In this section
- CalculatorRuntime calculatorHow long will a power station run your fridge, router, CPAP or sump pump? Pick what you'll plug in and get runtime and an output check.
- GuideWhole-home backupComparing big power stations, portable generators and installed home batteries for running house circuits in an outage, and why you need a transfer switch.
Two numbers matter
- Capacity, in watt-hours (Wh): how much energy it stores. A 1,024 Wh unit can, in theory, run a 100 W load for about 10 hours. In practice, inverter losses mean you get about 85% of that.
- Output, in watts (W): how much it can deliver at once. A fridge’s compressor can briefly pull several times its running watts when it starts, so leave headroom.
What size do you need?
| Goal | Capacity | Output |
|---|---|---|
| Router, phones, a laptop, CPAP for a night | 250–500 Wh | 300–600 W |
| Fridge, Wi-Fi, phones and lights for most of a day | 1,000 Wh | 1,500–2,000 W |
| A day or two with the fridge, or a window AC for a few hours | 2,000 Wh | 2,200–2,600 W |
| Selected home circuits through a transfer switch | 4,000 Wh and up, 120/240 V | 4,000–6,000 W |
A modern full-size fridge uses roughly 1.2 to 1.8 kWh a day. You don’t have to run it constantly: a closed fridge keeps food safe for about 4 hours without power, and a full freezer for about 48 hours (24 if half full), according to FoodSafety.gov. Running the fridge for an hour every few hours stretches a small battery a long way.
Features worth paying for
- LiFePO4 (LFP) batteries. All our picks use them. They last thousands of charge cycles and are more stable than older lithium-ion chemistries.
- Fast switchover (UPS mode). Some units switch to battery in under 10–30 milliseconds when the power cuts, so a router or desktop doesn’t reboot. Check the spec if you need this for medical equipment.
- Solar input. Lets you recharge during a long outage. Portable panels of 200 to 400 W can refill a 1 kWh unit in a sunny day.
- Expandability. Add-on batteries let you start small and grow, but they cost nearly as much as the main unit.
Safe to use indoors
Power stations make no exhaust, so unlike a generator you can run one in the living room. Keep it out of direct sun and away from water, and don’t cover the vents.
Picks
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Anker SOLIX C1000 Gen 2
Most homes: fridge, Wi-Fi and phones through a short outage
- 1,024 Wh LiFePO4 battery
- 2,000 W AC output
- Recharges from a wall outlet in about 50 minutes (maker's figure)
Enough to keep a modern fridge and the router going for most of a day, and light enough for one person to carry.
Watch for: No add-on battery, so it can't grow with you.
EcoFlow DELTA 3 Plus
Starting small and adding batteries later
- 1,024 Wh LiFePO4 battery
- Expands to about 5 kWh with extra batteries
- Switches over in about 10 ms, like a UPS
The fast switchover keeps a desktop or router running when the power blinks.
Watch for: Extra batteries cost nearly as much as the unit.
Jackery Explorer 1000 v2
Light 1 kWh unit you'll also take camping
- 1,070 Wh LiFePO4 battery
- 1,500 W AC output
- About 24 lb
Among the lightest 1 kWh units, so it doubles as camping power.
Watch for: 1,500 W won't start some window ACs or a microwave on high.
Jackery Explorer 2000 v2
Two-day outages without a generator
- 2,042 Wh LiFePO4 battery
- 2,200 W AC output
- About 40 lb
Twice the 1 kWh class, at a weight one person can still lift.
Watch for: Heavy enough that you'll want to park it, not carry it room to room.
BLUETTI Elite 200 V2
Most output for the money in the 2 kWh class
- 2,073 Wh LiFePO4 battery
- 2,600 W AC output
High enough output to start most fridges, pumps and window ACs.
Watch for: Compare warranty length between brands; it varies.
EcoFlow RIVER 3 Plus
Router, phones and a CPAP for one night
- 286 Wh battery
- 600 W AC output
- Switches over in under 10 ms
Small enough to sit next to the router or a CPAP all year as a backup.
Watch for: Won't run a refrigerator for long.
EcoFlow DELTA Pro 3
Whole-home circuits through a transfer switch
- 4,096 Wh LiFePO4 battery
- 4,000 W AC output
- 120 V and 240 V output
Big enough to feed selected home circuits when an electrician installs a transfer switch or inlet.
Watch for: About 114 lb on wheels. Connecting to house wiring is a job for a licensed electrician.
Anker SOLIX F3800 Plus
Running a well pump or 240 V loads
- 3,840 Wh battery
- 6,000 W AC output
- 120 V and 240 V output
The high output starts loads that smaller units can't, like a 240 V well pump.
Watch for: Home connection needs a transfer switch installed by an electrician.