Can you leave a power station plugged in all the time?

What the makers say, model by model

There's no industry rule for this, only each maker's instructions for its own models, and they point in different directions. We read the US manuals for the 13 current models in our database. This table sets out what each says about storage and about leaving the unit on the wall.

Two brands contradict themselves. Jackery's support center says every one of its stations has a battery management system that prevents overcharging, and still suggests unplugging from the charger once the battery reaches 100%. Its manuals, meanwhile, describe running the station as a UPS on mains power. DJI's Power 1000 V2 manual says to disconnect AC when charging is complete, its safety guidelines say to remove the AC cable when not in use, and the same manual explains UPS mode. Neither brand reconciles the two.

Stored for the next outage: charge level and top-ups

If the station sits in a closet between outages, the storage section of the manual is the one to follow, and the levels differ by brand. Anker's SOLIX guides want the battery full: check it each week, charge to 100% if it drops below 30%, and charge to 100% at least every 3 months. BLUETTI's Elite manuals say charge to 40% to 60%, power off and disconnect every cable. DJI says discharge to 60% and warns that storing at a high charge level shortens cell life.

EcoFlow lands on 60% by two routes. The DELTA 3 Plus manual says to discharge to 0% and recharge to 60%, while the DELTA 3 Classic, DELTA Pro 3 and RIVER 3 Plus manuals say to charge fully and then discharge to 60%. All four say to charge and discharge every 3 months, and warn that leaving the unit uncharged or unused for more than 6 months voids the warranty.

Jackery's Explorer v2 manuals give no storage level. They warn that storing a depleted unit for 3 to 6 months can harm it and may leave it unable to charge, and Jackery's warranty requires a full charge at least once every 6 months. BLUETTI's AC180 manual gives two answers in different sections, 40% to 60% with a 3-month cycle and a full charge with a 6-month cycle, so it's worth asking BLUETTI which applies.

Plugged in and passing power through

UPS mode is the case where every maker expects the station to stay on the wall. EcoFlow's manuals call it a standby UPS with a 10 ms transfer, and the DELTA 3 Classic, DELTA 3 Plus and DELTA Pro 3 manuals add that it only works if the grid supplies more power than your devices draw. Jackery gives 20 ms for the Explorer v2 models and 10 ms for the HomePower 3600 Plus, and all three Jackery manuals say to unplug the cord during a storm. BLUETTI's Elite manuals describe the same arrangement. Our post on power stations as a UPS covers what those switchover times mean for the devices plugged in.

Some apps let you cap the charge while the station sits on the wall. Anker's C1000 Gen 2 lets you set an upper limit between 80% and 100%, or choose a Backup mode that keeps the battery full for emergencies. EcoFlow and BLUETTI apps have charge limits too, and their manuals don't say what value to choose.

None of the manuals we read says whether pass-through charging or months on the wall wears the battery faster. They describe the modes and stop there.

Heat, cold and where to keep it

Charging temperature limits matter in a cold garage. EcoFlow, Jackery's Explorer v2 models and DJI allow charging from 0°C to 45°C (32°F to 113°F), and Anker and BLUETTI from 0°C to 40°C (32°F to 104°F). Jackery's HomePower 3600 Plus is the one current model whose manual lists charging down to −20°C (−4°F). Our winter storm plan covers keeping a station usable through a cold outage.

Storage ranges are narrower for long periods. Jackery gives 0°C to 25°C (32°F to 77°F) for a year on the Explorer v2 and HomePower 3600 Plus. EcoFlow's spec tables list −10°C to 45°C, with 20°C to 30°C as the best range. BLUETTI's Elite 200 V2 asks for under 35°C (95°F) when stored for more than a month, DJI's spec page gives −10°C to 45°C, and Anker's guides say only "dry and cool".

A simple routine before storm season

Find the storage section of your own manual and note its charge level and interval. Put a reminder in your calendar at that interval. Before storm season, check the charge and top it up the way your manual says, and look the model up on our recalls page.

If you keep the station on the wall as a UPS, that's a use every maker here describes. If you'd rather unplug it between charges, Jackery and DJI suggest doing exactly that. Our guide to backup without solar covers charging it from the wall before an outage.