What size power station for a thermoelectric cooler (12 V)?

It needs a station with at least 60 W of continuous output. At the default 85% efficiency it takes about 565 Wh of rated capacity for 8 hours of running, and 1,694 Wh for 24 hours of running. 54 of the 54 power stations in the Enough Watts data set can power it. The smallest one that keeps it going for 24 hours of running is the ALLPOWERS R2500 V2 (1,920 Wh).

Updated October 6, 2026

60W
Continuous output
None
Surge to start it
565Wh
Capacity for 8 hours of running
1,694Wh
Capacity for 24 hours of running
54 of 54
Stations that power it

Watts

Typical figures for this type, from the sources at the foot of this page. Watts vary by model and age. Check the label on your own appliance and enter it for an exact answer.

Running, typical: 60 W
Running, low to high: 60 Wone published figure
Starting: No start surge
Typical use a day: 24 hthe calculator starts from this, and you can change it
Average draw while on: 60 W
Voltage: 120 V

Explained in: Watts vs watt hours, explained and How to read an appliance label for watts.

The math

Worked with the typical figure, as the calculator does it.

Output60 W running, so the station's continuous output must be at least 60 W.
SurgeNo start surge: the running figure covers it.
Average draw60 W: the running watts count for every hour it is on.
A typical day60 W × 24 h = 1,440 Wh a day.
8 hours of running60 W × 8 h = 480 Wh usable, ÷ 0.85 = 565 Wh of rated capacity.
24 hours of running60 W × 24 h = 1,440 Wh usable, ÷ 0.85 = 1,694 Wh of rated capacity.
On the ALLPOWERS R2500 V21,920 Wh × 0.85 = 1,632 Wh usable, ÷ 60 W = 27.2 h.

Stations that run it

Every power station in the data with this appliance alone plugged in, at 85% efficiency. Type the running watts from your own label and the table works it out again.

Running watts

Typical 60 W, from 60 W to 60 W. Watts vary by model and age. Check the label on your own appliance and enter it for an exact answer.

54 of 54 power stations run it at 60 W.

