Outdoor self-operated portable power supply

How to choose a portable power station?

Before you buy, check the specs of the power station. Consider the charging speed, as large-capacity stations can take a long time to recharge. Make sure you understand how quickly your chosen power station can charge from the mains and other sources like solar panels, a car battery, or another power source for top-ups.

What can portable power stations help with?

Portable power stations can help with camping for the weekend, living off-grid, or protecting against power outages. Over the past few years, as people have turned away from gas-guzzling generators, portable power stations have enjoyed a meteoric rise. You can buy tons of power stations with varying portability and capacity.

What are the best portable power stations?

To help you decide, I tested the efficiency, in a variety of scenarios, of the best portable power stations from Jackery, Oupes, EcoFlow, Anker, Goal Zero, Grecell, Bluetti, Dakota Lithium, Lion Energy, Vtoman, and Ugreen. What to Know Before Purchasing a Portable Power Station

What accessories do you need for a portable power station?

Some useful accessories for portable power stations include a cord to connect to similar power stations in series (often doubling your power output), a light bar or extendable camping lights for visibility at night. Some models may come with these accessories, like Anker’s Solix C800 Plus.

What can a small portable power station power?

On the small end, portable power stations hold around 300 Wh (like the little Goal Zero Yeti 300, our Best Budget pick). These little ones are generally smaller than a lunch box and good for tasks like recharging laptops and speakers, LED lighting, and small fans.

What devices can a portable power station run?

So long as your portable power station has the right ports and enough capacity, it can run a massive range of devices, including phones, laptops, and desktops. Higher capacity units will also let you power appliances and charge electric vehicles. Check which ports your preferred model has, including USB Type-A and Type-C, AC and mains sockets.