Shore power vs a power station
An RV's electrical system is sized by its plug. A 30 A, 120 V service is 30 × 120 = 3,600 W; a 50 A service has two 120 V legs, 2 × 50 × 120 = 12,000 W. A battery power station gives you its rated output instead: 1,650 W for the median of our 218 models, and 34 of them are rated 3,600 W or more. So on a station you run what you need, not everything at once. The rooftop air conditioner is the load that decides it: check its running and startup watts on the label before counting on a station for it.
What it runs in an RV
Hours of runtime at four capacities, using 85% of the battery for inverter losses. The watts are typical averages, not your appliance's: check its label.
| Device | Watts | 1,000 Wh | 2,000 Wh | 3,000 Wh | 5,000 Wh |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Phone charging | 10 W | 85 h | 170 h | 255 h | 425 h |
| Laptop | 60 W | 14 h | 28 h | 43 h | 71 h |
| CPAP (no humidifier) | 40 W | 21 h | 43 h | 64 h | 106 h |
| Mini fridge (average draw) | 60 W | 14 h | 28 h | 43 h | 71 h |
| Full-size fridge (700 kWh/yr label) | 80 W | 11 h | 21 h | 32 h | 53 h |
| TV | 100 W | 8.5 h | 17 h | 26 h | 43 h |
A day off-grid, as an example: mini fridge 60 W × 24 h , laptop 60 W × 4 h , tv 100 W × 3 h and phone charging 10 W × 4 h = 2,020 Wh, or about 2,377 Wh of battery after inverter losses. Run your own list in the size calculator.
Plugging in the RV: TT-30 outlets
A TT-30 receptacle takes the plug of a 30 A RV cord, so the whole RV panel runs from the station. The station still delivers only its rated output, and the RV's converter may start charging the house battery from it: check that before a long night. These 13 models list a TT-30 or RV outlet (8 power stations, the rest sold as kits with a panel):
Solar on the road
Refill time is capacity divided by the watts your panels actually deliver: 2,000 Wh at a steady 400 W is about 5 hours of good sun, and less sun means more hours. The station's maximum solar input caps how much panel it can use; 28 of the listings in our catalog state it, so check the spec sheet of the one you're considering. Kits of 1,000 Wh and up come with a median 210 W panel: at that rating, a full sunny day refills only part of a 2,000 Wh battery, so plan panels for your daily use. See power stations sold with a panel and portable solar panels.
Room to grow: extra batteries
39 of our 123 stations of 1,000 Wh and up say they take an extra battery, and 44 listings in our catalog (stations and kits of any size) state how far: from 2,048 Wh up to 57,600 Wh. Buying a station that expands lets you start smaller and add capacity for longer trips. Which battery fits which station: expansion batteries.
Popular RV-size models
The four most popular power stations in each of the two largest size classes in our catalog.
| Model | Capacity | Output | Cells | Weight | Wh/lb | TT-30 | Amazon link |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EcoFlow Delta 3 Max | 2,048 Wh | 2,400 W | LiFePO4 | 44.8 lb | 46 | — | Check price on Amazon |
| Anker SOLIX S2000 | 2,010 Wh | 1,500 W | LiFePO4 | 35.7 lb | 56 | — | Check price on Amazon |
| Jackery Explorer 2000 V2 | 2,042 Wh | 2,200 W | LiFePO4 | 39.5 lb | 52 | — | Check price on Amazon |
| Anker SOLIX C2000 Gen 2 (2,048 Wh) | 2,048 Wh | 2,400 W | LiFePO4 | 41.6 lb | 49 | — | Check price on Amazon |
| Jackery Homepower 3600 Plus | 3,584 Wh | 3,600 W | LiFePO4 | 77.2 lb | 46 | — | Check price on Amazon |
| EcoFlow Delta Pro | 3,600 Wh | 3,600 W | LiFePO4 | 99 lb | 36 | — | Check price on Amazon |
| PECRON F3000 | 3,072 Wh | 3,600 W | LiFePO4 | 63.3 lb | 49 | — | Check price on Amazon |
| EcoFlow Delta 3 Ultra | 3,072 Wh | 3,600 W | LiFePO4 | 72.1 lb | 43 | Yes | Check price on Amazon |
Going camping without the RV? See power stations for camping.