The short answer
A battery power station avoids the exhaust, fuel and installation that rule out a generator, and 500–2,000 Wh covers a refrigerator, internet, lights and phones for hours to a day. It cannot power the building and should never be connected to the unit's wiring.
What makes it work
- No carbon monoxide, so the maker allows indoor use within temperature and ventilation limits.
- No fuel to store, which most leases and fire codes care about.
- Plug-in only — nothing to install, nothing to permit.
Sizing it
| Goal | Average draw | Energy needed for 12 h | Typical size to shop |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phones, laptop, router, a few lights | 150–250 W | 2.1–3.5 kWh | Not a small unit — use the calculator |
| Router and phones only | 65 W | 0.9 kWh | 500–1,000 Wh |
| Refrigerator, router, lights, phones | 225 W | 3.2 kWh | Large stations or two units |
Wattstanding calculationEnergy = average draw × hours ÷ 0.85. Apartments often care about internet and phones first; the load calculator shows the real figure for your list.
Compare small stations and LiFePO4 stations, and read the recharge options: wall charging between outages is the norm; a balcony panel may help.
What to avoid
SafetyNever run a gasoline or propane generator in an apartment, garage or balcony enclosure — carbon monoxide can move through the building. Do not connect a power station to a building's wiring.
Figures marked as Wattstanding calculations show their working; product figures come from the sources on each product page. How we work