Estimates use manufacturer specs; real runtime varies with your device and temperature.
List A: station only (~$449–$619)
| Station | Capacity | Output | Verified price | Price date | Why |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BLUETTI AC180 | 1,152 Wh | 1,800 W | $449 | checked Sep 29, 2026, BLUETTI | Lowest price in this table; 5-yr warranty |
| Jackery Explorer 1000 v2 | 1,070 Wh | 1,500 W | $559 | checked Oct 1, 2026, jackery.com | Lighter carry; 4,000-cycle LFP |
| Jackery Explorer 1000 Plus | 1,264 Wh | 2,000 W | $619 | 2026-09-21, jackery.com | More capacity; expandable later |
The AC180 at $449 leaves $551. All three fit under $1,000, with room for a heavy-duty extension cord. Every station above is over 1,000 Wh. PG&E’s rebate stops at 1,000 Wh. Rebate tracker.
AC180 hours = 1,152 Wh × 0.90 × 0.85 ÷ (device watts + 15 W self-use) = 881 Wh usable. Same method as the planner.
| Load | Assumed draw | On the AC180 (881 Wh usable) |
|---|---|---|
| Fridge (78 W avg) + router and modem (20 W) | 98 W | 8 hours |
| Add laptop charging (60 W) | 158 W | 5 hours |
| Add 2 phones (20 W) | 178 W | 5 hours |
Check the fridge startup surge against the station surge rating.
Twelve hours at 98 W is 1,176 watt-hours from the devices. With 10 W of station self-use, that job needs about 1,694 Wh of battery size.
None of the three cover 12 hours at 98 W. EcoFlow RIVER 3 Plus, 286 Wh: about 2 hours. Cheapest that covers 12 hours: Jackery Explorer 2000 v2, about 14 hours, $899 at jackery.com on September 25, 2026. Best by device.
List B: add a 200 W panel
- Add a panel for frequent or multi-day outages. Balcony solar.
- AC180 checked Sep 29, 2026, BLUETTI. Jackery Explorer 1000 v2: Oct 1, 2026. Jackery Explorer 1000 Plus: 2026-09-21. Panel prices are not confirmed. Match voltage and connector on the manufacturer page.
- A 200 W panel delivers about 120–150 W for 4–5 peak sun hours: about 500–750 Wh on a good day. Winter and storms produce much less.
Do not buy a space heater
A typical space heater draws 1,500 W. On a generic 1,000 Wh station (90% depth of discharge, 85% inverter efficiency, 10 W self-use):
1,000 Wh × 0.90 × 0.85 ÷ (1,500 W + 10 W) ≈ 30 minutes of heat.
A generic 2,000 Wh station, same assumptions: 2,000 × 0.90 × 0.85 ÷ (1,500 + 10) ≈ 1 hour. An electric blanket (~100 W) on that 1,000 Wh station runs about 7 hours: 765 Wh usable ÷ (100 W + 10 W).
What to plug in
What to plug in
- Fridge (~78 W average). Keep the door closed.
- Router/modem (20 W).
- Phones (~10 W each while charging), then unplug.
- Laptop (~60 W while charging), in bursts.
- Lights: battery lanterns, not the station.
Leave space heaters, hair dryers, toasters, microwaves, and coffee makers unplugged.
What to skip
Skip these
- Two small stations instead of one 1,000 Wh station. A 500 W output can miss a compressor’s startup, and you cannot combine outputs.
- A panel “just in case,” if outages are rare and short.
- A 2,000 Wh station only to spend the budget. Fridge and Wi-Fi for 12 hours: Jackery Explorer 2000 v2, about 14 hours. Elite 200 V2 class: about 53 lb.
- A gas generator indoors. Most leases rule it out.
- Anything attached to the balcony until you have read the lease. The station needs no permit.