WHAT IS AN OUTDOOR POWER STATION?
In short, the outdoor power station is a huge power bank with a built-in large lithium-ion battery that can store electric energy. It can not only charge your smartphones but can also output DC, AC, and other common power interfaces, which can station power to your laptops, drones, photography lights, projectors, electric fans, kettles, cars, and other equipment. It has the characteristics of light weight, large capacity, high power, long life, and strong stability, suitable for outdoor camping, outdoor live broadcast, outdoor construction, Scenes with high power consumption such as location shooting, and household emergency power consumption. In this blog, we will explain in detail how the outdoor power station works, usage scenarios, key points for selecting products, and more.
POWER STATION VS POWER BANK
There are 2 main differences between power banks and power stations.
The first one is the capacity. Power stations usually have more than 50000mah capacity, while power banks only have 5000-30000 mah capacity, otherwise, they will be too heavy to carry.
The other point is that we mentioned earlier, that the power stations can output DC, AC, and other common power interfaces to meet different needs. While power stations can only output USB interfaces to charge your smart devices. So power stations have a wider range of applications
POWER STATIONS VS POWER GENERATORS
There are many differences between generators and outdoor power stations in terms of fuel, electrical energy, noise, etc. It looks like the same device, both for power stations, but it’s actually a completely different device. Let’s take a closer look at the differences between them.
1. The power of the outdoor power station is the electrical energy stored in the battery, and the generator usually uses gasoline as fuel to generate electricity. The outdoor power station can charge the built-in lithium battery through solar energy, while the generator does not have a charging function.
Second, the generator power is relatively large. In general, generators tend to have more electrical energy than outdoor sources. However, as specifications vary from product to product, high-performance outdoor power supplies can also provide power as powerful as a generator, such as OXTECO Sirius 2500W.
3. The outdoor power station has low noise. Due to the structure of the outdoor power station, there is no great noise during charging and power station, while the noise of the generator is quite large.
4. Using an outdoor power station, you can operate with confidence without worrying about the surrounding environment. Since no exhaust gas is emitted during operation, it can be used safely indoors or outdoors. The generator uses gasoline as fuel, which emits exhaust gas when generating electricity, which is not suitable for indoor use.
5. Outdoor power station is easier to save and maintain. For the energy storage power station, it is recommended to charge it every six months, keep the power at 60% to 80%, and place it in a well-ventilated place away from high temperature and humidity. If it’s a generator, if it’s not used for more than 30 days, it needs to be cleaned out of all the gasoline, and if you leave it in it, it can get clogged due to fuel spoilage.
HOW OUTDOOR POWER STATION WORKS?
The outdoor power station consists of a control board, a battery pack, an inverter, and a battery management system (BMS). It can convert direct current (DC) through the inverter into alternating current (AC) that can be used by other electrical appliances and charge all kinds of electrical equipment.
OUTDOOR POWER STATION USAGE SCENARIOS
Outdoor power supplies can be used in a variety of indoor and outdoor situations, and we will introduce some typical usage scenarios for reference.
1. Used in the RV
If you have an outdoor power station in your RV, you can use most appliances in the car. For example, a rice cooker or electric kettle. By connecting to a car’s outlet, electricity can be stored in an outdoor power station that can run for extended periods of time.
2. Used in camping and outdoors
Many people have problems with running out of electricity while camping or outdoors, and if you use an outdoor power station, you can use your appliances with confidence.
For example, in camping/outdoor, it can be used as follows: charging mobile phones, cooking with rice cookers, playing music with audio equipment, etc.; can be connected to electric ovens, electric fans, mobile refrigerators, mobile air conditioners, outdoor photography; outdoor photography for adventure lovers.
It also can be connected to SLR, lighting, drone, etc.; outdoor stall lighting can be connected to flashlights, lamps, etc.; outdoor live broadcast electricity can be connected to cameras, speakers, microphones, etc.; outdoor construction electricity, such as mines, oil field, geological exploration, geological disaster rescue and telecommunications sector field maintenance emergency power, etc.;
3. Used as an emergency power source in case of a power outage
By storing electricity in an outdoor power station, it can be used as an emergency power source in case of a power outage.
