How big of a portable power station do I need?

Power of electrical equipment

Identify the main electrical equipment: Make a list of all the equipment that you plan to power with the portable power station, such as laptops, mobile phones, cameras, drones, car refrigerators, electric kettles, small air conditioners, etc., and check their respective rated power. Usually, this information can be found on the equipment’s instruction manual or product label.

Calculate the total power: Add up the rated power of all the equipment that may be used simultaneously to get the required total power. For example, the power of a laptop is about 60 – 100 watts, the charging power of a mobile phone is about 5 – 10 watts, the power of a car refrigerator is about 50 – 100 watts, and the power of an electric kettle is about 1000 – 2000 watts, etc. If you plan to power a laptop, a mobile phone, a car refrigerator and an electric kettle at the same time, the total power will need to be at least about 1200 – 2200 watts.

Usage time

Short-term emergency use: If it is only used as an occasional short-term emergency power source, such as in response to a sudden power outage and the power outage time is not long, then a smaller capacity power station, such as around 300 – 500 watt-hours, may be sufficient to meet basic needs like lighting and mobile phone charging.

Long-term outdoor activities: If it is used for long-term outdoor activities, such as camping or RV trips, the capacity of the power station should be determined according to the duration of the activity and the usage frequency of the electrical equipment. Generally speaking, the daily power consumption is usually about 1000 – 2000 watt-hours, so it would be more appropriate to choose a power station with a capacity of 1000 – 3000 watt-hours. For example, the QX3600 outdoor portable power station of Qiansheng Power has a capacity of 3600 watt-hours and can meet the power needs of multiple people when camping for charging mobile phones in turn, boiling water, cooking noodles, using laptops to watch dramas, using hair dryers to dry hair and turning on car air conditioners, etc., and there is still some power left after two days of use.

Charging methods and time

Mains charging: If it mainly relies on mains charging, the charging time is relatively fixed. You can choose an appropriate capacity according to the charging power of the power station and your usage plan. For example, the mains charging power of some power stations is about 300 – 500 watts, and it takes about 3 – 6 hours to charge from 0 to 100%.

Solar charging: If you plan to use solar panels to charge the power station, you need to consider the power of the solar panels, the sunshine duration and the solar charging efficiency of the power station, etc. Generally speaking, the higher the power of the solar panels and the longer the sunshine duration, the more electricity the power station can obtain. Generally, it is recommended to choose a power station that supports a solar charging power of 100 – 200 watts and equip it with solar panels of corresponding power according to the actual situation.

Portability requirements

Weight and size limitations: If you need to carry the power station frequently when moving, such as during hiking or mountain climbing, then the weight and size of the power station are very important. Generally speaking, power stations with a weight of 10 – 20 kilograms and a smaller size are more convenient to carry. For example, the Anker PowerHouse II 800 weighs only 18 pounds and its size is 12×8×7 inches, which is more suitable for single-person carrying and use.

Multi-person carrying or vehicle-mounted use: For scenarios such as multi-person camping or RV trips, you can choose a power station with a slightly heavier weight and a larger capacity. For example, the QX3600 outdoor portable power station of Qiansheng Power weighs 22 kilograms and its size is 445×234×337 mm. It’s not too difficult for one person to carry it, and its output power and capacity can meet the power needs of multiple people using multiple electrical appliances simultaneously.

Budget

Low budget: If your budget is limited, you can choose some entry-level portable power stations, which usually cost between $300 and $1000, such as the BougeRV Flash 300. These power stations have relatively small capacities and powers, but they can meet basic power needs.

High budget: If your budget is sufficient, you can consider purchasing mid-to-high-end products, such as the Jackery Explorer 2000 Plus and the EcoFlow Delta 3 Plus. Their capacities, powers and performances are better, but their prices are also relatively higher, usually between $1000 and $3000.