Cycle Life Claims on LiFePO4 Portable Power Stations
A LiFePO4 battery rated for thousands of cycles can last for years, but the number is not a guaranteed expiration date. Here is how to…
Setup & accessories
Help sizing a portable power station for outages, camping and running a fridge.
Choosing
How They Work
Inverter efficiency and why Wh in is not Wh out
A portable power station’s watt-hour rating describes stored battery energy, not the exact amount an AC appliance can use. Inverter…
Altitude and inverter derating
High altitude can make it harder for an inverter to shed heat, but the effect varies by power station. Check the manufacturer’s altitude…
How a Portable Power Station Works
A portable power station stores energy in a battery, then delivers it as AC or DC power through its outlets. Its battery, inverter, charge…
Pass-through charging explained
Pass-through charging lets a portable power station charge its battery while powering connected devices. Whether the battery gains…
Pure sine wave versus modified sine
Pure sine wave power is the safer choice for broad device compatibility. Modified sine wave may run some basic loads, but certain motors,…
Solar
How to charge a power station from solar
To charge a power station from solar, connect a compatible solar panel or array to the station’s solar input, then place the panels in…
Matching open-circuit voltage of panels to the station
Match a panel’s cold-weather open-circuit voltage to the power station’s solar-input range before connecting anything. This guide explains…
Parallel Solar Panels and VOC Limits
When solar panels are wired in parallel, voltage generally stays near the rating of one panel while current adds. That makes parallel…
Wh & Watts
How many hours a 700Wh station lasts on a 50W CPAP
At a steady 50W, a 700Wh station provides 14 hours in theory. Allowing for AC conversion losses, plan on roughly 11–13 hours—and less if…
How many watt-hours a mini fridge uses
Many mini fridges use roughly 500–1,000 Wh per day, but the exact amount depends on the model and conditions. Here’s how to calculate your…
Surge watts for a fridge compressor
A fridge compressor may need a brief burst of power to start, beyond its normal running watts. Match that startup demand to the power…
Watt-hours versus watts on a power station
Watts tell you how much power a device needs at one time. Watt-hours tell you how much energy a power station can store. You need both…
What Size Power Station for a Fridge?
Choose a power station by matching its usable watt-hours to your fridge’s energy use over the time you need backup, then confirm its…