A portable power station is a rechargeable, battery-powered unit with applications in electrical powering on-the-go or during emergencies and power outages. As compact and versatile devices, they serve as reliable off-grid sources of power, enabling one to run a wide range of appliances and electronics in the absence or limitation of more traditional power sources.
Advantages that portable power stations can offer to off-grid living, camping, outdoor adventure, and not forgetting preparedness for life's eventuality, include the following. The fact that they are easily carried and used makes them a very good option while out away from electrical outlets to keep most of your key devices and lighting, not forgetting basic household appliances. If power is cut off, they will provide convenient backup to make sure you can maintain at least the basic operations and comfort until the main power supply is restored.
How to Choose the Right Portable Power Station
When selecting a portable power station, there are several key factors to consider to ensure you get a unit that meets your power needs:
Capacity: Measured in watt-hours (Wh) or kilowatt-hours (kWh), the capacity represents the total amount of energy the power station can store. Higher capacity means more runtime for your devices and appliances.
Output: Look at the rated output in watts to determine what devices the power station can handle. Higher output allows you to run more power-hungry appliances simultaneously.
Surge Capability: Many appliances require a surge of power when starting up that exceeds their running wattage. Choose a power station with enough surge capability to handle the startup requirements of your devices.
Recharging Options: Some portable power stations can be recharged via a wall outlet, while others offer solar panel inputs for off-grid recharging. Consider your intended use case and choose a unit with suitable recharging options.
Outlets and Ports: Ensure the power station has enough AC outlets, USB ports, and other connections to accommodate all the devices you plan to run simultaneously.
Weight and Portability: If you need to transport the power station frequently, consider its weight and whether it has built-in handles or wheels for easier mobility.
By evaluating these factors, you can select a portable power station that provides the right balance of capacity, output, and features to meet your specific power needs, whether for emergency backup, outdoor adventures, or off-grid living.
What Appliances Can a Portable Power Station Run?
Typically, most portable power stations can run small household appliances and electronic devices such as radios, stereos, coffee makers, laptops, LED lights, and even TVs. To determine what appliances your portable power station can run, you need to understand two key specifications: watt-hours (Wh) and power requirements (watts).
Watt-Hours (Wh) a unit of energy capacity, defining how much power a portable power station could store and then discharge. It is calculated by the multiplication of voltage with the amp-hour rating of a given battery. The higher the Wh rating, the more energy will be available for you in powering devices and appliances.
Power Requirements refer to the amount of electricity an appliance needs to operate, measured in watts. Most appliances have two power ratings:
- Running Watts: The continuous power draw required to keep the appliance running under normal conditions.
- Starting/Surge Watts: The higher, short burst of power needed to initially start an appliance with an induction motor or compressor. This startup load can be 2-3 times higher than the running watts.
To get an approximate runtime on an appliance from your portable power station, divide Wh capacity of the power station by the running watts of the appliance. For example, with a 1000Wh-capacity power station and an appliance requiring 100 running watts, you could theoretically run it for 8.5 hours.
This means that your power station has to be able to handle the appliance's starting/surge watts, too. Most portable power stations have a special "WATT+" mode or higher surge rating that offers more power to be applied to those high startup loads.
Knowing watt-hours, running watts, and surge watts will properly help you size your portable power station for the appliances you will run off-grid or during a power outage.
Can a Portable Power Station Power a TV?
Yes, Televisions, laptops, phones, and other small electronics are among the easiest devices for a portable power station to run. Most modern LED TVs consume between 50-200 watts per hour, while laptops typically draw 20-60 watts when not charging. Smartphones, tablets, and other small gadgets have even lower power needs, often under 10 watts.
With these relatively low energy requirements, even an entry-level portable power station can keep your TV, laptop, and mobile devices running for hours. For example, Growatt's VITA 550 model with capacitie of 538Wh could power:
- A 27" LED TV for 3 hours
- A laptop for 8 cycles
- A smartphone for 35 cycles
Stepping up to higher-capacity portable power stations dramatically increases the runtimes for electronics. The HELIOS 3600 (3686Wh) and INFINITY 2000 (2048Wh) can easily keep a TV, laptop, and multiple mobile devices going for 1-2 days on a single charge. And when paired with portable solar panels, you could potentially run your electronics indefinitely while off-grid.
The bottom line is that modern portable power solutions make it easy to take your TV, computer, and other small electronics with you anywhere without sacrificing power. Whether camping, working remotely, or powering through outages, a robust portable power station has you covered for all your electronic essentials.
Can a Portable Power Station Power a Refrigerator?
Refrigerators are among the more power-hungry appliances you may want to run off a portable power station. A typical household refrigerator uses somewhere between 1-2 kWh of energy per day. But the power draw is not constant: Refrigerators do require a surge of power when the compressor kicks on to cool the interior.
That surge can be as much as six times rated running wattage of the refrigerator. You will need to check the rating called locked rotor amps, LRA, which is how many amps are needed during that maximum startup; multiply times voltage for wattage.
Newer, more efficient models have a much lower range due to their compressors running less frequently. High-efficiency refrigerators use better insulation and components that maintain cool temperatures with less compressor cycling. Check the energy rating to get an approximate idea of the daily power consumption.
