Winter storm power outage plan: what to power first
What to run first, how much battery each step needs, and a checklist you can print.
Why plan the order
Your battery is limited, so what you power first decides how long it lasts. Power the cheap, important things first (phones, internet, light) and add the big ones only if the battery can take them.
The power-first order
Daily energy for typical devices, with a running total, and the battery size you’d need once you allow for 15% inverter loss and a 10% reserve. Adjust the wattages to match your own labels in the home backup power calculator.
| Step | Device | Energy per day | Running total | Battery needed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Phone charging (2 phones, 3 h each, 10 W) | 60 Wh | 60 Wh | 78 Wh |
| 2 | Wi-Fi router and modem (24 h at 15 W) | 360 Wh | 420 Wh | 544 Wh |
| 3 | LED lights (5 bulbs, 5 h at 9 W) | 225 Wh | 645 Wh | 835 Wh |
| 4 | Laptop (6 h at 60 W) | 360 Wh | 1,005 Wh | 1,301 Wh |
| 5 | Refrigerator (24 h at a 50 W average) | 1,200 Wh | 2,205 Wh | 2,854 Wh |
| 6 | Electric blanket (8 h at 100 W) | 800 Wh | 3,005 Wh | 3,889 Wh |
| 7 | TV (4 h at 75 W) | 300 Wh | 3,305 Wh | 4,277 Wh |
The fridge is the step that changes everything. Steps 1 to 4 need about 1,301 Wh of battery, while adding the fridge takes you to about 2,854 Wh.
How long will 1,000 Wh or 2,000 Wh last in a winter outage?
With phones, router, lights and a laptop (about 1,005 Wh a day), a 1,000 Wh unit lasts roughly 20.3 h and a 2,000 Wh unit roughly 40.6 h. Add the fridge (about 2,205 Wh a day) and they last roughly 9.3 h and 18.5 h.
Don’t plan on a space heater
Heaters draw 750 to 1,500 W and empty a battery fast. See can a power station run a space heater for the numbers, and use warm layers and an electric blanket instead.
Cold weather and your power station
Many power stations limit output or charging in freezing temperatures, so keep yours indoors at room temperature when you can, and check the manual for its limits.
Staying safe
- Never use a gas stove or oven, a charcoal grill, a camp stove or a generator indoors for heat. They can fill a home with carbon monoxide.
- Keep a working carbon monoxide alarm.
- Connecting hardwired equipment, such as a furnace, to a power station is a job for a licensed electrician.
Printable checklist
Before the storm
During the outage
Which size fits?
Steps 1 to 4 need about 1,301 Wh:
Steps 1 to 5, with the fridge, need about 2,854 Wh:
Related guides
- How to keep your internet and phones working during a power outage
- Can a power station run a space heater?
- What can a 1,000 Wh power station run, and for how long?
Estimates only. Real draw varies by device. Not for medical or life-support equipment. Figures last checked November 2026.