Count every device that keeps the network running
A portable power station can support a temporary network where suitable wall power is unavailable. To size it, list the antenna or modem, router, switch and access points that will draw from the same battery. Include any adapters or other equipment in that power path.
Coastal can assess portable power as part of an event connectivity scope. The battery is selected for the agreed network equipment and schedule. It is not a general promise to power sound, lighting, catering or the entire event.
Watts and watt-hours answer different questions
Watts (W) describe the rate at which equipment uses power. Watt-hours (Wh) describe an amount of energy. A power station’s output rating tells you what load it can support; its energy capacity helps estimate how long it can support that load.
The simplest starting calculation is:
Runtime in hours ≈ usable battery energy in Wh ÷ average equipment load in W.
Use a realistic average load, not only a label’s maximum output or an optimistic marketing runtime. Conversion losses, operating conditions, reserve and the battery’s condition affect the usable energy.
A worked example with explicit assumptions
Suppose an illustrative setup draws an average of 80 W. A hypothetical 1,000 Wh battery is assumed to deliver 80% of its nominal capacity through the selected power path, and the planner keeps 20% of that delivered energy in reserve.
The planned operating energy is 1,000 × 0.80 × 0.80 = 640 Wh. At an 80 W average load, the estimate is 640 ÷ 80 = 8 hours.
Those percentages are assumptions for the example, not specifications for a Jackery or any other product. The actual battery, adapters and load must be checked. A higher load or less usable energy shortens runtime.
Include setup and closing in the duration
A six-hour event might need connectivity for two hours before opening and an hour afterward. That is nine hours of operation before adding reserve. If the example above were used for that schedule, the estimated eight-hour plan would be insufficient.
Write down when power is first needed and when the network can be switched off. Include rehearsals, delayed openings and after-event reconciliation where relevant. Decide how recharging or extra capacity would be handled if the schedule changes.
Plan a changeover instead of improvising one
Do not assume a portable power station supports uninterrupted operation while charging or switching sources. Check the specific model’s documentation and test the proposed arrangement with the network equipment attached. A brief interruption may reboot the router even if the battery swap itself feels quick.
Assign someone to monitor charge and protect the agreed equipment allocation. Adding unrelated appliances can invalidate the runtime estimate. Follow the equipment’s placement, ventilation and environmental instructions, and coordinate cable routes with the venue.
What belongs in the rental brief?
Include the network-device list, expected operating hours, available outlets, recharge opportunities and location of each powered area. State whether continuity during a power interruption is required so that capability can be assessed and tested.
A practical quote should explain the intended load and duration, the reserve or recharge plan and who manages power during the event. That is more useful than choosing a battery only by brand name or nominal capacity.