Alternative Power Sources - Lesson 2 - The Next Step, add Larger Appliances

Understanding Power Bank Size for Emergency Needs

Assessing your energy needs, environmental conditions, and logistical factors will help you choose the most suitable backup power solution for your home. To determine the size of a portable power station required to run essential devices such as a large refrigerator/freezer, a coffee maker, WiFi, a phone charger, and a computer charger during an emergency, it's crucial to compare different power stations based on their surge watts, running watts, size, and weight. Remember these calculations are for utilities, not Whole House Back up which would include HVAC systems.

Calculate the Power Requirements of Each Device (with Estimated Daily Runtime)

Total Daily Energy Usage

• Total Watt-Hours (Wh):
  1,600 (fridge) + 200 (coffee maker) + 360 (WiFi) + 50 (phone) + 200 (computer) = 2,410 Wh/day, that's 2.41 kWh/day

Startup (Surge) Wattage Consideration

You only need to ensure your power station can handle the highest surge at any moment, which is:

• 1,200 watts for the refrigerator.

No need to add surge wattages together, just design around the single highest surge -assuming appliances/devices won’t all start at once.

Efficiency and Battery Considerations

Choose a portable power station that can provide enough running watts for continuous operation. Ensure the power station’s capacity (in watt-hours, Wh) is sufficient to run these devices for the desired time period.

Take into account efficiency losses during energy conversion. Power stations often operate at around 85-90% efficiency. This means you might need a power station with a slightly higher capacity to account for these losses.

Estimating Power Station Runtime for Real-World Daily Usage

Once you calculate realistic power needs, approximately 2,410 Wh per day for essential devices like a refrigerator, coffee maker, router, and chargers, you’ll find that many portable power stations can support these needs, especially when paired with solar or additional batteries.

Below are a few high-capacity options and how long each could power your setup:

EcoFlow Delta Pro

• Capacity: 3,600 Wh

• Surge Watts: 7,200 W

• Running Watts: 3,600 W

• Weight: 99 lbs

• Estimated Runtime: 3,600 Wh ÷ 2,410 Wh/day = ~1.5 days of continuous use

• Pros: Expandable battery modules, solar input, app connectivity

• Cons: Heavy, premium price

• Supports Pass Through Auto Switching (defined below)

With one extra battery module (3,600 Wh), you could power your setup for ~3 days.

Jackery Explorer 2000 Pro

• Capacity: 2,160 Wh

• Surge Watts: 4,400 W

• Running Watts: 2,200 W

• Weight: 43 lbs

• Estimated Runtime: 2,160 Wh ÷ 2,410 Wh/day = ~0.9 days

• Pros: Lightweight for its size, solar compatible, good port options

• Cons: Not ideal for continuous multi-day use without recharge

Best for short outages or daytime solar recharging.

Bluetti AC200P

• Capacity: 2,000 Wh

• Surge Watts: 4,800 W

• Running Watts: 2,000 W

• Weight: 60.6 lbs

• Estimated Runtime: 2,000 Wh ÷ 2,410 Wh/day = ~0.8 days

• Pros: Solid surge capacity, durable design, lots of port options

• Cons: Heavier than Jackery, shorter runtime

Bluetti AC300 + B300 Battery Module

• Capacity: 3,072 Wh (with 1x B300 battery- can be expanded up to 12,288 Wh)

• Surge Watts: 6,000 W

• Running Watts: 3,000 W

• Weight: 47.6 lbs (AC300 unit) + 79.6 lbs (B300 battery) = 127.2 lbs total

• Estimated Runtime: 3,072 Wh ÷ 2,410 Wh/day = ~1.3 days

• Pros: Modular and expandable, supports split-phase 240V with second unit, app control, solar & AC charging

• Cons: Requires separate battery to function, heavy when combined, complex setup for full capabilities

• Supports Pass Through Auto Switching 

Bluetti EP500

• Capacity: 5,100 Wh

• Surge Watts: 6,000 W

• Running Watts: 2,000 W

• Weight: 167 lbs

• Estimated Runtime: 5,100 Wh ÷ 2,410 Wh/day = ~2.1 days

• Pros: Large internal battery, wheels for easier movement, UPS (see below) function with near-seamless switchover

• Cons: Extremely heavy, not modular, limited portability compared to stackable systems

• Supports Pass Through Auto Switching 

Could work with solar input or paired with additional Bluetti batteries.

Goal Zero Yeti 6000X

• Capacity: 6,071 Wh

• Surge Watts: 6,000 W

• Running Watts: 2,000 W

• Weight: 106 lbs

• Estimated Runtime: 6,071 Wh ÷ 2,410 Wh/day = ~2.5 days

• Pros: High capacity, modular battery options, solar ready

• Cons: Expensive, very heavy

Ideal for longer outages or for powering additional devices.

Summary & Practical Recommendations

While many people overestimate their power needs by assuming every device runs 24/7, using realistic daily runtimes paints a much more achievable picture. Your total daily energy need, about 2.41 kWh/day, means that:

• One high-capacity unit like the EcoFlow Delta Pro or Goal Zero 6000X can get you through 1.5 to 2.5 days without recharge.

• Adding solar panels or expansion batteries dramatically increases the sustainability of your setup.

• Focus on devices that must remain powered (like your fridge) and limit luxury items when conserving power.

When Choosing a Power Station, Consider:

• Watt-hour (Wh) capacity

• Surge and running watt ratings

• Weight and portability

• Number of AC/DC/USB ports

• Solar and expansion battery compatibility