Refuge Power Test #1: Replacing the Overnight Generator with a Portable Power Station

The Situation

During earlier trips to the Refuge, my normal routine was to run the generator overnight. It worked, but it had several drawbacks, especially compared to an off grid power station:

• constant background noise
• unnecessary fuel use
• engine hours added to the generator
• no real data about how much power I actually needed overnight

This trip I brought the GRECELL HW02 portable power station to answer a simple question:

Can a small battery system handle my basic overnight comfort needs?

Starting Conditions

Location:
The Refuge

Power source:
GRECELL HW02 portable power station

Starting battery:
97%

Devices connected:

• 10 inch desktop fan (120V AC)
• LED lamp (120V AC)
• cell phone charging

The fan and light initially showed about a 28 watt load.

After connecting the phone for charging, total draw increased to approximately 39 watts.

Expected Runtime

The display estimated approximately 11 hours remaining at the 39 watt load.

However, that number assumes nothing changes.

Real world use is different:

• the phone will finish charging and drop to almost no draw
• the LED lamp will be turned off before sleeping
• the fan will remain as the primary overnight load

The expected overnight load should settle much lower.

Why This Test Matters

This is the first step toward understanding actual off-grid power needs.

A generator can produce thousands of watts, but most overnight needs are tiny:

• airflow
• small lighting
• charging electronics

The goal is not to generate more power.

The goal is to understand how little power is actually required.

Lessons So Far

The generator is great for:

• charging batteries
• running tools
• heavier electrical loads

The battery is better for:

• quiet overnight power
• small continuous loads
• basic comfort

Long term, this is the model:

Solar charges the battery during the day.

Battery runs essentials overnight.

Generator becomes backup instead of the primary power source.

Morning Update

The above was written and added about 21:30 local time on the refuge.

It is now 07:38 the next morning.

The above test was started at approximately 21:30 local time at the refuge.

It is now 07:38 the next morning.

Total runtime: Approximately 10 hours, 8 minutes
Starting battery: 97%
Ending battery: 30%
Battery consumed: 67%

I have to admit, it felt good to “sleep in” this morning.

Overnight Load

The Grecell powered:

• Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 cellphone (charged overnight)
• VB-206 Bluetooth speaker (I did not start charging this until it announced shut down due to depleted battery, roughly 22:10)
• 10″ desktop fan blowing toward the bed on highest speed

The LED lamp was only used for approximately the first 30 minutes of the evening and about the last hour in the morning, so it was not a continuous load.

Real-World Notes

This was not a maximum-capacity stress test. It was a realistic overnight comfort test.

No generator running. No fuel burned. No engine noise outside the RV.

Just enough stored power to keep the basic things that make sleeping off-grid more comfortable: airflow, communications, and a little light when needed.

After a full night, the Grecell still had 30% battery remaining, meaning there was a usable reserve left for additional charging or emergency needs. At that time, it shows the it could continue running just the fan at full speed for another 14 HOURS.

For my current refuge setup, this test answers one important question:

Can this power station get me comfortably through a normal night without running the generator?

The answer appears to be yes.