Find out which portable power station you need
List what you will plug in and get the capacity and power it should have, and how long each size will last you.
Your appliances
Description
List everything you will connect to the power station. It is used to measure your daily consumption in watt-hours (Wh): watts × hours of use × units.
Tap what you will use
Your usage
Description
Set how long you want to last without plugging the station in and how much sun you will have if you recharge it with a folding panel. It adjusts the capacity to the way you use it.
The power station you need
Description
The minimum capacity in watt-hours (Wh), which tells you how much energy it stores, and the output power in watts (W), which tells you which appliances it can run at once. The table shows how many days each common size lasts with your consumption.
You have changed some data. Press Calculate to update the result.
How long each size lasts without recharging
| Capacity | Usable energy | Runtime |
|---|
To understand it better
Worked example
To use a laptop for 3 hours, charge two phones and run LED lights for one day you need about 384 Wh, so a 512 Wh station is enough.
Typical consumption
| Appliance | Power | Use per day | Consumption per day |
|---|---|---|---|
| Compressor fridge | 45 W | 10 h | 450 Wh |
| LED lights | 15 W | 4 h | 60 Wh |
| Water pump | 60 W | 0.2 h | 12 Wh |
| Phone charging (USB) | 20 W | 2 h | 40 Wh |
| Roof fan | 25 W | 5 h | 125 Wh |
| Parking heater | 30 W | 6 h | 180 Wh |
| Router 4G | 10 W | 8 h | 80 Wh |
| Laptop | 60 W | 3 h | 180 Wh |
| TV | 50 W | 2 h | 100 Wh |
| Coffee machine | 1,000 W | 0.1 h | 100 Wh |
| Hair dryer | 1,200 W | 0.1 h | 120 Wh |
| Microwave | 900 W | 0.1 h | 90 Wh |
| E-bike (charger) | 150 W | 3 h | 450 Wh |
Indicative values. Check the label on your appliances for more precision.
Common mistakes
- Looking only at the output watts. The capacity in Wh is what tells you how long it lasts.
- Counting on all the advertised capacity: around 15 % is lost in the inverter and the electronics.
- Plugging heating appliances, such as a hair dryer or a coffee machine, into a small station: they exceed its output power.
Questions about this tool
Can a portable power station run a fridge?
Yes. A compressor fridge uses about 450 Wh per day, so a 1024 Wh station keeps it running for one and a half to two days without recharging.
Can it be recharged with solar panels?
Yes, most accept a folding panel. Check your model's maximum solar input power before buying the panel.
What is the difference between LiFePO4 and NMC lithium in a power station?
LiFePO4 models weigh a little more but withstand many more charge cycles. NMC models are lighter and last fewer cycles.