Realistically planning your power station needs is one of, if not the most important part of your power station experience. If you do your homework and plan correctly, then when the lights wink out and the world grows that eerie silence during a power outage, you will be happy as a lark, streaming Netflix and resting in the comfort your important appliances will stay on.

Notice I said realistically planning your power needs.

When planning, it is easy to get excited with shiny features and overestimate your power needs, thus spending far more than necessary. On the flip side, you can also dramatically underestimate and then weep and howl when your freezer dies with no end in sight of your local power outage.

Power station planning isn’t just about adding up watts—it’s about understanding the nuances that impact performance, like battery efficiency, appliance behavior, and how you’ll recharge. This guide highlights the often-overlooked details that can make or break your setup, helping you strike the right balance between overkill and underpowered.

Power Station are Not 100% Efficient

Your fancy new power station may boast 1200Wh but in reality, it may only produce 85% to 90% of the sticker stats.

Why? Well, there are several reasons:

• Transferring power produces heat, and heat causes energy loss.
• Plugging in AC appliances into your power station causes the inverter to work, which results in some power loss.
• Your battery is constantly draining some power either through the Battery Management System onboard or simply being on and not charging.
• Temperature affects efficiency. Keeping your battery at a nice, happy medium goes a long way.

When planning your power station needs, make sure you are taking this inefficiency into account. Worst case, you will get 85% of your watt hours, so make sure you get a big enough system to power your setup even with this loss.

Accounting for Power Cycling

Your freezer isn’t always on—and thank goodness for that. What that means for your planning is a bit of a head-scratcher. Sure, you can get fancy and buy a watt meter plug for an exact reading, which isn’t a bad idea if you are the type that needs to have everything exact.

Many of your major appliances cycle on and off. Think about your fridge or freezer. Most of the time, it is dormant, but you can hear it when it kicks on.

The problem is this: if you plan your power station needs on the appliance being on all the time, you will end up with way too big of a system. Yet, the consequences of underestimating can be a bit disastrous. Our advice is to plan on your fridge or freezer running 50% of the time. While this is excessive, it is safe.

Remember, the time of year can affect this dramatically. If it's freezing cold outside and your freezer is in the garage, it won’t need to work as hard as if it is a boiling summer.

Accounting for this cycling in your calculations can help you avoid overspending by getting a massive power station when a much smaller unit would suffice. However, that said, when in doubt, round slightly upward and test your setup under realistic conditions before the next outage hits.

Running 120V and 240V at the Same Time

While a bit of a bunny trail, this is an important point. If you plan on running both 120V and 240V appliances at the same time, be sure your power station can actually handle that. Certain power stations have both plug-ins but only run power to one or the other—not both. Make sure you do your research or this can be a big disappointment for you and a nasty surprise when the power goes out.

How to Recharge Your Power Station

How do you intend on recharging your power station? Solar? AC? Car charger? Not all power stations have the same recharging options. Doing your research will prevent you from unboxing your brand-new portable power station on your camping trip only to discover you can’t actually recharge it with your car port.

Setting realistic expectation on how quickly your power station will recharge is also important. Features like dual input—charging from solar and AC at the same time can speed up the recharge. This can make a huge difference if you’re running low on power during a long outage. And always remember: a power station is only as useful as its ability to be recharged. Without a reliable recharge plan, you’re just delaying the blackout.

Make Sure Your Solar Panels Are Compatible

Not all solar panels work with all power stations. Some require specific connectors, voltage ranges, or even brand-exclusive inputs. Before buying panels, double-check that their specifications match your power station’s input requirements—especially voltage and wattage limits. Mismatched panels can cause inefficient charging, system errors, or no charging at all. A little compatibility research upfront can save a lot of frustration down the line.

Final Thoughts: Plan Smart, Power Long

Planning your power needs isn’t about maxing out specs or hoping for the best—it’s about understanding how power really works, how your appliances behave, and how your environment affects everything. If you take the time to plan realistically, factor in inefficiencies, and know your recharging strategy, you’ll be lightyears ahead of most buyers.

Need help figuring out what system is right for you? Check out our power station sizing guide, or chat with us directly. We’re here to make sure your next power outage is just a blip—not a crisis.