Portable power station for a gas furnace: value, runtime and size compared

Which portable power station for a gas furnace gives the most battery per dollar?

The BLUETTI Elite 400 ranks #1 of 7 here on value, at 2.74 Wh/$. It costs $1,399.00 at BLUETTI and holds 3840 Wh. The BLUETTI AC180 Solar comes next at #2 of 7, with a price of $449.00.

Value here means watt-hours of battery for each dollar you spend. At the other end, the EcoFlow DELTA 2 Max ranks #7 of 7 with 1.99 Wh/$. Battery size, in watt-hours, sets how long a unit can supply a steady load.

At a glance

Product	Best current price	Watt-hours per dollar	Value rank
BLUETTI Elite 400	$1,399.00 at BLUETTI	2.74 Wh/$	#1 of 7
BLUETTI AC180 Solar	$449.00 at BLUETTI	2.57 Wh/$	#2 of 7
BLUETTI Elite 300	$1,199.00 at BLUETTI	2.51 Wh/$	#3 of 7
BLUETTI Elite 200 V2	$899.00 at BLUETTI	2.31 Wh/$	#4 of 7
EcoFlow DELTA 3 Ultra Series	$1,349.00 at EcoFlow	2.28 Wh/$	#5 of 7
BLUETTI Elite 100 V2	$489.00 at BLUETTI	2.09 Wh/$	#6 of 7
EcoFlow DELTA 2 Max	$1,029.00 at EcoFlow	1.99 Wh/$	#7 of 7

How much power does a gas furnace draw?

The draw figures in this article come from the N80MSN furnace series. Its smallest size draws at most 679 W, and its largest draws at most 1656 W. Those figures are the maximum unit amps times the 115 V supply voltage.

On the N80MSN, maximum unit amps run from 5.9 A to 14.4 A across its sizes. The GR9S80 series lists a circuit-sizing figure: a minimum circuit ampacity of 7.7 A to 14.3 A. The N80MSN uses an ECM blower motor and needs a separate, fused branch circuit.

Its wiring polarity must be correct, or the furnace will not operate, and the control must be grounded, or it locks out. GR9S80 wiring must be polarized and grounded, on a 115 VAC, 60 Hz, single-phase supply. A runtime figure is battery math, not proof that a given furnace will start or run on a given power station.

Check your furnace label for its amps before you compare power stations.

Why does the Elite 400 top the value list?

The Elite 400 ranks #1 of 7 because its 3840 Wh at $1,399.00 works out to 2.74 Wh/$. Divided by the 1656 W draw, its battery works out to 2.3 hours before losses. At the 679 W draw, the same math works out to 5.7 hours.

It is also heavy (over 50 lb), at 85.98 lb. To move it, you get a pull-out handle and wheels, and the screen is readable in direct sunlight. It cannot add batteries, so the 3840 Wh inside is the full capacity.

As for a built-in light, it has none. Capacity divided by its 1000 W max solar input works out to a fastest full solar refill of 3.8 hours. It does not charge below 0 °C, though it can discharge down to -20 °C.

What does the AC180 Solar offer for a smaller budget?

At $449.00, the AC180 Solar holds 1152 Wh and weighs 36.16 lb. Continuous AC output is listed at 1800 W. Before losses, its battery covers 0.7 hours at 1656 W and 1.7 hours at 679 W.

Solar input tops out at 500 W through a dc7909 port, and capacity divided by that input works out to a fastest full solar refill of 2.3 hours. UPS switchover is listed at 20 ms at most. Surge is listed at 2700 W, and the warranty is 5 years.

How much solar can the Elite 300 take in?

The Elite 300 accepts up to 1200 W of solar, and capacity divided by that input works out to a fastest full solar refill of 2.5 hours. It holds 3014 Wh, costs $1,199.00 and ranks #3 of 7 at 2.51 Wh/$. That battery works out to 4.4 hours at a 679 W draw and 1.8 hours at 1656 W, before losses.

