How long will a Bluetti EB3A run a gas combi boiler?
About 3.3 hours — 3 h 15 min typically, from 3 h 4 min in the worst case to 3 h 26 min at best. That assumes a gas combi boiler pulling 85 W for 60% of the time (average 51 W), plus the station's 9 W AC mains socket overhead — 60 W in total out of 195 usable watt-hours.
The gas makes the heat, so a battery only has to run the fan, pump and controls. Most boilers are wired into a fused spur rather than a plug, and some will not light on a station’s ungrounded output — read the boiler guide before relying on it.
Before you rely on it
The battery is the easy part. Most boilers are wired into a fused spur with no plug, and some will not light on a station's floating output because they sense the flame through earth. The boiler guide explains both problems and who can fix them.
The numbers
| Setup | Average draw | Cautious | Typical | Best case |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 × gas combi boiler, UK 230 V | 60 W | 3 h 4 min | 3 h 15 min | 3 h 26 min |
| 2 × gas combi boiler, UK 230 V | 111 W | 1 h 39 min | 1 h 45 min | 1 h 52 min |
| 1 × gas combi boiler, US 120 V | 60 W | 3 h 4 min | 3 h 15 min | 3 h 26 min |
- 0.4 nights of eight hours, or 0.14 days of continuous running.
- Usable energy: 195 Wh of the 268 Wh on the box, after chemistry, inverter losses and the reserve.
- To keep it going for a full 24 hours you would need about 1,981 Wh of rated capacity — 7.4× this station.
- Start-up: the gas combi boiler asks for 85 W at switch-on against this station's 1,200 W peak — comfortable.
Buy the Bluetti EB3A
Where to buy
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If this is for a power cut
Heating is what a battery does worst. In a power cut, warming people rather than rooms goes much further, and none of this needs a socket.
Without a power station: a 20,000 mAh power bank runs a USB heated throw for about 7 h 24 min. See the power bank numbers.
Hot water bottle and a vacuum flask. Boil water while you still can, keep it hot in a flask, and refill the bottle through the night.
Look for: A bottle made to BS 1970 in the UK, and a flask of a litre or more.
Hand warmers. Air-activated packs give hours of heat with no power at all, and a pocketful helps children and older relatives.
Look for: Long-duration packs, and the expiry date on bulk boxes.
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More: How to keep warm in a power cut, and the power cut essentials list (US edition).
What changes the answer
| If instead… | Typical runtime | Change |
|---|---|---|
| The pack is two years old | 2 h 59 min | -8% |
| The pack is five years old | 2 h 36 min | -20% |
| It is −10 °C outside | 2 h 46 min | -15% |
| You run it flat, no reserve | 3 h 37 min | +11% |
| You keep 20% back | 2 h 53 min | -11% |
If you need it to run longer
These run a gas combi boiler for at least twice as long as the Bluetti EB3A does, cheapest first.
| Station | Wh | Typical | Indicative price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jackery Explorer 1000 v2 | 1,070 | 12 h 45 min | £419 / $549 |
| UGREEN PowerRoam 600 | 680 | 8 h 14 min | £449 / $499 |
| Bluetti EB70S | 716 | 8 h 32 min | £449 / $429 |
| Bluetti AC70 | 768 | 9 h 9 min | £449 / $359 |
The cheapest step up: Jackery Explorer 1000 v2
Amazon and approved-programme links are affiliate links; the site may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Links marked “official site” are untracked. Prices and stock change constantly — check before you buy.
Smaller options that still work
| Station | Wh | Typical | Weight | Indicative price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jackery Explorer 240 v2 | 256 | 3 h 13 min | 3.6 kg | £209 / $249 |
| EcoFlow RIVER 2 | 256 | 3 h 9 min | 3.5 kg | £209 / $199 |
| EcoFlow RIVER 3 | 245 | 3 h 1 min | 3.6 kg | £169 / $179 |
| Bluetti AC2A | 204 | 2 h 31 min | 3.6 kg | £149 / $149 |
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