How to choose a charging station for home

The winter season is approaching, which means that we must be ready for possible challenges, especially in connection with the constant threats to the energy infrastructure of Ukraine.

This year, fortunately, we have more time to prepareto possible blackouts and interruptionsand already in advance we can take care of having a reliable power source.

Choiceportable charging stationfor the home can be a key task, especially with the threat of power outages and blackouts during the winter season.

Criteria for choosing a charging station

1. Battery capacity:

Determine how much battery capacity you need to meet your needs. This is measured in milliampere-hours (mAh) or watt-hours (Wh). The larger the capacity, the longer the device can power your devices.

2. Battery type:

Lithium-ion batteries (Li-ion) are generally popular and affordable, usually have a reasonable capacity and last about 500-800 charge/discharge cycles. Lithium-iron-phosphate batteries (LiFePO4) have a much longer cycle life, up to 7 thousand, and can last up to 10 years. LFP batteries are heavier than Li-ion: LFP have a mass of 1.4 kg, while Li-ion weighs only 0.8 kg.

3. Connectors for connection:

Pay attention to the presence of different connectors on the charging station. Somepopular connectorsinclude Lightning (for Apple devices), USB Type A and Type C (for various devices), DC connector (for routers, network equipment, some lighting, and cameras), a cigarette lighter socket (for automotive devices), and a 220 V outlet (for household appliances).

3. Charging speed:

Please note that different charging methods may take different times. For example, from the mains is usually the fastest method, taking about 90 minutes. A large battery capacity can increase this time.

4. Weight and size:

This is especially important if you plan to carry it around or use it while traveling. Usually, more power leads to bigger size and weight.

What is the efficiency of the most common devices?

The larger the battery capacity, the longer the charge will last for the device in offline mode. For example, a charging station with a capacity of 600 W/h is able to provide four hours of operation of a computer consuming 150 W/h.In practice, the operating time may vary slightly.

Average capacities of the most popular devices:

• LED lamp: 10-20 W/h
• Charging for a smartphone: from 10 W/h and above
• Laptop: 50-150 W/h
• Computer: 150-300 W/h
• Heater: 700-2000 W/h
• Washing machine: 1-2 kW/h
• Microwave: 1-1.5 kWh
• Hair dryer: 1.5 kW/h
• Electric kettle: 1-2 kW/h

When choosing, you should focus on the nominal power with a margin of 20%. Thus, you can be sure that the charging station will fully meet your needs.

Which charging station to choose?

Today, charging stations and generators are almost equal in price, but there is another important factor that makes charging stations a more attractive option.

According to experts, for the fall-winter of 2022/2023, the cost of one kilowatt-hour of electricity from a generator is more than 20 hryvnias, which is significantly higher than the price of one kWh "from the outlet", even after the tariff increase to 2.64 hryvnias.

In addition, the charging station accumulates anduses energy you've already paid forand it has a minimal impact on the amounts in electricity bills.

Where to buy a charging station?

On our website Vnedorognikyou will find a wide selection of charging stations for different needs. We offer various models of well-known manufacturers, distinguished by high quality and reliability. You can choose a station with the right power and functionality that meets your needs.