You’re one boss fight away from glory, or maybe just settled in for a Sunday night Netflix binge, and boom—the grid gives out. Your first thought isn’t about the flashlight in the junk drawer. It’s the fact that your Wi-Fi just died and your PS5 is sitting there like a $500 brick.
In 2026, being "prepped" for a blackout doesn't just mean having a case of water and some canned beans. If you want to keep your sanity (and your K/D ratio), you need a digital survival plan. Here’s how to build a blackout kit that keeps the lights on and the lobby open.
1. Do the Math Before the Lights Go Out
You can’t just plug a gaming rig into a pocket power bank and hope for the best. You’ve got to know what you’re dealing with.
The big question most of us have is: how many watts does a PS5 use? Generally, you’re looking at about 180W to 210W when you’re actually playing a game. If you’re just navigating menus, it’ll drop, but the second you load up a ‘big’ game like the upcoming GTA VI, that power draw stays steady. Don't forget the TV, either—a 55-inch LED usually pulls another 100W.
Power Cheat Sheet
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Wi-Fi Router: 10–20W (The MVP of the blackout)
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Smartphone: 5–10W
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PS5 (Gaming): ~200W
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LED TV: 80–150W
2. The Bridge: UPS Backups
An Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) is basically a beefy power strip with a battery inside. It’s your first line of defense.
The second the power cuts, the UPS kicks in without a flicker. This saves your PS5 from that "unsafe shutdown" screen we all hate. While a standard UPS won't let you game for three hours, it buys you time to save your progress and shut down properly. Better yet, it can keep a router running for an hour or two so you don't lose your cell data.
3. Solar Home Generators
If the neighborhood is going to be dark for more than twenty minutes, you need some real juice. This is where solar home generators come into play. Unlike those old-school gas generators, these things are silent, they don't smell like a lawnmower, and you can keep them right in the living room next to your setup.
A popular choice for a lot of folks is a unit from Nature’s Generator. Their systems are great because they have a modular version—you can add more battery pods if you’re planning on a long-term "off-grid" gaming session.
Why Go Solar?
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Pure Sine Wave: This is huge. It means the power is "clean" and won't fry the sensitive electronics in your console. We wrote about this topic, and this blog is a good read. Go check out.
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Free Refills: As long as you’ve got a window or a backyard, you can recharge using the sun.
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Quiet: You don't want a combustion engine roaring outside while you're trying to hear footsteps in-game.
4. Don't Forget the Wind
If you live somewhere like the Midwest or along the coast, wind is a massive asset. Adding a small turbine to your setup means you're charging your batteries even when the sun goes down.
A common question for people setting these up is: how fast are wind turbines? Most home-sized turbines start spinning and making power at about 6–9 mph. They hit their "sweet spot" or rated speed around 25 mph. They aren't going to spin like a desk fan, but they don't need to—the internal tech turns that steady rotation into steady power for your PS5.
5. Pro-Tips for the Dark
To make your battery last as long as possible, follow these "Blackout Protocols":
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Prioritize the Router: Use a small dedicated battery for the Wi-Fi. If the internet stays up, life is 100% better.
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Performance Mode is Your Friend: Go into your PS5 settings and toggle "Performance Mode." It uses slightly less power than "Resolution Mode."
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Dim the TV: Your TV backlight is a power hog. Crank it down to 50% and you'll save a ton of juice.
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Stay Cool: Electronics get hot, and if your AC is off, they’ll struggle. Keep your gear in an open area with plenty of airflow.
Look, nobody likes sitting in the dark, but with the right gear, a blackout just becomes an unexpected gaming retreat. By knowing how many watts a PS5 uses and grabbing one of those solar home generators, you can be the only house on the block that’s still online when the grid takes a nap.
Just make sure you've got a bag of chips ready—microwaves are a whole different power struggle.
