The short version: pick a Jackery by two numbers, in this order. First, its rated AC output (watts) must be higher than the biggest single thing you will run, plus anything running alongside it. Second, its capacity (watt-hours) decides how long everything lasts. Skip the first step and the station can shut off the moment the coffee maker starts.
Step 1: list what you will run, and its watts
Look for the watts on each appliance's label. If you can't find it, these are the ranges Jackery publishes on its own appliance guides. Your model may differ, so the label wins.
| Appliance | Typical running watts (Jackery's figures) |
|---|---|
| Fan (table or box) | 20–75 W |
| Laptop | 30–70 W (65 W is the common average) |
| Starlink Standard dish, active | 50–75 W |
| LED TV | 50–100 W |
| Electric blanket | 50–200 W |
| Mini fridge (compressor) | 70–100 W running, 300–600 W to start |
| Instant Pot | 700–1,200 W |
| Microwave | 600–1,200 W |
| Space heater | 750–1,500 W |
| Coffee maker (pod machines at the top end) | 550–1,500 W |
| Air fryer | 1,200–2,000 W |
| Hair dryer | 1,200–2,000 W |
| 13,500 BTU rooftop air conditioner | about 1,350 W running, about 4,050 W to start (Jackery's estimate) |
A 12V compressor fridge is a typical all-day load in a camper. If you have one, run it from the station's 12V car port rather than through the inverter. Our guide to the best power station for an ICECO fridge works out days per charge for each Jackery.
Step 2: match the biggest load to the station's output
These are Jackery's own rated output and surge figures for the stations we carry. Surge is the short burst the station allows for motors and compressors starting.
| Station | Capacity | Rated AC output | Surge | Handles |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Explorer 300 v2 | 288 Wh | 300 W | 600 W | Phones, laptop, fan, Starlink, lights |
| Explorer 600 v2 | 640 Wh | 500 W | 1,000 W | Add a TV, electric blanket, mini fridge |
| Explorer 1000 v2 | 1,070 Wh | 1,500 W | 3,000 W | A microwave or a drip coffee maker, one at a time |
| Explorer 1500 v2 | 1,536 Wh | 2,000 W | 4,000 W | Pod coffee makers, most air fryers and hair dryers |
| Explorer 2000 v2 | 2,042 Wh | 2,200 W | 4,400 W | A 2,000 W appliance with a little headroom |
| Explorer 5000 Plus | 5,040 Wh | 7,200 W (120V/240V) | 14,400 W | Air conditioner plus kitchen loads |
The Explorer 300D is left out on purpose: it has no AC outlet at all, only USB-C, USB-A and a 12V port. Treat it as a large power bank.
Add up what will run at the same moment. A 1,000 W microwave plus a 65 W laptop plus a 75 W Starlink is 1,140 W, which an Explorer 1000 v2 handles. Add a 1,500 W coffee maker at the same time and you need about 2,640 W, which is more than any Explorer below the 5000 Plus. In practice you just run the kitchen appliances one after the other.
Step 3: work out how long the capacity lasts
Hours = capacity × 0.85 ÷ watts. The 0.85 is our planning assumption for inverter and other losses; real results vary with temperature and load. Jackery's own runtime example for a 300 W gas furnace on a HomePower 3600 Plus (about 10 hours) works out the same way.
| Load | Explorer 600 v2 | Explorer 1000 v2 | Explorer 1500 v2 | Explorer 2000 v2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fan, 40 W | 13.6 h | 22.7 h | 32.6 h | 43.4 h |
| Laptop, 65 W | 8.4 h | 14.0 h | 20.1 h | 26.7 h |
| Starlink Standard, 75 W | 7.3 h | 12.1 h | 17.4 h | 23.1 h |
| LED TV, 100 W | 5.4 h | 9.1 h | 13.1 h | 17.4 h |
| Electric blanket, 200 W | 2.7 h | 4.5 h | 6.5 h | 8.7 h |
| Microwave, 1,000 W | won't run | 0.9 h (about 55 min) | 1.3 h | 1.7 h |
Kitchen appliances only run for minutes, so they cost less than they look. Ten minutes of a 1,000 W microwave is about 167 Wh. Use the same formula for your own list, then add the totals for a day.
Three common RV setups
Weekend van or truck camper
Laptop, phone charging, fan, lights, a 12V fridge and Starlink. That is a few hundred watts at any moment, so the Explorer 600 v2 or Explorer 1000 v2 covers it. Choose the 1000 v2 if you also want the microwave.
Travel trailer, two or three nights
Add a microwave, a coffee maker and a TV. The coffee maker sets the size. A drip machine fits the 1000 v2. A pod machine near 1,500 W wants the Explorer 1500 v2 or Explorer 2000 v2 for headroom.
You want the air conditioner
Jackery's estimate for a 13,500 BTU unit is about 1,350 W running and roughly three times that to start. That is beyond the Explorer 1000 v2's 3,000 W surge. The Explorer 2000 v2's 4,400 W surge covers the estimate, but its 2,042 Wh lasts about 1.3 hours. For real air-conditioner time, look at the HomePower range or the Explorer 5000 Plus. See can a Jackery run my RV air conditioner?
Don't forget recharging
Capacity only matters if you can refill it. Each Explorer has a solar input limit, from 100 W on the small units to 400 W on the 1000 v2, 1500 v2 and 2000 v2, and more on the 1500 Ultra (800 W) and 5000 Plus. Our guide to how many SolarSaga panels each Jackery can take has the full list. The Jackery DC-DC alternator charger refills the station while you drive.
If you'd rather not do the math, the Jackery RV power kits pair each station with panels Jackery sells it with. You can also size a whole system in our RV solar and battery calculator.
FAQ
Is a bigger Jackery always better?
No. Weight climbs fast: the Explorer 1000 v2 is about 23.8 lb and the 2000 v2 is about 39.5 lb. Buy the output you need, then the capacity your trip needs.
What happens if I plug in too much?
You trip the station's overload protection, which Jackery's manuals warn about when several devices run at once. Unplug the extra load before you try again, and start the biggest appliance first.
Can I run my RV's 120V outlets from a Jackery?
Plugging the shore cord into a station often doesn't behave the way people expect. See why a Jackery may not power the outlets in your RV.
Where does it ship from?
Jackery orders ship direct from Jackery's US warehouse, free, to the lower 48 states only (no Hawaii, Alaska or Puerto Rico). Found it cheaper? We'll beat it. Browse the full Jackery range.