Jackery portable power stations are amazing devices that can provide you with reliable and green power for your outdoor adventures, home backup, and off-grid living. They have multiple outputs and inputs to charge your devices and appliances, and they can be recharged by wall outlets, car cigarette lighters, or solar panels.
But what if you want to use a Jackery portable power station to power a heater? Can a Jackery portable power station do that? How much power do you need to power a heater? In this post, we will answer these questions and explain whether a Jackery portable power station can power a heater or not.
The short answer is yes, but it depends. A Jackery portable power station can power a heater, but only if the heater has a low wattage and the Jackery portable power station has a high wattage . You need to make sure that the wattage of the heater is lower than or equal to the wattage of the Jackery portable power station.
How Much Power Do You Need To Power A Heater?
To understand whether a Jackery portable power station can power a heater, we need to understand how much power is needed to power a heater. The power needed to power a heater depends on several factors, such as:
- The type of heater: There are different types of heaters, such as electric heaters, gas heaters, propane heaters, etc. Each type of heater has different power requirements and efficiency levels. For example, an electric heater may need more power than a gas heater, but it may also be more efficient and safer.
- The size of heater: The larger the heater, the more power it needs to heat up a larger space. For example, a 1500W heater may be able to heat up a small room, while a 3000W heater may be able to heat up a large room.
- The temperature setting: The higher the temperature setting, the more power it needs to maintain the desired temperature. For example, a heater set at 25°C may need more power than a heater set at 20°C.
- The duration of use: The longer the heater is used, the more power it consumes over time. For example, a heater used for 2 hours may consume more power than a heater used for 1 hour.
The power needed to power a heater is measured in watts (W), which is the product of volts (V) and amps (A). Volts are the electrical potential or pressure that pushes the current through the circuit. Amps are the electrical current or flow that delivers the energy to the device. Watts are the total amount of energy consumed or provided by the device.
To power a heater, you need two things: enough volts and enough watts. The volts determine whether the current can reach the device, while the watts determine whether the current can deliver enough energy to the device.
Most heaters have 12V or 24V batteries, which means they need 12V or 24V of electrical potential to run. However, 12V or 24V alone is not enough. You also need enough watts of electrical energy to heat up your space.
The amount of watts needed to power a heater varies depending on the factors mentioned above, but generally speaking, you need at least 100W for a small personal heater, at least 500W for a medium space heater, and at least 1000W for a large room heater.
These are minimum values, and you may need more watts depending on your specific situation. For example, if your space is very cold or very large, you may need up to 2000W or more to heat it up.
How Much Power Can A Jackery Portable Power Station Provide?
Now that we know how much power is needed to power a heater, let’s see how much power can a Jackery portable power station provide. Jackery has several models of portable power stations, ranging from 240Wh to 3000Wh in battery capacity and from 200W to 2000W in output power.
The output power of a Jackery portable power station is measured in watts (W), which is the product of volts (V) and amps (A). For example, if a Jackery portable power station has an output of 200W at 12V, it means it can provide up to 16.67A of current (200W / 12V = 16.67A).
However, this output power is not constant or peak. It is only an average or rated value that indicates how much power the Jackery portable power station can provide under normal conditions and for continuous use. The actual output power may vary depending on several factors, such as:
- The battery level: The lower the battery level, the lower the output power. For example, if a Jackery portable power station has only 10% of battery left, it may not be able to provide its rated output power.
- The device load: The higher the device load, the lower the output power. For example, if a Jackery portable power station is powering multiple devices at once, it may not be able to provide its rated output power.
- The temperature condition: The higher the temperature, the lower the output power. For example, if a Jackery portable power station is exposed to high temperatures, it may not be able to provide its rated output power.
The peak output power of a Jackery portable power station is the maximum amount of power it can provide for a short period of time, usually a few seconds or minutes. The peak output power is usually higher than the rated output power, but it is not sustainable or reliable. The peak output power may also vary depending on the factors mentioned above.
The peak output power of a Jackery portable power station is not clearly stated in the product specifications, but it can be estimated by multiplying the rated output power by a factor of 1.5 to 2. For example, if a Jackery portable power station has a rated output of 200W at 12V, it may have a peak output of 300W to 400W at 12V.
Why Can Or Can’t A Jackery Portable Power Station Power A Heater?
Based on the information above, we can see whether a Jackery portable power station can power a heater or not. To power a heater, you need at least 100W to 2000W of power at 12V or 24V, depending on your heater’s size, type, setting, and duration of use. However, a Jackery portable power station can only provide up to 16.67A to 166.67A of current at 12V or up to 8.33A to 83.33A of current at 24V, depending on its model, battery level, device load, and temperature condition.
Even if we consider the peak output power of a Jackery portable power station, which may be higher than the rated output power by a factor of 1.5 to 2, it is still not enough to power most heaters. The peak output power of a Jackery portable power station may range from 300W to 4000W at 12V or from 150W to 2000W at 24V, which means it can only provide up to 25A to 333A of current at 12V or up to 6.25A to 83.33A of current at 24V.
Therefore, a Jackery portable power station can only power a heater if the heater has a very low wattage and the Jackery portable power station has a very high wattage. For example, a Jackery Explorer 240 (240Wh battery capacity and 200W rated output) may be able to power a small personal heater (100W) for about an hour. However, a Jackery Explorer 1000 (1002Wh battery capacity and 1000W rated output) may not be able to power a large room heater (1500W) at all.
If you try to use your Jackery portable power station to power a heater that has a higher wattage than what your Jackery portable power station can provide, you may damage your devices or cause safety hazards.
How To Power A Heater With A Portable Power Station?
If you want to use your Jackery portable power station to power a heater, you need to follow these steps:
- Step 1: Check the wattage of your heater and compare it with the wattage of your Jackery portable power station. Make sure that the wattage of your heater is lower than or equal to the wattage of your Jackery portable power station.
- Step 2: Check the voltage and plug type of your heater and compare them with the voltage and plug type of your Jackery portable power station. Make sure that they are compatible and match each other.
- Step 3: Connect your heater to your Jackery portable power station using the appropriate cable and adapter. Make sure that the connection is secure and stable.
- Step 4: Turn on your Jackery portable power station and your heater. Adjust the temperature setting and enjoy the warmth.
- Step 5: Monitor the battery level and output status of your Jackery portable power station and the performance and safety of your heater. Turn off your Jackery portable power station and your heater when they are not in use or when they need recharging.
Conclusion
Jackery portable power stations are amazing devices that can provide you with reliable and green power for your outdoor adventures, home backup, and off-grid living