What Size Power Station Do I Need?

The two numbers that matter

• Watt-hours (Wh): how much energy it holds. More watt-hours means longer run time.
• Watts (W): how much it can power at once. It has to cover everything plugged in at the same time.

Quick run-time math

In real use, a power station delivers about 85% of the watt-hours on the box. So run time in hours is about: watt-hours x 0.85, divided by the watts of what's plugged in.

Example: a 1,024 Wh station running a 60-watt TV. 1,024 x 0.85 is about 870 Wh. Divided by 60, that's about 14 hours.

To find a device's watts, check the sticker or the power brick. If it only lists amps, multiply amps by 120.

Pick the size by what he'll run

• About 300 Wh: phones, a laptop, lights and a fan. Small enough to ride behind the truck seat.
• About 1,000 Wh: camping weekends, tailgates, a TV, a small electric cooler, a CPAP for a couple of nights (check his machine's watts) or a short outage.
• About 2,000 Wh: the house. It can keep a full-size fridge cold for about a day, or run a sump pump, lights and phones through a longer outage.

Motors need a kick to start

Fridges, freezers, sump pumps and air compressors pull several times their running watts for a moment when they start. A smaller station can shut off right there. For anything with a motor, go with the 2,000 Wh size.

Indoors is fine

A power station makes no fumes, so it's safe to use inside the house, the tent or the camper. That's the big difference from a gas generator, which always belongs outside.