How to calculate your energy needs

Whether you are working on a construction site, adventuring in the great outdoors, or simply looking for a reliable backup for your home: a portable power station is the solution to power your devices. But how do you know which power station suits your needs? The power of your devices plays a key role in this.

In this blog, we explain what wattage means, how to calculate the power consumption of your devices and how to choose the right power station. Whether you are looking for a small model to charge your smartphone, or a powerful one to support heavy tools - we will help you make an informed choice.

How to calculate your power consumption?

Watt (W) is the unit of measurement that indicates how much energy a device consumes or needs to function. The higher the wattage, the more power a power station has to deliver to keep your device running. Then, the longer you use these devices, the bigger your power station's battery needs to be. It is therefore important to know how much power your devices need.

Follow these steps to easily determine what power your power station should be able to deliver and check whether it has enough battery capacity for your energy consumption:

Note the wattage of each appliance: check the wattage on the appliance label, in the manual, or through manufacturer specifications.
Calculate the total wattage: the wattage of your appliances is often expressed in watts (W) or kilowatts (kW). For an accurate estimate of energy consumption, you can calculate the number of watt-hours (Wh):

Watts or kW: 1 kilowatt (kW) equals 1000 watts (W)

Watt-hour (Wh): 1 (Wh) equals to 1 watt (W) of electricity used for 1 hour, for example: A 10-watt LED bulb that uses 10 watt-hours (10 Wh) in one hour. If the same bulb is used for 2 hours, it consumes 20 watt-hours (20 Wh).

What if you can't find a wattage?
Sometimes the required wattage is not listed. In that case, you can calculate it using these formulas:

Watt (W) = Volt (V) x Ampere (A)
Ampere (A) = Watt (W) / Volt (V)

With the required voltage (V) and amperage (A), you can easily estimate the wattage. By estimating the total wattage of all devices, you will know how much power your power station needs when using devices at the same time.Some appliances, such as electric saws or refrigerators, require briefly higher power at startup. This is called peak power. Choose a power station with peak power higher than the highest peak consumption of your appliances. By following these steps, you can estimate approximately what power your power station needs and helps you determine if the battery capacity is sufficient. This will help you make an informed choice for your ideal power station. If you have any questions about this, please contact us.

How efficient is a power station?

Power stations with a Lithium-ion battery are very efficient. How fast your battery drains while using your powerstation depends on a number of technical factors. Here below we simply explain the most important terms:

Depth of Discharge (DoD): This indicates how much of the battery capacity you can use. For most power stations, this is between 80-90%. With EveBase's power stations, this is at 90%.
Inverter Efficiency: A power station converts energy from the battery into usable power via an inverter. During this process, a small portion of the energy is lost. Most models have an efficiency of about 90%, which means that 90% of the energy from the battery is actually usable by your devices.
Load and charging time: How much power your devices need (expressed in watts) and how long you use them (hours) determine how quickly your power station's battery will drain. A high-wattage device will drain the battery faster than a low-wattage energy-efficient device.

Power consumption of daily devices

Below is an overview of the average power consumption of daily devices:

Device	Average Power Consumption
Smartphone	5 - 20 W
Laptop	30 - 80 W
Work Light (LED)	20 - 100 W
Electrical Coolbox	15 - 50 W
Small Tools	200 - 400 W
Nespresso	600 - 1200 W
Hot Water Cooker	800 - 2000 W
Large Professional Tools	800 - 1800 W

Choosing the power station for your needs

Small power stations (up to 750W): Ideal for small devices such as smartphones, laptops, LED lights and compact electric coolers.
Medium power stations (750-1500W): Suitable for appliances such as coffee makers, tool battery chargers, electric coolers and smaller household appliances.
Large power stations (+1500W): Designed for heavy-duty applications such as power tools, kettles and using multiple appliances at once.

With a power station from Evebase, you are assured of reliable and efficient power wherever you are. Whether you're looking for a compact solution for small devices or a powerful option for professional use, our range offers the perfect choice for every situation. Browse our range and find the power station that perfectly suits your needs.