Which is the right portable power station for me?

Portable power stations are really versatile and can be a great addition to a weekend camping trip, a caravan holiday, or even as a portable source of power when you’re at home. But there are so many to choose from, it’s hard to know which is the best option for you.

To choose the right portable power station, you’ll need to answer three questions: 

• What size inverter do I need? 
• How much battery power do I need? 
• Which brand should I go for? 

We’ll show you how to answer these questions, then point you in the direction of some good quality, tried-and-tested portable power stations.

What size inverter do I need?

Portable power banks consist of three main components: a battery, an inverter, and a solar charge controller. The inverter converts the low voltage, DC battery power into the 230V AC electricity you need to power your 230V appliances. 

The size of the inverter (e.g. 200W, 500W, 1000W) describes the maximum power it can provide at any one time, which will dictate the kind of appliances you’ll be able to plug in. 

You can work out how big an inverter you need by considering which appliances you’re going to use: 

Step 1

Try to pre-empt which 230V appliances you will want to use and find out their rated power draw, in Watts (W). You can usually find this printed somewhere on the appliance or on the power cord label. Alternatively, you can often find the specifications online. 

Step 2

Work out what your maximum power draw will be at any one time. For example, if you want to plug in a laptop charger (60VA), a blender (1000VA) or a hair dryer (1400VA), your max power draw will be 1400VA.

Step 3

Choose a power station with an inverter that’s big enough to handle your maximum power draw. You should also make sure it has enough plug sockets. 

For the example above, you would need a large power station, with at least three plug sockets, such as the EcoFlow DELTA Max or the Bluetti AC200Max.

Choosing a powerbank with the right inverter

Here’s a list of power stations you could choose based on the wattage of your appliances.

Low-wattage appliances

• Phone charger (20W)
• Smart TV (50W)
• Laptop charger (60W)
• SUP board pump (110W)
• Drone charger (90W)
• Hair straighteners (200W)

Compatible portable power stations

Want to know more about the Jackery Explorer 240? We’ve reviewed this powerbank and made note of all it’s pros and cons.

Mid-wattage appliances 

• Blender (600W)
• Toaster (800W)
• Low-wattage kettle (1200W)

Compatible portable power stations

Want to know more? We’ve written a product review of the Jackery 1000 and the EcoFlow RIVER Max and made note of all their pros and cons.

High-wattage appliances 

• Hair dryer (1600W)
• Induction hob (1800W)
• Domestic kettle (2000W)

Compatible portable power stations

What size battery do I need?

The battery capacity of a power station will tell you how many hours the battery will be able to supply a certain amount of watts, given in Watt hours (Wh).

Based on the power demands of your appliances (in Watts) you can calculate how many Watt-hours you will need from your portable power station. 

Watt hours = Watts x hours

You can calculate how many Watt hours you will use per day by adding up the usage from each individual component.

Item	Wattage (W)	Time (Hours)	Power used (Wh)
Phone	20	0.6	12
Laptop	60	1.2	12
Blender	500	0.1	50
Speaker	60	0.5	30

Total power used = 164Wh

Now choose your power station based on how many days you want to last without having to recharge. 

For the example above, using 164Wh per day,

a power station with a 500Wh battery would last for 3 days

and a power station with a 1300Wh battery would last for 8 days.

The 500Wh station might be great for a long weekend, but the 1300Wh will get you through a week without needing to be recharged. 

However, if you have a means of recharging your portable power station throughout the trip, you might not need such a big battery capacity.

Recharging your powerbank

Portable power stations can be recharged in three different ways: 

• A mains power plug socket (230V AC)
• A car’s cigarette lighter socket (12V DC)
• Or from portable solar panels

Mains plug charging 

If you think you’ll have access to a mains plug socket at some point on your trip (e.g. in a cafe or at a campsite) you’ll be able to recharge your power station.

Here’s where the EcoFlow power stations have a big advantage over the other brands: all EcoFlow power stations have fast charging capabilities – their latest generation of powerbanks fully can charge in just one hour. In comparison, most of Bluetti’s powerbanks reach full charge in 3-4 hours, while Jackery’s charge in 5-6 hours.

Charging in the car

You’ll also be able to recharge your portable power station from the cigarette lighter socket in your car whenever you’re on the move. You should only charge your powerbank when you’re driving, or else you’ll flatten your starter battery.

