Abstract Current challenges in the electric grid progression demand energy storages to cope with any imbalances between supply and demand side. Application possibilities of energy storages are numerous, but the requirements vary from case to case. However, not every storage technology operates equally to be useful in any situation. In fact, the feasibility of energy storages depend on their technical characteristics, i.e., for example efficiency, response times, power rating and capacity for a selected application. Comparing and assessing different storage options is imperative for decision-making, which requires an in-depth understanding of the technology and its dynamics. Hence, a general model approach of energy storages as equivalent circuit models has been proposed to unify and analyze storages of different physical backgrounds. This allows a more direct and intuitive evaluation of energy storages tested in a specific application. This paper focuses on the experimental validation of energy storages (ultra-capacitor, li-ion battery, lead-acid battery and flywheel) to be uniformly described in one general model. A simple and budget friendly experimental setup to test the storages is designed.