[M.T. Pockets]

Thanks for the advice, that looks like exactly what I had in mind - in my price range too. I have wood heat and can cook with lp gas, but the nights get awful long in northern MN in the wintertime and some lights and a radio would when the power goes out would be nice. Kerosene & candles give me a headache and I think the battery backup plan would work nicely. I think 2500 watt would be plenty for what I have in mind. I haven't shopped for an inverter yet, but I'm thinking they should be at most larger hardware stores.