Jargon buster | Home Power Finder

Jargon buster

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2,042 Wh · 2,200 W · 24 h power-cut cover

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Watt (W): How much power something uses or supplies at a moment. A kettle draws about 3,000 W. Need it: your station's output must beat the appliance's watts.
Watt-hour (Wh) / kWh: Stored energy. 1,000 Wh = 1 kWh, the same unit as your electricity bill. A 1,000 Wh station runs a 100 W device for about 8.5 hours after losses. Need it: this is how long it lasts.
Surge or peak output: A short burst above the continuous output, for motors that need a kick to start, like fridges and drills. Need it for fridges and tools.
Lifting mode / X-Boost: A mode that runs a heating appliance above the station's limit by lowering its voltage, so a kettle boils slowly instead of tripping it. Nice to have; slower than the real thing.
Pure sine wave: Clean mains-style power from the inverter, safe for sensitive electronics. All the models we list provide it. Standard now.
Inverter: The part that turns battery or solar DC power into 230 V AC for 3-pin plugs. Built in.

LFP (LiFePO4): Lithium iron phosphate cells: longer-lasting and more stable than older lithium-ion. Want it.
Charge cycles: How many full charges before the battery drops to a set share (usually 80%) of its first capacity. Check the % it is quoted to.
UPS / EPS: Uninterruptible power supply: takes over in milliseconds when the mains fails. 10 ms or less suits computers and CPAP machines. Need it for power cuts at home.
Expandable: You can add extra battery packs later for more capacity. Useful for home backup.
Pass-through charging: Running appliances while the station itself charges. Standard on most.

MPPT: The circuit that gets the most out of solar panels as light changes. Built into stations and microinverters. Built in.
Solar input (W): The most solar power a station accepts. Panels above it waste their extra watts. Match panels to it.
Voc: A panel's open-circuit voltage. It must sit inside the station's solar voltage range. Check when mixing brands.
Bifacial panel: Collects light on both sides; makers claim up to about 10% more over a pale surface. Nice to have.
kWp: Kilowatt peak: a panel's rating in perfect conditions. 800 W = 0.8 kWp. For comparing kits.
IP rating: Protection against dust and water. IP65 resists rain; IP67 and IP68 survive brief immersion. IP65 or better outdoors.

Microinverter: The small box in a plug-in kit that turns panel power into mains power and limits it to 800 W. Part of every kit.
ENA Type Test Register: The industry list of equipment approved to connect to the grid. A plug-in kit must be listed as Compliant before it is sold. Check it before you buy.
G98: The grid connection rules for small generators. For now they allow one plug-in kit per home. Explains the one-kit limit.
DNO: Distribution Network Operator: the company that runs the local power network. You notify it when you connect a kit. One online form.
RCD / RCBO: Safety switches in your consumer unit that cut the power if current leaks. Plug-in kits need working RCBO protection. Ask an electrician if unsure.
EICR: Electrical Installation Condition Report: an electrician's safety check of your wiring, typically £100-250. Worth it in older homes.
SEG: Smart Export Guarantee: payment for power you send to the grid. Only some suppliers offer it for plug-in kits. Small sums.