I have a problem. I live in the middle of grass seed fields (yep, grass seed) and during the summer months, these fields are windrowed, combined, windrowed again, and then left in rows for being turned into hay bales. All that loose grass (now straw) is whipped up by the wind and the uncanny amount of dirt devils…until it gets hung up on a transformer, and with a flash of light and a bang, the power is out. 

I work from home so when the power goes out, my stress level shoots up to a level that, if I could figure out how to hook it up to the grid, it would replace my need for power. Let's say I am sick and tired of going dark and want to get a backup power station or solar generator which leads to the all important question:

How do I determine how big of a power station I need?

First, let me state this post is for the beginners. I will not be getting into technical aspects but rather laying out clear steps on how to properly size a power station for people new to the back up power game.

So how do you plan?

Step 1: A Clear Power Station Goal

(Quick reminder, Watt is how much power you need and Watt hours is how long you need it for. Read more here.)

Where a lot of people fail in their power assessment is not setting clear expectations on what they want to power, how much power that requires, and how long they want it to last. They (not you, you are smarter than that), kinda flippantly put a list together, buy what's currently on sale in Amazon’s Daily Deals, then freak out when their power station dies during the first hour of an outage. 

Let’s use my situation as an example. First thing I do is list a clear goal: I want to power all my essential work items (that’s watt) to keep me working for at least 3.5 hours ( that’s watt hours). 

For you, the goal could be as large as wanting to power your whole house for a few hours or down to just keeping your refrigerator and a few key electronics running. The goal is to be precise on your needs so you can find a perfect match and not be disappointed during an outage.

Step 2: A Comprehensive List of Power Station Needs

Next, I will list every single item I use for work and their watts. This list is the must haves, the things that MUST be powered for me to do my job. The list looks like this (note: this is meant as a generalization, your needs will vary):

• Two 24’ LCD Screens - 50w
  
• One Laptop charger - 60w
  
• Power Hub Port - 10w
  
• Two routers - 20w
  
• Charging station - 25w
  
• 1 Modem - 10w
  
• TOTAL = 155w

That is my bare minimum to keep me functioning. That is, of course, assuming all are pulling power at once, but, in keeping in line with my goal, I want a unit that can handle everything at once without the need to jockey chargers around.

So for my basic needs calculation, I am going to give myself a bit of a buffer and say I need 200Ws to keep working. My goal stated I wanted to have enough power for 3.5 hours. To determine how many watt hours that is, I take my total need (200W) and multiply it times 3.5 hours. This equals 700WH.

My power station battery needs to be rated for 200W and 700WH to meet my goal expectations. A few options would be EcoFlow River 2 Pro Portable Power Station or the Anker Solix C800X Portable Power Station. Both have enough Wh and W to do the job.

Your “must power” list should be locked in tight. If an item is on the 1st priority row, it had better be there for a good reason because you are building your power requirements around it. Once you have your “musts” sized and discover your costs and requirements, you can go onto the next step. 

Step 3: Making Power Adjustments

Now that I know how much my basic set up would cost, I can scale in some quality of life wants. 

A lamp might be nice so I am not working in the dark. Or, since I am trying to stay more active, getting a big enough battery to power my walking desk for a bit of exercise. If it is winter, my office would get very cold without running my space heater. In contrast, it could be summer and I want my minifridge keeping some cold ones ready.

But maybe my basic needs are already over my budget. By removing the two screens (which removes the need for the hub as well) and scaling down to only two hours of full power, I already reduce my needs down to 95W and 190WH. Now, a power station like the Anker SOLIX C300X Portable Power Station suffices and cuts my cost by more than half. 

When making adjustments, balance your needs with your budget. As long as you set clear expectations on what needs to be powered and for how long, you will be happy with your power station even if you don’t get everything you wanted on your quality of life list. 

Step 4: Important Power Station Considerations

Now that you have your power needs locked in, there are a few things to consider when looking at power stations. Here are a few options and features to consider or look out for:

UPS (Uninterruptible Power Supply)

A power station with Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) kicks in the moment you lose power. This means your computer doesn’t shut down, you don’t get kicked out of the online game, or your medical machine keeps running. Or, I can keep writing this blog post if the power goes out.

Pure Sine Wave

If you are powering electronics, make sure your power station produces pure sine waves. This means the power is steady and nearly identical to grid power. It protects your sensitive electronics from damage.

Power Station Battery Type

Look for a power station that use LiFePO₄ batteries. They are more reliable, have a great life span, and are safer.

Buffer Time and Surge Rating

Always give yourself a generous buffer by 15% to 20%. Power stations are not 100% efficient so you want to keep that in mind. Also, if your power station needs include a tool or device that has a large surge when starting up, make sure you pick a power station with enough surge rating to handle the draw.

Wrapping Up

And that is the basics. Following those steps can help you size up for something as small as a weekend camping trip up to prepping for a natural disaster. 

However, there is still so much to learn. Below are some more recommended posts, ranging in complexity; spend some time ready so when you start shopping, you will be informed and confident.

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