Best Portable Power Station for Blackouts and Home Backup in Australia

In an emergency, call Triple Zero (000). For storm and flood help, call the SES on 132 500. Report a power outage or fallen powerline to your local electricity distributor, and stay at least 8 to 10 metres away from fallen powerlines, as Energy Safe Victoria advises.

The size of power station you need depends on what you want to keep running. For the modem, phones and a few lights overnight, about 300Wh with UPS covers the lower end of our estimates. Keeping the modem on for a full day, or adding a CPAP, takes more, so add up your own devices. Add the fridge and you need about 1kWh for a day, or 2kWh for two. Running house circuits takes 4kWh or more, plus a changeover switch installed by a licensed electrician.

We’ve sorted the picks into those three levels. All are EcoFlow and BLUETTI models listed on the brands’ Australian stores, with 230V AC output. Specs come from those AU pages (checked 1 November 2026), prices and stock were re-checked on 2 November 2026, and the electrical safety advice comes from Energy Safe Victoria, NSW Fair Trading and Queensland’s Electrical Safety Office.

Last reviewed: 2 November 2026, by the Survivalist team, against the live brand and regulator pages listed under Sources. We haven’t tested these units hands-on. Our ratings are editorial judgements based on published specs and prices.

Why plan for a blackout

In Australia, blackouts mostly come from summer storms, cyclones, floods and bushfires. In some areas, networks may also switch off lines during extreme fire weather to stop them starting fires. Most outages last hours. After a big storm or fire, some take days. Backup power belongs in your 72-hour emergency kit. In bushfire country, it keeps your phone and radio going so you can get warnings. See our bushfire survival kit checklist.

Work out what you need to run

Start by listing what you’d keep on, then check the label on each device or its power supply for watts (W). Multiply the watts by the hours you need it to get watt-hours (Wh). The power station’s capacity in Wh is your budget.

The figures below are our rough typical ranges, not measurements or figures from a cited source. Your own devices may use more or less, so use their labels.

Device	Typical draw	What that means
NBN modem/router	10–20W	8 hours overnight ≈ 80–160Wh; 24 hours ≈ 240–480Wh
Phone charging	5–20W while charging	A few full charges ≈ 30–50Wh
LED light globe or lantern	5–10W each	3 lights × 5 hours ≈ 75–150Wh
Laptop	30–90W	4 hours ≈ 120–360Wh
TV (LED)	50–150W	3 hours ≈ 150–450Wh
CPAP, no humidifier	Check the power supply label	Varies a lot by machine and pressure
CPAP with heated humidifier	Several times the no-humidifier figure	Check with your supplier
Household fridge	Cycles on and off; can briefly surge several times its running draw at start-up	Use the Energy Rating label: kWh per year ÷ 365 = kWh per day

Two adjustments to make:

1. Losses. Running through the AC inverter wastes some energy, so don’t count on the full rated Wh. Our rough planning rule is 80 to 85% of the rated capacity. That’s our rule of thumb, not a figure EcoFlow or BLUETTI publish, so allow extra margin.
2. Surge. Fridges and anything with a motor draw a burst of power at start-up. Check the station’s surge rating as well as its continuous watts.

Then match the result to a level:

• Level 1, essentials: the modem, phones and a few lights overnight. On the table’s figures, 8 hours of modem (80–160Wh), phone charging (30–50Wh) and three lights for 5 hours (75–150Wh) come to about 185–360Wh before losses. A 250–300Wh station with UPS covers the lower part of that range: at our 80 to 85% rule, 286Wh gives you about 230–245Wh. If you want the modem on for 24 hours (240–480Wh on its own) or need to run a CPAP, add up your own devices and size up.
• Level 2, essentials plus the fridge: about 1kWh for a day, or 2kWh for two days.
• Level 3, house circuits: 4kWh and up, a changeover switch installed by a licensed electrician, and a way to recharge.