A small powerbank will need just 3-4 hours to fully recharge, but for large power banks this method isn’t very effective and could take 9-11 hours to fully recharge.

Portable solar panels

Portable solar panels are a really popular option to use alongside a portable power station. Just set them up outside when the sun’s out and they can recharge your power bank for free! The time it takes to recharge from solar depends on the light conditions, the size of the solar panel and the size of the battery.

Here’s an idea of typical solar recharge speeds for small, medium and large powerbanks (assuming there’s a high summer sun with no cloud coverage):

Small powerbanks	Solar power	Recharge speed
Jackery 240	60W solar panel	5.5 hours
EcoFlow RIVER Mini	110W solar panel	4.5 hours

Mid-sized powerbanks	Solar power	Recharge speed
Jackery 500	100W Solar Saga panel	7.5 hours
EcoFlow RIVER Max	220W solar panel	3 hours
PowerOak AC50	120W solar panel	4.5 hours

Want to know more? We’ve written a product review of the Jackery 500 and the AC50 and made note of all their pros and cons.

Large powerbanks	Solar power	Recharge speed
EcoFlow DELTA Mini	2 x 160W solar panels	6 hours
Jackery 1000	2 x 100W Solar Saga panel	6.5 hours

EV charging point

Finally, the EcoFlow DELTA Pro can be charged from an electric vehicle charging point in less than 2 hours! The DELTA Pro is a really big powerbank, so this could be a really good option if you need a lot of power and you’ll be on the move every few days.

What size portable power station do I need?

To help you choose which size portable power station is right for you, we’ve outlined some examples of typical power usage, ranging from a low to extra-high.

Below each example, we’ve listed the powerbanks we would recommend.

We’ve calculated how long each power station would last before you need to recharge, but if you’ll have access to a charging source on your trip, you’ll be able to last for longer and can choose a powerbank with a smaller battery capacity.

Portable power stations for a low daily usage

In this example, some low-wattage appliances are used each day, for only a short time, resulting in a low daily power demand. 

Daily usage	Wattage (W)	Hours used (Hrs)	Power used (wH)
Phone charger x2	40W	0.6	24Wh
Laptop charge	60W	1.2	72Wh
Outdoor light	5W	2	10Wh

Total daily power usage = 106Wh

Recommended powerbanks	Inverter size	Battery size	Time off-grid
EcoFlow RIVER Mini	300W	210Wh	2.0 days
Jackery 240	200W	240Wh	2.3 days
PowerOak AC50	300W	500Wh	4.7 days

These small powerbanks will only take 4 or 5 hours to charge from just one 110W portable solar panel, so you’ll be able to go indefinitely if you can get a full recharge every day.

Portable power stations for a moderate daily usage 

In this example, some low and mid-wattage appliances are used each day, resulting in a moderate daily power requirement. 

Item	Wattage	Hours used	Wh per day
Phone charge (x2)	40W	0.6 hours	24Wh
Laptop charge (x2)	120W	1.2 hours	144Wh
Smart TV	50W	1.0 hours	50Wh
Small blender	400W	0.1 hours	40Wh

Total daily power usage = 258Wh

Recommended powerbanks	Inverter size	Battery size	Time off-grid
Jackery 500	500W	518Wh	2.0 days
EcoFlow RIVER Max	600W	576Wh	2.2 days

The RIVER Max will only take 6 hours to recharge from one 110W portable solar panel, so if you have access to clear skies with a high summer sun, you could keep topped up indefinitely with this set-up.

Portable power stations for a high daily usage 

In this example, low, medium and high-wattage appliances are used each day, including a campervan fridge which runs 24/7 and a hair dryer used for 6 minutes. 

Item	Wattage	Hours used	Wh per day
Phone charge (x2)	40W	0.6 hours	24Wh
Laptop charge (x2)	120W	1.2 hours	144Wh
Toaster	800W	0.1 hours	80Wh
Campervan fridge	20W	24 hours	480Wh
Hair dryer	1600W	0.1 hours	160Wh

Total daily power usage = 888Wh

Recommended powerbanks	Inverter size	Battery size	Time off-grid
EcoFlow DELTA	1800W	1260Wh	1.4 days
EcoFlow DELTA Max	2400W	2016Wh	2.3 days

Because these powerbanks have such a large battery capacity, you’ll need multiple portable solar panels to get a full recharge in just one day. The DELTA will need 2 x 160W solar panels to charge in 6 hours, and the DELTA Max will need 3 x 160W solar panels to charge in 8 hours.

