How long will a 1 kWh power station run my fridge?

Divide the usable capacity by the fridge’s average consumption. A fridge cycles on and off, so its average draw is far below its rated power. Measure it with a plug-in energy meter for a day, then subtract around 10 to 15 per cent for inverter losses as a rough margin.

In UPS mode the power station passes grid power through to connected devices and switches to its battery when the grid fails. The switchover time on the data sheet tells you whether sensitive devices like a router or computer keep running without interruption.

Can I charge a power station with plug-in solar panels?

Most power stations have a solar input with a voltage and power range stated on the data sheet. Panels must stay within that range. This is separate from a grid-tied plug-in kit, which feeds your home wiring through a microinverter.

Is LFP better than other lithium chemistries?

LFP (lithium iron phosphate) cells are generally rated for more cycles and are considered thermally more stable than many other lithium chemistries, at the cost of more weight per kWh. All four models here use LFP.

Portable power stations compared (1 kWh class)

In the 1 kWh class of portable power stations, the leading models from EcoFlow, Jackery, Bluetti and Anker SOLIX look similar on paper: roughly 1,000 to 1,150 Wh of LFP battery, 1,500 to 1,800 W of continuous AC output and fast mains charging. The useful differences are in rated cycle life, UPS switchover time, solar input and weight. The table compares current models from their published data, checked October 2026. We have not tested these products; check each figure against the latest data sheet before buying.

Data sheet comparison

	EcoFlow DELTA 3 Plus	Jackery Explorer 1000 v2	Bluetti AC180	Anker SOLIX C1000
Capacity	1,024 Wh	1,070 Wh	1,152 Wh	1,056 Wh
Continuous AC output	1,800 W	1,500 W	1,800 W	1,800 W
Cell chemistry	LFP	LFP	LFP	LFP
Rated cycles	4,000 to 80 %	4,000 to 70 %+	3,500+	3,000 to 80 %+
UPS switchover	under 10 ms	see data sheet	see data sheet	under 20 ms (Gen 2: under 10 ms)
Solar input	see data sheet	see data sheet	see data sheet	see data sheet
Expandable	see data sheet	see data sheet	see data sheet	see data sheet
Checked	October 2026	October 2026	October 2026	October 2026

Note how the cycle figures are defined: ‘4,000 cycles to 80 %’ and ‘4,000 cycles to 70 %’ are not the same promise. The second allows more capacity loss before the figure is reached. Manufacturers also update models frequently, as with Anker’s second-generation C1000, so check which version you are looking at.

How to read the data sheet

Capacity (Wh)

The energy stored in the battery. Usable AC energy is lower because the inverter loses some energy converting it to mains voltage. As a rough planning margin, many users subtract 10 to 15 per cent; the exact figure depends on the load and the model.

Continuous and surge output (W)

Continuous output is what the power station can deliver indefinitely. Surge output covers the brief starting current of motors and compressors, such as in fridges. Check that the combined wattage of the devices you plan to run stays below the continuous rating.

Cell chemistry and cycles

All four models use lithium iron phosphate (LFP), which is generally rated for more charge cycles than older lithium chemistries. The cycle figure on the data sheet always comes with a remaining-capacity threshold. Compare those thresholds, not just the cycle number.

UPS function

A UPS (uninterruptible power supply) mode lets the power station sit between the wall socket and your devices. When the grid fails, it switches to battery. A switchover time under about 10 to 20 milliseconds is usually short enough for routers and many computers, but not every device is equally tolerant. Test your setup before relying on it.

Solar input

Most power stations accept solar panels directly. The data sheet states the voltage range and the maximum solar input power. Stay within both. Solar charging makes a power station useful for longer outages, camping and garden use, but it does not turn it into a grid-tied plug-in system; for that see how plug-in solar works.

What a power station is not

A portable power station runs devices plugged into its own sockets. It is not designed to feed power back into your home wiring through a wall socket, and you must never try to do that with an improvised cable: it can put lethal voltage on the plug pins and on wiring that others assume is dead. Connecting a power station to selected house circuits requires a transfer switch or inlet installed by a qualified electrician. More in backup power for a blackout.

If you want storage that works with your solar system every day, look at plug-in battery systems or, for larger homes, a fixed home battery.

Storage and care

A power station kept for emergencies is only useful if it is charged when you need it. Lithium batteries slowly lose charge while stored, so many manufacturers recommend checking and topping up every few months; the manual gives the exact advice. Store the unit somewhere dry, out of direct sun and away from frost. Also check the weight on the data sheet before you buy: units in this class are heavy enough to matter when you carry them up from a cellar or into a car. For general household preparedness, the UK government’s Prepare guidance is a useful starting point.

Sizing in three steps

List the devices you want to run and their wattage (rating plate or energy meter).
Estimate the hours each needs per day during an outage.
Add up the watt-hours, add a margin for conversion losses, and compare with the usable capacity.

Example device	Assumed average draw	Hours	Energy
Router	10 W	24	240 Wh
LED lights	20 W	5	100 Wh
Phone and laptop charging	60 W	2	120 Wh
Total			460 Wh

These are example assumptions; measure your own devices. In this example a 1 kWh power station would cover roughly two days without recharging.