Power stations for a thermoelectric cooler (12 V) at 60 W
Power station	Can it power it	Running time	Output	Start surge
BLUETTI Elite 10 Mini	Runs it	1.8 h	200 W	300 W
Jackery Explorer 240 v2	Runs it	3.6 h	300 W	600 W
EcoFlow RIVER 3 Plus	Runs it	4.1 h	600 W	1,200 W
BLUETTI Elite 30 V2	Runs it	4.1 h	600 W	not published
Jackery Explorer 300 v2	Runs it	4.1 h	300 W	600 W
Goal Zero Yeti 300	Runs it	4.2 h	350 W	600 W
Goal Zero Yeti 500	Runs it	7.1 h	500 W	1,000 W
DJI Power 500	Runs it	7.3 h	1,000 W	not published
Jackery Explorer 600 v2	Runs it	9.1 h	500 W	1,000 W
Goal Zero Yeti 700	Runs it	9.6 h	600 W	1,000 W
BLUETTI Elite 100 mini	Runs it	14.2 h	700 W	1,050 W
BLUETTI Elite 100 V2	Runs it	14.5 h	1,800 W	3,600 W
EcoFlow DELTA 3 Classic	Runs it	14.5 h	1,800 W	3,600 W
Anker SOLIX C1000 Gen 2	Runs it	14.5 h	2,000 W	3,000 W
EcoFlow DELTA 3	Runs it	14.5 h	1,800 W	3,600 W
EcoFlow DELTA 3 Plus	Runs it	14.5 h	1,800 W	3,600 W
Pecron E1000LFP	Runs it	14.5 h	1,800 W	3,000 W
DJI Power 1000	Runs it	14.5 h	2,200 W	4,400 W
Anker SOLIX C1000	Runs it	15.0 h	1,800 W	2,400 W
Jackery Explorer 1000 v2	Runs it	15.2 h	1,500 W	3,000 W
BLUETTI AC180	Runs it	16.3 h	1,800 W	2,700 W
ALLPOWERS R1500	Runs it	16.3 h	1,800 W	3,000 W
Jackery Explorer 1000 Plus	Runs it	17.9 h	2,000 W	4,000 W
Goal Zero Yeti 1500	Runs it	21.3 h	2,000 W	3,600 W
Jackery Explorer 1500 v2	Runs it	21.8 h	2,000 W	4,000 W
Jackery Explorer 1500 Ultra	Runs it	21.8 h	1,800 W	3,600 W
ALLPOWERS R2500 V2	Runs it	27.2 h	2,500 W	4,000 W
Jackery Explorer 2000 v2	Runs it	28.9 h	2,200 W	4,400 W
Jackery HomePower 2000 Plus v2	Runs it	29.0 h	2,400 W	4,800 W
EcoFlow DELTA 3 Max	Runs it	29.0 h	2,400 W	4,800 W
Pecron E2400LFP	Runs it	29.0 h	2,400 W	4,000 W
Anker SOLIX C2000 Gen 2	Runs it	29.0 h	2,400 W	4,000 W
EcoFlow DELTA 3 Max Plus	Runs it	29.0 h	3,000 W	6,000 W
OUPES Mega 2 Pro	Runs it	29.0 h	2,500 W	not published
DJI Power 2000	Runs it	29.0 h	3,000 W	not published
BLUETTI Elite 200 V2	Runs it	29.4 h	2,600 W	not published
Anker SOLIX F2600	Runs it	36.3 h	2,400 W	2,800 W
BLUETTI Apex 300	Runs it	39.2 h	3,840 W	not published
BLUETTI Elite 300	Runs it	42.7 h	2,400 W	4,800 W
EcoFlow DELTA 3 Ultra	Runs it	43.5 h	3,600 W	7,200 W
Anker SOLIX F3000	Runs it	43.5 h	3,600 W	7,200 W
EcoFlow DELTA 3 Ultra Plus	Runs it	43.5 h	3,600 W	7,200 W
Pecron E3600LFP	Runs it	43.5 h	3,600 W	7,000 W
ALLPOWERS R3500	Runs it	44.9 h	3,200 W	6,000 W
ALLPOWERS R4000	Runs it	2.0 days	3,600 W	6,000 W
BLUETTI Elite 400	Runs it	2.3 days	2,600 W	5,200 W
Anker SOLIX F3800	Runs it	2.3 days	6,000 W	9,000 W
Anker SOLIX F3800 Plus	Runs it	2.3 days	6,000 W	9,000 W
Goal Zero Yeti PRO 4000	Runs it	2.4 days	3,600 W	7,200 W
EcoFlow DELTA Pro 3	Runs it	2.4 days	4,000 W	8,000 W
OUPES Guardian 6000 V2	Runs it	2.7 days	6,000 W	9,000 W
Jackery Explorer 5000 Plus	Runs it	3.0 days	7,200 W	14,400 W
EcoFlow DELTA Pro Ultra	Runs it	3.6 days	7,200 W	10,800 W
EcoFlow DELTA Pro Ultra X	Runs it	7.3 days	12,000 W	not published

Add it to the runtime calculator with the rest of your list

What moves the number

The 12 V thermoelectric coolers in our sources all carry a 60 W rating, whatever their size. With no duty cycle published, count the full draw for each hour on the plug: 1,440 Wh a day. They hold the inside roughly 40 F under the outside air, so a hot car limits them.

Questions

How many watts does a thermoelectric cooler (12 V) use?

About 60 W while running. Watts vary by model and age. Check the label on your own appliance and enter it for an exact answer.

Can a portable power station run a thermoelectric cooler (12 V)?

Yes. All 54 power stations in the Enough Watts data set can power it on its own. It takes at least 60 W of continuous output.

How long will a power station run a thermoelectric cooler (12 V)?

It depends on the battery. At 85% efficiency the smallest station that powers it, the BLUETTI Elite 10 Mini (128 Wh), gives about 1.8 h. The largest, the EcoFlow DELTA Pro Ultra X (12,288 Wh), gives about 7.3 days.

Does a thermoelectric cooler (12 V) need extra watts to start?

No. It has no motor or compressor, so it draws about its running watts from the moment it is switched on. The check that matters is a continuous output of at least 60 W.

Sources

Researched from these pages, then checked against them a second time.

Koolatron 12V Cooler/Warmer Voyager 27L (P27) maker product page, checked October 6, 2026
Koolatron 12V Cooler/Warmer Traveller 9L (P9) maker product page, checked October 6, 2026
Koolatron 12V Cooler/Warmer Krusader 49L (P85) maker product page, checked October 6, 2026

We read published figures and do the math; we do not measure appliances. The methodology states every formula on this page. Capacities are rated watt hours: 1,000 Wh rated gives 850 Wh usable at the default.