Portable power stations for extra-high daily usage

In this example, low, medium and high wattage appliances are used, including an induction hob for 30 minutes of cooking, which necessitates a large battery capacity and a large inverter. 

Item	Wattage	Hours used	Wh per day
Laptop charge (x2)	120W	1.2 hours	144Wh
Smart TV	50W	1.0 hours	50Wh
Hair dryer	1600W	0.1 hours	160Wh
Campervan fridge	20W	24 hours	480Wh
Induction hob	2000W	0.5 hours	1000Wh

Total daily power usage = 1834Wh

Recommended powerbanks	Inverter size	Battery size	Time off-grid
EcoFlow DELTA Pro	2400W	3600Wh	2.0 days
EcoFlow DELTA Pro with extra battery	2400W	7200Wh	3.9 days

Jackery vs EcoFlow vs Bluetti

Now that you know how to size your powerbank to suit your needs, the last thing to consider is which portable power station brand is best?

Jackery, EcoFlow and Bluetti PowerOak are three of the best portable power station brands available in the UK, so we’ve summarised their pros and cons to help you choose. We’ve also mentioned the Dometic PLB40 which is a 12V only powerbank.

Bluetti PowerOak – Best budget option

Jackery – Best mid-range option

EcoFlow – Most versatile option

Dometic PLB40 – Best 12V option

It’s also worth noting that EcoFlow solar panels come with an Anderson plug to MC4 adapter cable for connecting to the EcoFlow powerbanks. MC4 connectors are the most commonly used solar panel connectors. So, if you already have a solar panel, or want to install a fixed panel on your vehicle’s roof, EcoFlow are easier to connect with than the other brands. You will just need to purchase an MC4 to anderson adapter.

Recharge speed comparison – PowerOak vs Jackery vs EcoFlow

Every power station has a slightly different recharge speed, depending on the size of its battery. However, EcoFlow powerbanks allow fast-charging when they’re plugged into mains power, so they might be the best option for you if you need a quick recharge whenever you have access to a plug socket.

Here’s a comparison between these mid-sized power stations from PowerOak, Jackery and EcoFlow:

Powerbank	Mains power	Car charging	Solar charging
PowerOak AC50	5.0 hours	6.0 hours	4.5 hours from 120W solar panel
Jackery 500	5.5 hours	5.5 hours	7.5 hours from 100W Solar Saga panel
EcoFlow RIVER Max	1.6 hours	6.5 hours	3 hours from 220W EcoFlow solar panel

Which powerbank should I choose if…I’m on a budget?

PowerOak and Jackery powerbanks are the best budget powerbanks whilst still being high quality products. Jackery powerbanks are slightly more expensive, but have bigger inverters. 

Which powerbank should I choose if… I want to use fixed solar panels to recharge it? 

EcoFlow powerbanks come with an MC4 connector adapter. This is the most common type of solar panel connector, and therefore easiest to connect to other solar panels. 

Here’s how to wire up fixed solar panels to charge a portable power station: 

Choose a combination of solar panels which doesn’t exceed the maximum tolerance of the powerbank. You’ll find this in the powerbank’s product description on our website. 

Use a cable entry housing on the roof of your vehicle to ensure a waterproof seal.

Use two solar panel extension cables to connect to the solar panels on the roof of your van. These can be brought into the van, so you can plug in your powerbank inside the van whenever you need to recharge.  

Which powerbank should I choose if… I want to use my portable solar panel to also recharge my leisure battery? 

EcoFlow solar panels have MC4 connectors. These can be used to connect to a solar charge controller to charge your campervan’s leisure battery. 

Here’s how to wire up a portable solar panel to charge your campervan’s leisure battery: 

To manage the variable power coming in from your solar panels, you’ll need to choose the correct solar charge controller. 

If you want to set-up your portable solar panel on your vehicle’s roof, you can use a cable entry housing to feed the cables from your charge controller to your roof. 

You should use a single solar extension cable cut in two to provide you with two cables to connect to your charge controller. These will be blank on one end, and have an MC4 connector on the other end. These should be connected to the ‘input’ connection points on your charge controller.

Whenever you’re parked up and want to recharge, just plug your solar panels into the MC4 connectors to recharge your leisure battery. 

