What is a portable power station, and what can it run?
A portable power station is a big rechargeable battery with a built-in inverter and a set of sockets. You charge it, carry it somewhere, and plug things into it, usually the same plugs you use at home. It is the quiet, fume-free alternative to a petrol generator, and it is much more capable than a phone power bank.
What is inside one
- A battery. Its size is measured in watt-hours (Wh) and decides how long it lasts.
- An inverter. This turns the battery's direct current into the 230 V alternating current that UK plugs use. Its rating, in watts (W), decides how much you can run at once.
- Ports and sockets. Usually a mix of UK or Schuko-style mains sockets, USB-A, USB-C, and a car-style 12 V socket. Check the sockets on the model you are looking at.
- Charging inputs. A mains lead, a car lead and a solar input.
Those two ratings, Wh and W, are the heart of every spec sheet. Watts vs watt-hours explains them with a kettle and a laptop.
How you charge one
- From the mains. The usual way. Charging times range from about an hour for some models to many hours for others, so check the maker's figure.
- From a car socket or alternator. Slower, but useful on the road.
- From solar panels. Handy for several days off-grid. In the UK, panels give much less in winter than in summer, so size them with that in mind. The power sizer allows for this.
What it can run
Most things that plug in will work, if the unit's output is higher than what the item draws and the battery is big enough for the time you need.
| Size band | Typical battery | Usually suits |
|---|---|---|
| Small | about 250 to 600 Wh | Phones, lights, a laptop, a small speaker, a router. Light enough to carry in one hand. |
| Medium | about 1,000 to 1,500 Wh | A weekend of camping with a laptop and lights, a few hours of TV, a short power cut with a fridge. |
| Large | 2,000 Wh and up | A fridge and more for a day or longer, power tools, a van or cabin with solar panels. Heavy, often on wheels. |
The bands are loose guides, not rules. What you actually need depends on your own list of devices. Try it in the power sizer.
What can be awkward
- Heating. Kettles, toasters, hair dryers and heaters draw 1,000 to 3,000 W or more. Many units can't run them at all, and the ones that can will drain the battery quickly. See how many watts a kettle uses.
- Motors and compressors. Fridges, pumps and power tools can briefly pull far more than their label when they start. Leave headroom.
- Weight. A bigger battery weighs more. Check the kilogram figure before you buy one for carrying.
Where to go next
If you are thinking about backup at home, read what a power station can run in a power cut. If you are comparing it with a petrol generator, see power station vs petrol generator.
Ready to put numbers on it? The power sizer turns your own list of devices into a battery size and shows the units that fit.