Whether you just picked up a brand-new power station and are already realizing that its battery dies way faster than you expected, or you're still researching power stations before buying one, there’s something critical you need to know. Most power station companies don’t talk about it, but it can make a huge difference in which unit is right for you.
The key factor we’re talking about? Idle consumption!
Idle consumption is the name for the hidden power drain that can throw off your calculations when estimating how much power you have left in your power station’s batteries. It’s also an important factor you should consider when choosing the best power station for your needs. So, let’s break down what idle consumption is, why it’s so important, and what you can do about it.
At its core, idle consumption refers to the energy a power station uses just to stay on, even when it's not actively powering any devices or appliances. The main reason why this happens is because power stations store the energy in their batteries as DC (direct current) power, but most household appliances and devices require AC (alternating current) power. Basically, if you plug something into a wall outlet to power or charge it, that item runs on AC power.
To bridge this gap, all power stations feature a built-in power inverter that converts DC power into the AC power you need. But here’s the catch—the inverter itself requires energy to stay on and to ensure the power inside the unit’s batteries is ready for action.
Think of it like leaving your car running in park. The car’s not moving, but the engine is still burning gas. In much the same way, a power station's inverter draws power just by being turned on, even if you’re not actively using it.
While it’s the biggest culprit, idle consumption isn’t just about the inverter. Here are just a few of the factors that contribute to this “phantom” power loss:
Even though some of these processes on their own only pull the tiniest bit of energy from a power station’s battery, it all adds up, especially if the unit is on for a long time.
Unlike traditional residential solar inverters, which typically list their idle consumption right in their advertised specs, most power station manufacturers don’t make this information easy to find. That means if you’re buying a power station thinking it will last a certain number of days, you could be in for a rude awakening.
The reason why power station manufacturers do not list this information? It’s probably just because nobody asks about it, so they choose not to volunteer information that makes the battery capacity for their power stations sound less impressive.
On the other hand, solar inverter manufacturers tend to be more open about idle consumption because the typical residential solar user or installer knows about it. If these manufacturers don’t share this information openly, most buyers assume it’s because they’re hiding poor idle consumption numbers.
We first realized how serious an issue idle consumption can be when we tested the Anker F3800 Power Station during a 24-hour blackout simulation.
Throughout the day, everything seemed normal and we used the F3800 to power lights, a Wi-Fi router, and various appliances that we needed. Running all of this used roughly the exact amount of battery power we expected. But overnight, with only a fridge and a Wi-Fi router plugged into the unit, we woke up to find the battery nearly fully drained.
After doing a little bit of napkin math, we found that the Anker F3800 must have been consuming over 70 watts per hour just to stay on. That means:
Now, we’re not picking on the Anker F3800 specifically, as it’s actually a really impressive unit, but this experience was a real eye-opener. Trying to simulate what it would be like to go a full 24-hour period without having access to the grid or even solar power kind of makes you realize how costly losing power to idle consumption can be.
Since power station manufacturers don’t advertise these numbers, here’s what we suggest you do to minimize losses, extend your battery life, and get the answers you need:
We’re going to start testing idle consumption in every power station review we put together going forward. However, if you find yourself looking at a power station that we haven’t reviewed yet, contact the company and ask for the idle consumption rate.
We’ve been pushing manufacturers to publish this data, but until they do, direct inquiries are your best bet. Most reputable companies are pretty open about how their products perform, so if they try to play dumb or even tell you their power station has zero idle consumption, they’re full of it.
A lot of power stations today come equipped with an app that lets you turn the inverter on and off remotely. Others, like the new Pecron E1000LFP, provide buttons that you can use to deactivate certain functions. If you’re not actively using your inverter, turn it off to stop the unnecessary power drain. Some apps even let you schedule when the inverter is on, ensuring it only runs when needed.
The same goes for the display screen, any sort of built-in lights, or basically anything you have the option to deactivate when not in use.
If you frequently experience power outages, or even just live fully off-grid, consider using DC-powered appliances during blackouts. Since power stations store energy in DC, using DC appliances eliminates the need for inverter conversion, which means practically zero idle consumption losses from the inverter.
For example, Anker makes DC-powered fridges and coolers, and they’re much more efficient for battery use. On a recent camping trip, we were able to run one of these DC fridges for nearly 5 days on a Jackery 1000 Power Station, whereas the same power station might only last 2 days if we were using it to run an AC fridge.
If you’re trying to stretch your battery power for as long as possible, having a few essentials that can run on DC power can make a huge difference.
Idle consumption is an overlooked but critical factor when choosing any type of power station. Without knowing how much power a unit wastes just staying on, you could easily end up with half the runtime you expected.
We’re going to do our best to accurately test idle consumption on as many power stations as possible, but don’t be afraid to ask manufacturers yourself. It’s something that’s really important, especially if you find yourself in a situation where your power station is your only source of electricity.
EcoFlow: https://shopsolarkits.com
Anker Solix: https://shopsolarkits.com
Pecron: https://www.pecron.com
OUPES: https://oupes.com
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