Need some help with your campervan’s electrical system? Try our free electrical system design service. We’ll provide you with a bespoke proposal for free, and if you end up buying your components through us, we’ll send you a free wiring diagram too. 

Portable power stations vs bespoke electrical systems

If you’re planning to convert or upgrade a campervan, you might be wondering if a portable power station would do the same job as a permanent electrical system, without the hassle of a complex installation. 

Portable power stations definitely have the potential to be really useful, and might be good enough if you only want a simple campervan conversion, but they also have their limitations.

1. They don’t have enough ports or sockets.

Most campervans can power a variety of in-built appliances (such as ceiling lights, bedside lights, fans, a water pump, a fridge, a heater) and can have multiple 230V plug sockets for powering 230V appliances.

A portable power station only has a limited number of ports and plug sockets and won’t be able to accommodate lots of devices. 

2. The small and mid-sized power stations don’t have enough battery capacity.

Only the extra-large power stations have a battery capacity which can measure up to a typical campervan leisure battery, which is big enough to last off-grid for several days. 

Here’s an example of the size of powerbank you might need to last off-grid for 3 days in a campervan:

Campervan usage	Wh/day	Powerbank	Price
Basic	600Wh	EcoFlow DELTA Max	£1,995
Moderate	120Wh	EcoFlow DELTA Pro	£3482
High	2400Wh	EcoFlow DELTA Pro + Extra Battery	£6,057

3. Large powerbanks are slow to recharge from solar power or from the vehicle’s engine.

Although EcoFlow’s large powerbanks are quick to charge from mains power, a permanent electrical system will charge more efficiently from solar power and from the vehicle’s charging power when you’re driving. For a battery capacity of around 4000Wh, here’s how the times compare:

	Mains power	Solar power	Vehicle power
Portable power station	1.6 hours	18 hours	42 hours
Permanent electrical system	11 hours	11.5 hours	11 hours

4. You won’t save money with a powerbank.

To create an electrical system with the equivalent functionality of a powerbank, the combined price of the electrical components will be similar to that of the powerbank.

Cost comparison

Here’s a cost comparison between a portable power station and a campervan electrical system, which would both be suitable for the following daily usage:

Item	Wattage	Hours used	Wh per day
Phone charge (x2)	40W	0.6 hours	24Wh
Laptop charger	60W	1.2 hours	72Wh
Fridge	20W	24 hours	480Wh
Ceiling lights	24W	3 hours	72Wh
Hair dryer	1600W	0.1 hours	200Wh

Total daily power usage = 848Wh

We need a system which can accommodate a daily power usage of 848Wh with a minimum inverter size of 2000W.

Portable power station

The following portable power station set-up would be suitable: 

• DELTA Max power station with extra battery
• 2 x 220W portable solar panels

Permanent electrical system

The following combination of electrical components will achieve the same functionality as the powerbank above:

• 320Ah lithium leisure battery (3840Wh)
• Solar charge controller
• 2000W MultiPlus inverter/charger (for charging from shore hook up)
• SmartShunt (for battery monitoring)
• 30A battery-to-battery charger (for charging from engine)
• 2 x 215W fixed solar panels

	Battery Capacity	Solar Input	Total Cost
Portable power station	4032Wh	440W	£4,600
Permanent electrical system	3840Wh	430W	£5,100

The total cost of the electrical components for the permanent electrical system is slightly more expensive than the portable power station. However, it has so many advantages over the portable power station.  

With a bespoke electrical system, you’ll have more flexibility and can tailor the whole system to your needs.

For example, you might only need a small inverter if you only need to charge a laptop, or you may not need a solar charge controller if you don’t plan on using solar power. In these cases, you’ll save money by only buying exactly what you need.

Advantages of a portable power station

EcoFlow powerbanks can recharge from mains power in just 1.6 hours. This could be advantageous if you’ll have occasional access to mains power, where you can plug it in and charge it within a couple of hours.

And if you’re not feeling confident about DIY electrics, using a powerbank means you won’t need to install a leisure battery, a solar charge controller or an inverter. This part of the campervan conversion can be daunting for electrical newbies. Power stations give you an alternative option if you’re worried about building a safe and reliable system. 

Finally, a portable powerbank might be a good option if your current campervan doesn’t have an inverter and you don’t have the room or the confidence to add one in. You’ll be able to use 230V appliances where you couldn’t before, and you’ll have a little extra battery power with you as a back up.