A portable power plant is an essential piece of equipment to keep equipment such as medical equipment, radios, gadgets and smartphones charged and running during emergencies. Many power stations have standard AC outlets and USB ports to power several types of devices at the same time. Mobile power stations have an advantage over traditional generators in that they do not require gasoline, kerosene or propane to operate. Not only does this save you money and time spent on engine maintenance, it makes battery backups much, much safer to use indoors.
Power stations also offer you a wider range of power generation options than traditional generators. If you just want to keep your phone charged and a radio running, there are inverters available on hand. But if you need to keep high-powered items like CPAP or oxygen machines and even kitchen appliances running, you can buy a power station that has an electrical output comparable to that of a traditional generator.
Portable power stations are also quieter than traditional generators and feature push-button ignition and instant-on capabilities; no more struggles with pull-ups and warm-up cycles. If you want a more in-depth explanation of the differences between portable power stations and traditional generators, you can read our special feature, which covers everything from cost and power needs to how weather and even earthquakes affect the options your emergency power. You can also check out our list of the best home generators for whole-home emergency power.
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- LCD screen
- One button start
- solar panels
Characteristics: 1000 watts | 110 volts | A total of 7 ports
The Jackery Solar Generator 1000 is designed to give you safe and reliable power in an emergency. It has 1,000 watts of power, which means you can do everything from charge your phones and tablets to keep a mini fridge running or set up a space heater to stay warm during a winter storm. It features 3 standard AC outlets for connecting things like lamps, heating blankets and medical equipment, 2 USB-C ports and 2 USB Type-A ports for charging electronic devices.
The easy-to-read LCD display lets you quickly see how much power the generator has left, and you can buy solar panels for more environmentally friendly recharging; solar panels are also great for steady power during summer storm outages. A push-button start gives you instant electricity, while being battery-powered means you don’t have to worry about keeping the battery pack full of fuel or spewing noxious exhaust.
You can also read our reviews of this generator as well as the Jackery Upgraded Solar Generator.
- Solar power and battery
- Wheels for portability
- Heavy use
Characteristics: 2000 watts | 120 volts | 106 pounds
This home battery backup is designed for heavier use. It gives you an impressive 2000 watts or 120 volts of output and features 7 different types of plugs to power just about anything and everything in your home. Goal Zero claims this electric generator can keep a standard refrigerator running for over 100 hours, a CPAP machine for over 90 hours and light bulbs for almost 550 hours.
The generator itself has a compact form factor, but comes with a hefty 106 pounds. Fortunately, it’s mounted on a wheeled cart to make it easier to place where you need it. Along with standard AC plugs and USB ports, the Yeti 6000X has inputs for connecting Goal Zero solar panels. Mounting solar panels gives you faster unit charging on wall outlets and ensures your generator can perform at its best during extended power outages.
- Fast charging feature
- Solar panels available
- Charge up to 15 devices simultaneously
Characteristics: Up to 5000 watts | Up to 100 volts | 6 plugs
The Ecoflow Delta Max 2000 is one of the fastest charging home battery backups on the market. When charging into a standard wall outlet, you’ll get up to 80 percent battery in just 65 minutes and a full charge in just under 2 hours. This makes it perfect for unexpected emergencies like summer storms or winter weather; you can quickly charge the generator battery while keeping an eye on news alerts. With a truly incredible 5,000 watts of power, you can charge and power up to 15 devices at once, including refrigerators, CPAP machines, and even your electric or induction range!
Ecopower also claims that you can chain several Delta Max 2000 units together to create even more power for your home. And the companion app makes it easy to monitor power levels and catch problems before they become massive problems. Like other battery backups on the market, this model can be charged via solar panels for more environmentally friendly power.
You can read more about the Ecoflow Delta Max 2000 in our in-depth review.
