⚡ Find the Best Battery, Solar Kit, E-Bike or Generator  ·  Capacity, output and cost per watt-hour, side by side

Power Station Articles and Buying Guides

Everything we have written about choosing, sizing and living with portable power — buying guides, plain explanations of how the hardware works, and what each unit will actually run.

Every figure is the manufacturer’s own, and every derived number is calculated the same way throughout, so a runtime quoted in one article matches the one in another.

GuidesHow Many Watts Does a Portable Air Conditioner Use?A portable air conditioner draws 900 to 1,400 watts while running; single-hose models pull more, and compressor surge spikes 3 to 5 times higher…Read article Mobility Scooter Batteries: Types, Lifespan and RangeRajesh S Balouria / PexelsGuidesMobility Scooter Batteries: Types, Lifespan and RangeMobility scooter batteries compared: AGM/gel lead-acid vs lithium, reading the Ah rating, replacement costs, and FAA/IATA lithium mobility-aid air travel rules.Read article GuidesHow Many Amps Does a Space Heater Use?A 1,500W space heater draws 12.5A at 120V — right at the edge of a 15A breaker's continuous limit, and enough to flatten most…Read article LiFePO4 Portable Power Stations: What the Chemistry ChangesBLUETTIGuidesLiFePO4 Portable Power Stations: What the Chemistry ChangesWhat LiFePO4 changes in a portable power station: 3,000 to 6,000 rated cycles, more weight per Wh, cold-charging limits, and picks in four sizes.Read article GuidesHow Many Amps Does a Washing Machine Use?A washing machine uses about 4 to 10 amps on a 120V circuit, with the top of that range on spin or when a…Read article GuidesHow Much Gas Does a Generator Use?A 3,500W generator burns 0.5-0.75 gal/hr at half load; see fuel-use tables by size and load, why 25% load wastes gas, and the real…Read article 1500 Watt Solar GeneratorBLUETTIGuides1500 Watt Solar GeneratorSmall enough to carry, large enough to matter — the bracket that covers camping and a short outage without needing a trolley.Read article LiFePO4 Batteries for Solar Storage: Sizing and CostIqbal farooz / PexelsGuidesLiFePO4 Batteries for Solar Storage: Sizing and CostLiFePO4 batteries for solar energy storage outlast lead-acid and NMC by thousands of cycles. Here's how to size a bank and find the real…Read article GuidesHow Much Propane Does a Generator Use?How much propane does a generator use? Roughly 2-3 lb per hour at half load, tank-size runtime tables, cold-weather limits and the real cost…Read article Smart Electrical Panels: Cost and Whether They Pay Offmickael ange konan / PexelsGuidesSmart Electrical Panels: Cost and Whether They Pay OffA smart electrical panel adds per-circuit monitoring and remote switching to a breaker box, typically $2,500 to $10,000 installed depending on the type.Read article GuidesHow Many Amps Is 1,500 Watts?1,500 watts is 12.5 amps at 120V, 6.25 amps at 240V, and 125 amps at 12V — with the wattage-to-amps table and breaker math…Read article 3000 Watt Solar Generator: What It Runs and Which Units FitBLUETTIGuides3000 Watt Solar Generator: What It Runs and Which Units Fit3,000W of output is not 3,000Wh of storage. What a 3000 watt solar generator runs, how long it lasts, and which models are rated…Read article GuidesBatteries in Series vs ParallelSeries wiring adds voltage and keeps amp-hours the same; parallel adds amp-hours and keeps voltage. Total watt-hours stays identical either way.Read article On-Grid vs Off-Grid Solar: Costs and Which to ChooseDavid Brown / PexelsGuidesOn-Grid vs Off-Grid Solar: Costs and Which to ChooseCompare on-grid, off-grid and hybrid solar: system costs, battery sizing, net metering rules and what happens to each type in a power outage.Read article GuidesHow to Calculate Amp-HoursAmp-hours equal watt-hours divided by volts. Learn the formula, build a 12V daily load budget, and size a lead-acid or LiFePO4 RV battery bank…Read article 5000 Watt Solar Generator: 5,000W or 5,000Wh?BLUETTIGuides5000 Watt Solar Generator: 5,000W or 5,000Wh?Which power stations output 4,500W or more and which store 4,500Wh or