5 Lifesaving Uses for a Portable Power Station
Winter storms can be just as devastating as hurricanes when it comes to damaging the power grid. Snowstorms, ice storms and extreme cold can cause widespread power outages, leaving homes and businesses without power for days or even weeks.
In this case, having a reliable backup power source can make all the difference. Portable power stations are becoming increasingly popular as a way to keep essential equipment and appliances running during power outages, and both can be powered off at a moment’s notice.
With a winter storm caused by a polar vortex approaching, it’s a good idea to keep a close eye on your home’s power situation and make sure you have everything you need just in case. In fact, no matter what the weather is like outside, portable power station It can at least help you cope a little, even if it doesn’t keep the interior as warm as you’d like.
We at CNET test dozens of power plants, including looking at how some of them cope The electrical needs of our own homesso we know the best options available to you. Here’s what a power station can do for you during a power outage.
What is a portable power station
none of these AA battery. A portable power station is a large battery block, usually weighing 20 pounds or more, that allows you to power regular equipment from a 120-volt AC outlet (the three-prong outlet that runs most appliances). These batteries typically have a capacity of 200 watt hours or more, and some have a capacity of 5,000 watt hours or more. what does that mean? 700 watt hour power station One time my refrigerator was left on for 14.5 hours In a simulated power outage (when it’s not running anything else).
These batteries come in a variety of sizes and power ratings. Smaller ones may be able to keep your Telephone or laptop Run for several days so you can still make emergency calls or text messages during a power outage. bigger one Might power your whole home a little. Granted, the price and size of these batteries increase as they become more powerful and have greater capacity.
Among other factors, our tests check how much capacity the power station actually has available, since you may not be able to utilize all of the battery’s capacity. Here’s how they performed:
How power stations can help during power outages
Power outages are more common in some parts of the country. Depending on your weather conditions, you may be able to predict when a power outage will occur and be better prepared. We looked at data from the Energy Information Administration to see which states had the most outages each year and the longest total outage duration from 2018 to 2022.
Some power stations are large enough and equipped with the appropriate outlets to power your home (if you have the right equipment hooked up to your electrical panel), but most are unable to keep the AC on during a power outage. Here are some things about them able Do.
Keep your phone alive
Power outages can be dangerous situations, especially if you or a family member is without power health problems or sensitivity to heat. Keeping your phone functioning properly is critical for safety so you can get help in an emergency. Having a working cell phone also allows you to track when the power company restores power, or to book a hotel where power is available.
Is your refrigerator running?
refrigerator Don’t use as much power as you think. An energy-saving refrigerator, such as Energy Star-If so, approximately one kilowatt hour of electricity would be used each day. So if you have a power station with a capacity of 2,000 watt hours (like CNET’s Favorite Portable Power StationJackery Explorer 2000 Plus), which can keep your refrigerator running for days.
Voted Best Overall Portable Power Station by CNET, this battery packs a variety of features and has a modular design, which means you can stack the cells together for more power and capacity. It’s heavy, weighing in at 61.5 pounds, but that’s because it’s powerful.
In addition to saving money on buying mayonnaise and milk again after the outage ends, it’s also important to keep your refrigerator cool if you have medications that must be refrigerated, such as insulin. Plus: Cold drinks can help keep you cool during a heat wave.
Run a fan or portable air conditioner
Just because you may not be able to run your central air conditioner on portable batteries doesn’t mean you can’t keep window unit or a portable air conditioner Keep certain parts of your home cooler. You can also run fanhelps a little when the temperature is high.
stay away from darkness
Not only can a portable charging station keep some of your larger lights on, they can also keep your rechargeable flashlights going longer. One way we test the available capacity of a power station CNET Test LabFor example, connect them to a 110-watt work light and these things will be bright. A power station with just one bright light can save you from living in the dark during a power outage. You can also connect the power station to your living room lights.
CNET’s Best Extra Large Portable Power Station The Anker Solix F3800 is a large backup power rolling cart. It can stack up to six expansion batteries for a total capacity of 26.9kWh.
Expand your power with solar panels
When the grid fails, you don’t necessarily have to use all the power in the station’s batteries. Most charging stations charge from your car, just like you plug in your phone. You can also get portable solar panel Match your power station and use them to extend the life of your power station. Having the power station connected to the solar panels during the day ensures that your refrigerator and cell phone stay on, even if the air conditioner isn’t working.
Our favorite portable solar panel is the Jackery SolarSaga 200, which charges at 200 watts. Its efficiency leads among portable solar panels and it has a high watt-per-pound rating, which means it’s more powerful but still portable.
