Runtime by power station size: Electric blanket
| Power station size | Typical runtime | Realistic range |
|---|---|---|
| 300 Wh | 4 h 15 min | 2.5–6.4 h |
| 500 Wh | 7 h 5 min | 4.3–10.6 h |
| 1,000 Wh | 14 h 10 min | 8.5–21.3 h |
| 1,500 Wh | 21 h 15 min | 12.8–31.9 h |
| 2,000 Wh | 28 h 20 min | 17.0–42.5 h |
| 3,000 Wh | 42 h 30 min | 1.1–2.7 days |
Why an electric blanket is the best way to stay warm on battery
A space heater tries to warm the air in a whole room, and that heat leaks out through windows and walls. An electric blanket only warms you, right where you are. A typical blanket draws 50–200 W depending on size and setting, and its thermostat cycles it on and off once the bed is warm, averaging around 40–100 W. A 1,500 W space heater uses as much power in 2½ minutes as the blanket does in an hour.
| On a 1,000 Wh station | Average draw | Runtime |
|---|---|---|
| Electric blanket | about 60 W | about 14 hours |
| Space heater, low (750 W) | about 750 W | about 1 hour 8 min |
| Space heater, high (1,500 W) | about 1,500 W | about 34 minutes |
More on heaters in how long a power station runs a space heater.
Get more hours from the same battery
- Preheat, then turn it down. Warm the bed on high for 20–30 minutes, then switch to low. Low settings often use half the power.
- Use a heated throw or mattress pad if you have one. Smaller pads use less than a king-size blanket.
- Layer up. A regular blanket on top holds the heat in, so the thermostat switches on less often.
- Consider a 12 V blanket. Blankets made for cars and RVs plug into the station's 12 V socket and skip the AC inverter, which saves about 5% more energy.
- Keep the power station indoors. Lithium batteries deliver less in the cold, and most can't charge below freezing.
Follow the blanket maker's safety instructions, and don't use a blanket with damaged wiring or controls.