Generator and Battery Hookup in California

Three ways to have power when the grid does not

A portable generator plus an inlet and a transfer switch is the cheapest. You roll the generator out, plug it in, flip the switch and run chosen circuits. A standby generator lives outside on a pad, runs on gas and starts itself. A battery stores power quietly, needs no fuel, and runs out until the sun or the grid refills it.

In most of Los Angeles County outages are short, so batteries and small standby units cover the real need. In the foothills and the Antelope Valley, where outages run longer, fuel starts to look better.

Why the transfer switch is not optional

Backfeeding means pushing generator power into house wiring without isolating the utility. It sends voltage back up the line toward the crew fixing the outage, and it can be fatal for them.

A transfer switch makes that impossible. It physically cannot connect the generator and the utility at the same time. It is the piece an inspector checks and the reason the job needs a permit.

Choosing what stays on

Pick circuits before the quote. The usual list is the refrigerator, some lights, internet, a bedroom outlet for medical gear and the furnace or air handler. Air conditioning and electric ovens are heavy and often left out.

Whole home backup is possible and costs much more, because everything has to be sized for the worst case rather than the list you actually care about.