UPS mode explained

In UPS mode the station sits between the wall and your device. While the grid is on, power passes through it. When the grid drops, the station switches to its battery. The switchover time decides whether your device notices. Faster is better, but no switchover figure guarantees a particular device keeps running, because it depends on the device and its power supply. Test your modem and computer on the station before you need it, and for a CPAP or other medical device, ask the maker or your equipment supplier. A fridge doesn’t care either way.

The switchover times claimed on each brand’s AU page on 1 November 2026:

Model	Claimed UPS switchover (AU page)
EcoFlow RIVER 3 Plus	“<10 ms”
BLUETTI Elite 30 V2	“a switchover time of 10ms”
EcoFlow DELTA 3 Plus	“<10 ms”
BLUETTI Elite 100 V2	10ms
EcoFlow DELTA 3 Max Plus	“<10 ms”
BLUETTI Elite 200 V2	“within 15ms”
EcoFlow DELTA Pro 3	10 ms
BLUETTI Apex 300	“instant 20ms UPS switchover”
EcoFlow DELTA Pro Ultra	“<20 ms”

These are manufacturer claims. We haven’t measured them. A UPS-capable power station isn’t the same thing as a dedicated, certified UPS for medical or life-support equipment.

Our picks by level

Level 1: modem, phones and lights

EcoFlow RIVER 3 Plus (affiliate link) (A$499, in stock on EcoFlow AU, 2 Nov 2026). It has 286Wh, three AC outlets with 600W output (1,200W X-Boost) and a claimed UPS switchover under 10ms. You can add one extra battery later. The EB300 (286Wh, A$349, in stock) takes it to 572Wh, the cheaper step if you want the modem on all day or more headroom. Only the EB600 (572Wh, A$549) takes it to the 858Wh maximum, and the EB600 was unavailable on its own when we checked. It costs the same as the Elite 30 V2 below but, unlike it, can be expanded later.

The base RIVER 3 (affiliate link) is cheaper, at A$299 for the “(230)” version or A$459 for the “(10 ms UPS)” version (EcoFlow AU, 2 Nov 2026). It has 245Wh and a single AC outlet. The EcoFlow AU listing doesn’t make it clear whether the cheaper version includes UPS, so for backup use we’d pay for the RIVER 3 Plus.

BLUETTI Elite 30 V2 (affiliate link) (A$499, in stock on BLUETTI AU, 2 Nov 2026). It has 288Wh and 600W at 230V, weighs 4.3kg, and has a claimed UPS switchover of 10ms. BLUETTI says it “does not support battery expansion”, so it suits you if 288Wh is all you’ll ever need.

Level 2: the fridge plus essentials

EcoFlow DELTA 3 Plus (affiliate link) (A$1,599, in stock on EcoFlow AU, 2 Nov 2026). This is our top pick. It has 1,024Wh, four AC outlets, 1,800W output (3,600W surge) for a fridge’s start-up and a claimed UPS switchover under 10ms. It weighs about 12.5kg. It takes up to 1,000W of solar through two 500W inputs, and you can add batteries for up to 5kWh. EcoFlow lists a 5-year warranty.

BLUETTI Elite 100 V2 (affiliate link) (BLUETTI AU listed it at A$999, down from A$1,299, and in stock on 2 Nov 2026). It has the same 1,024Wh and 1,800W at 230V for A$600 less, takes up to 1,000W of solar and weighs 11.5kg. BLUETTI notes it doesn’t come with a solar charging cable. BLUETTI claims a 10ms switchover, and its FAQ lists CPAP machines among the medical devices it suits. The catch is expansion. You can connect B80 batteries, but only in Power Bank Mode, so treat it as a fixed 1kWh unit.

If you’re also buying for camping, see our guide to the best portable power station for a camping fridge. A 12V camping fridge is far easier to run than a household one.

Level 2 to 3: bigger batteries

EcoFlow DELTA 3 Max Plus (affiliate link) (A$2,999, in stock on EcoFlow AU, 2 Nov 2026). It has 2,048Wh, expandable to 10kWh, and 3,000W output (6,000W surge). That’s enough to boil a kettle or run a microwave as well as the fridge. It claims a switchover under 10ms and weighs about 22.1kg.

