Battery Backup

Which battery backup is best for me? I know there are a lot of options out there but here's what I've compiled with the hope that it makes it easier for all of us to understand the options and the types of battery backups available for us today.

As far as comparing which is best for your use, I would suggest looking at not only a cost comparison but also a battery type and battery recharge comparison as part of your analysis. There is a large variance of recharging times for the units I'm including below varying from 2 - 6 hours. For some, this might be a deal breaker. For others, it might not matter but it's definitely worth mentioning.

The other point of consideration is the battery type. The products below have two different types of batteries - Lithium Ion and LiFePO4. So which one is for you? I'll briefly discuss each one at the end of this blog post.

Jackery Explorer 1000 - $1,099

PERFECT FOR DSLR BOOTH WITH PRINTER

If you missed Prime Day, too bad. You missed out on a great opportunity to purchase the Jackery Portable Power Station Explorer 1000 they had on sale for about $750 ($300 off their regular price). It has a 1002Wh capacity with a recharge time of 5.5 hours to 80% power capacity.

Battery Type: Li-Ion

Weight: 22.04lbs

Recharge Time (80%): 5.5 Hours

Charging Outputs:

• 3 AC outlets
• 2 USB-C
• 1 Quick Charge 3.0 port

EcoFlow DELTA - $999

PERFECT FOR DSLR BOOTH WITH PRINTER

Personally, we've been using the Ecoflow DELTA 1260Wh. We love this unit for it's recharge time. It can recharge to 780% capacity in one hour and can fully charge in two hours.

We've also bought some units from EcoFlow's official eBay store that sells refurbished systems. It might be worth a quick check to see any great deals they might have at the moment.

Battery Type: Li-Ion

Weight: 30.9lbs

Recharge Time (100%): 2 Hours

Charging Outputs:

• 6 AC outlets
• 2 USB-C
• 2 USB-A
• 2 USB-A Fast Charge
• 1 DC 13.6v

VDL 1228 Portable Power Station - $899

PERFECT FOR DSLR BOOTH WITH PRINTER

While the first two battery generators use Lithium Ion batteries, we know of some photo booth owners who use this VDL Portable Station 1228Wh.

Battery Type: LiFePO4

Weight: 34lbs

Recharge Time (100%): 2 Hours

Charging Outputs:

• 6 AC outlets
• 2 USB-C
• 4 USB-A
• 1 108.8w car socket
• 2 108.8w DC

Anker Powerhouse II - $459

IDEAL FOR Ipad BOOTH

If you are looking to simply power an iPad-based booth like the Salsa from PBSCO, this Anker 388Wh portable power station is what PBSCO recommends. This should be sufficient and will provide the necessary power to run your Salsa for 4-6 hours (depending on usage).

Battery Type: Li-Ion

Weight: 10.2lbs

Recharge Time (100%): 6.5 Hours

Charging Outputs:

• 1 AC outlet
• 1 USB-C
• 3 USB-A
• 1 car socket
• 2 DC ports

Anker Portable Generator - $699

PERFECT FOR Ipad BOOTH with printer

Looking to power a printer with your iPad-based booth? This 778Wh portable charging station will be plenty for your needs.

Battery Type: Li-Ion

Weight: 18.3lbs

Recharge Time (100%): 4.9 Hours

Charging Outputs:

• 2 AC outlets
• 2 USB-C
• 4 USB-A
• 1 car socket
• 2 DC ports

Bluetti 800w Power Station - $569

PERFECT FOR Ipad BOOTH with printer

This portable power station uses the "better" LiFePO4 battery instead of the regular Li-Ion batteries found in most battery packs. The downside to this in my opinion is the recharge time but if you're not in any rush or have back to back events that would require it, this is definitely something to consider. This little unit can power an iPad-based booth and a DNP 620A printer for up to 6 hours.

Battery Type: LiFePO4

Weight: 18.29lbs

Recharge Time (80%): 3 Hours

Charging Outputs:

• 4 AC outlets
• 2 USB-C
• 2 USB-A
• 1 car socket
• 2 DC ports
• 1 wireless charging pad

Is LiFePO4 better than Lithium Ion?

The LiFePO4 battery has the edge over lithium ion, both in terms of cycle life (it lasts 4-5x longer), and safety. This is a key advantage because lithium ion batteries can overheat and even catch fire, while LiFePO4 does not (via LithiumHub.com).

If you've ever checked in your luggage at an airport, they always ask if you have any lithium batteries in your suitcase. Airlines prefer that you bring your Li-Ion batteries in your carry on so in the unfortunate event that it catches on fire, it'll be easily noticed and extinguished.

There you have it friends. I hope that this makes your research for battery packs a lot easier. A portion of the feedback that I've included here are from online group discussions from experienced users and photo booth owners.

And that is pretty much it! I hope this will come in handy at some point.

We're on Instagram too! Ciao and happy boothing!