Athanasius in Ukraine gets a lot of use out of theirs because they have intermittent power issues due to the ongoing war. He was able to charge up batteries for his cordless chainsaw from one. Without the power station he would have changed his plans and done something else or been cutting wood by hand.
Like many things, the market is organized by various "price points". Currently, $200 will get you a 300 Watt-hour unit with a robust battery technology.
But what will 300 Watt-hours get me?
It can run two LED, 800 Lumen bulbs for 15 hours (overnight in the winter).
It can run a small electric blanket that is used to warm massage tables for 15 hours.
It can run a 6 Joule, low-impedance electric fence energizer for 30 hours.
It can run a 32" TV for 5 hours so it is not enough juice to run a video-based security system overnight.
From a command-and-control standpoint, it provides enough power to recharge a VERY large number of cellphones or hand-held radios or rechargable AA batteries.
It can run a 20" box fan for 5 hours.
It can run a 1/4 horsepower motor for almost 2 hours so you better hope the power comes back on if a storm knocks out your sump-pump. Incidentally, this price-point will not deliver enough wattage to start a conventional sump-pump due to inrush current at start-up.
It can recharge 2, 20V 6.0 amp-hour batteries for my cordless tools.
It cannot run an air conditioner or the fan on a furnace. It cannot run a microwave or a water heater.
I am on-the-fence about spending the money on something like this. The system seems hellbent on building data centers in excess of our power generation capacity. The spike in petroleum prices is causing a rush toward Electric Vehicles which will drive more demand.
Consequently, I expect more power-outages in the future. It probably makes sense to get something like this before the rush.
Any thoughts from my readers?
They are great for short camping trips or emergency use (e.g. low price point to stick capital in the closet). That being said, you and me, are worrying about longer-term losses of grid power. You need a way to charge those units back up.
ReplyDeleteAt that price-point, you're really not able to get into solar anything, except the quick-charge units at Harbor Freight, etc. Great for a few cell phones, maybe an hour of lap-top power, but not much else. Call it a shitty-version of those power-cubes, but it can charge itself back up on a sunny-day (something the power cubes cannot).
I'd be more inclined to go a bit bigger, get yourself a 1000 watts of panels and a cheap inverter (~$500). You're not tied to power generation by someone else.
https://youtu.be/sMZ_o24TPyA - This video shows how well a small inverter generator and a medium sized power station work together, a 5 gallon can of gas might last a week or more - I had never considered buying a power station until i saw this video, but the price is still pretty high
ReplyDeleteFor the problem you're looking at you need to work backwards. First determine how much or how many things you want to keep powered up during an outage. Then buy a power station to match that and some method of recharging that power station by solar or a small generator. This is a real rabbit hole that gets expensive quickly .
ReplyDeleteHonda has a line of small generators that have a reputation for being Bulletproof but they are expensive. Make sure you get a generator that that is an inverter generator so that you can run your electronics directly off of the generator if your battery isn't available.
Have you considered a few solar panels, connected to batteries, and an inverter? We have small window sized panels, my husband charges an old marine battery and several old truck batteries. This set up was cheap at the time. It will power several lights, recharge batteries and phones. Can’t run a household at this level , but maybe something more extensive would help you.
ReplyDeleteSouthern NH
/\/\/\/\ THis is the way to go:
DeleteA couple of deep cycle batteries and a decent inverter. Add some solar panels (and a decent battery charger/maintainer) and you can essentially run forever. Cheaper per watt, if not as pleasantly and conveniently packaged.
THis lets you have a better surge capability because you can get the proper inverter for that type of load. Adding more batteries adds to your storage capacity. You can even have different inverters for different load needs
"Power stations" are for people who know nothing, and don't want to learn, and think that they can have long term generation in a box they can forget about in a closet.
We do have a decent sized gas generator for running the fridge, freezer, pump, lights, etc. but the solar does help out.
DeleteSNH
Lithium is far more capable in Watt Hour per dollar spent than anything lead based. The current liFePO4 batteries have very capable battery management systems and are simple to operate, maintain and sustain.
