I recommend you don’t run these appliances on your power station – even if you can

Maria Diaz/ZDNET

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ZDNET’s key takeaways

• Certain heat-producing and large appliances can quickly drain your power station.
• Battery capacity is a limited resource during outages, so prioritization is key.
• This list is a recommendation; it doesn’t mean you can’t run these appliances on power stations.

We often hear about certain power stations being capable of running your central HVAC system or keeping your large appliances on during an outage, but just because you can doesn’t mean you always should.

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Many power stations certainly have enough wattage to start an appliance, but that doesn’t mean it’s the most sensible way to run it. There are multiple appliances I don’t recommend keeping connected to a power station, including electric water heaters, space heaters, and ovens, as well as some you might not expect to make the list.

Appliances not to run on a power station

There are some appliances I wouldn’t recommend running continuously on a power station, but that doesn’t mean you can’t. My suggestions are more about what I wouldn’t do, not what you can’t do. This isn’t a compatibility issue — it’s more of a recommendation.

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Modern large power stations are designed and built to handle dryers, heat pumps, and even EV chargers. However, using the following devices on a power station can burn through your stored energy so quickly that it may defeat the purpose of having backup power.

• Central HVAC: A central air conditioning system can draw between 3,000 and 5,500W, resulting in an enormous sustained energy load that’ll quickly drain your power station.
• Heat-producing devices: The problem with heat-producing devices is that they require a lot of energy to turn it into heat. The heating element (or, in the case of large appliances like ovens, multiple heating elements) consumes power rapidly, which can drain your backup battery very quickly. Here’s a list of these heat-producing devices that I wouldn’t recommend running on a power station:
  • Electric clothes dryer
  • Electric water heater (tankless or not)
  • Hot tub or pool heater
  • Electric oven
  • Space heater
  • Electric fireplace
  • Heat pump

FAQ

What are some devices you should run on a power station?

I recommend keeping certain devices connected to a power station at all times to avoid power interruptions. These include a modem and router to avoid internet interruptions (especially if you work from home), your refrigerator, and even your security cameras and systems.

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How do I use a portable battery or power station during an outage?

If you have a backup system for power outages, prioritization is key. Make an emergency plan with a list of the essential devices that you want or need to keep running in the event of an outage, so you can plan your energy consumption.

This list can include a refrigerator to keep food from spoiling, a modem to maintain an internet connection, fans to stay cool in hot months, and lamps to keep some lights on as needed. It can also include medical devices such as CPAP machines.

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Planning how and when you’ll use these devices, and monitoring your real-time energy consumption, are important. If you have a smart system, you can use the manufacturer’s app to watch how long your battery can power some devices or how much energy is left.

Why should you not use heat-producing devices with power stations?

While you can use heat-producing devices with large power stations with compatible wattage, these devices can quickly consume all of your backup power. I’d keep the use of heat-producing devices connected to a power station on an as-needed basis, especially if you’re using them as a backup power source.

As an example, a space heater that consumes 1,500W can consume the entire battery on a 2,000W in 80 minutes or less, which is less than ideal during an hours-long power outage.

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A refrigerator, in contrast, consumes a lot of startup power, but the compressor doesn’t continuously draw the unit’s rated maximum power. The compressors in fridges cycle to maintain a set temperature, unlike a space heater that stays on at all times.

Maria Diaz is a staff writer with a passion for home automation, smart home devices, and tablets. With a background in graphic design, photography, and filmmaking, she has a bachelor's in Mass Communication and experience in journalism and film. See full bio