Frequently Asked Questions

Power & Sizing

What size power station do I need?

The right size depends on what you want to run and for how long. Here's a quick framework:

Weekend camping or emergency essentials (phones, lights, small electronics): A 500-1000Wh unit like the Bluetti AC180 (1152Wh) is the sweet spot. It'll handle phones, laptops, LED lights, CPAPs, and small appliances for a couple of days.

Extended off-grid trips or whole-house essentials (fridge, well pump, microwave): You'll want 2000Wh+ with at least 2000W AC output. A Bluetti AC200P (2000Wh) or similar handles this range.

Whole-home backup or heavy off-grid use (HVAC, electric ranges, well pumps for days): Expandable systems like the Bluetti Apex 300 with B500K batteries scale to handle real residential loads. These start around 3000W output and 3000Wh+ capacity.

The simplest sizing rule: Add up the wattage of everything you want to run at the same time. That's your minimum AC output. Then multiply by hours of runtime you need. That's your minimum capacity in Wh. Add 20% buffer and shop from there.

If you're unsure, contact us with a list of what you want to run — we'll help you size it right.

How long will a portable power station run my [fridge / CPAP / laptop]?

Rough runtimes for a 1000Wh power station like the Bluetti AC180:

CPAP machine: 10-14 hours (one full night with humidifier off; 8 hours with humidifier on)

Mini fridge (60W): 12-18 hours

Full-size refrigerator (150W average): 5-7 hours of total compressor runtime

Laptop (60W): 15-20 full charges

Phone (10Wh): 80+ charges

LED lighting: Many days

Microwave (1000W): Only 30-45 minutes at full power

The simple math: Divide your power station's Wh capacity by the device's wattage to get hours of runtime. So a 1000Wh unit running a 100W device = 10 hours.

Refrigerators are tricky because they cycle on and off — they only draw power maybe 30% of the time. So a fridge rated 150W actually averages about 45W. That extends runtime significantly.

What's the difference between Wh (watt-hours) and W (watts)?

This is the most common confusion in the off-grid power category. Quick answer:

Watts (W) = how much power something needs to run. A 60W TV needs 60 watts at any given moment.

Watt-hours (Wh) = how much total energy is stored or used over time. A 1000Wh battery can deliver 1000 watts for 1 hour, or 100 watts for 10 hours, or 50 watts for 20 hours.

When sizing a power station:

Look at the W rating (AC output) to confirm it can run your devices simultaneously

Look at the Wh rating (capacity) to estimate how long it'll run them

A power station rated 1800W / 1152Wh (like the Bluetti AC180) can run an 1800W device for about 30 minutes, or a 60W device for about 16 hours. Same battery, totally different runtimes — it just depends on how much you're pulling at once.

Solar Charging

How long does it take to charge a power station with solar panels?

Depends on three things: the power station's capacity, the panel wattage, and the sunlight conditions.

Rough math: Divide your power station's Wh capacity by the panel wattage. Then multiply by 1.3 to account for real-world inefficiency (clouds, panel angle, temperature, etc.).

Examples with a 200W solar panel:

Bluetti EB3A (268Wh) → ~2 hours of good sun

Bluetti AC180 (1152Wh) → ~6-8 hours of good sun

Bluetti AC200P (2000Wh) → ~11-13 hours of good sun

You can speed this up by adding more panels in parallel. Two 200W panels charge twice as fast as one. Most modern power stations accept up to 500-1000W of solar input.

Important caveats:

"Good sun" means clear sky, panel angled toward the sun, midday

Cloudy days can cut output by 50-80%

Cold weather is actually GOOD for solar (more efficient); extreme heat reduces output

Real-world output averages about 70-85% of rated watts even in good conditions

Can I leave a solar panel outside in the rain?

Most quality portable solar panels are rated IP65 or IP67, which means they handle rain and dust just fine. Don't submerge them, but they're built to live outside.