DeleteI'd be interested in purchasing a power station for my daily used CPAP air apparatus. Without it, the next day is feeling very tired. If I could get 16 hours of time (two nights), that would be worth it methinks.
ReplyDeleteFYI: bought a small power station (500W) in 2023 for my dear late mother-in-law to run her oxygen station - connected all the time to line power, served as uninterruptable power supply, and kept the oxygen going during power outages (frequent where she lived). I imagine a small power station would work for ensuring power to CPAP. "Just" need to do the math - find the power draw of the CPAP (watts) and buy the station that has a capacity of (Watts) times (Hours of use needed).
DeleteAnon 7:35 here - Thank you Anon 7:52 for that explanation - I need simple explanation and your reply was helpful. What helps in my case is I DON'T use the humidifier which has a load of its own.
DeleteAgain - my Thanks !
Here's what I find useful for my portable 1000W power station. I am in my 70s, not the most physically robust, but can still get around, can still sorta heft around retail hay bales, live in a rural setting. Reasonable weight at 29 pounds, good carry handles. VERY quiet under load, barely hear the cooling fan running, drowned out by nature usually. I have mostly corded electric tools, so running the station out in the field is good for things like running a table saw, impact hammer (pounding in steel fence posts, e.g.), heavy duty sawzall, lights, small sump pump. Lasts longer than I can. I suppose I can "just" put an inverter (12-120VAC) on the UTV electic system, but the amperage demand would fry the alternator quickly. For small welding jobs, I drag along the old ICE inverter to power the MIG welder. Additional benefit is running the propane furnace and freezers/refrigerators QUIETLY during power outages if I don't want to broadcast to the masses the running of the whole-house genset. And, of course, many charges of electronic gear, and running of radios. Can run Starlink mini for days. Been using and happy with it since 2024 for a total cost then of $600 for the powerstartion and a 200W solar panel.
ReplyDeleteI have built a few systems and You can put together a custom power station with Amazon parts and build it exactly for your needs. Sam’s Club and Costco have great prices on deep cycle lead acid batteries. Regardless I would make sure you can use generic batteries for replacements when the system need maintenance.
ReplyDeleteSample videos:
https://m.youtube.com/results?sp=mAEA&search_query=build+your+own+power+station&ra=m
I have two power stations and solar to charge them. I also have a dual fuel inverter generator to charge them on cloudy days. I took the approach above and worked backwards. Each has its task. One station is for the fridge and freezer. The other is for fans and rechargeable items.
ReplyDeleteThat is a 25amp hour battery. It's a box with a lithium battery, an inverter, a way to charge the battery, switches, outlets, blinking lights, a handle and a place to plug a solar panel into it.
ReplyDeleteLithium batteries are coming down in price and more is better if you're depending on this. I often see solar panels for sale on craigslist... Depending on it's purpose, you could DIY & get more/cheaper.
A Kill-a-Watt meter on Amazon is as low as $10 and it can show you what you actually are using/need for specific items (like keeping the fridge, deep freeze or gas furnace blower) that you might want to keep running during a power outage.
I have to admit that these days I worry most about keeping the fridge running after a hurricane then things I worried about 50 years ago. A power station of some sort (DIY or purchased), a couple of solar panels, a solar controller and wires can live quietly in an out of the way spot (with minimal maintenance) until it's needed.
When I started with solar in my van, I propped the panel out in the sun and used a 50' extension cord to bring the juice to the battery, the 50' DC run had a voltage drop of 0.1 volt. It worked well.
Depends on what critical needs you want powered and for how long.
ReplyDeleteAt my place I currently have two power stations. The first one was to be able to power CPAP for 2 nights and also keep a few led lights on for those 2 nights. I can recharge with my 100 watt solar panel with a bright sunny afternoon.
I've recharged batteries for my electric chainsaw with it in the woods. Looking at a battery powered tiller.
Second one is 5.2 kilowatts with a 1.6 kilowatts solar array. I can run my deep well pump, several 20 amp house circuits for lights and such. I can keep my coffee pot, 2 refrigerators a large chest freezer going for at least 3 days without any solar inputs before recharging it with my generator.
