A storm-related outage nearly turned one household's Labor Day weekend grocery run into a costly problem, but a Jackery Explorer 1000 owner said a portable battery pack kept a refrigerator running long enough to prevent hundreds of dollars' worth of food from spoiling.
Here's what to know
About two hours after getting home from a Labor Day weekend grocery run, bad weather cut power to one household, prompting them to rely on a Jackery Explorer 1000 v2 they had purchased for travel and emergency backup.
In a Reddit post to r/Jackery, they wrote, "The past day was first time I used it for an emergency and I couldn't be happier I got it." The post said the battery still had 30% left after almost 10 hours spent powering the refrigerator.
"Planning to pick up a generator from a family member today to supplement my power needs, but in the interim this Jackery unit has done a great job and saved $300+ in groceries," they added.
Other Redditors shared positive reactions. One commenter wrote, "The explorers are well built, and have great output," while another added, "Love the Jackery. Those things recharge pretty fast."
More background
When refrigerators lose power, the financial hit can add up quickly, especially as grocery costs remain a major concern for many families.
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Portable power stations like the Explorer 1000 fill an increasingly useful middle ground. They are smaller and easier to move than a whole-home backup system, but they can still keep essential devices operating during short outages or while people work out another solution.
Commenters described using similar units for camping, powering small tools, recharging camper batteries, running home networks, and supporting work-from-home setups.
What can be done?
Several commenters focused on powering essentials first. They mentioned refrigerators, phone chargers, lights, and internet gear as priorities.
Several commenters suggested taking the battery to a friend or family member's house with electricity if grid power remains out. Others discussed pairing the unit with solar panels, especially if a gas generator is not part of the plan.
Commenters also warned about generator charging. One commenter advised, "Most all power stations require that input power from a generator be Pure Sine Wave." Another warned that not every gasoline generator will be compatible.
After learning about those generator limitations, the original poster said they planned to recharge the unit at a family member's home instead.
Where can I learn more?
Battery backups can be a practical way to keep refrigerators and other essentials running during an outage. These articles look at portable and home battery systems designed to protect food, appliances, and basic comfort when the grid goes down.
• Pila unveiled next-gen outage tech that can keep fridges cold and groceries safe.
• A portable energy system showed startling capabilities during an outage when solar support entered the mix.
• Anker demonstrated its tech powering an entire room during outages.
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