Sizing honesty · Week 2

What size power station do I need?

Skip the “best 1000Wh” guess. List what must run, multiply watts × hours for Wh, then check surge and continuous AC watts. QuietWatt uses a labelled formula — not invented runtimes. Confirm every load on the appliance nameplate / kill-a-watt and every station on the current listing.

The sizing formula (honesty first)

  • Energy (Wh) ≈ Σ (average watts × hours you need). Example shape only: a closed fridge averaging ~60 W for 12 h → ~720 Wh before losses — your fridge may differ; check the label and fridge runtime.
  • Usable Wh ≈ nameplate Wh × ~0.85 (rule of thumb for inverter loss + reserve — not a lab factor). Hours ≈ usable Wh ÷ average watts.
  • Surge / continuous are separate. Wh buys time; continuous watts run the load; peak/surge covers motor start. Pair with peak vs continuous watts.
  • Do not invent a runtime from marketing Wh alone. Class bands live on Wh class guide; ~1 kWh SKUs on 1 kWh compare.

Specs cited elsewhere on QuietWatt are from manufacturer pages (checked Oct 2026). Figures on this page are estimates / planning formulas — check your nameplates and the current listing before buying. Not electrical advice.

Checklist: list loads → Wh → headroom

  1. Write every load that may run at once (router, fridge, laptop, CPAP, lights…). Prefer average running watts for cycling loads when known.
  2. Multiply watts × hours for each, sum → raw Wh need. Add ~15%+ for inverter / reserve (the ~0.85 usable rule flipped).
  3. Identify the hungriest motor start (fridge, AC, pump). Station peak must clear it — detail on peak vs continuous.
  4. Require continuous ≥ simultaneous running watts with breathing room if the OEM is vague (estimate — not a guarantee).
  5. Match Wh class to the job — overnight fridge often lands near ~1 kWh class for many apartments; multi-day / expand path: expandable stations. Budget band: best under ~$500.

Example load bands (check your label)

Order-of-magnitude planning bands only — not QuietWatt measurements. Replace with your nameplate or meter reading.

Load (typical class) Planning draw (estimate) Where QuietWatt goes deeper
Wi‑Fi router / modem ~5–15 W continuous class Wi‑Fi / modem backup · cable modem / ONT
Laptop work block ~40–80 W class while charging/working laptop blackout · home office UPS
Household fridge (door shut) Often ~50–100 W average with higher start surge fridge runtime · mini-fridge Wh math · surge honesty
CPAP (no humidifier) Often tens of watts — model-dependent CPAP overnight · CPAP sizing (specs only — not medical advice)
Window / portable AC Often hundreds–1,000+ W continuous — mid kits often lose window AC honesty · heatwave fan vs AC

Worked math always uses your watts × hours, then ÷ (nameplate Wh × ~0.85). QuietWatt will not invent a “runs 14 hours” claim for your fridge without your label.

Apartment vs camping vs van

Apartment overnight

Fridge + Wi‑Fi + lights

Default shop band is often ~1 kWh class if the compressor surge clears — see apartment blackouts, 1 kWh compare, fridge runtime. Stairs weight: stairs / lightest.

Camping / day-trip

Phones · lights · cooler

Smaller Wh often wins if you are not running a household fridge. Still check continuous watts for coolers / fans. Budget: under ~$500 · class map: Wh class.

Van / multi-day

Wh + solar / expand

Energy for days usually means more Wh or expandable packs + recharge path — expandable / multi-day · campervan / NZ · solar bundles.

CPAP sleep math is device-specific — start with CPAP overnight (not medical advice). Pass-through / UPS behaviour while grid is flaky: pass-through charging.

Stations QuietWatt already cites (confirm listing)

Same SKUs as sibling guides — filter by role. Wh and watts are manufacturer class figures; verify live.

Model Wh · AC class (mfr) Sizing role Approx. USD
EcoFlow RIVER 2 Max Light 512 Wh · ~500 W cont. class Phones / modem / laptop block — not a fridge night. Wh class. Check current listing
Jackery Explorer 1000 v2 Lightest 1 kWh 1,070 Wh · 1,500 W (mfr) Common apartment overnight candidate if surge clears your fridge — brand compare. Check current listing
BLUETTI Elite 100 V2 Value 1,024 Wh · ~1,800 W class Strong $/Wh solo mid — still run the formula with your loads. Check current listing
EcoFlow DELTA 3 Plus Expand 1,024 Wh · 1,800 W / 3,600 W surge (mfr) Expand adds Wh, not inverter watts — expandable guide. Check current listing
Anker SOLIX C1000 Expand 1,056 Wh · ~1,800 W class LFP + expand path — size continuous first, then bolt-on Wh. Check current listing

Where to buy (affiliate placeholders)

Tracked affiliate links will replace these placeholders once QuietWatt is enrolled in each program. Until then, use the official product URLs in the table above.

Buy via EcoFlow Buy via BLUETTI Buy via Anker Buy via Jackery Buy via Amazon

Placeholder anchors: #aff-ecoflow, #aff-bluetti, #aff-anker, #aff-jackery, #aff-amazon.

Sources