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Short guides for people starting from zero. Read them in order or jump to the one you need. Each has a calculator or a diagram, not just text.

Start here

About 30 minutes for all six
01Wh vs W: the two numbers that matterBattery size is Wh. Output is W. Mixing them up is how people buy the wrong station.4 min read 02How long will a power station run my fridge?About 14 hours per 1,000 Wh for a typical full-size fridge. Here is the math and a calculator.5 min read 03Solar panels 101 for power stationsWhat Voc, Isc and MPPT mean on the label, and why the station cares.7 min read 04Series vs parallel: wiring two panelsSeries adds voltage. Parallel adds current. Your station has a limit on both.5 min read 05Why cold weather matters for solar voltageA panel at 10F puts out more voltage than its label says. That can trip a limit.3 min read 06GlossaryEvery term on this site in one sentence each.6 min read

Fix a problem

Something not working? Start here. Every answer comes from the maker's manual.

EcoFlow not charging from solar? What to checkVoltage outside the input range, the wrong port, a flashing solar icon or weak light. Six checks from the EcoFlow manuals, in order.Power station turns off with a fridge? The auto-off settingA fridge stops drawing power between cycles, and some stations read that as "nothing plugged in". Here is the setting that fixes it.EcoFlow power station beeping: what it meansA short beep when you press a button is normal. Three beeps a second that do not stop are not. What the manuals say to do.Can I use another brand of solar panel on my power station?Usually yes, if the voltage and current fit and you have the right cable. What BLUETTI, EcoFlow and Jackery manuals say, and the one mistake that voids the warranty.Jackery Explorer 300 Plus solar charging goes through USB-CThe 300 Plus has no DC8020 solar port. Solar goes in through USB-C with an adaptor, and it tops out at 100 W.How to store a power station without losing the warrantyCharge level, temperature and how often to cycle it, from the EcoFlow, BLUETTI and Jackery manuals. One brand voids the warranty after 6 months untouched.Jackery not charging from solar? What to checkWorking voltage, the 8A low-voltage band, DC8020 plugs and how many panels one port takes. The checks from the Jackery manuals, with every Explorer input range.BLUETTI not charging from solar? What to checkOpen-circuit voltage between 12 and 60 V, 10 A, the right cable, and ECO mode. What the BLUETTI manuals say, with every station input range.Anker SOLIX not charging from solar? What to checkA shared port with a sliding cover, a voltage range that damages the station when exceeded, and the cable sold separately. The checks for every SOLIX station.Power station won't charge in the cold? The freezing-point ruleMost stations refuse to charge below 32°F (0°C) but will still power your devices. The charging temperature range of each brand, from the manuals.Power station shuts off when you plug something in? OverloadThe appliance asks for more watts than the station can give, so it cuts the outlet to protect itself. How to tell, and what X-Boost, SurgePad and Power Lifting really do.Can a power station work as a UPS? Switch times by modelMost switch to battery in 10 to 20 milliseconds, which is fine for a router and risky for a desktop PC. Each brand's stated switch time and the warnings in its manual.

Glossary

One sentence each. The same text appears when you tap a term anywhere on the site.

WhWatt-hours. Battery size. How much energy is stored. 1,000 Wh runs a 100W device for about 8.5 hours after losses.
WWatts. Power right now. The station has a maximum it can put out; each appliance has a draw.
VocOpen-circuit voltage. The highest voltage a panel makes, with nothing connected. Rises in cold.
IscShort-circuit current. The most current a panel can push. Stations cap this.
VmpVoltage at maximum power. The working voltage when the panel is actually charging.
ImpCurrent at maximum power. The working current when the panel is actually charging.
MPPTMaximum power point tracker. The charge controller inside the station that finds the best voltage to pull from the panels.
LiFePO4Lithium iron phosphate. The battery chemistry in most current stations. Rated for thousands of full cycles; check the manual for the exact number.
SurgeA short burst of extra output the station can deliver for a second or two, for motors starting.
Pass-throughCharging the station while it powers devices at the same time.
SeriesPanels chained + to -. Voltages add, current stays the same.
ParallelPanels joined + to + and - to -. Currents add, voltage stays the same.
Cycle lifeHow many full charge-and-discharge rounds before the battery holds about 80% of new capacity.
UPSUninterruptible power supply. Switches to battery in milliseconds when the wall fails. Check the switch time for computers.