We have a few tips and pointers for you to think about before purchasing a portable power station.
Price: Portable power stations can be very expensive, but discounts, sales, and sales are common. If you can afford to wait, you can most likely get the power plant of your choice for less.
capacity: Find out how much power you need. Capacity is measured in watt-hours (Wh) or sometimes kilowatt-hours (kWh). Once you think about what devices you want to run with it and how long you need to run it, you can start calculating the capacity you need. Manufacturers often quote figures such as 12 hours of TV time or 30 minutes of electric chainsaw use, but keep in mind that not all TVs use the same amount of power. You need to calculate how much the appliances you own actually use.
portability: The term “portable” is sometimes an exaggeration. Batteries are heavy. The larger capacity power plants are usually on wheels and have telescopic handles, but are still difficult to transport. If you’re looking for something that you can actually transport a longer distance on foot, you may need to lower your expectations for capacity.
Battery technology: There are various battery technologies, but the main ones used in portable power plants today are types of lithium-ion batteries (Li-ion), often lithium-nickel-manganese-cobalt oxide (Li-NMC) or lithium iron phosphate ( LiFePO4 or LFP). . The latter is safer (less prone to combustion) and tends to last longer (more cycles) before it starts to break down. Overheating can be a problem with Li-NMC batteries and they degrade faster but have a higher energy density. Zendure also offers semi-solid-state batteries in its top model SuperBase listed above, which are said to be more stable and resilient, therefore safer and have a higher energy density.
Ports: While you’ll find specific ports everywhere on portable power stations, from AC outlets to USB-A, it’s important to check the maximum charging rate and supported charging standards to avoid disappointment. You may find USB-C ports, car ports, barrel ports, and perhaps solar power inputs, but don’t assume. Check the specifications before purchasing.
Loading speed: Large capacity power plants can take a long time to charge. Make sure you know how quickly your chosen power station can charge from the grid and other sources if you plan to use solar panels, a car battery, or another power source to charge. Some power plants allow fast charging via two or more inputs.
Heat and noise: Batteries generate heat. If you’re rushing to charge your power plant or have half a dozen things plugged into it, it’s going to get hot quickly. Every power station we tested has fans to keep the temperature down, and these things can get surprisingly loud even under relatively light loads, especially if you carry it with you in an enclosed space. Unfortunately, there’s not much you can do about it.
Maximum Performance: If you want to use power tools, an AC unit, or in the UK a kettle, you need to be able to handle thousands of watts. Power stations all advertise maximum output, but often they have an overvoltage feature that allows them to step up for short periods of time. Sometimes they give it a silly name. For example, Zendure calls this “AmpUp” and EcoFlow calls it “X-Boost”. Make sure the power plant you choose can handle the power you need.
UPS and EPS: Some power plants can function as an uninterruptible power supply (UPS). others are considered emergency power supplies (EPS). If you have your power plant connected to the power grid and then connect devices to it, they will work from the power grid. However, in the event of a power outage, a UPS switches to battery power immediately (in less than 10 milliseconds). An EPS will also switch over in the event of a power failure, but this may take a little longer (around 30 milliseconds).