For refrigerator and communications backup, start with a tested 2 kWh power station—then verify runtime, surge and weight against your loads.

For refrigerator, internet, lights and device charging, the EcoFlow Delta 2 Max is the strongest all-around 2 kWh choice in this review—if its 50.7-pound weight is manageable. Wirecutter names it its upgrade pick after hands-on testing, citing its battery life, output and range of ports. It is rated at 2,048 Wh and 2,400 W (Wirecutter).

That is not a universal answer. Choose a lighter 1 kWh station if you mainly need a CPAP, router, lights and charging, or if lifting about 50 pounds is unrealistic. A portable 120 V station is generally the wrong class of equipment for central air conditioning, electric heat, a water heater or 240 V well pumps.

Shortlist for home outages

Specifications and availability were checked September 30, 2026. OutageGuide does not sell these products, use affiliate links or conduct product testing.

Best use	Model	Capacity	Continuous AC output	Weight	Main limit
Tested all-around 2 kWh pick	EcoFlow Delta 2 Max	2,048 Wh	2,400 W	50.7 lb	Heavy; verify current availability
More output in the 2 kWh class	Bluetti Elite 200 V2	2,073.6 Wh	2,600 W	53.4 lb	Not expandable
Lighter 1 kWh option	Anker Solix C1000 Gen 2	1,024 Wh	2,000 W	24.9 lb	About half the stored energy

The Delta 2 Max is the only selection here backed by the cited independent comparative test. EcoFlow specifies a five-year warranty and expansion from 2 to 6 kWh, while Wirecutter confirms its capacity, output and weight (EcoFlow).

The other two are specification-based alternatives. Bluetti lists a pure sine-wave inverter, LiFePO4 battery, 1,000 W maximum solar input and five-year warranty for the Elite 200 V2 (Bluetti). Anker lists the C1000 Gen 2 at 1,024 Wh, 2,000 W and 24.9 pounds; it is not expandable (Anker). Confirm current manuals, warranty terms, stock and safety certification before ordering.

Calculate runtime before choosing a size

Watt-hours determine approximate runtime. Watts determine whether the station can operate the load. A 2,000 W inverter does not contain 2,000 Wh of energy.

For a cautious first estimate, allow 20% of nameplate energy for inverter losses, station overhead, temperature and battery condition:

Estimated hours = battery Wh × 0.8 ÷ measured average load W

The 80% factor is a planning allowance, not a specification or guaranteed efficiency. Low loads can be affected more by the station’s own standby consumption, while battery age and cold conditions can reduce usable energy.

Measured average load	1,024 Wh station	2,048 Wh station
25 W	32.8 hours	65.5 hours
80 W	10.2 hours	20.5 hours
120 W	6.8 hours	13.7 hours
800 W	1.0 hour	2.0 hours
1,500 W space heater	33 minutes	66 minutes

For a refrigerator, measure energy over 24 hours with a plug-in meter rather than multiplying its running watts by 24. Refrigerators and pumps cycle, and their motors can draw substantially more power at startup. Confirm that both continuous demand and starting surge fit within the station’s ratings. If a nameplate lists only current, use the amps-to-watts conversion.

The heater row shows why a portable battery is a poor match for resistance heating. Even a nominal 2 kWh station may provide only about an hour under this planning assumption. Most central gas furnaces also require electricity for controls and the blower; see why gas heat usually stops in an outage.

Five checks before buying

1. List essential loads only. Add the watts of devices that will run simultaneously, then identify the largest motor-starting surge. Do not rely on a proprietary “boost” mode unless both appliance and station instructions allow that use.
2. Confirm voltage. The shortlisted stations supply 120 V, not split-phase 120/240 V. They cannot directly run a 240 V appliance.
3. Plan the connection. Plug appliances directly into the station unless the manufacturer supports a specific home-integration system. Never improvise a connection to a wall receptacle. Transfer equipment isolates utility and backup power to prevent dangerous backfeeding (Electrical Safety Foundation International); have home wiring work performed under applicable local rules.
4. Verify the exact model’s safety listing. UL 2743 covers enclosed battery devices intended as portable power sources when normal grid power is unavailable (UL Solutions). Look for a mark from a nationally recognized testing laboratory and verify the model, rather than accepting vague “compliant” language. NFPA likewise advises buying lithium-ion products listed and labeled by a recognized testing laboratory (NFPA).
5. Check recalls and test the setup. CPSC recalled about 46,200 Goal Zero Yeti 3000X stations on August 20, 2026, after four reports involving fire, overheating or smoke. Owners were told to stop using them and install the free firmware repair (CPSC). Test your intended loads before an outage, follow the manual’s storage-charge schedule, and stop using a battery that develops swelling, unusual heat, odor, discoloration or popping sounds.

Treat medical power as a separate decision

Do not make a general-purpose station the sole backup for life-sustaining equipment. Ready.gov advises making a power-outage plan with the medical provider for powered devices and refrigerated medicines (Ready.gov).

CPAP demand also depends on the exact model, pressure, humidifier and heated tubing. ResMed’s battery tables show large differences between configurations and recommend its specified DC-to-DC converter where applicable (ResMed battery guide). Confirm compatibility with the device manufacturer and test a full night under the prescribed settings.

Start with 2 kWh when refrigerator runtime is central and 1 kWh when weight and basic communications matter more, but buy from measured energy use—not the category label. For outages likely to last several days, compare battery recharging limits with fuel-based options in the portable power station versus generator guide.