Power banks for charging electronics if utility electricity should fail

[Librarian]

So, I live in Oregon, and this last week the power has been out in my town of Cottage Grove. EPUD says our area of town ought to expect power back maybe next Thursday; a different part got power this afternoon.

I actually have a whole-house generator, and the darn thing did not start Saturday night! Cummins came out today and it's now running.

We have a couple 20,000 mah power packs, that held up pretty well, but they're really slow to charge, and we were just about out of juice this morning.

So I'm considering maybe a supplement or two, with a net storage around 100,000 mah.

I've looked at the common UPS units (I use one to keep power up as a bridge between utility-fail and generator-online) but they don't seem to have more than one or two USB ports, and I really don't want to use the inefficient DC battery - artificial AC with a charger - DC charging path. I will if I must, but seems wasteful.

This Amazon link - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0B6VDJPYR - looks interesting. So does this one - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CDGKRX4X, but just now that looks out of the budget. (Then again, I've shopped for stuff and discovered my pre-search budget needed adjusting.) That budget is currently about $500.

Solar charging seems a 'nice to have'; I could be talked into it - my wife asked about that, which is permission to spend some reasonable amount of money.

To a very large extent, I need a turn-key solution; I'm just not that savvy with build my own. Something like an array of auto batteries with connecting gadgets seems like it would be too complicated for me.

Experiences? Advice?

[G-forceJunkie]

Sorry, I don't have info on battery systems, but since its clear you can not rely on your house generator, I would just buy another portable one. One is none, two is one motto.

10,000 mah is 100 amp hours. That is what any plane jane deep cycle car sized battery will do for $150. Get a marine one that has 3/8 threaded terminals and wingnut. Put a $15 cigarette lighter socket on it and use your existing charge cords. Put a $30 Battery tender on the battery plugged into a house outlet and it will remain fully charged untill you need it.

Honestly, that is all these "battery systems" are: a battery, a charger, and some ports wrapped in a fancy plastic cover.

[XDJYo]

First off, the UPS (Uninterruptable Power Supply) are big, heavy and expensive. They also don't provide a whole lot of power to charge electronics or to keep things going for very long. They're good for a short time, just enough to get you to Plan B or C. I spent about $80 for one to provide backup power to my wifi and front doorbell cam. I've been having A LOT of electrical issues at my house recently and just got a whole new circuit panel/breakers.

Smaller 10k mAh batteries are ok, but are slow and don't quite have enough juice. They're good for charging a few electronics, but not anything too large or power hungry.

I have a 1,000 watt hour power station (Grecell) that I got for under $500. I also got a 100 watt solar panel to help charge it. We have unreliable PG&E and both have come in handy. The big name power stations like Jackery are coming down in price since they no longer have the corner on the market. The big advantage to these are that they are easily portable and flexible in use. I can even cook a pot of rice if I wanted to or run a small heater. And, of course, I can power my fridge.

Each piece has it's use. I have them all and use them all. Also important, is a battery jump starter. Those usually have a USB out and can charge a phone or other electronic easily. Another piece of gear I have is a propane heater like a Mr. Buddy which I have been using too.

To me, it's all about having alternatives and multiple backups. There is no single solution.

Good luck in your search and happy shopping!

[michaelf3]

To provide meaningful advice, here are some questions.
-How much power (watts) will you be using at any one time?
-How long do you need to power to last?
-What types of ports do you require (usb, 12v cigarette, 110 AC, etc...) and how many of each?
-How portable (weight and size)?
-How quickly do you need the unit to be charged back up?

At the budget you provided, $500, I think you're limited to something in the 500 to 700wh (LiFePO4) unit with a 100watt panel. If just lithium ion chemistry, you could get more capacity but shorter # of charging cycles.

The second link you provided looks like a good option if you increase your budget. The combo has good specs, and the panel should be able to fully charge a depleted battery within 6-7 hours with good direct sunshine

[Epaphroditus]

A couple deep cycle batteries or even a couple car batteries goes a long way.



Switching generators over to natural gas or propane and a nice big propane tank is good.

Power goes out here fairly regular
Most of my appliances are electric so it's a pickle ... switching to propane just made sense and is a good plan B for power out situations. Pro tip: get a 2x bigger tank than you think you need- think of it as low cost insurance. You will have enough cushion to wait out price spikes and refill on the dips.

[Nagrom_]

Idk what your budget is, but check out EcoFlow

[user120312]

My small portable solutions for electronics are a Jackery (1000+) for inverter loads and a GooLoo (GT4000S) for charging my portable electronic devices and devices like headlamps, night vision, radios, laptop etc. The GooLoo also serves as a jump pack but so far has seen far more use as a device charger.