BLUETTI Elite 200 V2 (affiliate link) (BLUETTI AU listed it at A$1,899, down from A$2,499, and in stock on 2 Nov 2026). It has 2,073.6Wh and 2,600W at 230V for much less money, plus 1,000W of solar input and a 5-year warranty. The trade-offs: it’s “not expandable and does not support power bank mode”, it weighs 24.2kg, and BLUETTI quotes a UPS switchover “within 15ms”. That’s fine for a fridge, but test your modem and computer on it.

Level 3: home backup systems

EcoFlow DELTA Pro 3 (affiliate link) (A$5,099, in stock on EcoFlow AU, 2 Nov 2026). It has 4,096Wh, expandable to 12kWh with extra batteries (A$8,189 for the DELTA Pro 3 with one extra battery), and 4,000W at 230V (8,000W surge) through five outlets. It claims a 10ms UPS, takes up to 1,600W of high-voltage plus 1,000W of low-voltage solar, and comes with a 5-year warranty. It weighs 51.5kg, so it goes on its wheels and stays put. EcoFlow’s bigger DELTA Pro Ultra (affiliate link) starts at A$8,139 for the inverter and one 6kWh battery, expands to 30kWh and claims “<20 ms” UPS. It’s a fixed home system rather than something you’d move.

BLUETTI Apex 300 (affiliate link) (BLUETTI AU listed it at A$2,999, down from A$3,599, and in stock on 2 Nov 2026). Check BLUETTI AU for current B300K battery and bundle prices. It has 2,764.8Wh and 3,840W at 230V. You can add up to six B300K batteries for 19,353.6Wh per unit, and BLUETTI says three units can be linked. Per kWh, it’s cheaper than the DELTA Pro 3. Two caveats. BLUETTI claims a 20ms switchover, the slowest here, and solar charging needs the SolarX 4K, sold separately. We didn’t find a BLUETTI transfer switch or home panel on the AU store.

Connecting to your house safely

There are two safe ways to use a power station in a blackout:

1. Plug appliances straight into it, using a heavy-duty extension lead in good condition if needed. This is how most people should use a level 1 or 2 unit.
2. Have a licensed electrician install a changeover (transfer) switch and inlet, so selected circuits can run from the power station while your home is isolated from the grid.

What you must never do is feed power back into the house through a power point. Australian regulators write about this mostly in terms of generators, but the risk is the same for any power source connected to household wiring:

• Energy Safe Victoria says: “Never try to power the house by plugging the generator into a wall socket or connecting it to the switchboard. This can risk the safety of utility workers and neighbours connected to the same network.” It adds: “Never modify an extension cord to plug in to household wiring.”
• Queensland’s Electrical Safety Office says to connect “using a generator change-over switch and appropriate socket. These switches must be installed by a licensed electrician.” It also warns: “Do not connect your generator to your house using a power point on a power circuit or any other connection point. This can cause extremely dangerous ‘back-feeding’.” Its permanently connected generators page explains that a changeover switch “allows power to be fed from only one source.”
• NSW Fair Trading says: “By law any electrical installation work must be done by a licensed electrician”, and “The connection of a portable generator to a house with mains supply must be done correctly.” You can check a licence on 13 32 20.

A note on EcoFlow’s transfer switch. EcoFlow AU sells an Automatic Transfer Switch (affiliate link) for A$178. Its AU page lists a “Transfer Time 1~2s” and says “Only qualified professionals are allowed to install or maintain the device.” The only certification the page names is Canadian (ISED). It isn’t listed as certified to any Australian standard, so don’t assume it’s approved for use here. Any transfer switch must be chosen and installed by a licensed electrician, who can tell you whether it complies with Australian wiring rules. A 1–2 second gap is also much slower than the units’ own UPS switchover.

