Power Station Calculators
Free tools for planning backup power, camping and RV setups. They work on your phone, and everything runs in your browser.
Runtime calculator
How long will your power station run a fridge, CPAP, sump pump or anything else? Checks surge too.
What size do I need?
List what you want to power and for how long. Get the models that can handle it, smallest first.
Solar charging calculator
Charging time from your panels, plus a wiring check for voltage and current limits.
Real-world runtime simulator
Spec-sheet math vs a simulation that adds inverter idle draw and cold weather. Simulated, not tested.
Winter outage simulator
How long a power station keeps a gas furnace running at your outdoor temperature and thermostat. Simulated, not tested.
Generator vs power station
What each costs over the years in price, gas or electricity and upkeep, and what each needs for a long outage.
Compare models
Put up to three power stations side by side, with runtimes for everyday appliances.
Which calculator to start with
If you already own a power station, start with the runtime calculator. Pick your model, or enter any battery in watt-hours or amp-hours, add what you want to run, and it tells you how long it lasts and whether the station can start a fridge or pump.
If you're still shopping, the size finder works the other way round: list your devices and hours, and it returns the models that can handle them, smallest first. The comparison tool then puts up to three of them side by side.
For charging off the grid, the solar charging calculator gives a charging time and checks your panel wiring against the station's voltage and current limits. The runtime simulator shows why real runtimes come in lower than the simple math, adding inverter idle draw and cold weather; its results are simulated, not tested. And if you're weighing a gas generator against a battery, the cost calculator compares price, fuel or electricity and upkeep over the years.
Every tool uses the specs in our database of 54 models and the formulas in How we calculate.
Reference
- Specs for all 54 power stations in our database
- Appliance wattage chart: running, starting and average watts
- How we calculate: formulas and assumptions
- Add the runtime calculator to your website: free widget, one snippet