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Weekend Load List Guide

Updated 2026-10-21 · Published by Charland & Co. · Based on published specs; we have not tested the products discussed.

Quick answer: A weekend load list adds up every device's watt-hours per day so you know the real total instead of guessing. In the example below the list comes to 1,330 Wh per day. Two days with a 20 percent margin needs about 3,192 Wh of battery. A 2,000 Wh station covers roughly 1.3 days of that same list after efficiency losses.

Common weekend devices laid out for a load list

Why a load list beats guessing

Guessing often leaves you short or carrying more station than you need. A load list forces you to write down each device, its watts, and how many hours it runs each day. Multiply those two numbers and you get watt-hours. Add them up and you have a daily total you can trust.

That total becomes the starting point for station size, solar planning, and deciding what to leave home. Without the list it is easy to forget the coffee maker or the fan that runs all evening.

How to find each device's watts

Look first at the label on the device or its power adapter. Many small electronics show watts or amps. If you see only amps and volts, multiply them to get watts.

The manual or the manufacturer's site often lists typical power use. For devices that cycle, such as a 12V fridge, the label may show a higher running number; the average over a full day is what matters for the list.

A plug-in watt meter gives the most accurate reading for anything that plugs into an outlet. Run the device for a typical period and note the average watts. For phones and other items that charge quickly, you can use the watt-hours needed for a full charge instead of watts times hours.

The example weekend list

Device Watts Hours per day Watt-hours per day
12V fridge 30 24 720
LED lights 10 5 50
2 phones - - 30
Laptop 60 2 120
Fan 20 8 160
Coffee maker 900 0.25 225
Water pump 50 0.5 25
TOTAL - - 1,330

Each Wh figure is watts times hours. The fridge is 30 × 24 = 720. Lights are 10 × 5 = 50. Phones are entered directly as 30 Wh. Laptop is 60 × 2 = 120. Fan is 20 × 8 = 160. Coffee maker is 900 × 0.25 = 225. Water pump is 50 × 0.5 = 25. Adding those values gives 1,330 Wh per day.

Worked example

Let's say you are planning a two-day weekend trip and want to size your power station and solar setup. You have the following devices:

Total daily watt-hours:
720 + 50 + 30 + 120 + 160 + 225 + 25 = 1,330 Wh/day

Battery Wh needed for two days with a 20% margin:
1,330 × 2 = 2,660 Wh
2,660 × 1.2 = 3,192 Wh

So, you need a battery with at least 3,192 Wh of capacity. A 2,000 Wh station would give you:
2,000 × 0.85 = 1,700 Wh usable after inverter losses
1,700 ÷ 1,330 ≈ 1.28 days of runtime

This means a 2,000 Wh station would cover about 1.3 days of use. However, the coffee maker requires 900 W continuous, so the station must have at least that much continuous power to run it without tripping.

Turning the list into a station size

Start with the daily total and multiply by the number of days, then add a safety margin. For two days:
1,330 × 2 = 2,660 Wh
2,660 × 1.2 = 3,192 Wh

A station around that size covers the weekend with a little room for extra use.

You can also check runtime on a smaller station you already own. A 2,000 Wh station gives:
2,000 × 0.85 = 1,700 usable watt-hours after inverter losses
1,700 ÷ 1,330 ≈ 1.28 days, or about 1.3 days of this list.

The biggest single draw is the coffee maker at 900 W continuous. The station must be able to supply at least that much without tripping.

Try the free calculator: pick from 200+ devices or enter your own watts at /calculators/power/.

Where to trim

Small changes add up. Skip the coffee maker and you save 225 Wh. Run the fan four hours instead of eight and you save another 80 Wh.
1,330 − 225 − 80 = 1,025 Wh per day

That lower total shrinks the weekend battery need and stretches any station you already have. Other easy cuts include fewer lights, shorter laptop time, or a cooler full of ice instead of the fridge for a short trip.

Cabin vs RV vs tent camping differences

A cabin often has more devices and longer runs because you are settled in one place. An RV already carries some of its own battery and may have a water pump or lights wired in, so the portable station only covers the extras. Tent camping usually means fewer devices and shorter use of each one, which keeps the daily total lower. In all three cases the same list method works; only the devices and hours change.

FAQs

Q: Do I need to measure every device with a watt meter?

A: No. Labels and manuals are fine for most items. Use a meter when a device cycles a lot or when you want a precise average.

Q: Why multiply by 1.2 for the weekend total?

A: The margin covers higher use than planned, cooler weather, or a partly discharged station when you start. It keeps the estimate realistic.

Q: What if my fridge uses more than 30 W average?

A: Replace the 30 W and 720 Wh with your measured average and rebuild the total. The rest of the method stays the same.

Q: Can I run the coffee maker and other high-watt items at the same time?

A: Only if the station's continuous rating covers the combined watts. Stagger the high-draw devices so the peak stays under the station's limit.

Related pages

Sources to cite

Who this is not for

This guide is not for people who need continuous power for home backup or full-time off-grid living. It is intended for weekend and seasonal cabin, camper, and van owners who want to size portable power stations, batteries, and solar for short-term use. If you need a system that runs for days or weeks without recharging, or if you are connecting to building wiring, consult a licensed electrician and follow local codes. Fuel generators must always be used outdoors, far from doors and windows, and never plugged into a house outlet ("backfeeding") (CPSC; CDC). CPSC says to keep generators at least 20 feet from doors, windows and vents.

Run your own numbers: free power calculator (200+ devices).