Recharging in a long outage

A battery only buys you time, so plan how you’ll refill it if the outage drags on:

• Solar is the quiet option. The small units take about 200–220W of panel. The DELTA 3 Plus, Elite 100 V2 and Elite 200 V2 take up to 1,000W, and the DELTA Pro 3 up to 2,600W combined. Our solar panel size guide covers how much panel you need. Expect much less on cloudy storm days.
• A generator can recharge a power station quickly. Run it outdoors only, well away from windows. Our portable power station vs generator guide covers the trade-offs.
• The car. Most units can charge from a 12V socket, but slowly. Don’t idle a car in a closed garage.

CPAP users

If you rely on a CPAP machine, a blackout plan is worth an hour of your time. This isn’t medical advice. Talk to your sleep physician or equipment supplier about what to do in a power outage.

• Find your machine’s real power use. It’s on the power supply label or in the manual. A heated humidifier adds a lot.
• Ask the maker about a DC cable or battery adapter. Running from DC avoids inverter losses, and some makers sell one for their machines. Use only the cable or adapter your CPAP maker approves.
• Use UPS mode if your station has it. The RIVER 3 Plus, Elite 30 V2, DELTA 3 Plus and Elite 100 V2 all claim 10ms or less, but no switchover figure guarantees your machine won’t stop when the power drops. Ask your CPAP maker or supplier, and test it.
• Test it before you need it. Run the CPAP from the power station for a full night and see how much charge is left.
• Tell your electricity retailer if anyone in your home relies on powered medical or life-support equipment. They can register you for advance notice of planned outages.

Products mentioned and our verdict

All prices and stock were checked on the brands’ Australian stores on 2 November 2026 and will change. We haven’t tested these units hands-on.

Level	Our pick	Price checked	Capacity	UPS (claimed)
1	EcoFlow RIVER 3 Plus (affiliate link)	A$499	286Wh (572Wh or 858Wh with an extra battery)	<10ms
1	BLUETTI Elite 30 V2 (affiliate link)	A$499	288Wh	10ms
2	EcoFlow DELTA 3 Plus (affiliate link)	A$1,599	1,024Wh (to 5kWh)	<10ms
2	BLUETTI Elite 100 V2 (affiliate link)	A$999	1,024Wh	10ms
2–3	EcoFlow DELTA 3 Max Plus (affiliate link)	A$2,999	2,048Wh (to 10kWh)	<10ms
2–3	BLUETTI Elite 200 V2 (affiliate link)	A$1,899	2,073.6Wh	within 15ms
3	EcoFlow DELTA Pro 3 (affiliate link)	A$5,099	4,096Wh (to 12kWh)	10ms
3	BLUETTI Apex 300 (affiliate link)	A$2,999	2,764.8Wh (to 19.4kWh)	20ms

For most households, we’d pick the EcoFlow DELTA 3 Plus. It’s the size that covers the fridge, modem and lights overnight, it claims a UPS switchover under 10ms, and it can grow with extra batteries and solar. On a tighter budget, the BLUETTI Elite 100 V2 gives you the same capacity for less, as long as you won’t want to expand it. If you only need the modem, phones and a few lights overnight, the RIVER 3 Plus is enough. Add an EB300 for a full day of internet, or once you know what your CPAP uses.

Still choosing between the two brands? Read our EcoFlow vs BLUETTI comparison or our broader guide to the best portable power station in Australia .

Sources

Specs and regulator pages were checked on 1 November 2026; prices and stock were re-checked on 2 November 2026.

• EcoFlow Australia: RIVER 3 (affiliate link); RIVER 3 Plus (affiliate link); DELTA 3 Plus (affiliate link); DELTA 3 Max Plus (affiliate link); DELTA Pro 3 (affiliate link); DELTA Pro Ultra (affiliate link); Automatic Transfer Switch (affiliate link)
• BLUETTI Australia: Elite 30 V2 (affiliate link); Elite 100 V2 (affiliate link); Elite 200 V2 (affiliate link); Apex 300 (affiliate link)
• Energy Safe Victoria: What to do in a power outage
• Electrical Safety Office Queensland: Electrical safety during storms; Permanently connected generators
• NSW Fair Trading: Avoiding electrical accidents

General information only. It isn’t electrical, medical or professional advice. Electrical installation work must be done by a licensed electrician. Call Triple Zero (000) in an emergency.

