About VoltScout & how the math works

VoltScout exists because power station spec sheets answer the wrong question. Shoppers don't need to know that a unit outputs 1,800 W — they need to know whether it will run their fridge, their CPAP, for long enough to matter. Every tool on this site translates specs into that answer.

Methodology

• Runtime = rated capacity (Wh) × 0.85 ÷ continuous load (W). The 0.85 factor covers real-world inverter and conversion losses that marketing runtimes ignore.
• Fit = a station must clear both your continuous watts and your startup surge (compressor and pump spikes). Failing either means it shuts off, so we fail it.
• Compressor honesty — fridges and freezers are modeled at realistic duty cycles (roughly 8 h/day of compressor time), not the 24 h/day that inflates competitor estimates.
• Solar — daily generation = min(your array, the station's solar input cap) × 3.6 effective sun hours (4.5 peak hours × 0.8 real-world derate). The input cap, not your panel count, usually decides off-grid viability.
• Lifetime cost per kWh = price ÷ (capacity × rated cycles). Our headline value metric — the cheap unit today is often the expensive one over five years. We only use cycle ratings published to the industry-standard 80%-remaining-capacity basis; makers who rate to 70% (e.g. Jackery) show “n/a” rather than an inflated number.
• Medical readiness — flagged only for units with pure sine output and UPS switchover ≤ 30 ms. For life-critical devices, plan at least 2× the runtime you need, register with HHS emPOWER, and follow your device maker's guidance.

Data policy

Every station and solar-kit spec was verified against the manufacturer’s specification sheet with a retailer cross-check (last full pass 2026-07-14; per-model sources in our records), and each product page notes figures we could not confirm. Prices move constantly — treat listed prices as indicative and confirm at the merchant. Found an error? Tell us and we'll fix it and note the correction.

Independence

VoltScout is independent and accepts no payment for placement or rankings. We earn affiliate commissions on some outbound links (disclosure), which never influence scores — the ranking math above is published precisely so you can check it.

Last updated 2026-07-14.