bluetti's US site on November 14, 2026) gives 120/240 V from one unit through a 50 A outlet and works with Bluetti's AT1 panel. See the Apex 300 hookup guide first.
*Prices and specifications are from each manufacturer's US website, checked . Prices change often, sometimes daily during sales; the seller's page is the final word. Cycle ratings are the maker's own figures, measured to different end points, so treat them as rough guides.
Frequently asked questions
Can I connect a portable power station to my house?
Yes, but only through equipment that keeps it from feeding the utility lines: an inlet box with an interlock kit, a transfer switch, or the maker's own smart panel, installed by a licensed electrician with a permit. The battery also needs a 30 A or 50 A outlet (or the maker's panel port). Without any of that, plug appliances straight into the battery with extension cords.
Can I plug a power station into a wall outlet to power the house?
No. That is backfeeding. The CPSC says it can electrocute utility workers and neighbors served by the same transformer and bypasses your home's circuit protection, and it is illegal. A double-ended cord into a dryer or range outlet is the same thing. Use one of the four methods on this page instead.
What is the difference between an interlock kit and a transfer switch?
An interlock is a sliding plate on your existing main panel that stops the main breaker and a backup breaker being on at the same time; you then pick which circuits to run by flipping breakers. A manual transfer switch is a separate small box wired to a fixed set of circuits (often 6 or 10), each with its own grid-or-battery switch. Interlocks cost less; transfer switches are harder to overload. Bluetti's own guide calls for listed transfer equipment or an approved interlock, and local rules decide which is accepted.
Do I need a 240 V power station?
Only for 240 V loads such as a well pump or an electric dryer. A fridge, lights, Wi-Fi and most furnace blowers run on 120 V. Some batteries give 240 V from one unit (the Bluetti Apex 300 does); the Growatt HELIOS 3600 needs two units and Growatt's hub.
How much does it cost to hook a battery up to a house?
Cords: $38.50 to $197.97 for one to three 12-gauge outdoor cords. An interlock kit installed: $400 to $850. A manual transfer switch installed: $400 to $1,300, plus a permit ($50 to $350). Those are HomeGuide's ranges, last updated April 5, 2023. The makers' smart panels cost more: Anker's Home Power Panel kit lists at $1,799.99 before installation.
What we checked
We have not tested any of these batteries or hookup parts.Everything below comes from the makers' own manuals, support articles and store pages, and from safety agencies, read on the dates shown.
- CPSC, Portable generator hazards safety alert (PDF) (read ): backfeeding warning; cord ratings
- OSHA, Using portable generators safely (PDF) (read ): transfer switch by a qualified electrician; cord condition and rating
- HomeGuide, Generator transfer switch installation cost (read ): installed-cost ranges (figures dated April 5, 2023)
- Anker SOLIX support, F3800 & F3800 Plus: your top questions answered (read ): Home Power Panel backs up 25 A with one unit, 50 A with two
- Anker SOLIX support, Can I connect the F3800 to my generator's transfer switch or inlet box? (read ): neutral and ground must be connected
- Anker SOLIX Smart Home Power Kit (Home Power Panel, subpanel, ground bar) (read ): price; licensed electrician required
- Anker SOLIX 10-Circuit Manual Transfer Switch (120/240 V, 30 A) (read ): price; UL 1008 listed
- Bluetti AT1 Smart Distribution Panel (read ): price; compatible with Apex 300
- Bluetti, How to hook up a generator to the house (Oct 29 2026) (read ): listed transfer equipment or an approved interlock; neutral bonding
- Bluetti Apex 300 user manual V3.1 (PDF) (read ): 14-50R and TT-30R outlet ratings
- Growatt Double Voltage Power Hub product page (read ): two HELIOS 3600 units for 240 V
- Iron Forge Cable US store, 12-gauge outdoor extension cords (read ): 12-gauge outdoor cord prices
- Bluetti Apex 300 product page (read )
- Anker SOLIX F3800 Plus product page (read )
- Anker SOLIX F3000 product page (read )
- Growatt HELIOS 3600 product page (read )
- Bluetti Elite 300 product page (read )
General information, not electrical advice. Codes and what inspectors accept differ by city and county. Prices and specifications are copied from makers' US websites on the dates shown and change often. Safety first: follow each maker's instructions and your local codes, use certified equipment, and have a licensed professional do any wiring. See our safety notes and disclaimer.