Portable power stations deliver backup electricity when you need it, without the noise, fumes, and fuel of a gas-powered generator. They’re an ideal solution for off-grid cottagers or anyone with unreliable electricity, but understanding how to pick the right one can be a challenge.
“A power station would make sense for us, given the number of outages we get,” says Huntsville, Ont., cottager Fred Faber. “But I can’t find anyone to explain the technology.”
Portable power stations have three main components: a high-capacity battery, an inverter to deliver 120 volts AC going out, and a charge controller to handle incoming power to recharge the battery.
Small, portable power stations producing less than 1,000 watts of AC output are only really useful for charging phones and running a lamp or two. But with 1,500 watts or more, you have options: a kettle, a microwave, a toaster oven, a CPAP machine, or maybe even a small water pump—just not all at the same time, or for days on end.
When you’re considering purchasing a portable power station, look at two key numbers: maximum wattage output and maximum surge output. A water pump, for example, may only draw 900 watts while it’s running, but it also needs a surge of power to get started. Typically, a pump requires two to three times its operating load for that starting surge.
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When I tested a 42 lb Champion 1,600 watt model (pictured) under cottage conditions, its surge capacity of 3,200 watts can handle water pumps, fridges, and freezers—unlike other 1,600 watt units with less surge capacity. We ran a ½ hp water pump for a full day on a single charge, with three people using water for cooking and showering. With some power stations, you can increase the run time by connecting expansion batteries to the main unit.
You can recharge a power station from a grid outlet, solar panels, or another power source. Charging speeds don’t vary much from model to model for a given internal battery size, but the more energy you put in, the faster it will charge. I found a 100 watt solar panel took more than 10 hours to recharge my 1,600 watt unit. You can cut that time to half or one-third by doubling or tripling the wattage of the solar input or by plugging the unit into an outlet when grid power comes back.
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Watt-for-watt, portable power stations do cost more than a gas- or a propane-powered generator, but you get quiet operation, freedom from fuel, and the option to recharge by solar during extended outages or at off-grid cabins.
This article was originally published in the March/April 2024 issue of Cottage Life.
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