How long will it run?
Runtime tables and calculators for portable power stations, worked out from manufacturer specs with formulas you can check.
Example runtimes
- ResMed AirSense 11on the EcoFlow DELTA 2, 12V DC 16.5hours
- ResMed AirSense 11on the EcoFlow DELTA 2, AC 15.5hours
- Dometic CFX3 45on the EcoFlow RIVER 3 Plus, 12V DC 21.0hours
What do you need to power?
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CPAP CPAP through the night Hours per night for each machine, through the AC outlet and through a 12V DC adapter. -
12V fridge 12V fridge off grid How long a station keeps a Dometic CFX3 cold, from the 12V car port and from AC. -
Van and RV Van and RV Size a station from what you run in a day, with fridge and CPAP runtimes. -
Plug-in solar Plug-in solar What a balcony solar kit can and can’t do with a portable power station.
Comparisons
Two products side by side: specs and runtimes from the same data.
- Van and RV Bluetti AC180 vs EcoFlow DELTA 3 Plus Battery, AC output, surge and solar input compared for the Bluetti AC180 and EcoFlow DELTA 3 Plus, plus how long each runs a microwave, a coffee maker, a window air conditioner, a Starlink and a CPAP.
- Van and RV EcoFlow DELTA 2 vs Bluetti Elite 100 V2 Battery, AC output, surge and solar input compared for the EcoFlow DELTA 2 and Bluetti Elite 100 V2. Runtime comes out the same on paper, so this covers the two specs that differ.
- CPAP EcoFlow DELTA 2 vs Jackery Explorer 1000 v2 for a CPAP How long the EcoFlow DELTA 2 and Jackery Explorer 1000 v2 run common CPAP machines on AC and 12V DC, from the manufacturers' specs, and where the two actually differ.
- Van and RV EcoFlow DELTA Pro vs Bluetti Elite 200 V2 for a van or RV Battery, AC output, solar input and 12V port compared for the EcoFlow DELTA Pro and Bluetti Elite 200 V2, plus how long each runs a dual-zone 12V fridge and a CPAP.
- 12V fridge Dometic CFX3 35 vs CFX3 45 on a power station Dometic's rated energy use for the CFX3 35 and CFX3 45, how long each runs on three power stations, and why the power numbers shouldn't decide this one for you.
- 12V fridge Dometic CFX3 75DZ vs CFX3 95DZ on a power station Both are dual-zone Dometic fridges, but only one fits under a typical power station's 12V port limit on paper. Runtime for each, with and without the freezer zone.
- Van and RV Bluetti Elite 200 V2 vs Bluetti AC200PL Battery, AC output, surge and solar input compared for the Bluetti Elite 200 V2 and AC200PL, plus how long each runs a window air conditioner, a WAVE 3, a dual-zone 12V fridge, a microwave and a Starlink.
- CPAP EcoFlow RIVER 3 Plus vs Bluetti EB3A Battery, AC output, surge and solar input compared for the EcoFlow RIVER 3 Plus and Bluetti EB3A, plus how long each runs a CPAP, a Starlink Mini, a laptop and a small 12V fridge.
- Plug-in solar Plug-in solar vs. a power station + folding panel for an apartment A plug-in solar kit trims your bill but goes dark in a blackout. A power station with a folding panel keeps things running but saves little. How to choose for an apartment.
How we calculate runtime
One formula, one data file per product. Every table says whether a number is calculated or measured.
- Rated capacityWh, from the spec sheet
- ×Efficiencyfor AC or 12V DC
- ÷Average loadW, from the device maker
- =Runtimehours
Runtime tables
How many hours each power station runs a device, through AC and through 12V DC.
- How long will a portable power station run an air conditioner?
- Can a portable power station run a coffee maker?
- How long will a portable power station run a CPAP?
- Can you run an electric blanket on a portable power station?
- How long will a power station run a 12V fridge?
- How long will a portable power station run a laptop?
- Can a portable power station run a microwave?
- How long will a portable power station run a space heater?
- How long will a portable power station run Starlink?
Guides
Sizing a power station and how the numbers are worked out.
- 12V fridge power consumption: how much each Dometic CFX3 uses in a day
- Best power station for apartment backup (fridge, router, lights, phones)
- Best power station for a CPAP, by how you'll use it
- Best power station for van life and car camping with a 12V fridge
- Why a CPAP gets more hours from a DC adapter than from AC
- Inverter efficiency, and AC vs DC outputs on a power station
- LiFePO4 vs NMC batteries in portable power stations
- What size power station do you need for a van or RV?
- Solar input on a power station: panel watts, input limits and recharge time
- Surge watts on a power station, explained
- Watts vs watt-hours, and why runtime isn't just capacity ÷ load
- Can a portable power station work with plug-in (balcony) solar?