What is the best outdoor power supply

To help you decide, I tested the efficiency, in a variety of scenarios, of the best portable power stations from Jackery, Oupes, EcoFlow, Anker, Goal Zero, Grecell, Bluetti, Dakota Lithium, Lion Energy, Vtoman, and Oupes. ↓ Jump to the Rest of the Field ↓ What to Know Before Purchasing a Portable Power Station

Portable power stations are more powerful and cost effective than ever before. And, thanks to advances in lithium-ion battery technology, they're also lighter and more compact. Whether you've been dreaming of van life or are building out your emergency kit in advance of that next blackout, there is a power station that will meet your needs.

Whatever the reason you are purchasing a power station, the most important spec to pay attention to is watt hours, which is a measurement of how much energy the power station can hold. While a particular power station might claim to hold 1,000 watt hours, the actual amount of usable power you can get out of it is a different story.

While a particular power station might claim to hold 1,000 watt hours, the actual amount of usable power you can get out of it is a different story. The best portable power stations also have an onboard computer that shows you how much energy is left in your unit, as well as how much power it's currently using.

If all you have is a basic wattage number, say for a light bulb, typically that can serve as the watt hour number. For instance, if you are trying to power a 40-watt light bulb for one hour, it will use 40 watt hours. When choosing the right portable power station size for your needs, tack about 30 percent on to account for power loss while in use.

The two main classes of batteries you'll see right now in portable power stations are LiFePO4 and NCM. LiFePO4 batteries utilize lithium, iron, and phosphate, and are considered safer and longer lasting than other batteries.