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The risk of power outages is increasing - our national grid is aging, our demand for electricity is increasing, and the climate is becoming more unstable. The most common solution that comes to mind is a gas or propane generator. These big, heavy machines provide a lot of power, but they have some drawbacks.
They require fuel and can't be operated indoors, which makes the solution problematic for people living in apartments or townhouses that don't have outdoor space (and you're supposed to run the generator at least 6.10 meters from any building, so you'll need a lot of outdoor space to use them).
That's why everyone should probably have what's called a portable power station. These are basically huge batteries that store electricity and power a range of devices and appliances when the lights go out. If you can't use a gas generator, or want a more portable power source than those 45kg behemoths, this is a no-brainer.
Choosing a portable power station depends on your specific needs and lifestyle. There are several things to consider.
Think about what you will need to power when the lights go out and do a little research on the wattage requirements of the appliance so you can calculate what watt-hour capacity you will need in your portable power station. If you think you need more than one day of power, or need to run a larger appliance, you can spend money on more.
You can even get portable power stations that can provide 4,000-5,000 watt-hours, but these are very expensive and are usually as big and heavy as gas generators - still offering the benefit of operating safely indoors. This is where you get the benefits of the portable part and have enough power to function.
These power stations are essentially just large batteries wrapped around very smart management and charging technology. Most will offer lithium-ion batteries, which are fairly standard in the industry, but some are made with lithium iron phosphate batteries, which last longer and are more resistant to high temperatures.
Different models offer different battery life. the EB55 can be charged and discharged about 2500 times before the battery starts to degrade, but other models may be lower (or higher). If you plan to use your workstation frequently, this is a major consideration.
Most portable workstations will provide a large number of outputs - USB ports, wireless charging, AC ports, DC ports, etc. Think about what power you need and make sure the model you choose offers it.
Portable Power Station
Almost all portable power stations can be plugged into the wall for charging, which is a great way to make sure you have a charged battery in case of a power outage. But being able to charge during a power outage is critical.
Look for multiple options
Solar power is a must, although most solar panels are an additional cost. But having adapters that allow you to charge from your car, for example, on cloudy days, gives you an additional option and the ability to combine two or more charging methods to speed up charging is a great feature.
Finally, make sure you can easily store that charging station. If your apartment is crowded, then take some measurements and balance the wattage with the size of the unit so you don't have to put it on a toaster or something else for a short time between emergencies.
Portable power stations are often a better option than traditional gas-powered generators, at least in terms of providing more flexibility in an emergency.
