Use case
What size power station do you need for a power outage?
For a full-size fridge through a 24-hour outage, plan on about 1,252 Wh at the outlet and 1,000 W at start-up calculated. Our best fit is the PECRON E2400LFP, at about 33 h. Figures come from maker specs and cited appliance data, checked .
Yes. PECRON E2400LFP runs a full-size fridge for a 24-hour outage for about 33 h. calculated from maker specs, .
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Goal: 24 h. Hours use maker inverter efficiency where published, otherwise the 0.85 estimate, and leave out idle draw the maker doesn't publish. Stations shown out of stock or with availability not shown are skipped. How we pick.
Use the calculator to add your own devices and get a ranked shortlist.
Common power outage plans
- What size power station keeps a fridge running through a 24-hour outage: best fit is the PECRON E2400LFP (33 h)
- What size power station keeps a chest freezer cold for 48 hours: best fit is the PECRON E2400LFP (70 h)
- What size power station runs a sump pump through a 12-hour storm: best fit is the PECRON F3000LFP (16 h)
- What size power station keeps a home office running for an 8-hour outage: best fit is the PECRON E1500LFP (13 h)
- What size power station runs a furnace fan, fridge and Wi-Fi through a 12-hour winter storm night: best fit is the EcoFlow DELTA Pro 3 (13 h)
- What size power station runs a small window AC for 4 hours: best fit is the PECRON F3000LFP (5.0 h)
- How big a power station runs a space heater on low for 4 hours: best fit is the EcoFlow DELTA Pro 3 (4.6 h)
Device watts for power outage use
| Device | Running | Starting | On DELTA 3 (1,024 Wh) | On Explorer 2000 v2 (2,042 Wh) | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Refrigerator (full-size) | 275 W | 1,000 W | 17 h | 33 h | ENERGY STAR data + Champion chart |
| Freezer | 300 W | 750 W | 35 h | 70 h | ENERGY STAR data + Champion chart |
| Sump pump (1/3 HP) | 650 W | 1,300 W | 1.3 h | 2.7 h | Champion wattage chart |
| Furnace blower fan (1/2 HP) | 550 W | 1,200 W | 1.6 h | 3.2 h | Champion wattage chart |
| Internet router/modem | 15 W | No extra | 58 h | 116 h | Champion wattage chart |
| LED light bulb | 11.5 W | No extra | 76 h | 151 h | Champion wattage chart |
| Space heater | 1,500 W | No extra | 0.6 h | 1.2 h | Champion wattage chart |
| Window AC (5,000 BTU) | 525 W | 1,050 W | 1.7 h | 3.3 h | Champion wattage chart |
| Microwave | 900 W | No extra | 1.0 h | 1.9 h | Champion wattage chart |
Hours: one device running continuously (fridges and freezers cycle, using ENERGY STAR median energy) calculated.
Our pick
Questions
- Can a portable power station run a whole house?
- Not in the way a standby generator does. Portable stations run selected devices plugged into them, or a few circuits through a transfer switch or inlet installed by an electrician. Size for the devices you must keep on.
- Why does the fridge need so much more power to start?
- The compressor motor draws several times its running watts for a moment at start-up. A station must handle that surge on top of everything else running, which is why we check starting watts before hours.
- Is it safe to run a power station indoors?
- Battery power stations make no exhaust, unlike gas generators. Follow the maker's manual on where to use and store yours, and keep it inside the maker's temperature range.