As it turns out, though, setting up a portable solar power source as backup power for your home isn’t the same as setting up a portable gas-powered generator. The device commonly referred to as a “solar generator” is often actually a portable power station–a large battery–with the ports to accept electricity from solar panels. I’m here to walk you through what you need to set up a portable solar backup generator, and how to set it up. Picking The Right Solar PanelPortable solar panels are the other half of your backup solar generator, and are every bit as important as the power station. Some of Our Favorite Solar PanelsSee All Recommendations The 7 Best Portable Solar Panels for Renewable PowerHow to Place Portable Solar PanelsPortability will also allow you the flexibility to move the panels around to get the most sunlight.