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When buying a portable power station, most people focus primarily on battery capacity. However, this parameter does not always reflect the actual runtime of devices. Anker argues that the energy efficiency of the entire system is far more important and presents a solution designed to minimise energy losses during everyday use.
Anker explains why battery capacity doesn't tell the whole story
According to Anker, many portable power stations are marketed mainly by their battery capacity, but in practice the user cannot make use of all the energy stored. Some of it is lost in the inverter and to the device's own power needs. The manufacturer points out that declared efficiency is often measured at high load, where it is about 89–92%, but in everyday use the situation looks quite different. During a power outage users most often connect low-power devices such as a router, a fridge or a CPAP machine. In such scenarios the efficiency of many competing stations can fall to as low as 70–80%, which means a substantial portion of the energy never reaches the connected devices. Anker emphasises that this is why two stations with identical capacity can provide very different run times. The company believes manufacturers should more often publish efficiency figures at different load levels rather than only the maximum battery capacity. That would make it easier for customers to compare devices and make more informed purchasing decisions. The manufacturer says energy efficiency should become as important a parameter as the number of watt-hours printed on the packaging.
OptiSave 2.0 is set to extend runtime by up to 20%
Anker’s answer to the issue is the OptiSave 2.0 technology, which dynamically adjusts the inverter’s operation to the current power demand. When devices drawing little power are connected, the system reduces the inverter’s operating frequency, lowering its own energy consumption. The manufacturer has also implemented an intelligent standby mode that recognises devices that operate cyclically, such as fridges. When the compressor stops, the power station automatically cuts its own power draw, and it instantly returns to full operation when power is needed again. According to Anker, models in the S Series achieve 88% efficiency at a 100 W load and up to 96% at 400 W, which is said to surpass the results of many competing designs. The manufacturer also states that idle power consumption has been reduced by as much as 50%. As a result, the new technology should provide up to a 20% longer runtime than similar devices with the same battery capacity. The company also highlights that the S2000 model received the TÜV SÜD A+ energy efficiency certification, which acts as independent verification of the claimed figures. Although actual runtime still depends on the type of connected devices and how they are used, Anker believes the future of the market will rely not only on larger batteries but also on higher overall system efficiency.
New information presented by Anker shows that battery capacity alone is not enough to assess the capabilities of a portable power station. Energy efficiency, standby power consumption and the way energy is managed at low load are becoming increasingly important. If other manufacturers follow suit, choosing the right device may in future be based on much more detailed parameters than just the number of watt-hours.
source: digitaltrends
