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Power stations for van life: which are enough

Of the 54 power stations in the Enough Watts data set, 31 are enough for one day between recharges, 18 run it but not long enough, and 5 cannot power it. The closest fit is the Goal Zero Yeti 1500 (1,505 Wh), with 25.6 h of this routine.

Updated

The setup in numbers

  • 301W

    Running, all at once

  • 752W

    Starting watts needed

  • 1,199Wh

    Energy a day

  • 31 of 54

    Enough for 24 h

The setup

The loads, with the goal of one day between recharges
ApplianceHow manyRunningEnergy a day
Portable compressor fridge (12 V)149 W0.3 kWh a day × 24/24 h = 300 Wh
Laptop (while charging)165 W65 W × 6 h = 390 Wh
Starlink Mini dish133 W33 W × 8 h = 264 Wh
LED string lights (patio or decorative set)124 W24 W × 5 h = 120 Wh
Phone charging220 W20 W × 2 h × 2 = 80 Wh
RV fresh water pump (12 V)190 W90 W × 0.5 h = 45 Wh
Running, everything on at once
49 + 65 + 33 + 24 + 2 × 20 + 90 = 301 W
Starting watts needed
301 - 49 + 500 = 752 W
Watt hours a day
300 + 390 + 264 + 120 + 80 + 45 = 1,199 Wh
Goal
one day between recharges (24 h)

Change this setup in the calculator

  • Assumes the motor runs the whole time; real use is often less.
  • Starting watts not published; motors often need 2 to 3 times their running watts to start.
  • Watts vary by model and age. Check the label on your own appliance and enter it for an exact answer.

Enough31 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.

25 more stations that are enough, in the same order
Power stationCapacityRuntime of this routineEverything nonstop
EcoFlow DELTA 3 Max2,048 Wh34.8 h5.8 h
Pecron E2400LFP2,048 Wh34.8 h5.8 h
Anker SOLIX C2000 Gen 22,048 Wh34.8 h5.8 h
EcoFlow DELTA 3 Max Plus2,048 Wh34.8 h5.8 h
OUPES Mega 2 Pro2,048 Wh34.8 h5.8 h
DJI Power 20002,048 Wh34.8 h5.8 h
BLUETTI Elite 200 V22,074 Wh35.3 h5.9 h
Anker SOLIX F26002,560 Wh43.6 h7.2 h
BLUETTI Apex 3002,765 Wh47.0 h7.8 h
BLUETTI Elite 3003,014 Wh2.1 days8.5 h
EcoFlow DELTA 3 Ultra3,072 Wh2.2 days8.7 h
Anker SOLIX F30003,072 Wh2.2 days8.7 h
EcoFlow DELTA 3 Ultra Plus3,072 Wh2.2 days8.7 h
Pecron E3600LFP3,072 Wh2.2 days8.7 h
ALLPOWERS R35003,168 Wh2.2 days8.9 h
ALLPOWERS R40003,456 Wh2.5 days9.8 h
BLUETTI Elite 4003,840 Wh2.7 days10.8 h
Anker SOLIX F38003,840 Wh2.7 days10.8 h
Anker SOLIX F3800 Plus3,840 Wh2.7 days10.8 h
Goal Zero Yeti PRO 40003,994 Wh2.8 days11.3 h
EcoFlow DELTA Pro 34,096 Wh2.9 days11.6 h
OUPES Guardian 6000 V24,608 Wh3.3 days13.0 h
Jackery Explorer 5000 Plus5,040 Wh3.6 days14.2 h
EcoFlow DELTA Pro Ultra6,144 Wh4.4 days17.4 h
EcoFlow DELTA Pro Ultra X12,288 Wh8.7 days34.7 h

Runs it, but not long enough18 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 1000 Plus1,265 Wh21.5 h3.6 h
BLUETTI AC1801,152 Wh19.6 h3.3 h
ALLPOWERS R15001,152 Wh19.6 h3.3 h
Jackery Explorer 1000 v21,070 Wh18.2 h3.0 h
Anker SOLIX C10001,056 Wh18.0 h3.0 h
BLUETTI Elite 100 V21,024 Wh17.4 h2.9 h
EcoFlow DELTA 3 Classic1,024 Wh17.4 h2.9 h
Anker SOLIX C1000 Gen 21,024 Wh17.4 h2.9 h
EcoFlow DELTA 31,024 Wh17.4 h2.9 h
EcoFlow DELTA 3 Plus1,024 Wh17.4 h2.9 h
Pecron E1000LFP1,024 Wh17.4 h2.9 h
DJI Power 10001,024 Wh17.4 h2.9 h
BLUETTI Elite 100 mini1,005 Wh17.1 h2.8 h
Goal Zero Yeti 700677 Wh11.5 h1.9 h
Jackery Explorer 600 v2640 Wh10.9 h1.8 h
DJI Power 500512 Wh8.7 h1.4 h
Goal Zero Yeti 500499 Wh8.5 h1.4 h
EcoFlow RIVER 3 Plus286 Wh4.9 h48 min

Cannot power it5 of 54 stations

Show the 5 stations and the number each one fails on
  • BLUETTI Elite 10 Mini Needs 301 W running at once; this station gives 200 W. Needs 752 W to start; this station peaks at 300 W.
  • Jackery Explorer 240 v2 Needs 301 W running at once; this station gives 300 W. Needs 752 W to start; this station peaks at 600 W.
  • BLUETTI Elite 30 V2 Needs 752 W to start. Its surge rating is not published, and its 600 W continuous rating is lower.
  • Jackery Explorer 300 v2 Needs 301 W running at once; this station gives 300 W. Needs 752 W to start; this station peaks at 600 W.
  • Goal Zero Yeti 300 Needs 752 W to start; this station peaks at 600 W.

What to know

A day of van life: a 12 V fridge, a laptop for work, a Starlink Mini for 8 hours, string lights, two phones and the water pump. Together they use 1,199 Wh a day. The fridge and the dish are the steady loads; the laptop is the largest single one.

One day is the goal, the time between recharges when solar or the alternator tops the battery up daily. 31 of the 54 stations are enough, and the closest fit is the smallest battery that does it.

Recharging is the real question in a van. A station keeps up only if it gets back 1,199 Wh a day. At 4 peak sun hours, counting 75% of the panel rating, that takes about 400 W of panels (1,199 ÷ (4 × 0.75)). 31 of the 31 stations that are enough accept that much solar input.

Winter, cloud and parking in shade bring the sun hours down. Try your own figures in the solar recharge calculator or read the solar guide, and check the car charging input on each station page if you drive most days.

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 van life?
This setup uses 1,199 Wh a day. Lasting 24 hours takes 1,199 Wh usable, about 1,411 Wh of rated capacity at 85% efficiency. It also needs 301 W of continuous output and a surge rating of 752 W for the start.
Which is the smallest power station that is enough?
The Goal Zero Yeti 1500, at 1,505 Wh: 1,279 Wh usable gives 25.6 h of this routine. The ranking puts the smallest capacity first, then the lower price, then the lighter unit.