Scenarios › What size power station for an off-grid cabin
What size power station / solar generator for an off-grid cabin?
A weekend cabin runs a fridge, lights, WiFi, and electronics off solar, topped up each day. You size for the overnight-and-buffer window the battery carries alone, then match solar input to replace it by day. Here is a 12-hour buffer for a modest cabin, and the expandable units worth it if you want to coast through cloudy stretches.
This load: Refrigerator (modern) · LED Lights (10 bulbs) · WiFi Router + Modem · Laptop. Want to tweak it? Open the full sizing tool and adjust the appliances and hours.
What size you need
Running watts (everything on at once) = 330 W
Surge watts (worst single startup + the rest running) = 1,380 W
Average draw (cyclic loads counted by their duty cycle) = 233 W
Watt-hours = 233 W × 12 h ÷ 90% usable reserve = 3,107 Wh
The load, appliance by appliance
| Appliance | Running | Surge | Duty | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Refrigerator (modern) | 150 W | 1,200 W | 35% | size on its own → |
| LED Lights (10 bulbs) | 100 W | — | 100% | |
| WiFi Router + Modem | 20 W | — | 100% | |
| Laptop | 60 W | — | 100% |
Common questions
What size power station / solar generator for an off-grid cabin?
For Refrigerator (modern), LED Lights (10 bulbs), WiFi Router + Modem, Laptop over 12 h, you need about 3,107 Wh of capacity, 330 W continuous output, and at least 1,380 W of surge. The smallest unit that clears all three is the EcoFlow DELTA Pro; a step-up like the next size adds headroom for longer outages.
How many watt-hours does this load need?
About 3,107 Wh for 12 h — we take the duty-weighted average draw (233 W, since cyclic loads like fridges and pumps don't run constantly), multiply by the hours, and divide by a usable-capacity reserve. Running watts are 330 W; surge is 1,380 W.
Other scenarios
Sources: appliance wattages — standard appliance/generator sizing charts; station specs — manufacturer published specifications (compiled 2026-06-15; approximate). Informational only — a computed sizing estimate from published appliance-wattage charts and manufacturer station specs. It is not an electrical guarantee. For hardwired or whole-home backup, transfer switches, or any permanent install, consult a licensed electrician.