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Starlink’s power consumption depends on the model and how much you use it. Understanding these factors will help you select the proper battery backup to keep your connection uninterrupted whether you work or play off-grid, need a backup for electrical outages, or travel with your system.
This article explores Starlinks’ energy consumption, what affects their draw, and the best portable power stations to suit your setup. Let’s dive in.
Starlink’s Power Consumption: What You Need to Know
How much energy Starlink uses will vary depending on your system, how much you use it, and how long it runs in a day. For instance, the standard Starlink system typically consumes 50-75 watts (W) during active use. However, it will surge when it boots up, configures, and reconnects to satellites.
When simply sitting idle and not being actively used, energy consumption drops to about 20W. If you want those numbers in Amps, you can easily convert between units using Watts = Amps x Volts. For example, a standard model running on a 12V electrical system would use between 4.2 and 6.25A.
Use this table to determine how much energy the different hardware systems use when in active use and idle. It also shows the calculation of kWh if the hardware is actively used or idle for 24 hours, which will help you determine what battery size you might need.
| Starlink Standard Actuated | Starlink Standard & Enterprise | Starlink Mini | High Performance and Flat High Performance | |
| Average consumption when in use | 50 – 75W | 75 – 100W | 20 – 40W | 110 – 150W |
| All-day active usage in Wh (watts x 24 hours) | 1200 – 1800Wh | 1800 – 2400Wh | 480 – 960Wh | 2640 – 3600Wh |
| Idle consumption | 20W | 20W | 15W | 45W |
| All-day idle usage (24 hours) | 480Wh | 480Wh | 360Wh | 1080Wh |
Choosing the Right Battery Backup for Starlink
Choosing the correct battery begins with looking at the table above to determine how much energy your model consumes. It’s a good idea to base your needs on active use for 24 hours. Even though that is unrealistic in most situations, it will prevent you from buying too small of a system, leaving you powerless and frustrated if you run out.
What Type of Battery Backup Works Best With Starlink?
Solar generators are the best battery backup option for Starlink. Because they use batteries instead of fossil fuels, they can safely be used outdoors or indoors without worrying about lethal carbon monoxide poisoning. The solar panels allow you to recharge your system whenever the sun shines, so you can always stay connected. The size of the generator you need depends on your system.
If you are running a Mini, you can use the compact and highly portable EcoFlow RIVER 2 Portable Power Station. It has enough capacity to keep the Wi-Fi router and other hardware running during active use for 8 hours. If you need it longer, simply recharge it with portable solar panels.
You will want more power if you have a standard system. The EcoFlow DELTA 3 (1500) comes with 1536Wh of capacity to run your standard Starlink all day during active usage and keep it idle all night long. It’s also powerful enough to run almost any household appliance if you need it for back up household electricity during an outage.
If you’re a heavy internet user with a high-performance system, you will also need a larger battery like that in the EcoFlow DELTA Pro 3. With its 4000W output, you can keep your high-performance system running for more than 24 hours during active use. Combine that with solar panels, and you will never worry about losing your connection again.
Integrating Starlink With a Battery Backup System
You can easily integrate Starlink with a backup battery system. For instance, the EcoFlow Portable Power Stations come in a wide range of capacities to suit any Starlink system and any level of use, from light casual use to heavy users who demand strong, high-performance internet connections for work or play.
Simply plug your Starlink router and hardware into your portable power station, and you will have an uninterrupted power supply anytime, day or night. If you plan to be off-grid for over a day or two, ensure you also have solar panels to recharge your battery and stay online indefinitely.
Final Thoughts
Starlink’s power consumption varies by model and activity level, but with the right battery backup, you can stay connected anytime and anywhere. EcoFlow offers a range of portable power stations tailored to different Starlink setups—from the compact EcoFlow RIVER 2 Portable Power Station for use with the mini or while travelling to the high-capacity EcoFlow DELTA Pro 3 for heavy usage scenarios.
Pair your power station with EcoFlow solar panels for an eco-friendly, reliable power solution that will keep Starlink running wherever you need it and ensure you never lose your connection again.