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Power stations for a tailgate: which are enough

Of the 54 power stations in the Enough Watts data set, 28 are enough for one game day, the list once with no recharge, 22 run it but not long enough, and 4 cannot power it. The closest fit is the ALLPOWERS R2500 V2 (1,920 Wh), with 26.7 h of this routine.

Updated

The setup in numbers

  • 387W

    Running, all at once

  • 387W

    Starting watts, no motor surge

  • 1,468Wh

    Energy a day

  • 28 of 54

    Enough for 24 h

The setup

The loads, with the goal of one game day, the list once with no recharge
ApplianceHow manyRunningEnergy a day
TV, 55 inch LED (LCD)182 W82 W × 4 h = 328 Wh
Slow cooker1265 W265 W × 4 h = 1,060 Wh
Phone charging220 W20 W × 2 h × 2 = 80 Wh
Running, everything on at once
82 + 265 + 2 × 20 = 387 W
Starting watts needed
387 W, no load starts above its running watts
Watt hours a day
328 + 1,060 + 80 = 1,468 Wh
Goal
one game day, the list once with no recharge (24 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.

Enough28 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.

22 more stations that are enough, in the same order
Power stationCapacityRuntime of this routineEverything nonstop
EcoFlow DELTA 3 Max Plus2,048 Wh28.5 h4.5 h
OUPES Mega 2 Pro2,048 Wh28.5 h4.5 h
DJI Power 20002,048 Wh28.5 h4.5 h
BLUETTI Elite 200 V22,074 Wh28.8 h4.6 h
Anker SOLIX F26002,560 Wh35.6 h5.6 h
BLUETTI Apex 3002,765 Wh38.4 h6.1 h
BLUETTI Elite 3003,014 Wh41.9 h6.6 h
EcoFlow DELTA 3 Ultra3,072 Wh42.7 h6.7 h
Anker SOLIX F30003,072 Wh42.7 h6.7 h
EcoFlow DELTA 3 Ultra Plus3,072 Wh42.7 h6.7 h
Pecron E3600LFP3,072 Wh42.7 h6.7 h
ALLPOWERS R35003,168 Wh44.0 h7.0 h
ALLPOWERS R40003,456 Wh2.0 days7.6 h
BLUETTI Elite 4003,840 Wh2.2 days8.4 h
Anker SOLIX F38003,840 Wh2.2 days8.4 h
Anker SOLIX F3800 Plus3,840 Wh2.2 days8.4 h
Goal Zero Yeti PRO 40003,994 Wh2.3 days8.8 h
EcoFlow DELTA Pro 34,096 Wh2.4 days9.0 h
OUPES Guardian 6000 V24,608 Wh2.7 days10.1 h
Jackery Explorer 5000 Plus5,040 Wh2.9 days11.1 h
EcoFlow DELTA Pro Ultra6,144 Wh3.6 days13.5 h
EcoFlow DELTA Pro Ultra X12,288 Wh7.1 days27.0 h

Runs it, but not long enough22 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 24 hours
Power stationCapacityRuntime of this routineEverything nonstop
Jackery Explorer 1500 v21,536 Wh21.3 h3.4 h
Jackery Explorer 1500 Ultra1,536 Wh21.3 h3.4 h
Goal Zero Yeti 15001,505 Wh20.9 h3.3 h
Jackery Explorer 1000 Plus1,265 Wh17.6 h2.8 h
BLUETTI AC1801,152 Wh16.0 h2.5 h
ALLPOWERS R15001,152 Wh16.0 h2.5 h
Jackery Explorer 1000 v21,070 Wh14.9 h2.4 h
Anker SOLIX C10001,056 Wh14.7 h2.3 h
BLUETTI Elite 100 V21,024 Wh14.2 h2.2 h
EcoFlow DELTA 3 Classic1,024 Wh14.2 h2.2 h
Anker SOLIX C1000 Gen 21,024 Wh14.2 h2.2 h
EcoFlow DELTA 31,024 Wh14.2 h2.2 h
EcoFlow DELTA 3 Plus1,024 Wh14.2 h2.2 h
Pecron E1000LFP1,024 Wh14.2 h2.2 h
DJI Power 10001,024 Wh14.2 h2.2 h
BLUETTI Elite 100 mini1,005 Wh14.0 h2.2 h
Goal Zero Yeti 700677 Wh9.4 h1.5 h
Jackery Explorer 600 v2640 Wh8.9 h1.4 h
DJI Power 500512 Wh7.1 h1.1 h
Goal Zero Yeti 500499 Wh6.9 h1.1 h
BLUETTI Elite 30 V2288 Wh4.0 h38 min
EcoFlow RIVER 3 Plus286 Wh4.0 h38 min

Cannot power it4 of 54 stations

Show the 4 stations and the number each one fails on

What to know

A game day in the parking lot: a 55 inch TV, a slow cooker and two phones. The TV draws about 82 W and the cooker 265 W on its high setting, and neither has a motor, so the output check is easy at 387 W. The battery decides.

The goal is one game day: 4 hours of TV and cooking, the phones topped up, and no recharge until you are home. That takes 1,468 Wh. 28 of the 54 stations have it; the runtime on each card shows how much is left for a longer pregame.

Cooking with heat takes far more power than watching. A slow cooker is one of the lighter ways to do it, because it heats gently for hours. An electric griddle cooks faster at many times the watts, and the question below works one out.

Keep the station out of direct sun and rain. Each station page lists the lowest temperatures it charges and runs in, where the maker publishes them.

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

Questions

What size power station do you need for a tailgate?
This setup uses 1,468 Wh a day. Lasting 24 hours takes 1,468 Wh usable, about 1,727 Wh of rated capacity at 85% efficiency. It also needs 387 W of continuous output.
Which is the smallest power station that is enough?
The ALLPOWERS R2500 V2, at 1,920 Wh: 1,632 Wh usable gives 26.7 h of this routine. The ranking puts the smallest capacity first, then the lower price, then the lighter unit.
What about an electric griddle?
With an electric griddle in place of a slow cooker, the setup uses 6,408 Wh a day and needs 1,622 W running. 1 of the 54 power stations is enough for one game day, the list once with no recharge, against 28 for the setup above. The closest fit is the EcoFlow DELTA Pro Ultra X (12,288 Wh).