Why should you buy a portable power station?

Bring big backup power with you with these expert-recommended portable power stations, which can store enough power to charge electronics, appliances, and more.

How do portable power stations work?

Portable power stations have control panels with LED displays and buttons that turn off and on inputs and display usage and remaining power. Most portable power stations are also compatible with Bluetooth and Wi-Fi, allowing you to monitor and control them remotely from a smartphone app.

Do portable power stations make noise?

Portable power stations heat up when operating for extended periods or when they’re providing power for multiple devices. Internal fans will kick on to keep the power station from overheating. While these fans are far quieter than the roar of a gas-powered generator, they do still create some noise.

Which battery is best for a portable power station?

These days most portable power stations, including all those we recommend here, use LiFePO4 batteries, which are capable of holding far more cycles, which is the number of times a battery goes through a complete discharge and recharge, than older lithium-ion batteries while also being less likely to combust.

How long does a portable power station take to recharge?

That depends on the capacity of your portable power station, the wattage of your solar panels, and the weather. For example, a 1,000Wh power station that’s receiving a consistent stream of 200 watts of power from a solar panel would take about 5 hours to recharge (1,000/200=5). Are portable power stations weather resistant?

Does a power station have ingress protection?

Some power stations have ingress protection (IP) ratings, indicating they have been tested for water and dust resistance. The Bluetti Elite 200, for example, has an IP65 rating, which means it can withstand water sprays from all angles.