Understanding camping appliance power usage is the foundation of a reliable portable power setup. Most power station failures happen not because of battery size, but because appliance energy consumption is misunderstood.
This guide explains how many watts common camping appliances use, how that translates into daily watt‑hours (Wh), and how to size a power station correctly based on real-world behavior, not marketing numbers.
Why Camping Appliance Power Usage Matters
Portable power stations store energy in watt‑hours, but appliances consume power in watts over time. Without converting appliance usage into daily energy demand, capacity planning becomes guesswork.
This helps to:
- Translate appliance watts into daily watt‑hours
- Explain continuous vs intermittent loads
- Prevent inverter overload and battery drain
- Feed accurate data into power station sizing tools
Watts vs Watt‑Hours
- Watts (W): How fast electricity is used
- Watt‑hours (Wh): Total energy consumed over time
Formula:
Watts × Hours = Watt‑hours
A 100W device running for 5 hours consumes 500Wh.
Continuous vs Intermittent Loads
Continuous Loads
Devices that draw power for long periods:
- Camping fridges
- Starlink terminals
- CPAP machines
- Routers and signal boosters
These define your baseline energy demand.
Intermittent Loads
Devices that draw high power briefly:
- Induction cooktops
- Electric kettles
- Coffee makers
These stress the inverter but usually consume fewer total watt‑hours.
Camping Fridge Power Usage
- Average draw: 40–70W (cycled)
- Daily runtime: 24 hours
Typical daily consumption:
- 900–1,600Wh per day
Fridges are the single largest continuous load in most camping setups.
Actual fridge consumption varies based on compressor type, insulation quality, ambient temperature, and duty cycle. For a deeper breakdown of these variables, see our guide on how many watts a camping fridge uses.
Starlink & Internet Equipment Power Usage
- Starlink terminal: 50–75W continuous
- Daily use: 8–12 hours
Typical daily consumption:
- 400–900Wh per day
Cold weather and obstructions increase draw.
Cooking Appliance Power Usage
Induction Cooktops
- Power draw: 1,200–1,800W
- Runtime: 15–30 minutes per meal
Daily consumption:
- 300–900Wh
Electric Kettles
- Power draw: 1,000–1,500W
- Runtime: 5–10 minutes
High wattage, short duration.
Lighting, Charging & Small Electronics
- LED lights: 5–15W
- Phone charging: 10–20Wh per charge
- Laptop charging: 60–120W
These loads are minor compared to refrigeration and cooking.
AC vs DC Efficiency Losses
Most camping appliances use AC power. Converting battery DC to AC causes loss.
Typical efficiency:
- AC outlets: 80–85%
- DC outputs: 92–95%
Using DC-native appliances extends runtime significantly.
Daily Power Usage Examples
Example 1: Fridge + Charging
- Fridge: 1,200Wh
- Phones & lights: 150Wh
Total: ~1,350Wh/day
Example 2: Fridge + Starlink
- Fridge: 1,400Wh
- Starlink: 600Wh
Total: ~2,000Wh/day
In this setup, total daily consumption is approximately 2,000 Wh. If you want to calculate the exact battery size required for your own devices, you can use our Power Station Capacity Calculator to account for inverter losses and safety margins.
Next steps:
- Use this data in the Power Station Capacity Calculator to calculate required battery size
- Read What Size Power Station Do I Need? for decision guidance
- Review the portable power stations pillar for system‑level understanding
Together, these pages form a complete, portable power-planning framework.
Common Appliance Power Mistakes
- Using peak wattage instead of average draw
- Ignoring 24‑hour fridge cycling
- Forgetting inverter losses
- Underestimating cold‑weather impact
If you’re unsure how these appliance numbers translate into an actual power station size, this guide on what size power station you need explains how to choose the right capacity without under- or oversizing.
Appliance power usage is only one part of a reliable setup. Battery chemistry, inverter efficiency, thermal performance, and lifecycle durability also matter, which we explain in our portable power stations guide.
This guide follows GadgetCamping testing standards and reflects real‑world camping appliance behavior.