EcoFlow RIVER 3 Plus

Brand: EcoFlow

Our score: 4 out of 5

Pros

• Expandable UPS backup for a modem, phones and lights for A$499 (EcoFlow AU, 2 Nov 2026)
• <10ms UPS switchover, per EcoFlow AU
• Takes one extra battery: 572Wh with an EB300 or 858Wh with an EB600
• Three AC outlets

Cons

• 286Wh is a one-night battery for small loads, not a fridge
• The EB600 extra battery was unavailable on EcoFlow AU on 2 Nov 2026

EcoFlow RIVER 3 Plus specifications

Capacity	286Wh (572Wh with an EB300, 858Wh with an EB600)
Battery	LiFePO4, 3,000 cycles to 80%
AC output	3 outlets, 600W (1,200W X-Boost)
Solar input	220W max
UPS switchover	<10ms
Price checked	A$499, in stock, EcoFlow AU, 2 Nov 2026

Verdict

Our level 1 pick for the modem, phones and a few lights overnight. Rated from EcoFlow's published AU specs; we haven't tested it hands-on.

BLUETTI Elite 30 V2

Brand: BLUETTI

Our score: 4 out of 5

Pros

• <10ms UPS ("a switchover time of 10ms", BLUETTI AU)
• Light at 4.3kg
• 5-year warranty listed on the BLUETTI AU page

Cons

• Can't be expanded with an extra battery
• 288Wh is too small for a fridge

BLUETTI Elite 30 V2 specifications

Capacity	288Wh
Battery	LiFePO4, 3,000+ cycles
AC output	600W, 230V (1,500W lifting)
UPS switchover	10ms
Weight	4.3kg
Expandable	No
Price checked	A$499, in stock, BLUETTI AU, 2 Nov 2026

Verdict

A good level 1 alternative if you don't need to add capacity later. Rated from BLUETTI's published AU specs; we haven't tested it hands-on.

EcoFlow DELTA 3 Plus

Brand: EcoFlow

Our score: 4.5 out of 5

Pros

• 1kWh with expansion to 5kWh, so it can grow with you
• <10ms UPS
• Up to 1,000W solar input across two inputs
• 5-year warranty

Cons

• 1,024Wh runs a typical fridge for about a day, not two, without recharging
• Extra batteries are pricey (A$1,399 for a DELTA 3 Extra Battery)

EcoFlow DELTA 3 Plus specifications

Capacity	1,024Wh (expandable to 5kWh)
Battery	LFP, 4,000 cycles
AC output	4 outlets, 1,800W (2,400W X-Boost, 3,600W surge)
AC input	1,500W, full charge in 56 minutes (EcoFlow claim)
Solar input	1,000W (2 × 500W)
UPS switchover	<10ms
Weight	about 12.5kg
Price checked	A$1,599, in stock, EcoFlow AU, 2 Nov 2026

Verdict

Our level 2 pick: enough for the fridge and essentials overnight, with room to add batteries and solar. Rated from EcoFlow's published AU specs; we haven't tested it hands-on.

BLUETTI Elite 100 V2

Brand: BLUETTI

Our score: 4 out of 5

Pros

• Lowest price for 1kWh here (A$999 on BLUETTI AU, 2 Nov 2026)
• 10ms UPS; BLUETTI's FAQ names CPAP machines among suitable devices
• Lighter than the DELTA 3 Plus (11.5kg)

Cons

• No true expansion: B80 batteries only work in Power Bank Mode
• No solar charging cable in the box, per BLUETTI AU

BLUETTI Elite 100 V2 specifications

Capacity	1,024Wh
Battery	LiFePO4, 4,000+ cycles
AC output	1,800W, 230V
UPS switchover	10ms
Weight	11.5kg
Solar input	1,000W
Expandable	B80 in Power Bank Mode only
Price checked	A$999, listed down from A$1,299, in stock, BLUETTI AU, 2 Nov 2026

Verdict

Best value at level 2 if a fixed 1kWh is enough. Rated from BLUETTI's published AU specs; we haven't tested it hands-on.