That said, a few practical notes:

Connectors and ports are often less weather-resistant than the panel itself. Keep cables and the power station itself out of direct rain

Long-term outdoor exposure (months of UV, temperature swings) will eventually degrade any panel. For permanent outdoor installs, look at fixed rigid panels designed for rooftop/mount use

Snow and ice will block sunlight but won't damage the panel — just brush them off

High wind is the real risk for portable panels — they can blow away. Anchor them in any significant wind

For a weekend camping trip or a few days of emergency use, no problem. For permanent installations, choose panels designed for that purpose.

Real-World Use

Will a portable power station replace my gas generator?

For many people, yes — and there are real reasons to make the switch. But for some heavy-use scenarios, no.

A portable power station beats a gas generator at:

Silent operation (no neighbors angry at 2am)

No fumes — can run inside the house safely

Zero maintenance (no oil changes, no gas storage)

Instant startup

No fuel cost during normal use (solar recharge is free)

Indoor storage (no risk of fuel spills)

Modular expandability

A gas generator still wins at:

Running 24/7 for weeks (a power station needs solar or grid power to recharge)

Powering very heavy loads (10,000W+ for the whole house including HVAC)

Total cost-per-watt for high-draw applications

The honest answer: For most homeowners wanting backup during outages, a portable power station + solar panels handles 95% of real scenarios. For a few specific cases (rural homes with frequent multi-day outages, large HVAC loads, no solar option), a gas generator is still the answer. Many serious preppers have both.

How long do these batteries actually last?

The honest answer depends on battery chemistry:

LiFePO₄ (Lithium Iron Phosphate) — what most modern power stations use, including all the Bluetti units we carry:

3,000-3,500+ charge cycles to 80% capacity

"Cycle" = one full discharge and recharge

At one full cycle per week, that's about 60-70 years

At one full cycle per day, that's 10 years before capacity drops to 80%

Older lithium-ion chemistry — what some budget units use:

500-1,000 cycles to 80% capacity

Significantly shorter useful life

Often what you find in older or cheaper power stations

Real-world: most people use their power station occasionally — weekends, outages, the odd camping trip. Even heavy users rarely exceed 100 cycles per year. A LiFePO₄ power station bought today will likely outlast the electronics you'll plug into it.

LiFePO₄ is also significantly safer (much lower fire risk) and handles cold weather better.

Shipping, Returns, and Warranty

How much does shipping cost?

We offer free shipping on all orders $300 and up within the contiguous United States (lower 48 states).

For orders under $300, shipping is weight-based:

0-5 lb: $5.99

5-20 lb: $14.99

20-50 lb: $39.99

50-100 lb: $89.99

100+ lb: $149.99

Delivery typically takes 5-8 business days.

We do not currently ship to: Alaska, Hawaii, US territories (Puerto Rico, Guam, Virgin Islands, etc.), or international addresses. If you're in one of these regions and need to order, contact us — we'll see what's possible.

What's your return policy?

Returns are handled according to each manufacturer's policy, which varies by brand and product.

In general:

Most products: 30-day return window from delivery date

Returns must be in original condition with all packaging and accessories

Some products have shorter or longer windows depending on the manufacturer

Before initiating a return, contact us at sales@bunkermart.com and we'll help coordinate with the manufacturer.

Defective or damaged products: Always covered. Contact us immediately and we'll handle the warranty claim with the manufacturer on your behalf.

For specific return windows on the product you're considering, check the product page or contact us before ordering.

What warranty comes with my purchase?

Every product we sell carries the full manufacturer's warranty. Typical warranty periods by brand:

Bluetti: 5 years on most power stations and solar panels

Midland: 1-3 years on emergency radios and communications

Alexapure: Lifetime on housing, 1 year on filter elements

(Other brand-specific warranties listed on each product page)

If your product has an issue covered under warranty, contact us at sales@bunkermart.com with your order number and a description of the problem. We'll coordinate the warranty claim directly with the manufacturer so you don't have to. Most warranty repairs or replacements take 2-4 weeks.

For technical issues that aren't warranty-related (setup questions, compatibility, sizing), we're happy to help — just reach out.