Julio Martinez
I write every page on The Home Backup. I’m a licensed Master Electrician and a NABCEP PV Associate, so when a page talks about your panel, your inlet or your solar input, it’s written by someone who works with that stuff.
Updated October 17, 2026
What I cover
Four things, and nothing else: portable power stations, standby and whole house generators, home batteries you can grow, and portable solar panels. The goal is simple. Keep your fridge cold, your lights on and your house warm when the grid goes down.
Why the license matters here
Backup power is electrical work wearing a consumer label. A power station is easy until you want it on your furnace. A generator is easy until it’s wired to the house. So my credentials shape what I write:
- Master Electrician. I know where the line is between plugging in a cord and work that needs a permit, an interlock or a transfer switch. When a page crosses it, I tell you to call a licensed pro in your area.
- NABCEP PV Associate. That’s the entry credential from the North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners. It covers how solar panels, charge inputs and batteries work together, which is most of what decides whether a panel can actually refill your station.
How I pick
Straight answer: most of what you read here comes from research, not from a unit on my bench. I read the maker’s spec sheets and manuals, check owner reports, run the numbers on surge, capacity and recharge time, and date every price and spec I print.
- If I didn’t handle a unit, the page says so.
- I don’t write “we tested” without a photo of the unit in hand.
- No one pays for a good word. Any affiliate link is disclosed on the page.
The full rubric lives on how we review. To check your own numbers, try the calculators.
Get in touch
See a number that moved, or a mistake? Write to me. It helps the next reader. More on the site itself is on the about page.