33 guides
Portable power stations
A power station covers hours: a battery you charge ahead of time, with no fuel to store and no combustion exhaust. Choose it from watt-hours and the loads you add up.
Watt-hours set how long it runs, and continuous watts set what it can run at once. The 1,000 Wh class suits a fridge, the network and some lights. The whole-home units here start at 2,764.8 Wh, add batteries, and feed the house through an inlet or a transfer switch that an electrician installs.
Every number on these pages is the maker's or plain arithmetic. HoldBackup has no lab.
Best picks and comparisons
Best picks
Best home battery backup power station
Five expandable power stations with 240 V output, from one box for a furnace and a fridge to a system behind a transfer panel, on the makers' numbers.
Compare
Jackery vs EcoFlow
Comparable pairs side by side on capacity, output, chemistry, expansion, solar input and warranty, with a verdict by job.
Start here
Power station
Running a refrigerator on a portable power station
Check the startup surge and the watt-hours before the outage, not during it.
Power station
Keeping a few lights and phones on in an outage
What one LED bulb draws, why this is an hours job, and the power station that covers it.
Power station
A 2000Wh Portable Power Station for Home Essentials
How to size a 2000Wh portable power station for a fridge, lights, and Wi-Fi during an outage, and the specs to check before you buy.
Power station
Solar Generator vs Gas Generator: Which Portable Power Station Fits Your Outage?
Portable power station or gas generator for outages? How to decide by runtime, output, recharging, safety, and your own device loads.
Every guide in this class
Portable power stations33
Power station
Running a refrigerator on a portable power station
Check the startup surge and the watt-hours before the outage, not during it.
Power station
Keeping a few lights and phones on in an outage
What one LED bulb draws, why this is an hours job, and the power station that covers it.
Power station
How to Charge a Portable Power Station From a Generator During a Long Outage
Yes, a generator can charge a portable power station. Match the wattage, use the AC input, and plan charging blocks for a long outage.
Power station
Choosing a Portable Power Station for Apartment Renters
Can't run a generator in your apartment? Here's how to size and choose a portable power station for outages, using your own devices' numbers.
Power station
Choosing a 1000Wh Portable Power Station With Fast Charging
How to pick a 1000Wh portable power station with fast recharging: check capacity, inverter watts, recharge time, outlet layout, and battery chemistry.
Power station
A 2000Wh Portable Power Station for Home Essentials
How to size a 2000Wh portable power station for a fridge, lights, and Wi-Fi during an outage, and the specs to check before you buy.
Power station
Can a Portable Power Station Run a Window Air Conditioner?
Often yes, if its output covers the AC's running and startup watts. Learn how to check your unit's label and estimate runtime before an outage.
Power station
Why a portable power station shuts off when a motor starts
A fridge compressor's startup surge can trip a power station's inverter. Learn the checks that tell you whether a unit can start your fridge.
Power station
How Many Watt-Hours You Need in a Portable Power Station
Size a portable power station the right way: measure your watts, decide how many hours, then add headroom. A simple sizing method plus the specs to check.
Power station
How to Store a Portable Power Station Between Outages
Keep a portable power station ready between outages: storage charge level, temperature, top-up timing, and the checks that keep it ready to run.
Power station
Portable Power Station Expansion Battery vs Buying a Second Unit
An expansion battery adds watt-hours but not watts. A second unit adds both. Here is how to decide which one fits your outage plan.
Power station
Can a Portable Power Station Run a Basement Dehumidifier During an Outage?
How to tell if a portable power station can run your basement dehumidifier during an outage: check starting watts, measure real draw, and plan runtime.
Power station
Running Box Fans Overnight on a Portable Power Station
How to check whether a portable power station can run box fans through a summer outage night, using your fan's real draw and the maker's runtime chart.
Power station
Can a Portable Power Station Run a Coffee Maker or Electric Kettle?
Yes, if the station's continuous output is higher than the watts on your appliance's label. Here is how to check, and how to estimate brews per charge.
Power station
How Long Can a Portable Power Station Run an Electric Blanket Overnight?
Work out how many hours a portable power station can run your electric blanket using your blanket's watts, its heat setting, and the station's watt-hours.
Power station
Can a Portable Power Station Run a Gas Furnace Blower During an Outage?
How to tell if a portable power station can run your gas furnace in an outage: blower load, startup surge, runtime math, and safe hookup.
Power station
Running a Gas Range or Oven Igniter from a Portable Power Station
How to size a portable power station for a gas range or oven igniter during a power outage, what to measure first, and how to connect it safely.
Power station
How to Size a Portable Power Station for a Full Remote Workday
Size a portable power station for a full remote workday in an outage: measure your load, do the watt-hour math, then check outlets and output.
Power station
Solar Generator vs Gas Generator: Which Portable Power Station Fits Your Outage?
Portable power station or gas generator for outages? How to decide by runtime, output, recharging, safety, and your own device loads.
Power station
Can a Portable Power Station Run a Sump Pump? Sizing for Surge and Runtime
How to tell if a portable power station can start and run your sump pump, and how to estimate hours of runtime from your own pump's numbers.
Power station
Portable Power Stations With Enough Surge for Large Loads
How to pick a portable power station that can start motor-driven loads: surge watts, continuous watts, capacity, and the outlet checks that decide it.
Power station
Running a Chest Freezer on a Portable Power Station
How many watt-hours a chest freezer needs in an outage, how to do the runtime math, and what to check on the inverter before you buy.
Power station
Can a power station run an electric kettle during an outage?
Check your kettle's wattage, the power station's continuous AC output and the energy needed for each boil before choosing outage backup.
Power station
Can a Portable Power Station Run a Hair Dryer?
Whether a portable power station can run your hair dryer depends on two numbers: the dryer's label watts and the station's continuous AC output.
Power station
Can a Portable Power Station Run an Induction Cooktop During an Outage?
Yes, if the station's continuous AC rating beats the cooktop's draw at your setting. Here is how to check both and size the battery for real meals.
Power station
Can a Portable Power Station Run a Microwave?
Yes, if the station's continuous output beats your microwave's input watts. Here is how to read the label, check surge, and estimate cooking time.
Power station
Can a Portable Power Station Run an Electric Space Heater?
A space heater can drain a portable power station fast. Learn how to check your heater's watts, estimate runtime, and decide if it's worth it.
Power station
Can a portable power station run a well pump during an outage?
Check your well pump's voltage and starting surge to see whether a portable power station can run it during an outage.
Power station
Choosing a Compact Portable Power Station Under 600Wh
How to pick a compact portable power station under 600Wh for a short outage: sizing your own loads, watt limits, recharge speed, and outlet checks.
Power station
How to Choose a Portable Power Station for Camping and RV Trips
How to size a portable power station for camping and RV trips: watt-hours, output watts, outlets, recharging on the road, and what to check before you buy.
Power station
500Wh Portable Power Station With One-Hour Fast Charging
How to choose a 500Wh LiFePO4 portable power station with fast charging: sizing, output limits, ports, and the runtime checks that decide it.
Power station
Is it safe to run a portable power station indoors?
Battery power stations make no exhaust, so indoor use is normal. Here is how to manage heat, load, charging, and damaged batteries safely.
Power station
LiFePO4 vs NMC Portable Power Station Batteries for Home Backup
LiFePO4 or NMC for a home backup power station? See how battery chemistry affects lifespan, weight, and safety, and what to check on the spec sheet.
Newsletter
Get a reminder to check your backup gear before storm season.