Guides

Plain-English guides that work from manufacturers' published specs and official advice. Every figure links to its source.

• Portable power station safety

  Using and charging a portable power station safely: lithium battery advice, indoor use, no back-feeding, generators and CO, flying, and medical kit.

• Is a solar panel compatible with your power station?

  How to check a solar panel works with a portable power station: voltage range, cold-weather Voc, current, maximum solar input and connectors.

• Why is your power station running out faster than expected?

  Why a portable power station runs out sooner than its Wh suggests: usable capacity, inverter losses, standby draw, cold, battery age and ECO shut-off.

• What is surge power, and when does it matter?

  Surge (peak) power on a portable power station explained: start-up spikes from fridges and motors, how to add them up, and how it differs from boost modes.

• How long does a power station take to charge from a wall socket?

  How long a portable power station takes to charge from a UK wall socket: makers' stated AC charging times, fast-charging modes, and what slows it down.

• What size solar panel do you need for your power station?

  What size solar panel to pair with a portable power station in the UK: daily energy, peak sun hours by month from EU PVGIS data, and the input limit.

• Can you charge a power station while using it?

  Pass-through charging and UPS on portable power stations: what makers say happens when you charge and use one at once, switchover times, and the limits.

• Why does a power station switch off with a small device?

  Why a portable power station turns off while running a phone charger, router or lamp: ECO modes, outlet timers, standby shutdown, and the settings.

• What does pure sine wave mean on a power station?

  What pure sine wave means on a portable power station spec sheet, how it compares with modified sine wave, and which devices it matters for.