more, with runtimes, 240V loads, transfer switch limits and solar sizing.Read article How to Calculate Watts (With Worked Examples)Florida Solar Fix / PexelsGuidesHow to Calculate Watts (With Worked Examples)How to calculate watts from volts and amps, covering amps-only labels, VA ratings, DC devices, and running vs. surge watts, with worked examples.Read article GuidesHow to Calculate Watt-HoursLearn how to calculate watt hours by multiplying amp-hours by voltage, with worked examples for batteries, phone mAh, and the 100Wh airline carry-on limit.Read article Manual Transfer Switch: How It Works, Cost and SizingAkashni Weimers / PexelsGuidesManual Transfer Switch: How It Works, Cost and SizingA manual transfer switch lets a generator power chosen circuits safely. How it works, 6- vs 10-circuit vs whole-panel sizing, and installed cost ranges.Read article GuidesHow Many Watts Does a Gas Furnace Use?A gas furnace draws 300-800W for a PSC blower or 100-300W for an ECM one; a 600-800W PSC blower can surge to roughly 1,800-4,000W…Read article Hurricane Preparedness Checklist: Before, During, AfterGEORGE DESIPRIS / PexelsGuidesHurricane Preparedness Checklist: Before, During, AfterA hurricane preparedness checklist for the start of season, 72 hours out, 24 hours out, during and after, covering water, power, evacuation and safety.Read article NEMA 14-50 Outlet: Wiring, Breaker Size, Cost and UsesAnastasia Shuraeva / PexelsGuidesNEMA 14-50 Outlet: Wiring, Breaker Size, Cost and UsesA NEMA 14-50 outlet is a 240-volt, 50-amp receptacle for EV charging, RV hookups and electric ranges. Here is the wire gauge, GFCI rule…Read article GuidesHow Much Electricity Does a Dehumidifier Use?A 480W dehumidifier at 120V draws 4 amps and costs about $23/month; see wattage by pint size, compressor vs desiccant cost, and the real…Read article GuidesHow Many Amps Does a Mini Fridge Use?How many amps does a mini fridge use? A 50-100W unit draws 0.4-0.8A at 120V, but compressor surge and duty cycle change what you…Read article Dual Fuel Generators: How They Work and Whether You Need OneEnam Sape / PexelsGuidesDual Fuel Generators: How They Work and Whether You Need OneA dual fuel generator switches between gasoline and propane; see the 10 percent power loss on propane, storage life, cold weather issues and running…Read article GuidesHow Many Amps Does a Dishwasher Use?How many amps does a dishwasher use? Typically 10-12.5A at 120V with heated dry running, roughly half that averaged across a full wash cycle.Read article Electric Mopeds: Speed, Range, Cost and LicensingUMUT 🆁🅰🆆 / PexelsGuidesElectric Mopeds: Speed, Range, Cost and LicensingAn electric moped tops out at 28-45 mph and usually needs a license, registration and insurance, unlike a 20 mph e-bike. What one costs…Read article GuidesHow Many Amps Does a TV Use?How many amps does a TV use? Usually under 1A at 120V - the range by screen size, panel type, HDR brightness, and runtime…Read article GuidesWhat Will a 3,500-Watt Generator Run?What will a 3500 watt generator run? A fridge, lights and a 1,200W AC if you start them in order, plus the running-vs-starting watts…Read article Generac Generator Cost: Unit, Installation and Total PriceAbhisek Tripathy / PexelsGuidesGenerac Generator Cost: Unit, Installation and Total PriceGenerac generator cost broken down by kW size, transfer switch, electrical and gas work, permits, pad and upkeep, plus a battery backup cost comparison.Read article GuidesHow Many Watts Does a Heat Pump Use?A mini-split heat pump draws 500-2,000W running. How many watts does a heat pump use also depends on 10,000W+ backup heat strips in a…Read article EcoFlow River 2 vs River 3GuidesEcoFlow River 2 vs River 3EcoFlow River 2 vs River 3: 256Wh against 245Wh, both 300W and 3,000 cycles, but a five-year warranty against 24 months. Runtimes and cost…Read article GuidesHow Many Amps Does a Microwave Use?A 1,000W microwave draws 12-14 amps at 120V, not 8.3A, because it pulls roughly 40-70% more from the outlet than the cooking wattage on…Read article Jackery Explorer 300 vs 300 PlusGuidesJackery Explorer 300 vs 300 