Winter storms can be just as devastating as hurricanes when it comes to disrupting the power grid. Blizzards, ice storms, and extreme cold can cause widespread outages, leaving homes and businesses without electricity for days or even weeks.
In such situations, having a reliable backup power source can make all the difference. Portable power stations have become increasingly popular as a way to keep essential devices and appliances running during blackouts., and both can knock out the power at a moment’s notice.
With the impending winter storms caused by the polar vortex, it’s going to be a good idea to keep an eye on the power situation in your home and make sure you’ve got everything you need just in case. In fact, no matter what the weather is outside, a portable power station can at least help you cope a little bit, even if it can’t make it as warm as you might want it to be indoors.
We’ve tested scores of power stations here at CNET, including examining how some can handle the appliance demands of our own homes, so we have an idea of the best ones you’ll be able to use. Here’s what a power station can do for you when the electricity is out.
What is a portable power station
These are no AA batteries. A portable power station is a large battery block, usually 20 pounds and up, that allows you to power regular appliances with a 120-volt AC outlet (the three-prong thing that runs most of your appliances). These batteries tend to pack 200 watt-hours and up of electricity — some with 5,000 watt-hours or more. What does that mean? A 700-watt-hour power station once kept my fridge on for 14.5 hours in a simulated blackout (when it wasn’t running anything else).
These batteries come in a range of sizes and power ratings. The smaller ones might be able to keep your phone or laptop running for days so you can still make emergency phone calls or texts during an outage. A larger one could potentially power your entire home for a bit. Granted, the prices and sizes of these batteries go up as they get more powerful and have more capacity.
Our testing has examined, among other factors, how much usable capacity a power station actually has, because you likely won’t be able to tap all of the capacity of a battery. Here’s a look at how they’ve held up:
How a power station can help during a blackout
Blackouts are more common in some parts of the country. Depending on your weather, you may be able to anticipate when the power goes out and better prepare. We took a look at data from the Energy Information Administration to see which states had the most power outages and the longest total time without power per year from 2018 to 2022.
Some power stations are big enough and equipped with the right outlets to power your home (if you have the right equipment wired into your electrical panel) but most won’t be able to keep the AC on during a power outage. Here are some things they can do.
Keep your phone alive
Blackouts can be dangerous situations, especially if you or a family member have health issues or are sensitive to the heat. Keeping a phone operating is vital for safety, allowing you to get help in case of an emergency. Having a working phone can also allow you to keep track of your electric company’s efforts in restoring power or book a hotel somewhere the power is on.
Is your refrigerator running?
Refrigerators don’t use quite as much power as you might think. An energy-efficient fridge, like one that’s Energy Star-rated, will use somewhere in the ballpark of a kilowatt-hour of electricity per day if that. So if you have a power station with a capacity of 2,000 watt-hours (like CNET’s favorite portable power station, the Jackery Explorer 2000 Plus), that could keep your fridge going for a couple of days.
CNET’s pick for the best overall portable power station, this battery packs a wide range of features and it’s modular, meaning you can stack batteries together for more power and capacity. It’s heavy, at 61.5 pounds, but that’s because it’s powerful.