The need to have additional space has become a growing desire among homeowners in Canada, and sheds have become an effective way to fulfill that desire. Whether used as additional storage space, a car/motorbike garage, a peaceful and quiet space, or any other purpose, sheds offer the freedom to pursue hobbies and have a functional space at a minimal cost.
Although sheds provide the convenience and space shed owners desire, they come with one main challenge, i.e., lack of a reliable power source. To overcome this limitation, portable power stations serve as a game-changing solution. Since sheds that are commonly used in Canada don’t come built-in with electrical wiring, portable power stations provide a convenient way to power lights and other electronics, even in the most remote sheds. Therefore, this article explores in detail the working principle of portable power stations and the three best portable power stations for your shed.
What is a Portable Power Station and Its Working Principle
A portable power station is a battery-powered, compact generator that features AC outlets, DC ports, and USB charging ports to power various appliances, from smartphones and tablets to mini-fridges, coffee-makers, and more. It stores the electrical energy in the battery using AC charging, solar panels, or car 12V DC ports and then provides power to various appliances when required. So, unlike gas generators, portable power stations deliver electricity without fuel combustion, offering an eco-friendly and reliable power supply.
A portable power station comprises a battery, inverter, multiple input charging ports, multiple output charging ports, built-in safety chips, and a small LED display. The working principle of a portable power station revolves around the charging system, battery, and inverter.
A portable power station is connected to an AC wall outlet, solar panel, or DC car port to charge the battery. The time it takes depends on the battery capacity and charging method. Once the battery is charged, the user can use its multiple output ports to charge/power appliances.
Users can directly take DC supply from the battery to charge smartphones, tablets, etc. However, to power AC appliances, the built-in inverter converts the battery’s DC supply into AC and powers AC appliances, such as a coffee machine, heater, mini-fridge, driller, etc. Besides that, most portable stations include safety chips, like battery management systems and temperature sensors, to avoid overcharging, short circuits, overheating, etc.
The best thing about portable power stations is that all the components are integrated into a single, compact unit. This makes power stations highly portable and easy to use, allowing shed owners to use them in sheds and also take them to other places.
How to Charge Portable Power Stations
Portable power stations are very easy to charge. As mentioned above, most come with multiple charging methods, i.e., AC wall charging, car 12V DC charging, and solar charging. Shed owners can use any available charging method based on their specific circumstances.
Since charging through an AC wall outlet or car DC port is straightforward, let’s discuss the steps on how to charge a portable power station through solar panels:
- Choose a Compatible Solar Panel
The first step is to choose a solar panel compatible with the portable power station. Most power station manufacturers offer their solar panels. So, either use the manufacturer’s solar panel or any other compatible with the power station’s model.
- Place the Solar Panel in the Sunlight
Find the best location that provides direct sunlight exposure to the solar panel. Ensure no shadow or other object interrupts the direct sunlight reaching the panel.
- Connect the Solar Panel to the Station
Take the solar charging cable that comes with your portable power station and connect the panel to the input jack of the station that says “Solar Input” or “DC In”.
- Monitor Charging
The charging begins after the solar panel is connected to the power station. You can see the charging status through the power station’s display. The time it takes to charge the portable power station fully depends on the battery capacity, sunlight, and solar panel efficiency.
Portable stations also feature solar charge controllers, which control the power sent from the photovoltaic panels and stop receiving power when the battery is fully charged. Besides that, some users might use multiple solar panels to accelerate the charging time, as more panels mean more solar energy harvesting.
That’s it! This way, shed owners can keep their portable power stations charged with solar panels even when the grid supply is unavailable.
3 Best Portable Power Stations for Shed
Portable power stations are undoubtedly the best companion for shed owners who want a reliable and portable power supply in an eco-friendly way. However, the pleasure of using the portable station first requires a bit of research to find the best options available in the market.
To help ease this hassle, below are the three best portable power stations that offer the capacity, power, and features shed owners need to fulfill almost all of their power needs:
- Jackery Solar Generator 3000 Pro
For those shed owners who need a powerful source of electricity to power almost all outdoor appliances, Jackery Solar Generator 3000 Pro ticks all those checkboxes. This solar generator comes with an Explorer 3000 Pro portable power station and two SolarSaga 100W solar panels.
With a 3024Wh battery capacity and a massive 3000W power output, Jackery Solar Generator 3000 Pro can power 99% of appliances for the long run, such as a refrigerator, light, TV, electric grill, microwave, heater, and more. Therefore, it is an ideal large-capacity power generator for your leisure or working sheds. Despite the large battery, it supports ultra-fast solar charging in 6-7.5 hours or 2.4 hours for wall charging.
The other key features of Jackery Solar Generator 3000 Pro include:
- Portable suitcase design with pull rod and double wheels
- Multiple charging methods, including AC outlet, solar panel, and car DC port
- Multiple output ports, including AC, DC, USB-A, and USB-C
- 30dB noise level for peaceful operations
- Operations in extreme temperatures up to -20°C /-4°F
- Top-notch 12 layers safety with a fully upgraded battery management system
- Operational with a dedicated smartphone app
- 63.93 lbs weight
- 5 years warranty
Looking at all the above features of Jackery Solar Generator 3000 Pro, it is indeed the best portable power station to fulfill all the power needs in sheds.
- Jackery Solar Generator 1000 Pro
Another cost-friendly and best portable power station for shed owners is Jackery Solar Generator 1000 Pro, known for its portability, long lifespan of 10+ years, and super-fast charging within 1.8 hours. This solar generator comes with an Explorer 1000 Pro portable power station and two SolarSaga 80W solar panels.