We experienced only a minor power outage where I live in Oregon, a couple hours in the middle of the night, but the ice storm farther up the coast hit a lot like the one we had a few years ago when the power was out here for a week and some places nearby for a month.

I decided, as reliable as the local power has been for the last decade, to forego a big genset; instead getting a PTO powerhead for the tractor. The 25hp Kubota in it can drive in excess of 10Kw and that's plenty for my use and costs about a gallon an hour.

Even though power has been reliable, I do the same as when I had a big genset in CA over the decades, exercise the portable solutions in simulated power outages, disconnecting power at the temp pole out by the road and operating as if there was no shore power.

I learned the Jackery charging schemes operate to a level that enhances battery life but provides less than the rated storage capacity. I'm still learning the nuances of programming that. I also note the primary battery tends to discharge more quickly than the secondary batteries (it can operate three secondary batteries) so am figuring that out too.

I also learned that solar is very hit and miss in the forest. Very picky. However, I wasn't setting it up to depend on it, rather to see how well, or poorly, it would do in real life conditions to help maintain the battery bank.

The Jackery works great in UPS mode for resistive loads and small inductive loads but won't support the 1/2hp jet pump even though the full load amps are well within its capacity. Apparently the inrush even during a fast switch is sensed as an overload by the inverter. I believe a larger inverter unit (than the 2000W continuous, 3000W peak) is needed, at least from that vendor.

That's what I can report so far.

[edgerly779]

i do off grid solar as a sideline. I have 50 panels and half dozen hybrid inverters in stock. Lately I have access to aircraft batteries for battery banks Not that difficult to install. I am working on solar camping trailer now using mil palcon shipping container. Panels fold out on roof feeding 3 kw hybrid inverter and 4 agm batteries All your camp gear can go in trailer. stove,tent, sleeping gear propane , camp led lighting , water , etc. Can be towed by small vehicle.

[twinfin]

Are you just trying to recharge phones? What devices exactly are you trying to power? I take it that you are looking for something as a minimal backup option when the whole-house generator fails no?

[Librarian]

Are you just trying to recharge phones? What devices exactly are you trying to power? I take it that you are looking for something as a minimal backup option when the whole-house generator fails no?

Phones, ipads, and maybe laptops.

Our existing 20Kmah devices lasted comfortably for 5 days, and then we got our generator back. Since the utility was predicting another week of outage, looks like 4 more of those for a net 2-week outage, and 2 more for just-in-case. Or, the equivalent increase in backup capacity of 120Kmah.

Utility power was restored last night about 9pm

[200Apples]

This Amazon link - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0B6VDJPYR - looks interesting. So does this one - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CDGKRX4X, but just now that looks out of the budget. (Then again, I've shopped for stuff and discovered my pre-search budget needed adjusting.) That budget is currently about $500.

Solar charging seems a 'nice to have'; I could be talked into it - my wife asked about that, which is permission to spend some reasonable amount of money.

To a very large extent, I need a turn-key solution; I'm just not that savvy with build my own. Something like an array of auto batteries with connecting gadgets seems like it would be too complicated for me.

Experiences? Advice?

Would you like to keep the kitchen refrigerator running too?

I like the unit in your second link. For less than $1000 it may do almost as much as a comparable Bluetti unit costing twice as much.

Always go a *little* bigger than what you think you might need.

[200Apples]

My bad - I seemed to have skipped over the fact you have a whole-house genset... that malfunctioned.

If you don't want to have a battery backup for your refrigerator, then the first unit you have linked should take care of your portable electronics' charging needs.

[DolphinFan]

If you are only charging phones, iPads and other small electronics, get a BioEno battery with a solar charger.
In the amateur radio world we build MITY go boxes capable of powering ham radios, phones and other small electronics like laptops. We make portable boxes with different charger adaptors, cigarette lighters, USB, power pole and any other charging adaptor you want.

https://www.impulseelectronics.com/dc12-mity-t400-go-box-for-lifepo4-battery-charger-150-w-solar-controller/

[sonofeugene]

I have a Goal Zero battery powered bank with built in outlets for charging stuff like phones. I also have solar to recharge the Goal Zero plus a Honda generator.

[Prepped and ready]

I have a little Cat INV4000e portable gen as a minor back up. Great quiet little gen that can run 2 frig's and freezers with no issues. So charging portable devices is not a problem for days on one tank.

I have a EGO Nexus 3000w power station as well. Great little battery unit and will charge devices for a few days. Its not expensive at all and you can get a solar set up for it to. Home Depot some times has them instock.

Also have the Millwaukee MX Fuel 3600w power station. Fricken expensive but also built like a tank.