Portable power station
Posted by pathf1nder00@reddit | preppers | View on Reddit | 38 comments
Each passing day, I grow a little more concerned and while I have been improved food stocks, emergency stocks, and money stocks, I am now looking into power sources. Let me preface that I do not camp or go off grid...so, my concern is say I buy an1000 watt Jackery. But I don't use it for like 3-4 years down the road. Will it still be good? Are PO4 batteries long term storage viable? What is the best for that scenario?
Least-Welcome@reddit
here's a solid site to compare portable power stations, for anyone interested: https://wattsreview.com/Products
HappyWatermelon7@reddit
Check out DIY solar with Will Prowse on YT or his forums. You can buy a standalone battery for a lot less
Infinite_Twist535@reddit
From what I’ve seen, LiFePO4 batteries (the PO4 type) definitely hold up better in long-term storage than older lithium or lead-acid options, especially if you keep them at around 50–70% charge and store them in a cool, dry place. A Jackery or similar setup should still be usable years later, but the biggest thing is battery management, you don’t want to just charge it to 100% and forget it for 3–4 years.
For peace of mind, I’d check it once or twice a year, give it a light recharge, and make sure the storage conditions are right. That way you’re not depending on something that sat untouched until an emergency. In your scenario, LiFePO4 is probably the best choice for shelf life, but it’s worth practicing with it a bit before you need it, just so you know its limits.
pathf1nder00@reddit (OP)
Thanks for the info. This is what I was needing.
FlashyImprovement5@reddit
Are you just looking to cook? I'm power lights?
symplton@reddit
They'll be fine left alone - although I usually recommend when you buy any of them be sure to fully discharge if instructed by the manufacturer and fully charge them one cycle before putting them into storage full.
A once annual bleed down of the unit can help confirm each of it's parts are working as designed, and keep you familiarized with the capacity and usability factors. (The worst thing in a disaster is taking out tech you haven't played with in a few years.)
joeysdad@reddit
You don't want to store them full, 50% for longer term storage. Take out of storage and cycle every 6 months or so.
NorthHoustonPrepTX@reddit
Exactly, I just take mine out every 6ish months and hook them to the power tool of choice, normally a leaf shredder or wood chipper, both electric, run them down until they shut off and immediately plug them in and recharge. I was told by ecoflow to charge them to 100% and ok for long term storage. So 50% or 80% 🤷🤷
Federal_Refrigerator@reddit
This will increase longevity. I prefer 80% but only so I can use the remaining power to discharge it before I charge it back again.
elliezena@reddit
Me too
roberttheiii@reddit
It would be best if you used it sometimes. As others have said, to cycle the batteries, but also so you have some sense of how long it can get your phone charged, etc.
pinkman-Jesse6969@reddit
they are great for long term storage just keep them charged every few months and they’ll last years
photojournalistus@reddit
Good question. I have dozens of professional strobe and camera batteries of various Li-ion chemistries (including PO4) that no longer accept a charge that are several years old. Li-ion likes to be stored at around 50% charge. Not 0% and not full. This is one of the few advantages of old fashioned lead-acid SLA batteries—you can keep them trickle-charging continuously without damaging the battery,
Paranormal_Lemon@reddit
You absolutely can, you can look up a table for each battery type. Lithium ion are flatter in the middle of the curve, but you can still get a pretty good estimate.
I've been using lithium ion in flashlights since 2007, I have many that are 10-15 years old that are still good. I always just charge them fully after use. They are quality ones from Sony, Panasonic etc. though. The only ones I had go bad were generic Chinese.
They do not require any maintenance. For something like a power statio they need to be topped off because the electronics have some parasitic drain. Bare cells will hold a charge for years. I've had phone batteries sit for 5+ years that were still over 4v.
photojournalistus@reddit
Well, your experience is considerably better than mine. I have Sony (L-series, V-mount, etc.), Panasonic, Elinchrom (OEM unknown), and Anton/Bauer (14.4V Gold Mount camera bricks), and all have become unusable after 7-10 years of intermittent use. The Sony V-mounts and Anton/Bauer bricks were kept on a $2,500 Anton/Bauer four-position charger as recommended by Anton/Bauer, and they still went bad after a while.
