Runtime by power station size: Laptop (charging and in use)
| Power station size | Typical runtime | Realistic range |
|---|---|---|
| 300 Wh | 5 h 40 min | 2.8–8.5 h |
| 500 Wh | 9 h 27 min | 4.7–14.2 h |
| 1,000 Wh | 18 h 53 min | 9.4–28.3 h |
| 1,500 Wh | 28 h 20 min | 14.2–42.5 h |
| 2,000 Wh | 37 h 47 min | 0.8–2.4 days |
| 3,000 Wh | 2.4 days (57 h) | 1.2–3.5 days |
Runtime by power station size: Desktop computer + monitor
| Power station size | Typical runtime | Realistic range |
|---|---|---|
| 300 Wh | 1 h 42 min | 0.6–2.5 h |
| 500 Wh | 2 h 50 min | 1.1–4.3 h |
| 1,000 Wh | 5 h 40 min | 2.1–8.5 h |
| 1,500 Wh | 8 h 30 min | 3.2–12.8 h |
| 2,000 Wh | 11 h 20 min | 4.3–17.0 h |
| 3,000 Wh | 17 h | 6.4–25.5 h |
How much power computers use
| Computer | Typical draw | On a 1,000 Wh station |
|---|---|---|
| Thin laptop, office work | 20–40 W | 21–43 hours |
| Laptop, charging and in use | about 45 W | about 19 hours |
| Desktop + monitor, office work | 100–200 W | 4–8½ hours |
| Gaming PC while gaming | 300–600 W+ | 1½–3 hours |
The power supply's rating (a "750 W" PSU, say) is its maximum, not what it uses. Real draw depends on the work: browsing and documents use a fraction of the power of gaming or video rendering. A plug-in watt meter shows your own number in a minute.
Charge laptops from USB-C for longer runtime
Most current laptops charge over USB-C Power Delivery, and most power stations have USB-C ports rated 60–140 W. Using them instead of plugging the laptop's charger into an AC outlet skips two conversions (battery to AC, then AC back to DC), so you get about 90% of the capacity instead of 85%, and the AC inverter can stay off entirely. Check that the port's wattage matches your laptop's charger.
Working through an outage
- Don't forget the internet. A modem and router add 10–20 W. See how long a power station runs a Wi-Fi router.
- Turn the screen brightness down and close heavy apps: they are the biggest variables you control.
- Using it as a UPS for a desktop: many stations have a UPS or EPS mode that switches to battery when the grid fails. Check the switchover time in the specs. A switchover under about 20 ms usually keeps a desktop running; slower switching can cause a reboot and lost work.
Add your exact setup to the calculator above, or find a station that fits with the power station size calculator.