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Ready for another tech tip from Tech Brood? Well, here's Greg

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Doig with another one for you. Welcome back to another episode. I'm

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Greg Doig. And today, let's talk about portable power

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stations. They're for when you need more than just a power

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bank. Have you ever tried to run your mini fridge at a campsite

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only to watch your power bank laugh at you? While regular power

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banks are perfect for keeping your phone alive, sometimes you need

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something with a bit more muscle. That's where portable power

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stations come in. They're like power banks on steroids.

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Think of it this way. Power banks are your phone's best friend. They're

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pocket sized and good for small devices, while power

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stations, they're the heavy hitters. Bigger, stronger,

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and ready to power appliances. You might need a

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portable power station if you're planning an extended

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camping trip, you live in an area with frequent power outages,

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you're working remotely from a cabin or van, you need to power

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CPAP machines or medical devices, you're hosting an

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outdoor event with no nearby outlets, or your power tools

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need juice away from the grid. So what can they handle?

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Well, medium power stations that are rated in the 300 to

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1,000 watt hours are perfect for running

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a TV for a movie night under the stars, keeping a mini

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fridge cold for a weekend, powering small kitchen appliances

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like blenders, charging laptops multiple times,

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and running fans, lights, and small speakers. So here

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are some of the mid range options available. The Jackery

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Explorer 500 is a crowd pleaser that balances power and

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portability. The goal zero Yeti 500 x is

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an adventurer's choice with excellent solar charging, and the

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Blue Yeti e b 55 is a newcomer with impressive

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features for the price. So imagine this, you're at a

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weekend campsite. Your powered power station keeps your phone

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charged, power string lights for evening ambiance, runs a

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portable projector for movie night, keeps drinks cold in a mini

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cooler, and still has juice left for morning coffee from your portable

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coffee maker. Now that's camping in style. So let's

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talk about some of the big guns or the larger power stations. What can these

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beast power? Well, large power stations in the 1,000

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watt hour plus range can handle full sized refrigerators

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during outages, power tools for DIY projects,

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multiple devices simultaneously, small air conditioners,

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electric grills and cooking appliances, even some washing

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machines. And some of the top contenders in the heavyweight

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division, the EcoFlow Delta Pro. It's a big

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unit with expandable capacity. A Jackery Explorer

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1,500, it's a reliable workhorse too. And the Bluetti

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a c 200 p, it's a feature packed powerhouse with

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wireless charging. So ask yourself these questions when

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choosing your power station companion. What's your power budget,

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both money and wattage? Two, how portable does it need

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to be? Some have wheels, others need a strong back. Three,

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how will you recharge it? A wall outlet, car, or solar

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panels? And four, what devices are must powers during your

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adventure or more importantly during emergencies.

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So beyond the basics, here are some cool features to look for with the best

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power stations that come with app control to monitor power

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usage, multiple charging methods, pass through

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charging, use it while it charges, solar compatibility

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for off grid adventures, l I f e p o

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four batteries for longer lifespan, LCD screens

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showing real time data, built in lights for emergency situations,

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are just a few. Let's be real, though. These aren't cheap. Most

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medium units run 500 to $800, while larger ones can

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easily hit $1,500 plus some even beyond

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$5,000 for ones that can power a home. But consider it

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an investment and peace of mind and adventure possibilities. Plus, they

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last for years with proper care. If regular power banks are like

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having a water bottle, portable power stations are like having your own

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personal reservoir. They're the difference between my phone's working

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and we've got movie night, cold drinks, and fresh coffee even though we're

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miles from civilization. So are you ready to level up your portable

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power game? Your future off grid self will thank you.

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And that's it for this episode. As always, hey. Stay techie, and come back

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for some more. Please come back for our weekly podcast, and

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please share our site.