PlusJackery 300 vs 300 Plus: 293Wh against 288Wh, a 2-year against a 3-year warranty, estimated runtimes, the 300W ceiling buyers misjudge and which wins.Read article GuidesPortable Generator Maintenance ScheduleA complete portable generator maintenance schedule: what to check after every use, every 25 to 200 running hours, seasonally, and in long-term storage.Read article EcoFlow Delta 3 vs Delta 3 ClassicGuidesEcoFlow Delta 3 vs Delta 3 ClassicEcoFlow Delta 3 vs Delta 3 Classic: same 1,024Wh pack and 1,800W output, so the $100 gap comes down to battery expansion, charge input…Read article GuidesHow Many Amps Does a Refrigerator Use?How many amps does a refrigerator use? A full-size fridge draws about 1-2A at 120V, plus a brief startup surge of about 6-10A, key…Read article Jackery vs Goal ZeroGuidesJackery vs Goal ZeroJackery vs Goal Zero on published specs: median cost per watt-hour, cell chemistry, cycle ratings and the Explorer 1000 v2 against the Yeti 1500.Read article GuidesAppliance Wattage ChartThis appliance wattage chart lists running and starting watts, plus amps at 120V and 240V, for 41 household appliances, sized for backup power planning.Read article GuidesTwo Bluetti Elite 100 V2 vs One Elite 200 V2Two BLUETTI Elite 100 V2 vs BLUETTI Elite 200 V2: 2,048Wh for $998 or 2,074Wh for $899. The arithmetic, the inverter limit and which…Read article Jackery Explorer 1000 v2 vs 1000 PlusGuidesJackery Explorer 1000 v2 vs 1000 PlusJackery 1000 v2 vs 1000 Plus: the Plus is discontinued at Jackery, so the v2 wins by default. Capacity, runtimes, solar limits and expansion,…Read article Sizing & CostsHow Many Watts and Amps Does a Dryer Use?An electric dryer draws 5,000–5,500 watts (21–23 amps at 240V) while heating; a gas dryer 250–400 watts. Amps by type, cost per load, power…Read article Sizing & CostsHow Many Watts Does a CPAP Machine Use?A CPAP draws about 25–40W with the humidifier off and 50–95W with it on. Watt-hours per night, DC versus AC, and how many nights…Read article Sizing & CostsHow Many Watts and Amps Does an Air Conditioner Use?Air conditioner watts and amps by BTU rating and type, the startup surge that decides your inverter, running cost, and realistic battery runtimes.Read article Sizing & CostsHow Many Watts Does a TV Use?A modern LED TV uses 50–150 watts. Wattage by screen size and panel type, what it costs a year, and how long a power…Read article EcoFlow Delta 3 vs Delta 3 PlusGuidesEcoFlow Delta 3 vs Delta 3 PlusEcoFlow Delta 3 vs Delta 3 Plus: same 1,024Wh, same 1,800W output, same 4,000-cycle rating. The $70 premium buys a second 500W solar port,…Read article EcoFlow Delta 2 vs Delta 3Matheus Bertelli / PexelsGuidesEcoFlow Delta 2 vs Delta 3EcoFlow Delta 2 vs Delta 3: the Delta 2 is gone from EcoFlow's US store and its page now 301s to the Delta 3.…Read article BLUETTI vs OUPES: Which Line-Up Fits Your Size?ComparisonBLUETTI vs OUPES: Which Line-Up Fits Your Size?BLUETTI vs OUPES on published specs: cost per Wh, cycle life, warranty and model-by-model match-ups across four size brackets.Read article BLUETTI AC200MAX Expandable vs AC200LComparisonBLUETTI AC200MAX Expandable vs AC200LAC200MAX Expandable vs AC200L: 2,048Wh vs 2,048Wh, $0.59 vs $0.44 per Wh. Full spec table, calculated runtimes for a fridge and CPAP, and which…Read article DIY Solar Generator: Worth Building or Just Buy One?Sphinxx69 / PexelsGuidesDIY Solar Generator: Worth Building or Just Buy One?Building your own can be cheaper per watt-hour at scale, but rarely below 2,000Wh. The real cost comparison, the safety issues, and when to…Read article How Does a Solar Generator Work?battery storage aokeepower / PexelsGuidesHow Does a Solar Generator Work?A solar generator is a battery, an inverter and a charge controller in one box, plus panels. What each part does and why the…Read article Jackery vs OUPESComparisonJackery vs OUPESJackery vs OUPES compared across every unit we track: $0.57 vs $0.37 per watt-hour, chemistry, cycle life and which to buy.Read article Renogy Charge ControllersRenogyGuidesRenogy Charge ControllersThe Wanderer and the Rover sit either side