How Expensive Are Portable Power Stations?
Portable power stations can be very expensive, but discounts, sales, and deals are common. If you can afford to wait, you can likely get your chosen power station for less than the listed MSRP.
What Capacity Do I Need?
Figure out how much power you need. The capacity is listed in watt-hours (Wh) or sometimes kilowatt-hours (kWh). If you think about the devices you want to run and how long you need to run them, you can start to calculate the capacity you need. Manufacturers will often display stuff like 12 hours of TV or 30 minutes of electric chainsaw use, but not all TVs draw the same amount of power. You must calculate how much the gadgets you own actually use.
How Portable Are Portable Power Stations?
The term “portable” is sometimes stretched. Batteries are heavy. The larger-capacity power stations are typically on wheels and have telescopic handles, and they are still tough to cart around. If you’re looking for something you can actually carry on foot for a distance, you may need to temper your expectations on capacity.
What Can You Run on a Portable Power Station?
All portable power stations can charge up small gadgets like phones and laptops or be used to power lighting. Most can handle small appliances like mini-fridges or TVs. If you want to use power tools, an AC unit, or, in the UK, a kettle, you need to be able to draw thousands of watts. Power stations all state the maximum output, but they often have a surge function that enables them to go higher for a short period. Sometimes, they give it a silly name. For example, Zendure calls this “AmpUp,” and EcoFlow calls it “X-Boost.” Make sure your chosen power station can handle the wattage you need.
How Do I Charge a Portable Power Station?
All portable power stations can be charged from a wall outlet and should come with a charging cable. Some power stations can also be charged via a car port from your vehicle or a solar port from solar panels. Make sure you check that the ports you want are available and necessary cables are included.
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