Jackery Solar Generator 1000 Pro can power 93% of outdoor appliances with its 1002Wh battery capacity and 1000W power output (with 2000W surge power). The other key features of Jackery Solar Generator 1000 Pro include:
- 25.4 lbs portable power station along with foldable solar panel design
- Multiple charging methods, including AC outlet, solar panel, and car DC port
- Multiple output ports, including AC, DC, USB-A, and USB-C
- Industry-leading battery management system with 12 layers of protection
- Long battery standby for over 365 days when at 80% capacity
- Operating temperature range 14-104°F (-10-40℃)
- 46dB ultra-quiet operation
- 5 years warranty
Overall, Jackery Solar Generator 1000 Pro is a perfect blend of powerful performance and features to fulfill basic to advanced power needs in a safe and eco-friendly way for shed owners in Canada.
- Jackery Explorer 500 Portable Power Station
The above two portable power stations are best suited when shed owners want to power almost any electronic appliance. However, when usability needs are limited, such as charging/powering smartphones, laptops, tablets, TV, LED, or other less power-hungry appliances, then Jackery Explorer 500 Portable Power Station shines as the best power station portable device.
Jackery Explorer 500 Portable Power Station is an extremely lightweight and portable power station that offers 500W (1000W surge) output power and 518Wh battery capacity. With a 13.3 lbs weight, shed owners can take it anywhere to fulfill their power needs on the go. The other key features of Jackery Explorer 500 Portable Power Station include:
- Compact and portable design
- Multiple charging methods, including AC outlet, solar panel, and car DC port
- Multiple output ports, including AC, DC, USB-A, and USB-C
- Ultra-long battery life, capable of holding 80% battery capacity even after completing 800 charge cycles
- Industry-leading BMS technology
- Pure sine wave inverter
- Operating temperature range 14-104°F (-10-40℃)
- 37.9dB ultra-quiet operation
- 2 years of warranty
In short, Jackery Explorer 500 is another best portable power station for shed owners who need a compact, reliable, and cost-effective station to charge/power essential shed appliances.
FAQs about Solar Power Generators
- What can solar power generators charge, and can they run heavy-duty appliances?
Solar power generators can charge many electronic appliances, including smartphones, tablets, laptops, cameras, power banks, etc. Most solar power generators can easily power low-power appliances like LED lights, fans, speakers, and more.
However, when it comes to heavy-duty appliances, you have to look into their battery capacity and output power. For instance, Jackery Solar Generator 3000 Pro provides a 3024Wh battery capacity and 3000W power output, making it capable of powering 99% of appliances, including an air conditioner, fridge, electric grill, etc.
- What to consider in purchasing solar powered generators?
If you are planning to purchase a solar powered generator, you should consider the following factors:
- Output power capacity
- Battery type and capacity
- Number of charging methods
- Charging time
- Number of output ports
- Safety features
- Portability and weight
- Price
You should first clarify your specific usage requirements and needs for a solar powered generator. Afterward, consider the above factors to finalize the best portable solar generator.
- Where to put the solar panels to reach the optimum efficiency?
Solar panels should receive direct sunlight throughout the day for optimum efficiency. The general rule of thumb is to set the tilt angle of the solar panel equal to the geographical latitude. In simple words, if you are at 45 degrees latitude, tilt the panels at a 45-degree angle to receive the highest solar production. Moreover, it should be ensured that no objects/shades are casting shadows on the solar panels.
- How long does one fully charge the portable power stations?
The charging time of portable power stations depends on three factors, i.e., the battery capacity, the charging method, and the power source output. For instance, if you try to charge the power station through the car’s 12V DC output, it can take more hours than charging it through AC wall charging.
Most manufacturers provide the estimated charging times for different charging methods. For example, the Jackery Explorer 1000 Pro portable power station can charge from 0-100% in 9 hours with 2 SolarSaga 80W solar panels, 1.8 hours with an AC adapter, and 12 hours with a car adapter. Therefore, you should consult the manufacturer’s specifications to find the charging time for your portable power station.
- How long does the portable power station last to power appliances like my PC, laptop, coffee machine, and fans?
How long the portable power station can power appliances like a PC, laptop, coffee machine, and fans depends on its battery capacity, power efficiency, and the appliance’s power consumption. A large battery capacity reflects that the power station can store and deliver more energy, which means long runtimes.
To get the approximate runtime of the portable station, you should sum the power consumption of appliances and then divide them by the power station’s battery capacity (Wh). So, for a laptop (60W), PC (200W), coffee machine (700W), and fan (50W), a portable power station with a battery capacity of 1000Wh can run those appliances one by one for:
Laptop: 1002Wh*0.85 / 60W ≈ 14 hours
PC: 1002Wh*0.85 / 200W ≈ 4.2 hours
Coffee machine: 1002Wh*0.85 / 700W ≈ 1.2 hours
Fan: 1002Wh*0.85 / 50W ≈ 17 hours
And when they are charged simultaneously, the runtime will be 1000/1010 = 0.99 hours. However, note that this is a rough estimate and does not incorporate the efficiency losses or battery degradation over time.
Conclusion
The global outdoor shed market is booming and is all set to grow to $10.2 billion by 2030, compared to $6.5 billion in 2021, and Canada is no exception to this trend. Therefore, the growing interest in sheds has also increased the demand for portable and reliable power stations, as their multiple charging methods and output ports offer a convenient and essential solution for powering various devices and appliances within sheds.
Portable power supplies in the sheds are undeniably important, but it equally requires using the best portable power stations to extract maximum benefits. This is exactly what Jackery promises to offer, the leading global brand in the portable power station market. With a diversified range of models catering to different power needs, Jackery offers the best quality, portable, feature-rich, and eco-friendly power stations to shed owners in Canada. So, check out its impressive lineup of portable power stations to find the perfect match for your shed.
