Comparison of different power stations from different brands

This year, the focus is clearly on energy and we also offer various brands of power stations. The advantage of these devices lies in their freedom of use, as they can be used flexibly, whether for camping with a van, a photo shoot or a video shoot, or as a power supply for your own four walls in the event of a power failure.

The brands Anker, Ecoflow, Zendure and Jackery all offer solutions for various power stations / mobile battery solutions. In this article, we want to show you the main differences between the devices.

Power supply / charging power stations

These oversized power banks with 230V sockets are primarily charged via your own socket. However, depending on the brand, they can also be supplied with energy thanks to solar power and can therefore be recharged on the go. This feature is the reason why these devices are called solar generators. Depending on the Anker model, charging of up to 300W is possible, with 100W or 200W charging power depending on the panel. This is also possible with Ecoflow & Jackery. Each brand also usually offers its own compatible solar panels.

You may have already looked at battery performance under the influence of fluctuating temperatures. High and low temperatures are not conducive to the longevity of the batteries. High temperatures in particular damage the batteries, reducing their maximum capacity and therefore their service life. Low temperatures, on the other hand, cause the batteries to discharge more quickly.

What needs to be considered with solar panels?

The performance of a solar panel varies greatly depending on its orientation to the sun. If the solar radiation is not perfect, the output can easily drop by 20-40W. Realistically, you should expect an effective output of 90W for a 100W panel, i.e. around 90%. This is where Anker stands out from the competition, with a built-in sun position indicator that quickly shows you whether the panel is perfectly aligned. If the shadow of the dot is within the red circle, perfect alignment is guaranteed.

When charging, make sure that the Powerstation itself is in a shady spot to reduce the likelihood of damage due to overheating.

We are well aware that it is time-consuming to align the panels perfectly with the sun. Our tip: If it's serious, you should take the time. Otherwise, you can realign the panel once every hour.

How long does the charge of a Powerstation last?

The loss during self-discharge is lower when using LiFePO4 batteries than with lithium or lead batteries. Of course, this also depends on the ambient temperatures. Self-discharge is often less than 2-3%.

In terms of longevity

Every manufacturer uses different batteries, and this is also the case here. Long-lasting lithium batteries are already being used in power stations or solar generators, as well as in your smartphone, smartwatch or electric car. Other brands usually have a service life of around 9000 hours. Anker, on the other hand, relies on LiFePO4, which should have a service life of another 50,000 hours. Of course, these are all laboratory values under ideal conditions. In reality, this is reflected more in the number of charging cycles that the batteries can withstand.

Which household appliances can be supplied with power?

This is where one of the main differences between the price classes of power stations comes into play. A power bank can supply perhaps 8 amps, whereas a power station supplies considerably more with up to 2000W and also has a socket. This makes it easy to operate the fridge or coffee machine. And when filming, a fog machine or studio light can be powered silently.

What features do Powerstations offer?

Of course, not all devices offer all features, but some still have the following functions:

• USB-A & USB-C ports
• 230V socket
• LED lamp
• Carrying handle
• LCD display
• Fast charging
• Power saving
• Solar generator
• Emergency power supply / UPS
• App control

If you are interested in a power station, you should know or be aware of your requirements. If you want to buy a future-proof power station, make sure that it has enough USB-C / USB-A ports to supply as many devices as possible with power. More and more devices have a USB-powered charger or a USB port via which they are supplied with power.

If you travel a lot and use the power station in your van or camper, the quick-charging function may also play an important role. If you want to charge your Powerstation quickly during your lunch break, you can do this with the Anker Hyperflash function or the Ecoflow X-Stream. Ecoflow devices that have this function are charged to 80% in less than 1 hour.

Used for filming / video production / van & camping, this is where power stations really come into their own if they have a number of Schuko sockets. When making a purchase decision, it is also important to know the required wattage of the devices that will be connected to the power station. If a multiple socket outlet is connected behind it, the wattage and the maximum current that the socket outlet must provide are added together.

Comparison of different power stations

What you should pay particular attention to:

• Capacity
• Power, wattage
• Connections (USB-A; USB-C)
• Input power (how much energy can be stored?)
• Battery life
• Battery type

Let's take the brands Jackery, Ecoflow and Anker and compare the different models with each other. The Anker power stations use a LiFePO4 battery across all models, whereas Ecoflow only uses this type of battery in the "River" series, while the Delta variant and the Jackery brand use lithium batteries.

The devices differ very little between the various models, but the following models set the Power House / Powerstations from Anker apart from most manufacturers. The Power House 757 and 767 have a fast charging function, also called Hyperflash, which allows the 757 to charge to 80% within 1 hour, while the 767 PowerHouse has a time from 0 to 100 of 1.4 hours. Ecoflow & Anker also use a fast charging function in the new generations, in which the power station is charged to 80% within 1-2 hours.

Anker and Ecoflow also rely on app control for their power stations. This allows the user to conveniently control the station from a distance. If you want to decide between a power station or a power bank, a power station is a device that offers many more areas of application and a higher power output than a power bank. The main advantage of a power bank is its form factor.

Our range of powerstations

Special features of Anker Powerstation

• 5-year manufacturer's warranty, other manufacturers only offer 2 years
• Power saving
• Fast charging / Hyperflash

Anker, the manufacturer of powerbanks, is known for its durable and high-quality powerbanks, which it provides with high-quality electronic components, which supports the longevity.

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