Can a power station run a TV and games console?
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The short answer: usually, yes, for an evening on a mid-sized power station. The Centre for Sustainable Energy lists an LCD TV at 120 W and a games console at 120 W (CSE). Together that's 240 W, within the stated continuous output of all four models in our spec table. Three hours of both uses about 720 Wh (our arithmetic), so capacity is the limit.
Based on published figures. Ferncharge has not tested these products. Estimates only.
Start the sizing calculator with a TV (pre-filled with 120 W for 3 hours), then add your console and router.
Step 1: find the watts
- TV: CSE lists an LCD TV at 120 W and an older plasma at 350 W (CSE). Your TV's energy label or rating plate gives its own figure.
- Games console: CSE lists 120 W. Check the rating label on yours.
- Router: CSE lists 10 W, if you play online. See our router guide.
Power: add the watts of everything on at once and check it's within the power station's stated continuous AC output. A 120 W TV, a 120 W console and a 10 W router are 250 W in total. That's within all four models' stated continuous output in our spec table, though with little headroom on the 300 W EcoFlow RIVER 3.
Step 2: an evening's energy
Example hours. Change them to match yours.
| Device | Watts | Hours | Energy |
|---|---|---|---|
| LCD TV | 120 W | 3 | 360 Wh |
| Games console | 120 W | 3 | 360 Wh |
| Broadband router | 10 W | 3 | 30 Wh |
| Total | 250 W | 750 Wh |
From a power station's mains sockets, allow for our assumed 10% inverter loss and roughly 90% usable capacity on a LiFePO4 battery (methodology): divide by about 0.81. That's about 926 Wh of rated capacity for the evening, before any margin (our arithmetic).
TV only: 120 W for 3 hours is 360 Wh, or about 444 Wh of rated capacity on the same assumptions. An older 350 W plasma for 3 hours is 1,050 Wh, nearly three times as much.
Power cuts and camping
- Power cuts: a TV and console can use most of a mid-sized power station's charge in an evening. If the cut might last, keep charge for the router, lights and anything essential. See power stations for power cuts.
- Camping and vans: use the TV's watts from its label, and add it to your daily total in the sizing calculator.
FAQs
Can a power station run a TV?
Usually, if the TV's watts are within its continuous output. CSE lists an LCD TV at 120 W. Three hours is 360 Wh.
How long will a power station run a TV and games console?
Divide the available energy by the combined watts. A 1,000 Wh power station has about 810 Wh at its mains sockets on our assumptions: about 3 hours at 250 W (TV, console and router).
Do games consoles use a lot of power?
CSE lists 120 W, the same as an LCD TV in its table. Check your console's rating label.
Related: Laptop and monitor · Router and Wi-Fi · What size do I need? · Spec table