Runtime by power station size: Wi-Fi router
| Power station size | Typical runtime | Realistic range |
|---|---|---|
| 300 Wh | 21 h 15 min | 12.8–42.5 h |
| 500 Wh | 35 h 25 min | 0.9–3.0 days |
| 1,000 Wh | 3.0 days (71 h) | 1.8–5.9 days |
| 1,500 Wh | 4.4 days (106 h) | 2.7–8.9 days |
| 2,000 Wh | 5.9 days (142 h) | 3.5–11.8 days |
| 3,000 Wh | 8.9 days (213 h) | 5.3–17.7 days |
Runtime by power station size: Modem + Wi-Fi router
| Power station size | Typical runtime | Realistic range |
|---|---|---|
| 300 Wh | 12 h 45 min | 8.5–21.3 h |
| 500 Wh | 21 h 15 min | 14.2–35.4 h |
| 1,000 Wh | 42 h 30 min | 1.2–3.0 days |
| 1,500 Wh | 2.7 days (64 h) | 1.8–4.4 days |
| 2,000 Wh | 3.5 days (85 h) | 2.4–5.9 days |
| 3,000 Wh | 5.3 days (128 h) | 3.5–8.9 days |
Small loads, big inverter overhead
Here's a catch for small loads: a power station's AC inverter draws power just by being switched on. Its idle draw (often 10–30 W, check your manual) can be as much as the router itself. On AC, a 20 W modem and router can really cost the battery 30–40 W.
Ways around it:
- 12 V DC: many routers and modems run on 12 V DC. A 12 V DC cable or a barrel-plug adapter from the station's car socket powers them without the inverter. Check the voltage and plug size on the router's power brick first.
- USB-C: some newer routers and mesh units run on USB-C power delivery.
- Mini DC UPS: small router-specific UPS units hold a few hours on their own and can be recharged from the power station.
Will the internet actually work in an outage?
Powering your router only helps if your provider's network is still up. Cable and fiber networks have their own backup power at local nodes, but it may only last hours in a long outage. Cellular hotspots and satellite internet like Starlink don't rely on the local wired network.
A Starlink Standard dish averages roughly 75–100 W, several times more than a router. Starlink Mini is closer to 25–40 W. Add yours in the runtime calculator to see the difference.
Typical home-office outage setup
A modem and router (20 W), a laptop (45 W average) and a phone charging (10 W) average about 75 W. A 1,000 Wh station runs that for about 11 hours on AC: more than a working day. Unplug the laptop when it's charged and the router setup alone keeps going for another day.