How to calculate what you need

Before looking at brands and models, you need two things: which appliances you want to keep on and how many hours of autonomy you need. With those two numbers, the calculation is straightforward.

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The formula

Add up the watts (W) of all appliances you want to keep on. Multiply by the hours of autonomy you want. That's the minimum Wh you need. Add a 20% safety margin.

Example: router (12W) + 2 cameras (20W) + laptop (55W) + LED lights (30W) = 117W. For 8 hours: 117 ร— 8 = 936 Wh. With 20% margin: you need at least 1,120 Wh.

Real consumption by appliance

ApplianceReal consumption300 Wh500 Wh1,000 Wh2,000 Wh
WiFi router10โ€“15W20โ€“30h33โ€“50h66โ€“100h133โ€“200h
IP camera5โ€“15W20โ€“60h33โ€“100h66โ€“200hโ€”
Laptop45โ€“65W4โ€“6h7โ€“11h15โ€“22h30โ€“44h
43" LED TV80โ€“120W2โ€“3h4โ€“6h8โ€“12h16โ€“25h
LED lights ร—525โ€“40W7โ€“12h12โ€“20h25โ€“40hโ€”
Fridge A++80โ€“150W2โ€“3h3โ€“6h6โ€“12h13โ€“25h
Microwave 800W800โ€“1,000W18โ€“22 min30โ€“37 min1h2h

W vs Wh: the most common confusion

A simple analogy: imagine a water tap. Watts (W) are how fast the water flows (instantaneous power). Watt-hours (Wh) are the total tank capacity (stored energy).

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Practical example

A 1,000 Wh battery can deliver 1,000W for 1 hour. Or 500W for 2 hours. Or 100W for 10 hours. Maximum output power (W) is different from total capacity (Wh).

Solutions by what you need to keep on

Essential

Router + cameras + phone

โ‚ฌ50โ€“300

  • UPS (โ‚ฌ50โ€“150) for instant switchover
  • Or 300โ€“500 Wh station for more autonomy
  • Router active 24โ€“50h
  • Phone and tablet charging
โญ RecommendedComfort

+ Laptop + TV + Lights

โ‚ฌ400โ€“800

  • Work from home during the cut
  • TV on 4โ€“8h
  • LED lights all night
  • Fridge active 3โ€“5h
Full autonomy

+ Fridge + Full home

โ‚ฌ900โ€“2,000

  • Fridge active 8โ€“15h
  • Home running normally
  • Solar chargeable
  • Ideal for frequent cut areas

Brand comparison

BrandTop modelCapacityTechnologyCharge speedApprox. price
EcoFlowDELTA 21,024 WhLFP80% in 50 min~โ‚ฌ700
BLUETTIAC1801,152 WhLFP80% in 45 min~โ‚ฌ800
JackeryExplorer 1000 Pro1,002 WhNMC80% in 1h~โ‚ฌ650
Anker SOLIXC10001,056 WhLFP80% in 58 min~โ‚ฌ600

Frequently asked questions

Yes, as long as the battery has at least 1,000W continuous output and can handle the compressor startup surge (can be 2,000โ€“3,000W for 1โ€“2 seconds). Check the battery's peak power spec before connecting a fridge.
A UPS has instant switchover (0โ€“4ms) โ€” equipment never actually shuts off. A power station may have a small delay. For sensitive equipment (routers, computers), the UPS is better. For extended autonomy and more devices, the power station wins.
LiFePO4 batteries (EcoFlow DELTA 2, BLUETTI) are rated for 3,000โ€“3,500 cycles to 80% capacity. Charging once a week, that's 57โ€“67 years. In practice 15โ€“20 years of real use is easily achievable.