Apartment Outage
Will a 500 watt power station run router, laptop, and phones?
Use the default WattSizer rule: add running watts, then model the largest startup load while the other selected loads are already running.
A 500 W unit clears this estimate, subject to nameplate checks.
The peak-starting assumption is driven by Router and modem. With the default 20% buffer, WattSizer rounds up to the next 100 watts.
| Appliance | Running | Starting | Source note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Router and modem | 25 W | 25 W | Home electronics wattage varies by device; DOE advises measuring or checking adapters for accurate values. |
| Laptop charger | 90 W | 90 W | Charger label values set the upper bound; default assumes a larger laptop power adapter. |
| Four phone chargers | 40 W | 40 W | USB charger labels vary; default assumes several fast chargers in use at once. |
Try the load yourself
Edit this scenario
| Load | Running watts | Starting watts |
|---|---|---|
Power station estimate
For battery units, the selected running load needs about 0 Wh for 8 hours or 0 Wh for 12 hours before weather, battery age, and inverter losses.
Safety check
Never operate a fuel-burning generator indoors, in a garage, on a porch, or near open windows. Use a listed transfer switch or interlock installed by a qualified electrician for home wiring, and verify actual device nameplates before buying equipment.
Generator or power station?
Fuel generators are useful for motor loads and longer outages, while battery power stations are better for indoor-safe electronics and medical-device planning. For battery sizing, this selected running load is about 1,500 Wh for 8 hours with the same buffer.
Never operate a fuel-burning generator indoors, in a garage, on a porch, or near open windows. Use a listed transfer switch or interlock installed by a qualified electrician for home wiring, and verify actual device nameplates before buying equipment.