For example, during a power outage in winter, you can use an outdoor power station and continue to use lights or electric blankets for warmth. In summer, power outages can also use fans or air conditioners to cool off the heat. You can also use an electric kettle to boil water, use a microwave oven to heat food, and you can still use electricity normally in an emergency.
4. Combined with solar panels to save electricity
By connecting an outdoor power station and a solar panel, the electricity generated by solar power can be stored in the outdoor power source. Use energy storage power to power appliances, and solar panels to power outdoor power. For instance, use OXTECO Sirius 1200W power station and Sunpower 100 as a combination to save electricity.
THE LIFESPAN OF AN OUTDOOR POWER STATION
The typical lifespan of an outdoor power station is about 500 to 3000 cycles. It depends on the battery types and usage environment. Usually, a LiFePO₄ battery has a longer lifespan, that’s why it is used as a car battery.
The number of cycles is a unit used to indicate the life of the outdoor power station, and charging + discharging counts as one cycle. That is to say, if an outdoor power supply has a lifespan of 800 times, then the lifespan is about 800 times when the battery is charged from 0% to 100% to 0% used up.
The life of an energy storage power supply is shown in cycles, as the standard life of the same model varies depending on usage conditions and environments.
Estimated life is approximate only and will vary depending on the usage environment.
Let’s take OXTECO 1200w as an example, the number of cycles that can be used as a life indicator is “more than 3000 times”.
If 5 days a week is used for work, the estimated lifespan is about 11.5 years. (3000 uses per year ÷ 260 = approximately 11.5 years)
HOW TO CHOOSE AN OUTDOOR POWER SUPPLY
With the increase in consumer demand, various businesses have launched outdoor power supplies of different specifications. When buying an outdoor power supply, be sure to pay attention to the battery capacity and the type of output port. Here’s how to choose the ideal outdoor power supply.
1. Choose the battery capacity according to the application
The battery capacity of an outdoor power supply is expressed in Wh (watt-hours).
Wh is the amount of electricity consumed per hour. It can be judged that the larger the Wh, the larger the battery capacity. The larger the capacity, the larger the battery size tends to be. You can choose the battery capacity according to the intended use.
Here is a simple table summarizing what kind of usage and how much Wh is needed.
| Usage | Wh Guide | |
| Outdoor remote work | 350Wh or more | |
| Outdoor camping | Above 500Wh | |
| Operation of small refrigerators, rice cookers, etc. | Above 600Wh | |
| Emergency power supply during power failure | 1,000Wh or more |
2. Select the sine wave output waveform
The power provided by the outdoor power station can be divided into two types: sine wave and rectangular wave. We recommend choosing the sine wave model.
The waveform of a sine wave is similar to that of a household socket, and there are many types of electrical devices that can be powered. Rectangularwaves, on the other hand, are not suitable for powering sophisticated machines such as game consoles and personal computers.
All OXTECO power stations’ waveform is sine wave. You can choose them without hesitation.
3. Select according to the output port type
The type and number of output ports also vary by product.
If you want to use the power supply in a wide range of scenarios, it will be much more convenient to have the following three types.
The type and number of output ports also vary by product.
| Port | Usage |
| AC outlet (socket port) | General Electric Equipment |
| Type-C, USB, and other ports | Charge smartphones, laptops, and more. |
| Car charger, DC output, and other ports | Use of car electrical equipment |
Summarize
The portable power station is equipped with a large-capacity lithium battery, which can supply power to various electrical equipment.
Since it has a larger capacity and higher output than a power bank, some products can be operated with electric fans and microwave ovens.
If it is a pass-through type, you can connect a solar panel and use solar power for socket-free charging.
If you’re considering purchasing an emergency power supply in case of disaster, or a portable power supply as a smart generator to enhance your camping and outdoor experience, we recommend the OXTECO Sirius Series power station.
“OXTECO Sirius 2500W” has an overwhelming 2500W output and huge-capacity battery, which can be widely used in various life scenarios.
