Laptop: how much battery you need
Laptop draws about 50 W (30–90 W range), runs 70% of the time and uses 280 Wh per day. Start-up surge: 65 W.
Charging via USB-C PD from the station avoids inverter losses (~10%).
Battery needed
| Hours | Wh | Battery (Wh) | Inverter (W) |
|---|---|---|---|
| For 8 hours | 93 | 142 | 56 / 65 |
| For 24 hours | 280 | 425 | 56 / 65 |
| For 72 hours | 840 | 1273 | 56 / 65 |
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Stations that fit (24 h)
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FAQ
How many watts does a Laptop use?
Typically 50 W while running, with a range of 30–90 W depending on model and age. Start-up surge can reach 65 W.
How long will a 1000 Wh power station run a Laptop?
About 18.9 hours on the clock, allowing for the 70% duty cycle, inverter losses and a 20% reserve.
What size power station do I need for a Laptop overnight (8 h)?
About 142 Wh of battery and an inverter rated at least 56 W continuous with 65 W surge.
Can I run a Laptop on solar during an outage?
You need roughly 187 W of panels in winter to replace a day's use (280 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. source