What Size Power Station Do I Need?

Use this planning formula before you compare brands: required Wh = (load watts x desired hours) / (efficiency factor x reserve factor) For AC loads, start with an 0.85 efficiency factor and a reserve margin so you are not planning to drain the battery to zero. A 60W CPAP for 8 hours is not the same purchase as a refrigerator that cycles, surges, and may need a full day of margin.

Under 300Wh is for phones, routers, lights, laptops, and cautious CPAP backup. 300-700Wh is the overnight electronics and CPAP tier. 700-1500Wh is the first serious home-essentials tier. 1500-3000Wh is where refrigerator, router, lights, and RV loads get real margin. 3000Wh+ is for expandable systems, transfer-switch conversations, and buyers who understand weight and installation constraints.

Capacity tells you how long a station may last. Output tells you whether it can start the load at all. Refrigerators, pumps, compressors, microwaves, induction cookers, and jobsite tools can demand startup watts far above their running watts. If a product has enough Wh but not enough surge headroom, the verdict is size up.

Sometimes the better fix is a lower-watt device, DC cable, solar panel, extra battery, or a gas generator layer. A power station is excellent for quiet indoor essentials and portable energy, but it is not a careless whole-home substitute.