Since you won’t need to use hazardous fuels like paraffin or diesel, you may store them indoors to keep them safe from bad weather and maintain their optimal performance. A portable nuclear plant can come in handy if there is an outage at home or while traveling off the grid. To assist you in selecting the best portable power station for you and your house, the This Old House Reviews Team has reviewed the top four options available on Amazon. The items mentioned in this article are offered online at various home improvement retailers and local home centers.
Things to Consider Before Buying a Power Station Battery Capacity:
Before everything else, you should look at a power station’s battery capacity, which should be at least 200 to 300Wh. When I mention 300Wh, I mean it can run a 300W gadget for an hour. For instance, a smartphone uses between 2 and 6 watts; thus, depending on how much you use it, a Portable Power Station may recharge your phone between 30 and 50 times. Therefore, the more capacity, the better.
Power Output:
A power station should also be able to produce up to 200W of power. Mini-fridges are now often rated at 60W; thus, while charging several devices, you should always leave a good margin. If you plug in a high-voltage device, you should be safe because power stations have roughly double the surge output.
Make sure the power station has a Pure Sine Wave AC outlet if you want to use a medical device such as a CPAP machine. You must have this specific AC outlet to use these devices. While solar and automobile charging are wonderful, confirm that the power station allows AC wall outlet charging. Faster device charging will result from this. And today, practically all power plants have capabilities for fast charging. Therefore, before making a purchase, be cautious about comparing how long it takes to charge the complete battery pack.
PRO MERRIMAC SPACE
MERRAC just launched two amazing power plants with respective power outputs of 650W and 2000W. While the larger Space Pro I 20 has a greater footprint and a larger battery capacity, the smaller MERRAC Space Pro I 06 is lightweight and compact in design. The larger one has a 1,440Wh overall battery capacity, while the smaller one has 540Wh. You get a vehicle outlet, two AC outlets, and three USB-A ports in terms of I/O ports. The MERRAC Space Pro generators may be fully recharged in 3 hours and offer quick charging. The fact that these power plants are reasonably priced is the best aspect. Both the smaller 650W and larger 2,000W models cost $399.
240 Jackery Explorer
Additionally, Jackery has introduced the Explorer 240, a highly portable power source. It has a 240Wh capacity and a 200W pure sine wave output, as the name would imply. It’s a perfect power station for short journeys, hunting, or outdoor camping. The cost is low—just $219—which is astonishing considering how stable Jackery’s power plants’ backup power is. It is light to carry around because it only weighs 6.6 pounds. Plenty of ports are available for charging numerous devices, including 2 USB-A, 1 AC outlet (200W), and 1 carport. The absence of a USB-C port is the only drawback that will disappoint in 2022.
GB1000 Generac
If you’re looking for a transportable power station that is more on the compact side, the Generac GB1000 is a fantastic choice. With dimensions of just 14 x 12 x 10, it can easily fit on a table or shelf. It weighs 29 pounds, making it a little weighty but manageable to carry with you on camping vacations or to job sites. It has a 1600-watt peak output and a 1000-watt steady, uninterrupted output. This implies that, in the event of a power outage, you can use mini-fridges and air conditioners in addition to charging your mobile devices and operating medical equipment. Even a 12V outlet for specialty equipment is provided.
ACURA AC200P
This power station has a 2,000Wh overall capacity, which means you could use it to run a 2000W appliance for an hour. It uses a LiFePO4 battery cell, which is renowned for being effective and safe. There are 17 ports available, including 1 auto outlet, 2 wireless charging pads, 6 AC ports, 4 USB-A ports, and 1 USB-C port. Additionally, it can be fully charged using an AC outlet in about 4 hours. The BLUETTI AC200P is a strong power source that can run any appliance or electronic equipment.
500 BigBlue CellPowa
The BigBlue CellPowa 500 is a capable portable power station that costs only $360. It has a 537Wh maximum power capacity, which is twice as much as the competition provides. It has an elevated LiFePO4 battery inside and can power some devices. It can operate a mini-fridge for 10 hours, charge your smartphone 36 times, a laptop 7 times, and much more. The BigBlue CellPowa 500 can offer up to 20 hours and power backup for a medical CPAP machine, which is fantastic.
PowerTitan 300 by AUKEY
One of the most economical power plants you can get in 2022 is the AUKEY PowerTitan 300. It costs only $269 and has a 288Wh capacity, allowing you to charge your essential gear when camping or hiking. It can operate a lamp for 27 hours, a mini refrigerator for 20 hours, an iPhone 11 almost 30 times, a laptop four times, and many more devices. In general, the compact Aukey power bank is one of the best super duper power banks and might be useful for those who wish to charge several devices simultaneously while on the road.
What size battery backup do you require?
Making a detailed inventory of the equipment you’d want to maintain running during an outage is the best method to ascertain your emergency power requirements. Do you simply wish to listen to weather alerts on your radio while keeping your phones charged? Choose a low-wattage backup instead. Do you require power for a pellet stove, common appliances, or medical equipment? Spending money on a backup system with much more power is wiser. Once you’ve compiled a list of your gadgets, sum up their voltage and wattages to determine the least amount of output your battery backup system needs.