of the one decision that actually matters here, and the price gap is smaller than the…Read article Renogy InvertersRenogyGuidesRenogy InvertersThe rating on the box is the continuous figure. What decides whether your kettle starts is the surge, and it is quoted less prominently.Read article Renogy BatteriesRenogyGuidesRenogy BatteriesAlmost the entire range is now lithium iron phosphate, and the interesting differences are in the ratings rather than the chemistry.Read article Renogy Solar PanelsRenogyGuidesRenogy Solar PanelsRenogy sells more panel variants than any other brand we track, and the differences between them are not obvious from the listings.Read article Can a Solar Generator Power a House?Jose Rodriguez Ortega / PexelsGuidesCan a Solar Generator Power a House?Partly, and that distinction matters. What a solar generator will genuinely run in a home, what it will not, and what it costs to…Read article How Much Electricity Does a Solar Panel Actually Generate?Robert So / PexelsGuidesHow Much Electricity Does a Solar Panel Actually Generate?A 400W panel does not make 400W. What panels really produce per hour, per day and per year, and why the rating on the…Read article The Power Station Price IndexRobert So / PexelsGuidesThe Power Station Price IndexWhat a watt-hour actually costs across the portable power stations we track, by brand and by size. Goal Zero costs 2.7x more per watt-hour…Read article How to Choose a Solar PanelLos Muertos Crew / PexelsGuidesHow to Choose a Solar PanelWhy the wattage on the box is a laboratory number, how to match a panel to your station, and when the bundle is the…Read article Off-Grid and RV Power SetupsRachel Claire / PexelsBuying GuidesOff-Grid and RV Power SetupsTwo off-grid builds with the numbers worked out: 2,000Wh and 400W of solar for full-time van life, 1,000Wh and 200W for weekends.Read article Portable Power Station for an ApartmentMax Vakhtbovych / PexelsWhat It Will RunPortable Power Station for an ApartmentAn apartment is where a power station makes most sense, because a fuel generator cannot run indoors or on a balcony. What to size…Read article Power Station Not Working? Work Through This FirstSphinxx69 / PexelsTroubleshootingPower Station Not Working? Work Through This FirstMost power station faults are one of six things, and nearly all are recoverable. A step-by-step checklist before you contact support or assume it…Read article BLUETTI AC70 vs Elite 100 V2ComparisonBLUETTI AC70 vs Elite 100 V2AC70 vs Elite 100 V2: 768Wh vs 1,024Wh, $0.47 vs $0.49 per Wh. Full spec table, calculated runtimes for a fridge and CPAP, and…Read article BLUETTI AC70 vs AC70PComparisonBLUETTI AC70 vs AC70PAC70 vs AC70P: 768Wh vs 864Wh, $0.47 vs $0.54 per Wh. Full spec table, calculated runtimes for a fridge and CPAP, and which one…Read article BLUETTI Elite 100 V2 vs Anker SOLIX C1000ComparisonBLUETTI Elite 100 V2 vs Anker SOLIX C1000Elite 100 V2 vs C1000: 1,024Wh vs 1,056Wh, $0.49 vs $0.41 per Wh. Full spec table, calculated runtimes for a fridge and CPAP, and…Read article BLUETTI Elite 200 V2 vs Anker SOLIX C2000 Gen 2ComparisonBLUETTI Elite 200 V2 vs Anker SOLIX C2000 Gen 2Elite 200 V2 vs C2000 Gen 2: 2,074Wh vs 2,048Wh, $0.43 vs $0.46 per Wh. Full spec table, calculated runtimes for a fridge and…Read article BLUETTI AC180 vs AC180P vs AC180TComparisonBLUETTI AC180 vs AC180P vs AC180TBLUETTI AC180 vs AC180P vs AC180T vs AC180 Solar. The AC180P holds 288Wh more than the AC180, at a higher cost per Wh. Full…Read article BLUETTI AC180 vs Elite 100 V2ComparisonBLUETTI AC180 vs Elite 100 V2AC180 vs Elite 100 V2: 1,152Wh vs 1,024Wh, $0.39 vs $0.49 per Wh. Full spec table, calculated runtimes for a fridge and CPAP, and…Read article Can a Portable Power Station Run a Gas Furnace?