Before you buy a power station for outages, answer seven questions: watt hours, output watts, surge, ports, recharge, cold weather and warranty.
- Match watt hours to your hours of need, and output watts to your biggest single load.
- Check surge rating, recharge options, cold weather limits and the warranty.
- Write down what you will power first, then shop.
Spec sheets are confusing. These seven questions turn them into a decision.
1. How many watt hours do I need?
Capacity in watt hours is your fuel tank. Add up the watts of what you will power and multiply by hours. See calculating watt hours.
2. What is my biggest single load?
The unit's output watts must exceed the load you run at once. Heating and kitchen appliances are the hard ones: see microwave and kettle.
3. What is the surge rating?
Motors briefly need more than their running watts. See surge power explained.
4. Does it have the right ports?
Count the outlets and USB ports for what you will plug in, and check the plug type.
5. How can I recharge it?
Wall, car and solar. In a long outage, solar matters: see charging with solar panels.
6. Will it work in the cold?
Check the maker's temperature limits for use and charging. See cold weather use.
7. What is the warranty and support?
Compare warranty length, what it covers, and how to claim in Canada. Also plan to keep it charged: storage guide.
Then shop
Write down your answers, then compare brands in Jackery vs EcoFlow vs BLUETTI.
Backup power picks (Canada)
Size the unit to your own load first: see the sizing guide.
Quick comparison
| Brand | Best for |
|---|---|
| EEcoFlow | Fast charging and expandable systems |
| BBLUETTI | Large lineup, expandable home systems |
| JJackery | Wide range, compact to home backup sizes |
Power stations with fast recharging and expandable capacity.
- Markets fast charging, so compare charge times
- Expandable systems in larger sizes
- Check solar input specs
Power stations and solar generators with fast charging.
Larger capacity units that can run a fridge.
- Broad capacity range
- Expandable home-backup options
- Compare battery chemistry and stated cycle life
Popular portable units and solar kits.
- Has a Canadian storeHas a US store
- Small, mid and large models
- Compare capacity, output and warranty on the maker page
Quick answers
What is the most important spec?
Watt hours for how long it runs, and output watts for what it can run at once.
Can I run my whole house?
Not with a typical portable unit. See the how many watts to run a house guide.
Should I buy solar panels too?
Only if you expect long outages. Solar helps recharge when the grid is down.