Should you buy a portable power station?

If you love the outdoors, camping, working in construction, or want to be prepared in the event of a power outage, you should seriously consider purchasing a portable power station. These lunchbox-sized batteries are very useful, and here we’ll look at a few pros and cons and explain why you need them.

What is a portable power station?

What is a portable power station and how does it work? It’s a multi-power device for all your gadgets, including your refrigerator, TV, laptop, camera, speakers, drones, CPAP machines, tablets, phones, electric grill, etc. It’s basically just a giant battery.

Another way to explain them is that they are silent, rechargeable, battery-powered generators. Most are about the size of a lunchbox or small refrigerator and are filled with large lithium-ion batteries, similar to those found in a laptop, only larger. You’ll charge them at home or with solar panels, then take them anywhere or store them for later.

We’re not talking about a generator or a small portable phone battery that you can keep in your backpack, that’s something completely different. We’re talking about larger portable power stations that come in at 500, 1000, or even 3000 watts, full of AC outlets, USB ports, 12V ports, and more. These silent little boxes provide on-demand power anywhere, anytime.

Power plants come in different sizes, features and prices depending on your needs.

Who should use a portable power station?

If you’re thinking about purchasing a portable power station, you should probably just go for it. These are great electronics that come in handy in a variety of situations. As we said earlier, they’re great for anyone who enjoys the great outdoors or hiking, especially if you enjoy what I call “glamping” with an air mattress, heaters, lights, or hot coffee on a cold mountain morning.

Some, like the Anker SOLIX series, come with built-in LED lights or can be solar charged, making them ideal for camping and emergency situations. I have a cabin in the beautiful mountains near Zion, Utah, and I take the power station with me every time. I can quickly charge phones, battery-powered flashlights, or my e-bike, and I even use it to run my Keurig coffee maker or fan on hot summer nights.

Yes, I have a gasoline generator in my cabin, but at night no one wants to hear the engine running loudly and ruining the atmosphere around the fire. I often turn off the kitchen light from my Anchor or Jackery, leaving the gas generator for later if needed.

Camping is just one of the many reasons why someone would want to buy a portable power station. They are great for construction workers on the job site, ideal for family camping in an RV, and are great products for emergencies or power outages.

Depending on the size of your portable power station, you may want to leave all your phones, flashlights, or important devices like your CPAP machine on during a power outage. This way you can stay in touch with friends and family, receive weather alerts or sleep with your breathing apparatus on.

For example, my Anker C1000 will charge most smartphones more than 75 times or run a refrigerator for more than 15 hours. You will have cell phone service for several weeks during an emergency or cold meal until power is restored.

Pros and cons of a portable power station?

Now that you know a little more about portable power stations, what they offer and how they can be used, I want to mention some of their advantages and disadvantages. Then everything will depend on your desires, needs and budget.

Pros

Obviously, the biggest advantage of using a portable power station is that you will have battery power at all times as long as you keep it fully charged. If the power goes out at home, you can instantly pull it out, leave your computer on, charge your phone, or plug it into the refrigerator so your food doesn’t spoil. They feature 120V AC outlets, USB-C, and more.

There are countless different situations in which one of these could come in handy. For emergencies, work or play. They are also smaller and lighter than a real generator, not to mention they are silent and do not release generator exhaust. On the other hand, you could get something like the massive 4000W EcoFlow Delta 3 Pro as a whole-home backup solution.

Most can be charged by solar panels rather than gasoline, so all you need is a little sunlight. Popular brands offer solar panels, including Jackery, Anker, and many more. Personally, solar charging is worth it. Plus, they’re just awesome. Being able to lend energy to friends or other people on a hike is always a good feeling.

And did we mention you can charge multiple devices at the same time? My Anker Powerhouse 757 had six different devices connected to it, all charging or running at the same time, and it handled it easily.

Cons

However, it’s not all good news. Portable and rechargeable power plants are expensive and can often cost as much as a regular generator or inverter. They range from $299 to over $2,000 when you start moving up to larger capacities.

Some larger options, such as the 2,400-watt Anker SOLIX (767), cost nearly $2,000, while larger models can cost over $4,000 and charge an electric vehicle. Again, I wouldn’t call it “portable.” Instead, it is simply an option over a traditional gas system.

They are also relatively heavy, and depending on what type of camping you do, you may not want to lug them around with you. My favorite portable power station is the Anker C800, which weighs about 23 pounds. It’s not too big, not too small, and easy enough to carry in your tent or put on a picnic table.

And finally, they can’t control everything like a generator. Most portable power stations have a maximum load limit and only have 120V AC outlets. This means that it will not work with larger appliances such as a washer, dryer or even some heaters. Well, unless you buy the larger option with a 240V, 30A, or 50A RV outlet, you’re limited to 120V AC plugs.

For example, a refrigerator only needs to be powered off and on to keep it cool and running, while a heater requires a lot of energy to keep the heating elements running. A heater requires significantly more energy (and a larger power plant) to operate than something like a refrigerator.

Is it worth buying a power plant?

In conclusion, is a portable power station worth buying? While I can’t answer this question for you since it depends on your wants and needs, I recommend them to family members all the time. Plus, we’ve outlined a few reasons why you need one, how they work, and some of the many benefits of having one in case you need it. I have a few and lend them out to friends or family all the time.

You don’t have to go crazy and buy a huge 2000 watt portable power station. Popular brands such as Anker, Jackery, Goal Zero, Bluetti and others have smaller and more affordable versions. And if you have a model that’s more than a few years old, there are a few reasons why you should probably upgrade to a newer model.

Decide how much energy you need or need, what you can afford, and what’s best for you. A portable power station has some limitations, but the advantages can far outweigh the disadvantages.

At the end of the day, a powerhouse is a great item to have in your arsenal, and here are some great options to buy in 2024.