While a small portable power station might be able to keep the refrigerator running once it's cool for most of the day, you are going to want a higher-capacity unit in order to get through that startup surge. Among many of the larger units, the Growatt INFINITY 1500 has the power capacity to start and run a full-sized refrigerator for a couple of hours before needing to recharge.
You're now looking at getting a compact refrigerator that is designed for camping or RV use, especially since you will be off-grid for a lot longer. Campers made for this purpose are way more efficient and can go a much longer time on a portable power station, particularly if it comes with the option for solar panel recharge.
Can a Portable Power Station Power Your AC(Air Conditioning) Unit?
Among the most power-hungry devices you might want to power off-grid are definitely air conditioners. A central air conditioner can fully run on 3,000 to 3,500 watts per hour. Portable AC units, while less voracious power users, still draw in from 2,900 up to 4,100 watts an hour. Even window units require a large amount of power, from 900 to 1,400 watts an hour, to cool.
You will surely want a portable power station to run an air conditioner that is very much high in output capacity, not the smaller units. But some larger ones do this job with great finesse, and a good example can be seen in the Growatt HELIOS 3600. Capable of handling surges of the high inrush current needed for most air conditioning units to start, this powerful portable power station can drive enough surge power to turn them on.
Once an AC unit has ramped up, its power consumption goes down but is still very high. The Growatt HELIOS 3600 holds up to 36 kWh of expandable capacity-so it can keep the average AC running ten hours straight out of the box.
While using an air conditioner with a portable power station will deplete the battery somewhat quickly, having the ability to do so can be quite relieving during the hottest part of the day when you are off-grid. Just be prepared to recharge your power station during cooler periods using solar panels or another power source.
Can a Portable Power Station Power Other High-Draw Appliances and Devices?
Besides air conditioners and refrigerators, other energy-intensive appliances and devices include powerful portable power stations. Here is a list:
Electric Ovens and Cooktops: A typical electric oven or cooktop can draw between 2000-5000 watts, requiring a large PPS capacity. Smaller countertop ovens may be more manageable at 1300-1800 watts.
Washing Machines and Dryers: These laundry appliances are notoriously power-hungry. A washing machine can use 500-1200 watts, while an electric dryer can consume 1800-5000 watts.
Space Heaters: Electric space heaters can range from 1500 watts for smaller units to over 4000 watts for larger models, making them challenging to run on smaller PPSs.
Power Tools: Corded power tools like saws, drills, and sanders often require 500-1500 watts of power, with higher draws during startup.
Medical Equipment: Some medical devices, such as CPAP machines or portable oxygen concentrators, may require a PPS with sufficient capacity to operate for extended periods.
Because high-draw appliances have higher startup currents, it is recommended that a PPS with high surge capacity is selected for the startup current and considerable overall capacity for sustained operation. A very good way of extending runtime with such high-energy-consuming appliances is to combine PPS with solar panels that can help in recharging.
Solar Recharging for Portable Power Stations
Another advantage of portable power stations is that they can be recharged with solar panels. These are combined with portable power stations into what is called a solar generator, which generates electricity in an environmental-friendly manner away from the grid.
This means the capability of recharging your portable power station using solar panels for unlimited extension of off-grid capabilities. As long as the sun is available, one can continue to stock up on power without dependence on a traditional flow of electricity or fossil fuels.
Recharging with solar panels is a pretty straightforward process. Most portable power stations would include dedicated ports or cables for connecting solar panels directly into them. You just get the solar panel out in some area where it can get direct sunlight, hook it up to your power station, and let the sun do its work.
Just how fast it will recharge depends on the size and efficiency of the solar panels, plus the amount of sunlight it will get. If conditions are perfect, even really large-capacity power stations are able to be completely recharged in a few hours.
Such a solar generator setup will yield a friendly, sustainable power source, and it will save you money in the long run since the need for putting gasoline or any other fuel inside will be eliminated. Additional advantages of solar generators are that they are silent and emission-free, proving to be an environmentalist's option during outdoor events, work at locations with no power, or for emergency preparedness.
Growatt Portable Power Stations
Growatt offers a comprehensive lineup of portable power stations to meet various off-grid power needs. Growatt provide a range of capacities, from VITA 550 compact 538Wh units ideal for camping and tailgating to the powerful INFINITY 2000 with an expandable capacity of up to 6144Wh.
One feature that virtually all Growatt portable power stations share is WATT+ technology. The WATT+ feature gives various units the ability to surge in power so that it could easily turn on these high-draw appliances like refrigerators and air conditioners. WATT+ ensures that these power-hungry devices can get over their initial surge requirements without tripping the overload protection.
On the higher end, the HELIOS 3600 boast incredible 3600W and 2400W AC outputs respectively. That's truly massive power delivery that will easily see most household appliances run from the largest refrigerators to portable air conditioners and even power tools. And yet, despite their capability, they remain relatively lightweight and portable courtesy of the lithium-ion battery design.
The multi-AC outlets, USBs, and even wireless charging pads in Growatt portable power stations ensure ease in charging any device. Intuitive LCDs and their companion apps enable live monitoring of the levels of the battery, power output, and their respective estimated runtimes. Strong build quality and a range of solutions ensure, with Growatt, that you have reliable, renewable power wherever you might need it.