I've done homemade solar set ups many times but if a forest fire was a problem I can load them into my travel trailer and leave.
Michael the anonymous
iMHO Build semi-portable modular expandable system. Victron solar charger , Victron inverter, Renogy solar panel, renogy agm 100ah batteries.
ReplyDeleteThese units are subject to deep price discounts over the course of a year. By deep, I mean 50%. Keep a weather eye out on Amazon and you will be able to snag an amazing g deal, especially on Black Friday.
ReplyDelete@ERJ- Here on the lakeshore we don’t see the sun, short of a few days, from basically November to maybe April. Being a little further from the big lakes, do you get enough sunlight to justify solar? Those winter months are a long time between solar exposure days here. It doesn’t seem to make sense for me.
ReplyDeleteI’ve given great thought to a wood gasifier though! Just not sure how to make the generator quiet enough.
There used to be a company called tactical wood gas, not sure if they’re still around. It might be an option.
In Muskegon
When all the excitement from the ice storm we had here in 2020 died down, I bought a 6000 watt generator at Sam's for like $375. It'll run the fridge, freezer, and lights all day for five gallons of gas. I bought a 120vac to 12V converter to run an inverter for my electronics (you'll want that, since they want clean power). I watch a youtube channel called Bus Greasemonkey. He fixed up a bus for a dude with cancer with two small lithium battery packs. I'd look at that setup (for an RV). Still. For a few hundred bucks you could get yourself a measure of protection here.
ReplyDeleteI also got one of these: https://www.homedepot.com/p/RYOBI-18V-ONE-150-Watt-Portable-Battery-Inverter-Power-Source-Tool-Only-RYi150BGA/308460871
DeleteI'm sure most power tool manufacturers like dewalt and Milwaukee have this as well. Good for trivial stuff like recharging.
I bought one of these after a derecho storm knocked power out for a week. Life saver. Runs freezer, a few lights and fans on a gallon of gas for about 7-8 hrs. $900 at the time.
ReplyDeleteHonda EU2200i generator portable.
My agency uses the Honda EU2200i for emergency power to traffic signals. The crew likes them because they run 7-8 hours. We also use the Jackery battery packs. They come in various sizes and some can be chained together. Are preferred choice right now is a supercapacitor storage unit with an inverter which has a much better life cycle and cold tolerance than any battery. Although those systems are $6,000 - $8,000.
ReplyDeleteApproved by Roger's excessively detail oriented CPA nephew who is seldom wrong: https://www.northerntool.com/products/ecoflow-delta-3-plus-portable-power-station-1800w-output-x-boost-2600w-model-efdelta3p-us-cbox-6638443?cm_mmc=Google-LIA&utm_source=Google_LIA&utm_medium=Generators%20%3E%20Battery%20Generators&utm_campaign=EcoFlow&utm_content=6638443&ogmap=SHP|LIA|GOOG|STND|c|SITEWIDE||Generators|{adgroup}||856744480|42214676543&gclsrc=aw.ds&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=856744480&gbraid=0AAAAADpPfbM7AHSAR7YDQq7-uGxwqcfPu&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI_LD00vKTlAMVdzMIBR1ATCPMEAQYFCABEgIok_D_BwE
ReplyDeleteThat it accomodates multiple charging sources on a plug and play basis (no permit, no electrician). The scalability was key too.
I can also recommend victron equipment and the knowledge base at www.exporist.life for RV applications. No point is paying for lithium if you are going to charge it like it is lead acid.
I am a proponent of multiple independent systems. I have sitting in a pile (full disclosure) batteries, and inverter and single unit transfer switches for my two refigerators and about 300 watts of panel (not enough). I have a cargo trailer with the gear for 800 watts of panel at 24 volts, inverter and charger, chest freezer, outlets and lights. Two lockers in there for my friends. All this bought before I learned about EcoFlow. And third I have about 600 amp hours of lead acid (1/2 usable) that I keep charged from various transactions. I plan to run my two chest freezers on 12v off them but I need some panels. Each pulls 48 watts on 12 volt.