Paranormal_Lemon@reddit
Proprietary batteries in devices are different. The batteries might get hot and there probably aren't any vents in a camera like there is in a laptop for example. Even power tool batteries have some air slots on them that work through convection. They may or may not have cell balancing, for example Dewalt and Milwaukee power tool batteries do not, they degrade faster because of that (and they do it intentionally to reduce the life). They could be using sub par cells inside (but not with Sony and Panasonic, they make their own and are top manufacturers).
50% is ideal but not necessary, especially in devices that are mostly standby for backup power. LiFePO4 already gets 6X as many cycles as lithium ion. I've had numerous devices with regular lithium ion batteries last over 10 years - phones, tablets, camera, car GPS, even a Toshiba laptop that was 20 years old. In those cases the devices did not see hundred and hundreds of cycles though.
With power stations I would just test them periodically by running a load close to the max to stress test, this will likely reveal any defects in the cells that have developed. But I would expect one to last for many years even if you didn't do that. I wouldn't bother trying to store it at 50%, or even 80%, that defeats the purpose of having the backup power. At most I would maybe charge it 100% then burn off 10%.
Just because the cells are PO4 does not guarantee longevity. There are cheap ones too. I had a car jump starter die after less than a year, Harbor Freight brand.
photojournalistus@reddit
Yeah, I kinda resolved to just keep the Jackery units at full-charge, because as you say, storing them at less than full defeats their purpose. I do need to do a load-test, since a 100% battery reading (from the device, not from an external meter) seems suspect since the last time I charged them was well over six months ago. I would've expected to see some loss.
Paranormal_Lemon@reddit
I never worried about it in any of my devices ever. I have had very few lithium ion batteries go bad. Recently tested 18650s in outdoor fixtures that have been outside for 2 years in midwest summer heat, full sun, stay fully charged 100% of the time. They are 94% capacity, they only lose 3% a year. They are really good cells though.
SetNo8186@reddit
If you do use it, how will you recharge it? An inverter dual fuel generator can run on gas or propane, a Jackery either house current or generator. If the power is down and you have no generator, you only have a few days to a week in the power bank - it's just bigger than the backup you have for your phone. And you already know it requires recharging - a Jackery will, too.
Id rather have something the makes electricity and doesn't need much concern in storage than have an expensive alternative which does require constant recharging to keep it ready.
NWYthesearelocalboys@reddit
They are so easy to use that it's not difficult to drain and recharge several times a year.
TurnbullFL@reddit
Use it as a UPS in the meantime until you need it for emergency.
Paranormal_Lemon@reddit
The one downside of that is a lightning strike can kill it if it's plugged in.
clampy88@reddit
I just got the delta pro 3 & 400 watt solar. It puts out 6,000 watts, has two 240 outlets and can connect directly to my house! I made a video on it: https://youtu.be/xiI8XOMIL2s?si=3sNCDEkDModxEFw6
KeithJamesB@reddit
I’d pick up some panels too. A power station is one shot without something to charge it. I don’t let mine sit either. You can always use it to power something even if it’s just dedicated to charge phones and laptops.
SheistyPenguin@reddit
Not an expert- but from what I have read, LiFePO4 (lithium phosphate) batteries are pretty hearty when it comes to cycling and long-term storage.
The general wisdom I've heard when storing lithium batteries for longer periods, is to get them to ~80%. It's a good idea to cycle them (discharge + charge) every so often, maybe once per year. Just put a recurring yearly reminder on your calendar.
True_Discipline5@reddit
The best practice is to use them quarterly. Fully discharge them and then recharge them. If you’re not gonna use them then most manufacturers recommend they get stored around 50% charge. Some manufacturers make this very clear in their documentation and sometimes their warranty depends on following their storage recommendations.
Anonymo123@reddit
I typically will drain and charge my Jackary and Bluetti once or twice a year. I also start my generators and do the fuel cut off switch to test them every few months for 10-15min each.
My power preps are 1 large generator for fridge\freezers that I will use until the fridge is empty and then cycle the freezers as needed based on temp and a smaller inverter that is much quieter that I got by mistake but kept. It doesnt have enough cranking amps for the fridge\freezer compressors but i can use it for anything up to that point. I keep around 100 gallons of gas i refresh annually on hand mainly for the 2 generators or vehicles. I don't plan to power AC or a furnace and this isnt my "forever" home so I havent set it up to plug into the house\disconnect from the grid. I have a wood burning stove solution for heat\cooking in the winter. I know if I kick on the larger generator and no one else has power, people will come looking what I have. I have a plan for a solution for that, but it won't be perfect.
