It’s never a good time to lose power. Whether it’s a blizzard, storm, or just the wind knocking out a transformer, it’s always inconvenient. One way to make it a little less painful though is to be prepared. Thankfully, there’s no shortage of awesome tech gadgets to make your next power outage a little more bearable.
Obviously, you should get yourself a flashlight, and maybe a LED lamp, but there’s cooler stuff out there whether you’re just looking to keep your phone charged or wanting to keep your gaming session going during the next power outage emergency.
The best gadgets for power outages
There’s no reason you need to spend your next power outage like a peasant during medieval times fumbling for candles in the dark. There are simple things like flashlights, lanterns, and more that can make losing power more bearable, but there’s no reason to stumble around in the dark anymore. We all have devices like phones, tablets, and laptops that need to be charged during an extended power outage.
The Anker 737 Power Bank is a great way to keep those basic devices charged, but for more power, the Jackery Explorer 240 and 1000 models offer a lot more versatility, as well as extra juice for a longer power outage. The Explorer 240 will keep all your devices charged and has enough power to run a coffee maker, keep a fridge cool, or use a power tool. Meanwhile, the Explorer 1000 can do all of that while powering a Playstation and TV. The best choice really comes down to how much you’re looking to spend, and what you’re looking to run power too.
How concerned should you be about power outages?
Most Americans experience losing power for 7 hours per year, according to the US Energy Information Administration. Living in an area with severe storms or harsh winters can make that number go much higher. At the end of the day, the wrong tree limb can fall anywhere, and it’s worth being prepared regardless.
Should you consider a gas generator?
If you live in an area where power outages are common, a gas generator may be worth investing in. I’ve had a Westinghouse 4650 Peak Wattage Generator for three years, and it’s kept me warm during a few blizzards and kept the basement dry during flooding numerous times. Still, I have a small power bank I use during outages to keep my devices charged.
Generators will provide more power versus similarly priced power banks, but there are drawbacks to a generator though. They require gas, and they are engines that require maintenance. Between the fuel and upkeep, you can end up spending more on a generator over the course of its life than you would on a power bank. Power banks are also much smaller than generators, and a generator needs to be run outside your home, which isn’t ideal if you’ve lost power during winter.
How many watts will you need?
You’ll want to pay attention to how many watts are output by each power bank or generator you’re considering. Luckily, most power banks and generators have it right in the name, like the Jackery 240, Jackery 1000, or the Westinghouse 4650. All the numbers indicate the amount of wattage output you’ll get from each one.
Charging devices doesn’t require much energy. A phone charger only needs 10 watts, while laptops can range from 20 up to 100. So something like the Jackery 240 would be a good option to keep your family’s devices going. Meanwhile, refrigerators, coffee machines, gaming consoles, and TVs all require between 250 and 750 watts, which would make the Jackery 1000 the better choice for powering those. That helped make the Jackery 1000 our top choice for portable power stations. For things like large space heaters and electric ovens, you’ll probably need a generator to run them consistently because of the amount of power they usually require.
What are other basics should you have for an outage?
Power outages are never fun, but they’re easier to deal with if you do some minor planning. Packs of flashlights, LED lanterns, a surge protector to ensure your devices are safe when power returns, and a cooler for any perishables you don’t want to go bad, all make losing power much less stressful.
