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Power stations for a camping weekend: which are enough

Of the 54 power stations in the Enough Watts data set, 32 are enough for a weekend, 48 hours without a recharge, 21 run it but not long enough, and 1 cannot power it. The closest fit is the Jackery Explorer 1000 Plus (1,265 Wh), with 2.1 days of this routine.

Updated

The setup in numbers

  • 113W

    Running, all at once

  • 564W

    Starting watts needed

  • 500Wh

    Energy a day

  • 32 of 54

    Enough for 48 h

The setup

The loads, with the goal of a weekend, 48 hours without a recharge
ApplianceHow manyRunningEnergy a day
Portable compressor fridge (12 V)149 W0.3 kWh a day × 24/24 h = 300 Wh
LED string lights (patio or decorative set)124 W24 W × 5 h = 120 Wh
Phone charging220 W20 W × 2 h × 2 = 80 Wh
Running, everything on at once
49 + 24 + 2 × 20 = 113 W
Starting watts needed
113 - 49 + 500 = 564 W
Watt hours a day
300 + 120 + 80 = 500 Wh
Goal
a weekend, 48 hours without a recharge (48 h)

Change this setup in the calculator

  • Watts vary by model and age. Check the label on your own appliance and enter it for an exact answer.

Enough32 of 54 stations

The 54 power stations in the data set, ranked smallest capacity first (the closest fit), then lower price, then lighter. Whether a link can earn us money never changes the order.

Enough Watts may earn a commission when you buy through links on this page. It never changes the math or the ranking.

26 more stations that are enough, in the same order
Power stationCapacityRuntime of this routineEverything nonstop
Jackery HomePower 2000 Plus v22,048 Wh3.5 days15.4 h
EcoFlow DELTA 3 Max2,048 Wh3.5 days15.4 h
Pecron E2400LFP2,048 Wh3.5 days15.4 h
Anker SOLIX C2000 Gen 22,048 Wh3.5 days15.4 h
EcoFlow DELTA 3 Max Plus2,048 Wh3.5 days15.4 h
OUPES Mega 2 Pro2,048 Wh3.5 days15.4 h
DJI Power 20002,048 Wh3.5 days15.4 h
BLUETTI Elite 200 V22,074 Wh3.5 days15.6 h
Anker SOLIX F26002,560 Wh4.4 days19.3 h
BLUETTI Apex 3002,765 Wh4.7 days20.8 h
BLUETTI Elite 3003,014 Wh5.1 days22.7 h
EcoFlow DELTA 3 Ultra3,072 Wh5.2 days23.1 h
Anker SOLIX F30003,072 Wh5.2 days23.1 h
EcoFlow DELTA 3 Ultra Plus3,072 Wh5.2 days23.1 h
Pecron E3600LFP3,072 Wh5.2 days23.1 h
ALLPOWERS R35003,168 Wh5.4 days23.8 h
ALLPOWERS R40003,456 Wh5.9 days26.0 h
BLUETTI Elite 4003,840 Wh6.5 days28.9 h
Anker SOLIX F38003,840 Wh6.5 days28.9 h
Anker SOLIX F3800 Plus3,840 Wh6.5 days28.9 h
Goal Zero Yeti PRO 40003,994 Wh6.8 days30.0 h
EcoFlow DELTA Pro 34,096 Wh7.0 days30.8 h
OUPES Guardian 6000 V24,608 Wh7.8 days34.7 h
Jackery Explorer 5000 Plus5,040 Wh8.6 days37.9 h
EcoFlow DELTA Pro Ultra6,144 Wh10.4 days46.2 h
EcoFlow DELTA Pro Ultra X12,288 Wh20.9 days3.9 days

Runs it, but not long enough21 of 54 stations

They pass the output, surge and voltage checks but run out before the goal. Longest runtime first.

Stations that run the setup but not for 48 hours
Power stationCapacityRuntime of this routineEverything nonstop
BLUETTI AC1801,152 Wh47.0 h8.7 h
ALLPOWERS R15001,152 Wh47.0 h8.7 h
Jackery Explorer 1000 v21,070 Wh43.7 h8.0 h
Anker SOLIX C10001,056 Wh43.1 h7.9 h
BLUETTI Elite 100 V21,024 Wh41.8 h7.7 h
EcoFlow DELTA 3 Classic1,024 Wh41.8 h7.7 h
Anker SOLIX C1000 Gen 21,024 Wh41.8 h7.7 h
EcoFlow DELTA 31,024 Wh41.8 h7.7 h
EcoFlow DELTA 3 Plus1,024 Wh41.8 h7.7 h
Pecron E1000LFP1,024 Wh41.8 h7.7 h
DJI Power 10001,024 Wh41.8 h7.7 h
BLUETTI Elite 100 mini1,005 Wh41.0 h7.6 h
Goal Zero Yeti 700677 Wh27.6 h5.1 h
Jackery Explorer 600 v2640 Wh26.1 h4.8 h
DJI Power 500512 Wh20.9 h3.9 h
Goal Zero Yeti 500499 Wh20.4 h3.8 h
Goal Zero Yeti 300297 Wh12.1 h2.2 h
BLUETTI Elite 30 V2288 Wh11.8 h2.2 h
Jackery Explorer 300 v2288 Wh11.8 h2.2 h
EcoFlow RIVER 3 Plus286 Wh11.7 h2.2 h
Jackery Explorer 240 v2256 Wh10.4 h1.9 h

Cannot power it1 of 54 stations

Show the 1 stations and the number each one fails on

What to know

Two days at a campsite without hookups: a 12 V compressor fridge, a set of LED string lights for the evenings and two phones. The fridge is 60% of the energy. Its compressor cycles, so it averages 12.5 W over a day although it draws 49 W while running.

The fridge's start, about 500 W, is the one number that can rule a station out. 1 of the 54 station does not. After that it comes down to battery size: 32 stations last the weekend.

A compressor fridge plugged into a station's 12 V car outlet skips the inverter and can run longer than the AC figures here. The cards use the AC outlets and the 85% default, the cautious case.

With sun at the site, a panel can refill part of the battery each day. The solar guide works out how many panel watts keep up. A thermoelectric cooler is the other common choice, and the question below shows what it does to the sums.

Read more: Watts vs watt hours, explained, Why you get less than the rated capacity and Starting watts explained.

Questions

What size power station do you need for a camping weekend?
This setup uses 500 Wh a day. Lasting 48 hours takes 1,000 Wh usable, about 1,176 Wh of rated capacity at 85% efficiency. It also needs 113 W of continuous output and a surge rating of 564 W for the start.
Which is the smallest power station that is enough?
The Jackery Explorer 1000 Plus, at 1,265 Wh: 1,075 Wh usable gives 2.1 days of this routine. The ranking puts the smallest capacity first, then the lower price, then the lighter unit.
What about a thermoelectric cooler instead?
With a thermoelectric cooler (12 V) in place of a portable compressor fridge (12 V), the setup uses 1,640 Wh a day and needs 124 W running. 6 of the 54 power stations are enough for a weekend, 48 hours without a recharge, against 32 for the setup above. The closest fit is the Goal Zero Yeti PRO 4000 (3,994 Wh).