When the lights go out, most people scramble for candles, flashlights, and some form of backup power. In the past, going out into the garage and firing up a gas generator was the best option, even though it meant running it continuously until grid power was restored. But recently, there’s been a bit of a shift and more people are turning to portable power stations and battery backup systems for peace of mind during outages.
That growing trend raises the big question: is it worth spending up to $2,000 on a power station when you can pick up a cheap gas generator for $200?
To answer this question, we put both to the test by simulating a real-world 24-hour outage. We also calculated all costs associated with either backup option, and compared their reliability and performacne. For this head-to-head, we used the Pecron E3600LFP with an EP3000 Expansion Battery as our power station, and a cheap Champion 1500 Gas Generator as our budget-friendly gas option.
Let’s break it down.
We wanted this comparison to be practical, rather than some over-the-top “survival bunker” simulation. This means we were just using our two backup power systems to run basic loads that we think you’d need during a power outage.
Here’s what we decided to power, as well as an approximate calculation of what each load would amount to:
That brings our total usage to just over 2,300Wh per day.
This is a realistic emergency load, as it’s enough power to keep food safe in the fridge and freezer, we can stay connected via Wi-Fi, and we can even make a pot of coffee and basic meals while waiting for the power company to get the grid up and running.
Naturally, your specific power requirements would vary, and different appliances have different power requirements, but these are some numbers that we think would be a realistic representation of what someone would use while waiting out a 24-hour blackout.
For the battery backup side of the test, we used the Pecron E3600LFP and Expansion Battery. Here’s what that setup looks like:
With this simple setup, you get plenty of headroom with the battery capacity and output power, near silent operation, and it’s really simple to use.
While the upfront cost is just over $2,000, here’s how running costs boil down for this particular power station:
While we decided to charge the unit with AC power from a standard wall outlet during this simulation, if you added solar panels to your setup, the cost to charge the unit would be $0.
It’s also worth noting that there are zero ongoing fuel or maintenance expenses when running a portable power station. You pretty much just take them out of the box, charge them up, then they’re good to go.
This particular solar generator unit is rated for 3,500 cycles before it drops to 80% capacity. That means you could use it every single day for 10 years before noticing a meaningful drop in battery performance. If you’re just using it for basic backup power, rather than as a day-to-day system for a fully off-grid home, you probably won’t ever notice battery depreciation.
Practical use is where power stations shine: there’s no noise, no fumes, no constant need to refuel them. You can set it in the living room, monitor it with an app, and even repurpose it for camping, road trips, outdoor work, or pretty much any other scenario where you would want a source of mobile, off-grid power.
You can check out a previous power outage simulation we ran with an Anker F3800 to see just how comfortable this type of scenario can be with a high-capacity power station: Surviving a 24 Hour Outage with a Power Station.
On the cheap gas generator side, we grabbed a basic Champion 1500 Gas Generator from Home Depot. Here’s the specifications for this portable gas generator:
This little guy can power pretty much everything on our list, but not at the same time. Forget about making toast and brewing a pot of coffee at the same time with such a small gas generator.
While usage, gas prices, and the specific model you are using will all play a big role when it comes to your running costs, here’s how it broke down with the gas generator we were using:
Remember, when you’re running a gas generator, they have to run constantly since they have no built-in battery storage. In other words, if you want power, you’re burning fuel. Whether you just want to switch a light on for a few minutes, or you’re powering your fridge all day, your gas generator needs to be running.
If you’ve ever used a gas generator, you know that they’re noisy, they produce noxious fumes, and they require plenty of attention. After pull-starting your generator, you’ll have to keep refueling it throughout the day.
You also have to check and maintain the oil levels throughout the year, as well as perform other routine maintenance. Since you can’t use a gas generator inside, you’ll also have to have an inlet in place, or run various extension cords from outside to inside your home.
If you don’t prep for a power outage by stocking full jerry cans with fuel, you’ll be in line at the gas station with everyone else when a blackout or emergency situation hits.
Given that power stations can be used inside, and they’re pretty much just plug-and-play systems that require zero maintenance, you can start to see why more people are making the switch for lifestyle reasons alone.
While the upfront costs of a high-capacity power station are going to be higher than a basic gas generator, those costs start to balance out over the lifespans of the two options.
Let’s assume you get an average of four power outages per year for 10 years (40 total outages).
Pecron E3600LFP Power Station:
Basic 1200W Gas Generator:
So, the gas generator is about $800 cheaper to buy and run over the course of a decade. Purely on dollars, it wins.
But people still choose power stations. Why? Let’s dig a little deeper into the pros and cons.
Here’s where the numbers don’t tell the full story. Portable power stations aren’t just about outages. They’re flexible and user-friendly tools.
All of us here at The Solar Lab are huge fans of off-grid camping, which is another area where power stations really shine. Even with an inexpensive power station, you can run a 12V fridge, LED lights, charge phones, or even run a coffee maker while you camp. Plus, you can do all of this in total silence. Try running a gasoline generator when you’re trying to enjoy the peaceful quiet of nature.
Power stations also double really well as reliable UPS (uninterrupted power supply) systems for computers, medical devices, or work-from-home setups.
Another area where power stations stand out is scalability. Want more power? Add expansion batteries or link multiple units together for a higher output and 240V capabilities. If you’re running a gas generator for home backup, you’re going to need to fully replace it if you want more power.
Instead of being able to upgrade your setup, like you can with a power station, you’ll need to buy something like a 5000 watt generator, which will be louder, more expensive, and it will burn a lot more gas than a basic portable generator. While we used the Pecron E3600LFP as our example of a practical solar power station for outages, there are plenty of other options out there that could deliver similar performance.
It’s going to sound weird, but we like to think of power stations like Apple iPhones. They may not be the cheapest option out there, and plenty of Android phones can offer the same or even better performance, but iPhones are simple, reliable, and you can build an entire Apple ecosystem around them.
Basically, you’re paying an upfront premium, but the lifestyle benefits and versatility you get with a power station are well-worth the extra money for a lot of people, including all of us here at The Lab. Plus, when you take operating costs into consideration, the price difference really starts to balance out.
If you’re on a budget and you’re only looking at cost, the gas generator wins. At a total cost of about $1,200 over 10 years, it works out to be cheaper than a power station.
But if you value silence, convenience, being able to easily use the unit inside, and multi-use flexibility, a portable power station is always going to be the better choice. Think of a backup power station as an investment that can grow with you, while also offering some real-world advantages that will make your life easier and more comfortable.
Another thing to keep in mind is that the more power outages you experience, the better the math works in favor of a power station. Charging a unit up with AC power is always going to be drastically cheaper than burning gasoline. And with solar charging, you can literally run it forever without fuel costs.
For most people, it’s not just about keeping the lights on, it’s about peace of mind and convenience, and that’s where power stations become a more appealing option. With that said, this doesn’t have to be the type of situation where you have to choose one option over the other. You can also pair a small gas generator with a power station, which allows you to get the benefits of both worlds.
If you want to learn more about how you can use a power station and backup power generator together, read our guide: Power Station or Gas Generator: Why Not Both?
Portable Power Station Kits: www.ShopSolarKits.com
Pecron Power Stations: www.Pecron.com
Anker Power Stations: www.SignatureSolar.com
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