Đỗ Huy Hoàng / PexelsSizing & CostsCan a Portable Power Station Run a Gas Furnace?A gas furnace only needs its blower and controls powered, which a mid-size battery handles. What it draws, what size to buy, and the…Read article Bluetti vs Anker SOLIX: Compared on the NumbersComparisonBluetti vs Anker SOLIX: Compared on the NumbersBluetti vs Anker SOLIX compared on published specs: price per Wh, rated cycles, warranty, AC output and charging speed, matched size by size.Read article EcoFlow vs Jackery: Power Station Line-Ups ComparedComparisonEcoFlow vs Jackery: Power Station Line-Ups ComparedEcoFlow vs Jackery on published specs: cost per watt-hour, cycle ratings, warranty, AC output, solar input and weight, matched size by size.Read article EcoFlow vs Anker SOLIX: Value Against Reach, Size by SizeComparisonEcoFlow vs Anker SOLIX: Value Against Reach, Size by SizeEcoFlow vs Anker SOLIX on published specs: cost per watt-hour, cycle ratings, warranty, solar input and four size-by-size match-ups from 256 Wh up.Read article Jackery vs Anker SOLIX: Compared Size by SizeComparisonJackery vs Anker SOLIX: Compared Size by SizeJackery vs Anker SOLIX power stations compared: price per Wh, cycle life, warranty and size-by-size spec match-ups.Read article BLUETTI vs Jackery: The Line-Ups Compared in NumbersComparisonBLUETTI vs Jackery: The Line-Ups Compared in NumbersBLUETTI vs Jackery power stations compared: median price per Wh, cycles, warranty and weight, plus four size-by-size match-ups.Read article How to Lower Your Electric BillConnor Scott McManus / PexelsSizing & CostsHow to Lower Your Electric BillBefore you spend anything on hardware, there are changes that cost nothing and cut a bill meaningfully. What actually moves the needle, in order…Read article Do I Need a Permit for Plug-In Solar?Kindel Media / PexelsPlug-In SolarDo I Need a Permit for Plug-In Solar?Whether plug-in solar needs a permit depends on your state and utility. What to ask, what Utah changed, and why you should settle this…Read article Plug-In Solar vs Rooftop SolarGiant Asparagus / PexelsPlug-In SolarPlug-In Solar vs Rooftop SolarRooftop wins on output and payback if you own a suitable roof. Plug-in wins on cost, portability and being available to renters. How to…Read article Can Renters Install Solar?Jan van der Wolf / PexelsPlug-In SolarCan Renters Install Solar?Renters cannot install rooftop solar, but plug-in and balcony kits need no permanent fixing and move house with you. What is possible and where…Read article What Is Plug-In Solar?The Six / PexelsPlug-In SolarWhat Is Plug-In Solar?A panel and microinverter that plugs into a wall outlet: how plug-in solar works with the grid and your meter, what it saves, and…Read article How to Size a Solar SystemRobert So / PexelsSizing & CostsHow to Size a Solar SystemMatching panel wattage to battery capacity, why panels never hit their rating, and how to work out what you actually need for a van,…Read article What Does a Home Battery Actually Cost?Ramesh Kambattan / PexelsBuying GuidesWhat Does a Home Battery Actually Cost?Home battery backup ranges from $700 to over $20,000 depending on which route you take. What each approach actually covers, and which suits your…Read article What Size Power Station Do I Need?Matthew DeVries / PexelsBuying GuidesWhat Size Power Station Do I Need?Two numbers decide it: watt hours for how long, watts for what it will run at all. Work out both from your own loads,…Read article Power Station vs Gas Generatorbattery storage aokeepower / PexelsBuying GuidesPower Station vs Gas GeneratorBatteries win on noise, safety and running cost; gas still wins on long heavy loads. An honest comparison, including when gas is the right…Read article LiFePO4 vs Lithium-IonHilary Halliwell / PexelsBuying GuidesLiFePO4 vs Lithium-IonLiFePO4 lasts several times longer and handles heat better than older lithium-ion NMC packs. What that means in practice, and when NMC still makes…Read article How Many Watts Does a Refrigerator Use?Anna Shvets / PexelsSizing & CostsHow Many Watts Does a Refrigerator Use?A fridge draws 100–250W running but averages 40–80W across a day. The number that actually sizes a battery, plus runtimes for every power station…Read article Bluetti vs EcoFlowComparisonBluetti vs EcoFlowBluetti vs EcoFlow compared on capacity, output, cost per watt-hour, charging and expandability, model by model, and which suits your use.Read article
The Watt Guide
Scroll to Top