A week from Very high temperatures In most parts of the United States, this marks the return of the worst aspects of summer in much of the country: Dangerous and even deadly heat.
But while it can be hot enough when… Air conditioner Running all day long doesn’t make it exactly comfortable indoors, and the real danger comes when the electrical grid becomes congested The power goes out. Now you’re stuck in the heat in a house that’s getting hotter by the minute. On top of that, your fridge is facing a countdown – if this goes on long enough, you’ll have to get rid of everything.
Regardless of the temperature outside, a Portable power station It can at least help you cope a little, even if it doesn’t make you feel like spring indoors. We’ve tested dozens of power plants here at CNET, including examining how some of them handle power Appliance requirements of our homes.
Here’s what these big batteries can do.
What is a portable power station
This is no AA batteries. A portable power station is a large battery block, usually weighing 20 pounds and up, that allows you to power regular appliances with a 120-volt AC outlet (the three-prong thing that powers most of your devices). These batteries tend to pack 200 watt-hours and up of electricity – some with 5,000 watt-hours or more. What does it mean? Well, a 700 watt-hour power station I once kept my refrigerator open for 14.5 hours In simulating a power outage (when nothing else is running).
These batteries come in a variety of sizes and power ratings. Smaller companies may be able to retain you phone or laptop It works for several days so you can still make emergency phone calls or text messages during a power outage. A bigger one It can power your entire home for a while. The prices and sizes of these batteries will certainly rise as they become more powerful and larger in capacity.
Our tests examined, among other factors, how much usable capacity the power station actually has, because you probably won’t be able to utilize the full battery capacity. Here’s a look at how they’re holding up:
How can a power plant help during a power outage?
While some power stations are large enough and equipped with the appropriate outlets to power your home (if you have the appropriate equipment plugged into your electrical panel), most will not be able to run your air conditioner during a power outage. Here are some things Can Do.
Keep your phone alive
Power outages can be dangerous situations, especially if you or a family member experiences one Health problems or sensitivity to heat. Keeping your phone running is vital to safety, allowing you to get help in the event of an emergency. Having a working phone can also allow you to track your power company’s efforts to restore power or book a hotel somewhere where power is available.
Is your refrigerator working?
Refrigerators Don’t use as much force as you think. An energy-efficient refrigerator, like this one Energy star Rated, you’ll use somewhere in the ballpark of a kilowatt-hour of electricity per day, if that. So, if you have a 2,000 watt-hour power station, for example (like CNET’s Favorite portable power stationJackery Explorer 2000 Plus), which can keep your refrigerator running for a few days.
CNET’s pick for the best portable power station overall, this battery pack has a wide range of features and is modular, meaning you can group batteries together for more power and capacity. It’s heavy, at 61.5 pounds, but that’s because it’s sturdy.
In addition to saving you money on having to buy mayonnaise and milk again when the power outage ends, keeping your refrigerator cool can be essential if you have medications that need to be kept cold, such as insulin. Plus: Cold drinks can help when trying to stay cool during a heat wave.
Turn on a fan or portable air conditioner
Just because you can’t run your central air from a portable battery doesn’t mean you can’t keep a portable one Window unit Or a Portable air conditioner It keeps some parts of your home cool. You can also play a file a fanwhich will help a little when the temperature is high.
Stay out of the dark
A portable power station can keep some larger lights lit, as well as give you a way to keep your rechargeable flashlights running longer. One of the ways we test the usable capacity of power plants in CNET Testing LaboratoryFor example, this is done by connecting them to 110-watt work lights – and those things are bright. A power station with only one strong light can prevent you from living in the dark during a power outage. You can also connect a power station to your living room lamp.
CNET’s pick for the best extra-large portable power station, the Anker Solix F3800 is a great cart of backup power. It can be stacked with up to six expansion batteries with a total capacity of 26.9 kWh.
Extend your energy with solar panels
You’re not necessarily stuck with whatever power was in the power plant’s battery when the grid went down. Most power stations can be recharged from your car, just as if you were plugging in a phone. But you can also get Portable solar panels That is compatible with your power station and use it to extend the life of the power station. Keeping the power station connected to solar panels during the day can ensure that your refrigerator and phone stay running, even if the air conditioner isn’t working.
Our favorite portable solar panel is the Jackery SolarSaga 200, which comes with 200 watts of charging power. It’s a leader in efficiency among portable solar panels and has a high watts-per-pound rating, meaning it’s more powerful but still portable.