EcoFlow DELTA 3 Max Plus

Brand: EcoFlow

Our score: 4 out of 5

Pros

• 2kWh in one box, expandable to 10kWh
• 3,000W output (6,000W surge) handles a fridge, kettle or microwave
• <10ms UPS

Cons

• About 22.1kg
• A$2,999 is nearly twice the DELTA 3 Plus

EcoFlow DELTA 3 Max Plus specifications

Capacity	2,048Wh (expandable to 10kWh)
AC output	3,000W (3,900W X-Boost, 6,000W surge)
UPS switchover	<10ms
Weight	about 22.1kg
Price checked	A$2,999, in stock, EcoFlow AU, 2 Nov 2026

Verdict

The step up for two days of fridge plus essentials, or for a household that runs a microwave or kettle off it. Rated from EcoFlow's published AU specs; we haven't tested it hands-on.

BLUETTI Elite 200 V2

Brand: BLUETTI

Our score: 3.5 out of 5

Pros

• 2,073.6Wh for A$1,899 (BLUETTI AU, 2 Nov 2026)
• 1,000W solar input
• 5-year warranty

Cons

• Not expandable and no power bank mode
• Heavy at 24.2kg
• Slower UPS switchover than the others at this size (BLUETTI says within 15ms)

BLUETTI Elite 200 V2 specifications

Capacity	2,073.6Wh
AC output	2,600W, 230V
AC input	2,300W max
Solar input	1,000W max (12–60V, 20A)
UPS switchover	within 15ms
Weight	24.2kg
Expandable	No
Price checked	A$1,899, listed down from A$2,499, in stock, BLUETTI AU, 2 Nov 2026

Verdict

The cheapest 2kWh here, if you won't need more capacity and can live with a 15ms switchover. Rated from BLUETTI's published AU specs; we haven't tested it hands-on.

EcoFlow DELTA Pro 3

Brand: EcoFlow

Our score: 4 out of 5

Pros

• 4kWh, expandable to 12kWh
• 4,000W output at 230V, 10ms UPS
• High- and low-voltage solar inputs (1,600W + 1,000W)
• 5-year warranty

Cons

• 51.5kg, so it's a wheel-it-into-place unit
• A$5,099 before batteries or installation
• Whole-house use needs a licensed electrician and compliant switching

EcoFlow DELTA Pro 3 specifications

Capacity	4,096Wh (expandable to 12kWh)
AC output	4,000W (8,000W surge), 230V, 5 outlets
Solar input	1,600W high-voltage + 1,000W low-voltage
UPS switchover	10ms
Weight	51.5kg
Price checked	A$5,099, in stock, EcoFlow AU, 2 Nov 2026

Verdict

Our level 3 pick for running selected house circuits through a properly installed changeover. Rated from EcoFlow's published AU specs; we haven't tested it hands-on.

BLUETTI Apex 300

Brand: BLUETTI

Our score: 3.5 out of 5

Pros

• 3,840W output at 230V
• Scales from 2.76kWh to 19kWh per unit with B300K batteries
• Cheaper per kWh than the DELTA Pro 3 (A$2,999 on BLUETTI AU, 2 Nov 2026)

Cons

• 20ms UPS switchover, the slowest of our picks
• Solar charging needs the SolarX 4K, sold separately
• We didn't find a BLUETTI AU transfer switch or home panel

BLUETTI Apex 300 specifications

Capacity	2,764.8Wh (up to 6 × B300K, 19,353.6Wh total)
AC output	3,840W, 230V
UPS switchover	20ms
Weight	21.6kg (B300K battery 29.5kg)
Price checked	A$2,999, listed down from A$3,599, in stock, BLUETTI AU, 2 Nov 2026

Verdict

A big, modular home battery at a sharp price, but check the 20ms switchover suits your devices. Rated from BLUETTI's published AU specs; we haven't tested it hands-on.