Van and RV power calculator
Tick what you run in your van, RV or skoolie. We'll work out how much power you use in a day, what size power station you need, and how much solar keeps it topped up.
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Power stations that fit
Based on what you ticked above.
- 499 Wh, 500W AC output
- About 1 hour to full on a wall outlet; up to 220W solar
- 512 Wh, 500W AC output
- About 1.3 hours on wall power; up to 200W solar; 13.3 lb
- 1,024 Wh, 1,800W AC output
- 80% in about 45 minutes on AC; 26.7 lb
- 1,070 Wh, 1,500W AC output
- Lightest at this size, 23.8 lb; about 1.7 hours on wall power
- 1,024 Wh, 1,800W AC output
- 80% in about 45 minutes on AC; 25 lb
- 2,048 Wh, 2,400W AC output
- 80% in about 68 minutes at 1,800W input; about 45 lb
Jackery HomePower 2000 Plus v2
- 2,048 Wh, 2,400W AC output
- Expandable to 12 kWh with extra battery packs; 40.6 lb
- 2,073.6 Wh, 2,600W AC output
- Most output of the three, 2,600W; 53.4 lb
Even the biggest single station here can't cover that on its own. Add more solar, recharge more often, or cut the biggest loads. The Jackery HomePower 2000 Plus v2 can also take extra battery packs, up to 12 kWh. Running an RV air conditioner for hours usually needs shore power or a generator.
New to van power? Our van power guide walks through sizing, choosing and charging step by step. Want the full comparison? Our EcoFlow vs Jackery guide compares these models size by size. Shopping for Black Friday? See this year's power station and solar deals.
For panels, Renogy sells folding solar suitcases and portable panels, and our guide to portable solar panels for van life covers the basics.
How we work it out
- Daily use is watts × hours × how many, for everything you ticked. Things that run through the power station's AC outlets lose about 15% in the inverter, and 12V and USB loads about 5%, so we add that on.
- Solar is panel watts × hours of strong sun × 0.75. Real panels rarely make their rated output, because of heat, angle and wiring losses.
- Battery size is whichever is larger: one full day of use, or what solar leaves uncovered multiplied by the days between recharges. We then add a 10% margin so you're not running the battery flat.
- Peak output is your biggest appliance plus everything small running at the same time. The station's AC output has to be higher than this.
These are estimates for planning, not measurements. Check your own appliances' labels, and each station's listing for current specs, prices and availability. Specs last checked November 5, 2026.
Frequently asked questions
How big a power station do I need for van life?
For most people, about 1,000 Wh. That covers a 12V fridge, lights, a fan, phones and a laptop for a day, with some margin. Plan on about 2,000 Wh if you cook with electricity, run a heated CPAP, or go several days between recharges without much solar.
What is the difference between watt-hours and watts?
Watt-hours (Wh) are how much energy the battery holds, like the size of a fuel tank. Watts (W) are how much it can deliver at once. You need enough watt-hours for your whole day and enough watts for the biggest thing you run, such as a kettle or an induction cooktop.
How much solar do I need to keep a power station charged?
Divide your daily use by the hours of strong sun you expect and allow for losses. A van using 800 Wh a day in average sun needs roughly 250 to 300W of panels. In winter or under cloud you can get half that or less, so most people also top up while driving or at a campground.
Can a power station run an RV air conditioner?
Usually not for long. A 13,500 BTU rooftop unit draws around 1,300W while running and far more for a moment at startup, so many portable stations cannot start one without a soft-start kit. Even when they can, a 2,000 Wh station runs it for only about an hour. Most RVers run air conditioning on shore power or a generator and use a power station for everything else.
Does this work for an RV or a skoolie?
Yes. The maths is the same for any rig: add up what you run, how often you recharge and how much solar you have. RVs and skoolies tend to have bigger loads, such as a residential fridge or air conditioning, so tick the RV and skoolie extras to include them.
Can a power station run an induction cooktop or a kettle?
Yes, if its output rating is higher than the appliance draws. Most kettles and cooktops pull 1,200 to 1,800W, so a 500W station cannot run them at all, while the 1,000 Wh models with 1,500 to 1,800W output can. They use the battery quickly, so a 2,000 Wh station is more comfortable if you cook every day.