I have 2 small solar units (Jackary and Bluetti) each with a 100 watt panel. Those will be for everything else like phone\tablet\small laptops\lights\headlamps, etc.
cjenkins14@reddit
Just build one. 100ah lifepo4 batteries are awfully cheap these days and you can size you inverter to what you anticipate you'll run off of it. Charging phones, flashlights etc anything with a USB can be done directly off the battery. If you build it, when it does break it's cheaper to fix and if it breaks when you need it, you're more likely to be able to find a solution. Knowledge is always more valuable than a tool.
Paranormal_Lemon@reddit
I built one for my sump pump, it was a fun project. The bluetooth BMS is really cool.
Also for just small stuff like USB you can get one big cell and just use a boost converter. I did that for backup for a router. It has a separate USB C charging board, even though it's a 100ah cell it charges fine at 2 amps. I use a single cell BMS/protection board before the boost converter to prevent over discharging.
Eredani@reddit
My first power station was a Jackery 1500 about three years ago. I run it up once in a while but have never needed to use it. Still works fine. I dont recommend storing these devices fully charged.
Friendly_Shopping286@reddit
Lifespan of 5 to 10 years depended on usage
I bought the 1000 watt jackery for $399, and I consider it pretty good Peace of mind investment in case I need it in the next few years
Paranormal_Lemon@reddit
For LiFePO4 it's 10 years of daily cycling. I'd expect 20-30 for one with low cycles.
Friendly_Shopping286@reddit
That would be awesome!
Like another commenter pointed out it's probably a good idea to test to make sure it still working once in awhile... So that will add to usage cycles
Paranormal_Lemon@reddit
Oh definitely. I'd test at least once a year, probably more. That eestimate is also counting on the cells being high quality and not having defects, which can take time to show. So load testing it close to the max output and draining it most of the way would be ideal.
Ryan_e3p@reddit
It'll be good, but it won't be as good.
If you're concerned, it might not be the worst idea to get something and put something "lightweight" on it, like a chest freezer, mini fridge or something. Have some sort of load on it that can cause even a slight discharge/recharge cycling of the battery, but not so much as to drain it overnight.
That being said, I'm a big fan of DIY, and will always recommend that over a self-contained box. If even the power button on that thing dies between now and when you need to use it, you're left with a brick. Going DIY allows you to repair/replace individual parts if they fail. Inverter dies? Just connect a new one. Charge controller poops the bed? Easy to replace. Battery decides it's time for the long sleep? Easy swap. Even better, is being able to expand on it if needed. Inverter not capable of putting out the watts needed? Replace it. Battery not big enough? Bolt on another in parallel. Added more panels and outgrew the charge controller? Easy replacement, plus now you can use the existing one to make a second air-gapped system for a shed or greenhouse.
thescatterling@reddit
First decide what your ESSENTIAL needs are. What do you NEED to run. Most likely your fridge and/or freezer. Secondly, determine how much power it uses in a set period of time, say 24 hours. Plug everything you’re going to run into a Kill A Watt plug and calculate how much power capacity you need. Use the kWh measurement on the plug. It’s probably going to be more than you expect. Thirdly, take the number you just came up with and AT LEAST double it. Solar conditions are often less than ideal and you should be able to power your essential needs for at least 36-48 hours without recharging the portable power station. You should now have a good idea of how many kWh of battery you need. Shop or build your power station accordingly.
petsruletheworld2021@reddit
Most of these battery systems have optimal levels they should be stored at. The newer ones offer a far higher number of charge and discharge cycles than earlier ones. I make a habit of using mine every 2 or 3 months if even for only a few hours… I don’t think you need to but it gives me peace of mind knowing they work.
Recently one of my small units shut down after less than a minute running a small device on AC and then tried on DC and it did the same. Had been working fine last time I used it. Manufacturer is replacing with either a reconditioned or new model depending on availability but that will take a couple of weeks.
It’s like any prep.. you need to use them to make sure things work and or that they are still valid based on other things that may have changed.
SadDaySundae@reddit
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