Power Lab: Will It Run?

The fridge runs at 150W, so a 1000W station should be fine. Then the compressor kicks on, asks for 1,800W for a split second, and the station shuts off. Plug your devices in below and watch three numbers: what everything draws while running, the spike when a motor starts, and how long the battery lasts.

Device figures are published typical ranges, not measurements; your appliance's label is the better number. Station ratings come from manufacturer specs. Runtime uses our published method: rated Wh × 0.85, divided by the average draw, rounded down to the half hour. Method: how we research.

Start from a common setup

1. Plug in devices

Kitchen

Full-size refrigerator
100–250W run · 1,200–2,400W start
Mini fridge (3–5 cu ft)
50–100W run · 300–600W start
Chest freezer (5–15 cu ft)
65–150W run · 500–1,200W start
Microwave (1000W cooking)
1,400W run · 1,400W start
Drip coffee maker
900–1,200W run · 900–1,200W start

Comfort

8000 BTU window AC
600–900W run · 1,800–3,600W start
Space heater (1500W)
1,500W run · 1,500W start
Box fan (20")
50–100W run · 100–200W start
Electric blanket
60–200W run · 60–200W start

Health

CPAP (heated humidifier)
50–90W run · 50–90W start

Work & connectivity

Wi-Fi router + modem
15–25W run · 15–25W start
Laptop (charging)
45–90W run · 45–90W start
50" LED TV
60–120W run · 60–120W start
Phone charger
10–20W run · 10–20W start

Around the house

Lamp with LED bulb
9–12W run · 9–12W start
½ HP sump pump
600–800W run · 1,800–2,400W start
7¼" circular saw
1,400W run · 2,800–4,200W start

2. Scoreboard

Power station

Running: 339W
Startup peak: 2,489W
Runtime: 6 hr

Ratings clear this load

Running vs continuous output339 / 2,000W

Startup peak vs surge rating2,489 / 3,000W

Runtime: 1,024Wh × 0.85 = 870Wh usable ÷ 135W average = 6 hr

Startup estimate: 1,289–2,489W (everything running plus the biggest motor starting).

Anker SOLIX C1000 Gen 2 specs Check price on Amazon

Plugged in (6)

Full-size refrigerator~65W average
Wi-Fi router + modem~20W average
2 × Lamp with LED bulb~20W average
2 × Phone charger~30W average

3. Every station we track, against this load

15 of 18 stations clear 339W running and a 2,489W startup.

Power stations ranked by whether their ratings clear the load
Station	Output / surge	Runtime	Result
1,024Wh	2,000W / 3,000W	6 hr	Runs it
1,024Wh	1,800W / 2,700W	6 hr	Runs it
1,024Wh	1,800W / 2,700W	6 hr	Runs it
1,024Wh	2,000W / 3,000W	6 hr	Runs it
1,024Wh	1,800W / 3,600W	6 hr	Runs it
1,070Wh	1,500W / 3,000W	6.5 hr	Runs it
1,070Wh	1,500W / 3,000W	6.5 hr	Runs it
1,505Wh	2,000W / 3,600W	9 hr	Runs it
2,042Wh	3,000W / 6,000W	12.5 hr	Runs it
2,048Wh	2,400W / 3,100W	12.5 hr	Runs it
2,560Wh	2,400W / 3,600W	16 hr	Runs it
2,764Wh	3,840W / 7,680W	17 hr	Runs it
3,072Wh	3,600W / 7,200W	19 hr	Runs it
4,096Wh	4,000W / 8,000W	25.5 hr	Runs it
5,024Wh	4,500W / 8,000W	31.5 hr	Runs it
768Wh	800W / 1,600W	4.5 hr	Tight start
504Wh	600W / 1,200W	3 hr	Won’t start
505Wh	300W / 1,200W	3 hr	Overload

Anker SOLIX C1000 Gen 2339W run · 2,489W start · 6 hrRuns it

Shopping for the devices themselves?

Lower-draw appliances stretch runtime more than a bigger battery does. These links open Amazon search results for each device type; check the wattage on the label before you buy, and plug that number back in here.

As an Amazon Associate, Trek4Tech earns from qualifying purchases. Prices and availability are shown on Amazon.

How the scoreboard decides

A station has to clear two ratings, and the battery decides how long it keeps going.

Running load vs continuous output. Add the high end of every device's running range. If that is above the station's continuous rating, it overloads no matter how big the battery is.
Startup peak vs surge rating. The worst moment is one motor starting while everything else runs: total running watts plus the biggest single startup spike. If the surge rating covers the high end of that range, the ratings clear it. If it only covers the low end, the start is tight and may trip. Below the low end, it won't start.
Runtime. Usable Wh = rated Wh × 0.85, applied once. Divide by the average draw, which for a fridge or freezer is the compressor's on/off cycle (65W for a full-size fridge), and round down to the half hour.

What the lab doesn't check: per-outlet limits (some stations cap one AC outlet below the total), how long the surge rating lasts, 240V appliances, and DC ports. For those, read port wattage limits and surge watts vs running watts. If one motor is the whole question, the appliance surge sizer takes a compressor's LRA from the nameplate. For CPAP nights by model, use the CPAP runtime calculator.

Power Lab FAQ

Can a portable power station run a refrigerator?

Most 1kWh-class stations can, if the surge rating covers the compressor start. A full-size fridge runs at 100–250W but needs 1,200–2,400W for a moment at startup. At a 65W average, a 1,024Wh station runs one for about 13 hours and a 2,048Wh station for about 26.5.

Can a power station run a window air conditioner?

An 8,000 BTU unit runs at 600–900W and can need 1,800–3,600W to start. Plenty of 1,800W-class stations clear the running load; the startup is what separates them. Runtime is short: about an hour per kWh of battery with the compressor on continuously.

Why does a space heater drain the battery so fast?

A 1500W heater has no startup surge, so almost any 1,800W station can run it. But 1,500W for an hour is 1.5kWh, more than a 1kWh station holds after the 0.85 factor. A heated blanket at around 100W keeps a person warm for a fraction of the energy.

Can I send someone a setup?

Yes. The page address updates as you plug devices in and pick a station. Use the “Copy a link to this setup” button and send it; it opens with the same load and station.

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