When you only get an hour’s notice to prepare for a storm or outage, there’s not much time to charge everything throughout the house. Instead, you have to prioritize the devices and appliances you think you’ll need the most once the grid goes down.
Think of this as a 60-minute test. With a backup source of power, start thinking about your phones, your most important devices, lighting, your communication gadgets, and some appliances. Also, check the battery levels and power requirements beforehand, if possible, to find out how much backup capacity you will have.
Click the image to shop now
Minute 0-10. Charge Your Portable Power Station
Put a portable power station at the top of your shopping list. Your power station is a primary backup for outage related power needs.
Starting at a high battery level provides added flexibility once the grid power goes away.
The GEYOTO N1000 is designed for home backup, with a 1024Wh capacity and a 1800W rated output. It can charge from 0 to 80 percent in just 43 minutes, making this power station ideal for use when you only have an hour to prepare.
The N1000 has 18 total ports, including 13 output ports, meaning you can power many devices with one central power station. It has wireless charging at 25W, emergency lighting, and supplemental charging.
This supports the “All-in-One: One Station. Fully Loaded.” approach, so you are not forced to use several individual battery packs. If you are running low on space before you depart, you should not waste your time standing around waiting for the last percentage. Go do other things while you charge.
Minute 10-20: Charge Phones and Communication Devices
The phone (and maybe the most important item) is the next thing to charge.
When an outage hits, a charged phone can get you access to alerts, weather updates, a way to communicate with family, maps, and outage information. Charge everyone’s phones, as well as the rechargeable radios and other auxiliary communication devices.
If you can spare the power, charge the power banks as well. They can provide backup power for phones without you needing to use your power station.
The GEYOTO N1000 can charge compatible devices using its USB outputs and 25W wireless charging, so you can chain smaller devices for a longer duration while saving other outputs for larger devices.
Click the image to shop now
Minute 20-30: Charge Important Electronics
As you continue charging, begin with devices that are important to have, as opposed to just convenient to have.
Of course, it depends on the situation, but this could mean charging your work laptop or other various work electronics, other essential electronics, or communication devices that you cannot afford to lose access to during an outage.
Be sure to check the wattage of what you connect to a power station beforehand. Consider how long you might need to have it charged as well.
The N1000's 1800W output is able to support a number of household devices, while its UPS switching time of less than 10ms can help maintain power to compatible electronics during an outage.
The most important thing to figure out is how to ration your battery power to those electronics that depend on either constant or prolonged backup power.
Minute 30-40: Prepare Lighting and Wi-Fi
While dealing with the real necessities, go ahead and prepare the devices that make your home convenient and accessible.
It's a good idea to keep fully charged emergency power sources like lights nearby. A charged power source is most useful when you do not have to look for it. The priority should be your router and modem.
Your internet provider's networking equipment may still be operational during the outage, in which case, maintaining power to your networking equipment may provide you with informational and communication services during the outage.
N1000 provides emergency lighting and supports devices such as routers, therefore it is great for those outage situations.
Minute 40-50: Prepare the Fan, Refrigerator and other Appliances
Pick the appliances that will be essential then most during outage occurence. You will need to acquire a refrigerator as the risk of foodborne illness grows while a power outage extends beyond the critical duration. Manage your expectations as a refrigerator uses a lot of power.
Make sure your refrigerator is approved for use on a portable power station. Check the Operating vs. starting wattage.
A low-wattage fan can give you some relief from the heat and use way less power.
GEYOTO provides reference examples for appliances such as a 120W refrigerator, 40W fan, and 48W Wi-Fi router. The actual runtime will depend on the device, how you use it, and other connected devices.
Do not run all of your appliances just because you have spare outlets. Your backup capacity is limited, and unneeded loads will reduce the runtime of your essential devices.
In the last 10 minutes take the time to review your setup.
The power station’s battery percentage should be checked and backup power should be considered for high-wattage devices that have been prioritized.
Unnecessary loads should be removed. Convenience loads like televisions and game consoles can wait to be powered by grid electricity again.
The GEYOTO N1000 can be managed through its application, giving users real-time insight into the power station’s status and battery information.
The goal is to not use all the available wattage, but to adequately supply essential devices.
If the Outage is Longer
A short outage vs. a longer outage requires a different strategy. If the outage persists beyond what was expected, then repairing the backup station should be prioritized.
If power is not restored, solar charging can be one option. The N1000 supports up to 800W solar input. Vehicle charging is another option in certain circumstances.
Since we can not control how much solar power is available, we need to have other strategies as part of a backup plan.
Safe Use of Your Power Station
Using your power station safely is especially important in storm conditions.
Protect your power station and charging equipment from wet conditions. Do not use damaged cables or equipment, exceed the station’s rated output, or block its ventilation.
Do your research to find out the operating specifications for high-power appliances prior to using them so that you connect them according to the instructions provided by the manufacturer.
Never use any fuel-powered generators or vehicles inside a garage or any other closed space. In a situation of extreme climate, consider emergency procedures before your household gadgets.
Final Thought
If you know an outage is about to occur, do not waste time charging every single one of your possessions. Charge your most important things. Refrigeration, light, power, and communication essentials and devices should be your focus. Within 60 minutes, you can manage to have your home fully informed, connected, and powered with some important smart decisions.
