Portable power stations for off-grid cordless tool use

IMAGINE you rock up on site to a remote location in your electric van and your impact driver is low on charge… what do you do?

A power station allows you to keep powering your devices even when you are not connected to the gird – meaning you can work freely without the worry of losing power.

It’s a very popular power source in the camping space, but recently, tradespeople have been seeing the benefit of these handy devices and getting involved.

Power is the most prohibiting (and expensive) part of taking your mobile workshop off-grid. But with new innovations from market leading brands such as Jackery, Goal Zero, Renogy, Ecoflow, Bluetti, and others, you can simply add an electrical system to your van without having to mess around with tonnes of wires and sockets!

I have taken a look at the best-selling power stations for off-grid tool use to delve deeper into their impressive benefits:

1.    Ecoflow Delta Solar powerstation

Ecoflow Delta is a popular option when it comes to portable power stations, offering a capacity range from 1300Wh to 1800Wh. With this handy device, you can easily charge anything from your largest tools to your mobile workshop!

It’s a really good choice that features an advanced recharging technology that allows you to charge your unit up to 80% in less than one hour – impressive, right?

The best part about it is that the supporting solar panels enable you to generate power wherever you are, meaning you can go off-grid without the worry.

The Ecoflow Delta 1300 PowerStation has a high-capacity battery meaning you can rely on it for a long stretch of time.

2.    Jackery 1000 Explorer

The Explorer 1000 is the largest and most useful model in Jackery’s extensive range of power stations.

The pack includes Jackery’s Explorer 1000 Portable Power Station and two SolarSaga 100W Monocrystalline Solar Panels, both designed to provide quiet and convenient power wherever and whenever you need it.

The Jackery Explorer 1000 is powered by a 1002Wh Lithium-Ion NMC battery and has a multitude of recharging options to meet the needs of your power-hungry devices.

The Explorer is a similar size to a small cooler box, with a very convenient handle for carrying this portable device around. It measures around 13″ x 11″ x 9″ and weighs in at 22 lbs. 

The recharging options make this PowerStation a very favourable choice amongst tradespeople, with an option to fully charge via an AC wall outlet in around seven hours.

The Jackery Explorer also has the option to be fully charged by its 12V car charger, which can reach 100% in around 14 hours. 

Most impressively, it comes with two SolarSaga 100-watt solar panels which can fully recharge the 1000 explorer in under eight hours in ideal weather conditions.

The wide variety of AC/DC output ports allows the station to deliver a consistent voltage, which is is great for powering larger appliances such as your power tools and even a refrigerator (we all like a cold beer, don’t we?)

3. Goal Zero Yeti 500X

The Goal Zero Yeti 500X Portable Power Station offers a capacity level of 505Wh as well as a very convenient and portable build.

This handy device is driven by a lithium battery which is the perfect choice for powering most electronic devices, including tools, coolers, lights and even laptops.

Measuring up at 11.5″ x 7.5″ x 5.8″ and only weighing an impressive 12.85 lbs, this ultra-portable PowerStation is a great choice for traders who are looking for a compact device with an impressive output!

The Yeti 500X model has various charging options too, with a variety of ports. You are able to charge it up from the sun using portable solar panels, or keep it topped up from a wall socket at home!

A regular walls socket can charge the PowerStation in around eight hours using the charger that comes included in the package, so you can set off on your off-grid journey with 100% charge and great peace of mind!

This PowerStation also has a clear display screen that allows you to view the power output in either watts, volts, or amps, meaning you can still keep your tools working at optimum capacity.