[RE-wrenches] Portable power station for surge loads

[David Coale]

You could put a timer on the power station so that it charges at night when
there are minimal loads and runs the induction cooktop during the day.

David

On Fri, Mar 20, 2026 at 10:23 PM William Miller via RE-wrenches <
re-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org> wrote:

> Friends:
>
>
>
> A long-time client has an ADU 755 conduit feet from the main house.  They
> started off-grid but they are now grid connected.
>
>
>
> In 1999 we pulled a 120 volt feeder of #1 aluminum to the ADU.  This
> provides about 10 amps at 5% voltage drop.
>
>
>
> This client wants to abandon a propane cook-top in the ADU in favor of an
> induction cook-top (indoor air pollution as a consideration).  A sample two
> burner induction cook-top is 1800 watts--too much power draw for this
> feeder.
>
>
>
> I was wondering if a portable power station rated at enough power to run
> the induction cook-top might solve this problem.  The 10 amp power feed can
> charge the power station at (hopefully) an acceptable amperage over an
> extended time period and the power station can provide enough surge power
> to run the cook-top intermittently.
>
>
>
> I see the Bluetti AC500, for example, can be adjusted to draw no more than
> 10 amps when plugged into AC.  Unfortunately this charge rate, when running
> at the full 10 amps, allows little overhead for other loads.  I presume
> this 10 amps draw is only 10 amps when the internal battery is fully
> discharged.  Maybe other units can charge at a lower rate.
>
>
>
> Have any of you tried this?  Any input is appreciated.
>
>
>
> William
>
>
>
> William Miller
>
> Miller Solar
>
> www.millersolar.com
>
> CA License C-10 77398
>
>
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