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- Power stations are usually reserved for emergency use.
- I keep a few permanently connected as uninterruptible power supplies.
- Staying open has several advantages and helps avoid unwelcome surprises.
Power stations are often used as back-up devices: When the power goes out, or you go camping, you unplug your power station and plug in the devices you want to continue working on.
However, this method exposes you to potential problems, such as finding out that your power station was not fully charged, not knowing where the cables are, or losing Wi-Fi or access to other devices.
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As an avid home tech reviewer, I find a lot of power stations to test, so I’m pretty picky about their usage. Larger power stations are integrated into my whole-home backup system, while smaller ones are often used as UPSs for devices that support the daily operation of my home.
Here are three types of devices that I keep plugged into a power outlet.
1. Modem and router
In 2026, the first device I installed on the UPS was my Internet modem and router. When I was a kid, we had a UPS for each desktop computer at home to avoid hard shutdowns when the power inevitably went out in my third world country.
Now that our devices are portable (laptops, tablets, phones) and don’t need a constant power supply, the biggest disruption to my day is losing my home Wi-Fi unexpectedly.
My husband and I both work from home and need a consistent, reliable internet connection. Since power outages are common in my area, I added a portable battery as a UPS for my modem.
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When the power goes out in a suburban or urban area, mobile networks quickly become congested and slow down due to the flood of customers who simultaneously lose their home Wi-Fi. Maintaining a Wi-Fi connection keeps me online for work and ensures our kids can use their devices as needed.
The low power draw of the modem and router means I can use a modest 1kWh battery to keep the Wi-Fi running for a few days in the event of a blackout. I use the EcoFlow River 3 Plus, which is very small, at 286Wh, but it can power my modem and router for a full work day. An Anker Solix C1000 with a capacity of 1,056kWh it can do the job well and power the modem and router for three times longer.
Outside of work from home situations, I have a smart home with a whole smart home backup system. Although the system does not require Wi-Fi to operate and log in when the power goes out, it does require an Internet connection for remote control.
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On a recent trip, I accidentally (and remotely) short circuited my modem and router. This left me unable to monitor my dog overnight on any of our cameras, so we had to call back early. My neighbor tested the puppy, but he couldn’t open the circuit. Having a UPS on my modem and router would have allowed me to reset the circuit remotely, since I wouldn’t have lost my connection.
2. Refrigerator
Your refrigerator may be the first thing that comes to mind when the power goes out, as we all want to prevent food loss. Thankfully, modern refrigerators use between 1-2kWh per day, which is very low compared to what most people expect from a large appliance.
A refrigerator is one appliance I recommend hooking up to a portable solar powered battery, as it can run efficiently on one and save you $8-$20 per month. However, a portable power station can also keep your refrigerator running during an outage.
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It is important to check the specifications of your refrigerator before connecting it to the electrical outlet. Besides using 1kWh – 2kWh per day, most modern fridges draw between 100W and 300W when the compressor is running, on and off throughout the day, although they can have surges of 600W – 1,500W.
For a refrigerator, I would recommend a minimum of 2,000Wh, if your budget allows, to give you extra storage for longer shutdowns.
I EcoFlow Delta 3 Max Series it’s a decent option, with 2,048Wh power and 3,000W output. You can consider smaller options, such as Anker Solix C2000 with the same power and output of 2,400W.
Either of these two batteries can keep a full-sized refrigerator running for up to three days. The 1,024W battery can keep one running for up to 16 hours.
3. Security cameras and systems
A power outage is one of those times when you want to make sure your security cameras are working again. Regardless of the cause, power outages create uncertainty, and people like to check on their homes, monitor storm damage, or make sure their family members arrive safely more often during an outage. Spending hundreds of dollars on a security system that goes black when the power goes out is less than worth it.
Some systems have a built-in backup system to run for a predetermined number of minutes before shutting down. While battery-powered cameras can do the trick, they rely on a constant network to stay connected. You can keep your network running with a power station for your router and modem, but your camera hub or individual cameras also need power.
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Keeping your cameras and/or hub connected to a UPS ensures you don’t lose surveillance, but make sure you back up what you need to keep the security system running. If you have multiple battery-powered cameras, be sure to back up power to a hub or base station, a PoE switch for wired cameras, or an NVR.
Being a fan of Eufy’s home security system, I recommend that HomeBase 3 like your local storage. Losing your hub means your cameras won’t be able to record new video, motion detection may be limited, and remote access will disappear.
You don’t even need a big battery for this. A small battery like an EcoFlow River 3 can prevent these cameras from connecting to the Internet, thanks to its 3,000W output and 245Wh power.