- Compact design
- 1600 W outlet
- Tons of sales
Characteristics: 1600 watts | 29 pounds | 8 plugs
The Generac GB1000 is a great option if you’re looking for a portable power plant that’s more on the compact side. It measures just 14 x 12 x 10 inches, which means it’s small enough to fit on a desk or shelf, and at 29 pounds, it’s a bit heavy, but still able to travel with you on camping trips or workplaces. . It provides a maximum power output of 1600 watts and a stable and continuous output of 1000 watts. This means you can charge your mobile devices, use medical equipment and even use things like mini fridges and air conditioners in the event of an outage. It even has a 12V socket for specialized equipment and car accessories.
- The cheapest option
- Light weight
- LCD screen
Characteristics: 600 watts | 6.35 pounds | 7 plugs
The Westinghouse iGen300s is one of the more affordable options if you’re shopping for a home battery backup. For less than $300, you can get this 300-watt continuous electrical generator to power essential appliances. There are two standard AC outlets and USB ports, as well as a built-in flashlight for navigating dark areas or providing emergency lighting. The unit can be charged via a wall outlet or solar panel, giving you options for intermittent and continuous power during emergencies.
Westinghouse claims this unit can power a CPAP machine for up to 23 hours and can charge your smartphone up to 31 times. The built-in LCD display gives you vital information at a glance: you can see battery capacity, charging status, temperature warnings, and power input and output. Plus, you can even monitor USB ports so you can catch problems before they become dangerous problems.
The best portable power station is the Jackery Solar Generator 1000. It has an output of 1000 watts, which is enough power to charge your mobile devices, run a mini-fridge or essential medical equipment during a camping trip or outage of electricity. It also features solar panels for continuous power when a wall outlet is not available.
|
Power station |
PRICE |
FORCE |
# of ports |
|
Jackery Solar Generator 1000 |
1649 dollars |
1000 watts |
7 |
|
Goal Zero Yeti 6000X |
6000 dollars |
2000 watts |
7 |
|
Ecoflow Delta Max 2000 |
1600 dollars |
Up to 5000 watts |
6 |
|
Generac GB1000 |
999 dollars |
1600 watts |
8 |
|
Westinghouse iGen300s |
279 dollars |
600 watts |
7 |
Each of these portable power stations are great options for getting you power when you need it — in the end, it just comes down to how much power you need, how many ports you prefer, and what price you’re willing to spend.
|
Choose this portable power plant… |
If you want… |
|
Jackery Solar Generator 1000 |
Best overall option. |
|
Goal Zero Yeti 6000X |
A power plant that will come in handy during emergencies. |
|
Ecoflow Delta Max 2000 |
A portable power station with fast charging. |
|
Generac GB1000 |
A compact but powerful portable power plant |
|
Westinghouse iGen300s |
A budget friendly portable power station. |
We chose these portable power plants after extensive research in the product category. We compared factors such as price, reviews (both good and bad), power, number of plugs and weight of each power plant.
A generator is usually used to restore power to your entire home, or at least most of your home, as long as you have fuel to power the generator.
A battery backup does not have the same power capacity and is best used to keep essential equipment such as CPAP machines, sump pumps, and space heaters running until power is restored. Battery backup systems also do not need kerosene, gasoline, or propane to operate, making them much safer to use indoors; it also means you don’t have to worry about engine maintenance.
It depends on the power capacity of the backup unit and how many devices you have connected to it. Lower wattage units will only give you up to 10 hours of emergency power, while higher wattage units can give you several days worth of electricity. Many newer battery backup systems allow charging via solar panels, giving you continuous charging options during long power outages.
The best way to determine your emergency power needs is to make a specific list of the equipment you want to keep running during an outage. Want to keep your phones charged and a radio on to listen to weather alerts? You should choose a backup with low power. Do you need to use medical equipment, standard equipment or a pellet stove? It is better to invest in a much higher backup system.
Once you have a list of devices, add their voltage and power; this number is how much output your battery backup system should have, at least. It’s better to have a backup that gives you a little more juice than you need, than one that struggles to keep up.
The two listed below almost made our list and are also great choices:
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