The body is 14.41 in long, 12.01 in wide and 11.71 in tall, and at 57.98 lb it falls in the heavy (over 50 lb) class. Continuous AC is 2400 W, with 4 AC outlets, 2 USB-C ports and 2 USB-A ports. UPS switchover is listed at 10 ms at most.

Like the Elite 400, the Elite 300 cannot add batteries.

How fast does the Elite 200 V2 charge from the wall?

The Elite 200 V2 lists a turbo AC charge time of 1.4 hours, a standard time of 1.6 hours and a silent time of 3 hours. Its AC input is 1800 W, and UPS switchover is listed at 15 ms at most. On solar, capacity divided by the 1000 W max input works out to a fastest full solar refill of 2.1 hours.

It holds 2073.6 Wh for $899.00, which ranks #4 of 7 at 2.31 Wh/$. This model also lists runtime inputs: 90 % depth of discharge, 85 % minimum inverter efficiency and 10 W of self-use. Losses are why real runtimes come in under the simple battery math.

Simple math still gives 1.3 hours at 1656 W and 3.1 hours at 679 W. Continuous output is 2600 W, with power lifting to 3900 W. At 53.35 lb, it is in the heavy (over 50 lb) class.

What sets the DELTA 3 Ultra Series apart on output?

The DELTA 3 Ultra Series has 3600 W of continuous AC output and a 7200 W surge rating. EcoFlow sells it for $1,349.00, and its 3072 Wh battery puts it at #5 of 7 on value with 2.28 Wh/$. Before losses, the furnace math reads 4.5 hours at 679 W and 1.9 hours at 1656 W.

It stands 24.6 in tall, 15.6 in long and 12.9 in wide, and weighs 72.1 lb. Solar comes in through 2 ports, up to 800 W, and capacity divided by that input works out to a fastest full solar refill of 3.8 hours. The warranty runs 5 years, that is 3 years as standard, plus 2 more when you register it in the EcoFlow app.

It can discharge down to -10 °C but does not charge below 0 °C, and UPS switchover is listed at 10 ms at most.

Is the Elite 100 V2 easy to carry?

Yes, the Elite 100 V2 is easy to carry (under 30 lb), at 25.3 lb. It measures 12.6 in by 8.5 in by 9.8 in. Battery size is 1024 Wh, which works out to 0.6 hours at 1656 W and 1.5 hours at 679 W before losses.

Continuous AC output is 1800 W. Max solar input is 1000 W, and capacity divided by that input works out to a fastest full solar refill of 1.0 hours. From the wall, AC input is 1200 W.

BLUETTI sells it for $489.00, and it ranks #6 of 7 at 2.09 Wh/$. It cannot add batteries, and UPS switchover is listed at 10 ms at most.

Can you add batteries to the DELTA 2 Max?

Yes, the DELTA 2 Max can add batteries. Out of the box it holds 2048 Wh, good for 3.0 hours at 679 W or 1.2 hours at 1656 W before losses. The price at EcoFlow is $1,029.00.

There are 6 AC outlets, plus 4 USB-A and 2 USB-C ports. Solar input is 1000 W across 2 ports, and capacity divided by that input works out to a fastest full solar refill of 2.0 hours. It weighs 50.7 lb, in the heavy (over 50 lb) class.

It lists 4800 W of surge over 2400 W continuous, and it can discharge down to -10 °C.

How should you pick a power station for a gas furnace?

Start with the amps on your furnace label and the circuit it needs. Ask the furnace maker or a licensed electrician whether a portable unit can power your furnace. If you need many hours, look at larger batteries or units that can add batteries.

Weight matters if you plan to move the unit between rooms, and the charging temperature range matters if it will sit in a cold garage. On value, the Elite 400 ranks #1 of 7 at 2.74 Wh/$, and the Elite 100 V2 is in the easy to carry (under 30 lb) weight class.