Without electricity there’s no fridge, no light, no charged phone and no CPAP machine. A power station (a portable battery with 230 V sockets) is the only thing that keeps the essentials running in a flat, where a petrol generator is ruled out because of carbon monoxide. Here’s what capacity you need and the models that make sense.
- Small flat, lights and phones: BLUETTI Elite 30 V2
- Best balance for most people: Anker SOLIX C1000 Gen 2
- Lightest 1 kWh model: Jackery Explorer 1000 v2
- Middle ground: EcoFlow RIVER 2 Max
- Most compact 1 kWh: BLUETTI Elite 100 V2
- Chemistry: all LiFePO4, the safest
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Step 1: how much battery you need
The maths is simple: device watts × hours of use = Wh. Add it all up and add 20%, because the battery doesn’t deliver 100% of what it says on the box.
| Device | Typical consumption | 24 hours |
|---|---|---|
| FM radio | 1-5 W | 24-120 Wh |
| LED bulb | 5-10 W | 40-80 Wh (8 h) |
| Charging a phone | 10-15 Wh per charge | 30-45 Wh (3 charges) |
| Laptop | 40-60 W | 200-300 Wh (5 h) |
| CPAP | 30-60 W | 240-480 Wh (8 h) |
| Fridge | varies, check its label | 0.5-1.5 kWh |
Rule of thumb: ~300 Wh keeps LED lights, radio and phones going for a day. ~1,000 Wh adds lights, a laptop and a few hours of fridge. For a fridge over several days you need 1 kWh plus a solar panel.
Step 2: what it must have
- LiFePO4 (LFP) battery: doesn’t catch fire easily and lasts thousands of cycles. Rule out NMC for home use.
- UPS function: if the power goes, it switches over in milliseconds and whatever is plugged in (fridge, CPAP, computer) doesn’t notice.
- Solar input: without it, once it’s empty there’s no way to recharge.
- Pure sine wave: all the models on this list have it; it’s what sensitive devices need.
Comparison
| Model | Capacity | Output | Weight | Extra |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BLUETTI Elite 30 V2 | 288 Wh | 600 W | 4.3 kg | The lightest |
| EcoFlow RIVER 2 Max | 512 Wh | 500 W | 6 kg | Middle ground, LiFePO4 |
| Anker SOLIX C1000 Gen 2 | 1,024 Wh | 2,000 W | ~12 kg | Full charge in 49 min |
| Jackery Explorer 1000 v2 | 1,070 Wh | 1,500 W | 10.8 kg | Lightest 1 kWh model |
| BLUETTI Elite 100 V2 | 1,024 Wh | 1,800 W | 11.5 kg | Compact for its capacity |
Prices change almost daily and drop a lot on Black Friday. Check the current price on Amazon before deciding.
The models, one by one
BLUETTI Elite 30 V2
Best for: small flats: lights, radio, router and phones. The entry point.
- 288 Wh and 600 W output (1,500 W peak)
- Only 4.3 kg: you can carry it around with one hand
- Fast charging and accepts a solar panel
- LiFePO4 battery, very long-lasting
Against: it won’t run a fridge for more than a short while.
EcoFlow RIVER 2 Max
Best for: the middle ground: twice a small one, without the weight of a 1 kWh model.
- 512 Wh and 500 W (up to 1,000 W with X-Boost)
- Full charge from the mains in 1 hour
- LiFePO4: more than 3,000 cycles
- 6 kg
Against: it won’t keep a fridge going for many hours.
Anker SOLIX C1000 Gen 2
Best for: anyone who wants power and very fast recharging.
- 1,024 Wh and 2,000 W (3,000 W peak)
- Full charge from the mains in about 49 minutes
- LiFePO4 battery
- Accepts a solar panel
Against: a bit heavier than the Jackery.
Jackery Explorer 1000 v2
Best for: anyone who has to move it around: it’s the lightest 1 kWh model.
- 1,070 Wh in 10.8 kg
- LiFePO4, 4,000 cycles
- Emergency recharge in 1 hour with the app
Against: not expandable, and output is 1,500 W.
BLUETTI Elite 100 V2
Best for: anyone who wants 1 kWh in the most compact format.
- 1,024 Wh and 1,800 W
- 11.5 kg and 17 litres: one of the most compact for its capacity
- Works as a UPS in a power cut
Against: a less well-known brand in Spain than EcoFlow or Anker.
Solar panels for the balcony
A battery with no way to recharge is a countdown. A foldable panel connected directly to the power station doesn’t connect to your home’s wiring: it unfolds on the balcony when needed and is put away afterwards.
- Wattage: 100 W for small batteries, 200 W for 1 kWh ones.
- Orientation: south-facing and as perpendicular to the sun as possible. A panel lying flat produces much less.
- Connector: check it’s compatible with your battery (XT60, Anderson or MC4 depending on the model).
- Real output: in Spain, a well-angled 200 W panel usually gives between 600 and 1,000 Wh on a clear day.
200 W foldable solar panel
Best for: recharging a 1 kWh power station on a sunny day.
- Foldable, with stands to angle it
- Light: set up in two minutes
- Compatible with almost all brands using an adapter
Against: in winter and on cloudy days it produces considerably less.
100 W foldable solar panel
Best for: small RIVER-type batteries and narrow balconies.
- Cheaper and more compact
- Enough for lights, radio and phones
- Fits behind a door
Against: falls short for 1 kWh batteries.
Frequently asked questions
Can a power station run a fridge?
Yes, 1 kWh models with 1,500-1,800 W output can run a domestic fridge. What limits it is how long: it depends on your fridge’s consumption, which is on its energy label.
How long does it hold its charge if I don’t use it?
LiFePO4 batteries lose very little charge, but manufacturers recommend checking and recharging every 3-6 months.
Is it safe indoors?
Yes. It gives off no gases and LiFePO4 is the most stable chemistry. Keep it ventilated and away from direct heat.
Sources: manufacturers’ spec sheets (EcoFlow, Anker SOLIX, Jackery, Bluetti) and StorageReview analysis. Device consumption figures are approximate: always check the label on yours.