Power Outage Coming? Here's What Portable Power Stations Can (and Can't) Do for Your Home Security
CNET recently put 19 portable power stations through lab testing to find out one specific thing: which ones can keep a home refrigerator running the longest during a power outage. The results, detailed in their piece on oasis-style testing, narrowed the field down to four standout units that outperformed the rest in real-world runtime.
It is a useful test, and it is a reminder that outage planning is bigger than just candles and flashlights. For homeowners who rely on a security system, cameras, or smart locks, the question is not just "will my food stay cold." It's also "will my front door camera still see who's on my porch."
What the CNET test actually measured
The point of the test was simple: plug a standard fridge into each power station and see how long it lasts before the battery taps out. Capacity ratings on the box do not always match real-world performance, so lab testing like this matters. Bigger battery capacity generally wins, but efficiency, inverter quality, and how the unit manages load all affect the real number.
That same logic applies to any device you might plug in during an outage, including security equipment.
Why this matters for your home security setup
Most professionally monitored systems, including ADT-monitored systems installed by MFPGSecurity, are built with outages in mind. Central panels typically include their own backup battery that keeps the system armed and communicating for a period of time after the power drops. Many setups also use cellular connectivity as a backup path, so your alarm can still reach the monitoring center even if your home internet or landline goes down.
Where a portable power station comes in handy is for the extras: Wi-Fi routers, video doorbells, plug-in cameras, smart locks, and the modem your smart home leans on. A camera with battery backup at the panel level might stay "armed," but if your router loses power, you could lose live video streaming and remote app access until power returns.
That is the real lesson from CNET's test. A portable power station is not a replacement for a properly designed monitored security system with its own battery and cellular backup. It is a complement. Keeping your router and a camera or two alive on a power station during a storm can mean the difference between checking your phone and seeing your porch, or staring at a blank screen.
A few practical takeaways for homeowners
If you are shopping for a power station with home security in mind, capacity is only part of the story. Look at how many watts your router, modem, and any plug-in cameras draw combined, then compare that against the runtime numbers in independent tests like CNET's rather than the marketing claims on the box.
It is also worth checking your own system's backup battery life. Most panel batteries are rated for a set number of hours, not days. If your area sees frequent multi-day outages, that is a good reason to talk with a professional about cellular backup, generator compatibility, or supplemental battery options.
MFPGSecurity's take
We think stories like this are a good nudge for homeowners to actually test their setup instead of assuming it will just work. As an ADT Authorized Dealer, MFPGSecurity designs systems with backup battery and cellular monitoring built in from the start, so your alarm keeps working even when the lights go out. If you want a second opinion on how your current setup would hold up during an outage, our team is happy to walk through it with you. You can also browse our other security resources or learn more about our approach on the homepage.
Have questions about outage-proofing your home security? Call MFPGSecurity at 833-842-0818, or read more about who we are on our About Us page.
Source: www.cnet.com
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Frequently Asked Questions
Will my ADT-monitored system still work during a power outage?
Most professionally monitored systems, including those MFPGSecurity installs as an ADT Authorized Dealer, include a backup battery in the main panel plus cellular connectivity, so the system can typically stay armed and communicate with the monitoring center for a period of time even without home power or internet.
Do I need a portable power station if I have a monitored security system?
Not for the core alarm panel, since that usually has its own battery backup. A portable power station is more useful for keeping extras running, like your Wi-Fi router, plug-in cameras, or smart locks, so you keep remote video access during longer outages.
How long does a security system battery backup last?
It varies by system and panel, often ranging from several hours up to around a day depending on the equipment and how it is used. Homeowners in areas with frequent long outages should ask their provider about extended backup options.
What should I look for in a power station if I want to keep cameras running?
Check the combined wattage draw of your router, modem, and cameras, then compare that against independent runtime testing rather than the capacity number printed on the unit, since real-world performance can differ from marketing claims.