🔋 How Long Will a Generator or Power Station Last While Camping?
Whether you're headed off-grid for a weekend adventure or just want peace of mind on your next RV trip, knowing how long your generator or power station will last is key to keeping the lights on (and your coffee hot). Here's a quick guide to help you plan your power needs while camping.
A power station's runtime depends on two main things:
⚡️ 1. Battery Capacity (measured in watt-hours or Wh)
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Example: A 500Wh power station can deliver 500 watts for 1 hour, or 100 watts for 5 hours.
🔌 2. What You’re Powering
Here’s a rough idea with a 500Wh station:
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🔦 LED light (10W): 40–50 hours
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📱 Phone (10Wh): 30+ charges
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💻 Laptop (50Wh): 5–7 charges
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🧊 Mini fridge (60W): 6–8 hours
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🍳 Small coffee maker (600W): Less than 1 hour
🎯 Quick Tip:
To estimate runtime:
Runtime (hours) = Battery Capacity (Wh) ÷ Device Wattage (W)
(then subtract 10–15% for inverter loss)