Breast pump: how much battery you need1
Breast pump draws about 20 W (20 W range), runs 100% of the time and uses 20 Wh per day. Start-up surge: 20 W.
Estimate for an electric double pump.
Battery needed
| Hours | Wh | Battery (Wh) | Inverter (W) |
|---|---|---|---|
| For 8 hours | 7 | 11 | 22 / 20 |
| For 24 hours | 20 | 31 | 22 / 20 |
| For 72 hours | 60 | 91 | 22 / 20 |
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Stations that fit (24 h)
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FAQ
How many watts does a Breast pump use?
Typically 20 W while running, with a range of 20 W depending on model and age. Start-up surge can reach 20 W.
How long will a 1000 Wh power station run a Breast pump?
About 33 hours on the clock, allowing for the 100% duty cycle, inverter losses and a 20% reserve.
What size power station do I need for a Breast pump overnight (8 h)?
About 11 Wh of battery and an inverter rated at least 22 W continuous with 20 W surge.
Can I run a Breast pump on solar during an outage?
You need roughly 14 W of panels in winter to replace a day's use (20 Wh), charging through a station with a big enough MPPT input.
Other appliances
1 Approximate values: estimated from motor or heater power and typical figures published online, not from a manufacturer chart. Check your appliance label.
Inverter efficiency 88%, usable depth of discharge 90%, reserve 20%. Full method: How we calculate.