Also, check out info@practicalpreppers.com also by Engineer775 for great information and some plug and play solutions for hot water.
Blah, blah, blah.
Sorry for the length. Lastly the gas furnace fan plus two friges only pulled 400 watts when I tested a set up at my last house.
Lastly, the camper has two lithium bats with 200 amp hours usable and 600 watts of panel on the roof. They recommend 200 amp hours of panel per usable 100 amp hours of batt.
Plug this pure sine wave inverter into your car and simply run regular extension cables to wherever you need 120vac power. Whenever you have used a significant amount of car battery, just start the engine and let it idle for ten minutes to recharge its battery.
ReplyDeletehttps://www.amazon.com/Bestek-Power-Inverter-Outdoor-Camping/dp/B0GL7XD6BM?th=1
Should you deplete the car battery too far, just use this jumper to start the car and recharge its battery.
https://www.amazon.com/AUTOONE-Starter-Battery-Portable-Booster/dp/B0FB7VKGSM?th=1
I chuckle at the focus solely on SOLAR!!!
ReplyDeleteOne of my friends salvaged an alternator from a scrapped car, rigged it up as a windmill with the shaft vertical with a Pelton type wind powered thing to save the complication of a horizontal mounting and getting the cables to the batteries he used as storage. Admittedly, a horizontal mounting with a traditional vertical windmill sails is likely to be more efficient but if you are going to mount the sail(s) directly to the alternator pulley, then less complicated. I dare say that a competent welder/mechanic could cobble together a geared system like the water pump windmills used on farms back in the day but the option to use the alternator with minimal alteration is tempting.
The wind usually blows and, it might surprise you, that it also blows at night when the sun doesn't shine ... >};o)
Cheap, not as visible as a solar panel array and less prone to damage and degradation.
One warning - modern alternators have the voltage controller built in, some may not and that will be needed to be salvaged too. Have a chat with an auto electrician to see what's needed.
Phil B
Smiling, yeah, I built a couple of those back in the 80's when Mother Earth News was promoting them.
DeleteThey work for a while but it's really hard to weatherproof that alternator and some locations are really poor for wind power.
Wind generators work at a designed set of wind speeds. Too low no power, too high they self-destruct unless well designed to have braking action or get turned away from the excess winds.
Scrapped them after a while. There is a reasonable reason real wind generators cost a fair bit of money. The engineering to withstand mother nature's whims and storms isn't easy.
Michael the anonymous today
I just came out of about 30 hours of no power in the same county as ERJ. Despite living in the borders of a small city, we lose power several times a year. The current and best plan: even though we have a generator, its not needed the first day. We turn on the natural gas fireplace, use a small 150 watt hour box to power a lamp, play cards and wait it out til morning.. The concern is the fridge. Battery box prices are not linear. $450 got me a Oupes Mega 1 with 2320 watt hours. It started with 80% capacity from storage and went down to 44% in 26 hours. It can run our fridge for over 2 days easily. When the power company projected another 15 hours until an update, I hauled out THE generator. When the generator is running, it cools the freezer, runs comfort incidentals (internet, lights,, fans, whatever). My generator cannot handle the starting surge of fridge and freezer so I cycle between the 2. The chest freezer is very efficient. Given half a chance it stays frozen. I plan to play with solar panels this summer but that is plan D. Smaller generators drink less fuel. No upside to having more than you need. Of course, once I set up the generator, we had power back in 2 hours. Battery boxes are decaying from the minute you buy them but the convenience and price point came together for me.
ReplyDeleteFurnace, fridge and freezer are the priorities. Even in good times, don't run empty fridges and freezers. Keep filled with water and ice to use less energy. Replace with food as needed.
ReplyDeleteI strive for depth and breadth of back up systems.
ReplyDeleteCouple gas and propane generators here.
Lots of 20V "tool" batteries that can charge cellphones and tablets with the proper adapters.
Wood stoves and white gas lanterns and candles, oh my.