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Power stations for a well pump backup: which are enough

Of the 54 power stations in the Enough Watts data set, 19 are enough for one full day without a recharge, 24 run it but not long enough, and 11 cannot power it. The closest fit is the BLUETTI Elite 200 V2 (2,074 Wh), with 24.2 h of this routine.

Updated

The setup in numbers

  • 875W

    Running, all at once

  • 1,750W

    Starting watts needed

  • 1,750Wh

    Energy a day

  • 19 of 54

    Enough for 24 h

The setup

The loads, with the goal of one full day without a recharge
ApplianceHow manyRunningEnergy a day
Well pump (1/2 HP)1875 W875 W × 2 h = 1,750 Wh
Running, everything on at once
875 W
Starting watts needed
875 - 875 + 1,750 = 1,750 W
Watt hours a day
1,750 Wh
Goal
one full day without a recharge (24 h)

Change this setup in the calculator

  • Assumes the motor runs the whole time; real use is often less.
  • Watts vary by model and age. Check the label on your own appliance and enter it for an exact answer.

Enough: 19 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.

13 more stations that are enough, in the same order
Power stationCapacityRuntime of this routineEverything nonstop
EcoFlow DELTA 3 Ultra Plus3,072 Wh35.8 h3.0 h
Pecron E3600LFP3,072 Wh35.8 h3.0 h
ALLPOWERS R35003,168 Wh36.9 h3.1 h
ALLPOWERS R40003,456 Wh40.3 h3.4 h
BLUETTI Elite 4003,840 Wh44.8 h3.7 h
Anker SOLIX F38003,840 Wh44.8 h3.7 h
Anker SOLIX F3800 Plus3,840 Wh44.8 h3.7 h
Goal Zero Yeti PRO 40003,994 Wh46.6 h3.9 h
EcoFlow DELTA Pro 34,096 Wh47.7 h4.0 h
OUPES Guardian 6000 V24,608 Wh2.2 days4.5 h
Jackery Explorer 5000 Plus5,040 Wh2.4 days4.9 h
EcoFlow DELTA Pro Ultra6,144 Wh3.0 days6.0 h
EcoFlow DELTA Pro Ultra X12,288 Wh6.0 days11.9 h

Runs it, but not long enough: 24 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 HomePower 2000 Plus v22,048 Wh23.9 h2.0 h
EcoFlow DELTA 3 Max2,048 Wh23.9 h2.0 h
Pecron E2400LFP2,048 Wh23.9 h2.0 h
Anker SOLIX C2000 Gen 22,048 Wh23.9 h2.0 h
EcoFlow DELTA 3 Max Plus2,048 Wh23.9 h2.0 h
OUPES Mega 2 Pro2,048 Wh23.9 h2.0 h
DJI Power 20002,048 Wh23.9 h2.0 h
Jackery Explorer 2000 v22,042 Wh23.8 h2.0 h
ALLPOWERS R2500 V21,920 Wh22.4 h1.9 h
Jackery Explorer 1500 v21,536 Wh17.9 h1.5 h
Jackery Explorer 1500 Ultra1,536 Wh17.9 h1.5 h
Goal Zero Yeti 15001,505 Wh17.5 h1.5 h
Jackery Explorer 1000 Plus1,265 Wh14.7 h1.2 h
BLUETTI AC1801,152 Wh13.4 h1.1 h
ALLPOWERS R15001,152 Wh13.4 h1.1 h
Jackery Explorer 1000 v21,070 Wh12.5 h1.0 h
Anker SOLIX C10001,056 Wh12.3 h1.0 h
BLUETTI Elite 100 V21,024 Wh11.9 h60 min
EcoFlow DELTA 3 Classic1,024 Wh11.9 h60 min
Anker SOLIX C1000 Gen 21,024 Wh11.9 h60 min
EcoFlow DELTA 31,024 Wh11.9 h60 min
EcoFlow DELTA 3 Plus1,024 Wh11.9 h60 min
Pecron E1000LFP1,024 Wh11.9 h60 min
DJI Power 10001,024 Wh11.9 h60 min

Cannot power it: 11 of 54 stations

Show the 11 stations and the number each one fails on
  • BLUETTI Elite 10 Mini Needs 875 W running at once; this station gives 200 W. Needs 1,750 W to start; this station peaks at 300 W.
  • Jackery Explorer 240 v2 Needs 875 W running at once; this station gives 300 W. Needs 1,750 W to start; this station peaks at 600 W.
  • EcoFlow RIVER 3 Plus Needs 875 W running at once; this station gives 600 W. Needs 1,750 W to start; this station peaks at 1,200 W.
  • BLUETTI Elite 30 V2 Needs 875 W running at once; this station gives 600 W. Needs 1,750 W to start. Its surge rating is not published, and its 600 W continuous rating is lower.
  • Jackery Explorer 300 v2 Needs 875 W running at once; this station gives 300 W. Needs 1,750 W to start; this station peaks at 600 W.
  • Goal Zero Yeti 300 Needs 875 W running at once; this station gives 350 W. Needs 1,750 W to start; this station peaks at 600 W.
  • Goal Zero Yeti 500 Needs 875 W running at once; this station gives 500 W. Needs 1,750 W to start; this station peaks at 1,000 W.
  • DJI Power 500 Needs 1,750 W to start. Its surge rating is not published, and its 1,000 W continuous rating is lower.
  • Jackery Explorer 600 v2 Needs 875 W running at once; this station gives 500 W. Needs 1,750 W to start; this station peaks at 1,000 W.
  • Goal Zero Yeti 700 Needs 875 W running at once; this station gives 600 W. Needs 1,750 W to start; this station peaks at 1,000 W.
  • BLUETTI Elite 100 mini Needs 875 W running at once; this station gives 700 W. Needs 1,750 W to start; this station peaks at 1,050 W.

What to know

A 1/2 HP well pump on 120 V draws about 875 W while it runs and about 1,750 W for a moment at each start, 2 times its running figure. 11 of the 54 stations fail on that start, and 19 are enough for a full day.

The data counts 2 hours of motor run time a day with the motor running flat out: 1,750 Wh a day, about 2,059 Wh of rated capacity at 85%. A well pump runs whenever water is drawn, so showers and laundry push the hours up; enter the hours you see in the calculator.

The 1 HP well pump class in the data needs 240 V: 1,500 W running and 3,000 W to start. Only a station that supplies split phase 240 V can run it. 8 of the 54 stations do so on their own and 2 with a second unit linked; for 20, 240 V support is not published. The question below works it out.

A hard wired pump needs an electrician, and a station must never be connected to house wiring without a transfer switch or inlet. Check how your pump connects before you count on a station.

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 well pump backup?
This setup uses 1,750 Wh a day. Lasting 24 hours takes 1,750 Wh usable, about 2,059 Wh of rated capacity at 85% efficiency. It also needs 875 W of continuous output and a surge rating of 1,750 W for the start.
Which is the smallest power station that is enough?
The BLUETTI Elite 200 V2, at 2,074 Wh: 1,763 Wh usable gives 24.2 h of this routine. The ranking puts the smallest capacity first, then the lower price, then the lighter unit.
What about a 1 HP 240 V well pump?
With the 1 HP well pump the setup needs 1,500 W running, 3,000 W to start and 3,000 Wh a day. 8 of the 54 stations are enough for a full day; for 1 of them the maker does not publish 240 V support, so check it on the maker's page before you count on one. 26 fail the 240 V check outright.