Best power station for a TV, decoder and Wi-Fi during outages (South Africa, 2026)
We have not tested these power stations with a TV and decoder ourselves. Power figures come from Samsung, a South African DStv accessory retailer and Gizzu; power-station specs and prices come from the South African stores of EcoFlow (EcoFlow ZA) and Jackery (Jackery SA). Where we work something out ourselves, such as runtime, we show the sum and say so.
Quick answer
- Best overall: EcoFlow RIVER 2 Pro (R10,399). 768 Wh, 800 W pure sine wave AC and a <30 ms EPS auto-switch. On our worst-case estimate it runs a 55-inch TV, an Explora-type decoder, a router and a fibre ONT for about 3.5 hours.
- Best for long outages: EcoFlow DELTA 2 (R12,999). Now R12,999 at EcoFlow ZA (compare-at price R17,999), with 1024 Wh and six AC outlets, so the TV, decoder and router plugs all fit without a multiplug. About 4.6 hours on the same estimate.
- Budget pick: EcoFlow RIVER 2 Max (R6,599). 512 Wh and 500 W AC, about 2.3 hours with everything on, or about 10 hours for the decoder and Wi-Fi alone.
- Wi-Fi and decoder only: EcoFlow RIVER 3, 10 ms UPS version (R4,599). 245 Wh and a single 300 W AC outlet. Too small for long TV sessions, but it keeps the internet up.
How much power do a TV, decoder and Wi-Fi use?
Check the labels or manuals of your own devices. These are the published figures we used as a worked example:
- TV: Samsung's Africa site lists the 55-inch Crystal UHD CU7000 (UA55CU7000UXLY) at 145 W maximum power consumption. Most of the time a TV draws less than its maximum, but Samsung's page does not give a typical figure for this model, so we plan on the maximum.
- DStv decoder: DStv does not publish a wattage for the Explora Ultra. Its power supply is a 12 V adapter; a replacement supply for the Explora 3A, 3B and Ultra sold by SA retailer Space Technology is rated 12 V, 2.5 A output, which is 30 W at most. We use 30 W as a ceiling, not as the decoder's actual draw.
- Router and fibre ONT: Gizzu, which sells Wi-Fi UPS units in SA, bases its runtime claims on a 10 W router and a 3 W ONT.
That adds up to a planning load of about 188 W with everything on (145 + 30 + 10 + 3), and 43 W for the decoder, router and ONT without the TV.
Our runtime estimate
Runtime (hours) ≈ capacity in Wh × 0.85 ÷ load in watts. The 0.85 allowance for conversion losses is the rule of thumb Jackery SA uses on its own product pages. This is arithmetic, not a measurement, and because it uses the TV's maximum draw it should be on the cautious side.
| Power station | Price (2 Nov 2026) | Capacity | AC output | TV + decoder + Wi-Fi (188 W) | Decoder + Wi-Fi (43 W) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EcoFlow RIVER 3 (10 ms UPS) | R4,599 | 245 Wh | 300 W, 1 outlet | ~1.1 h | ~4.8 h |
| EcoFlow RIVER 2 Max | R6,599 | 512 Wh | 500 W | ~2.3 h | ~10.1 h |
| Jackery Explorer 500 | R6,999 | 518 Wh | 500 W | ~2.3 h | ~10.2 h |
| EcoFlow RIVER 2 Pro | R10,399 | 768 Wh | 800 W | ~3.5 h | ~15.2 h |
| EcoFlow DELTA 2 | R12,999 | 1024 Wh | 1800 W, 6 outlets | ~4.6 h | ~20.2 h |
| Jackery Explorer 1000 Pro | R17,999 | 1002 Wh | 1000 W, 2 outlets | ~4.5 h | ~19.8 h |
All of these have enough AC output for a 188 W load. The router and ONT usually run from small plug-in adapters, so count your plugs: if a station has fewer AC outlets than you need, you will need a multiplug, and the total load must still stay under the station's rating.
Automatic switch-over: do you need it?
If you want the Wi-Fi to stay up without anyone touching it when the power goes, choose a station with a UPS or EPS mode and leave your devices plugged into it while it is plugged into the wall. Switch-over times stated by the makers:
- EcoFlow RIVER 3 (UPS version): EcoFlow ZA lists <10/20 ms, and sells a variant named “RIVER 3 (10 ms UPS)”.
- EcoFlow RIVER 2 Pro: <30 ms EPS auto-switch.
- EcoFlow RIVER 2 Max: 30 ms switch-over mode.
- EcoFlow DELTA 2: EPS auto-switch, but EcoFlow ZA's DELTA 2 page does not state a time.
- Jackery Explorer 1000 Pro: Jackery SA lists UPS functionality and says in its FAQ that devices can stay plugged in and it will switch to battery during load-shedding. No time is stated.
- Jackery Explorer 500: Jackery SA says it “should not be used as a UPS” and should not be left permanently on and connected. Use it only by plugging things in after the power goes.
Whether a particular router or decoder rides through a given switch-over time is not stated by any of these makers, so test it once before you rely on it. A decoder that reboots still takes a minute or two to come back.
EcoFlow RIVER 2 Pro – best overall
768 Wh LFP battery rated for 3000 cycles to 80% capacity, 800 W pure sine wave AC (1600 W surge), a <30 ms EPS auto-switch, app control over Wi-Fi or Bluetooth, about 7.8 kg and a 0–100% AC recharge in 70 minutes, according to EcoFlow ZA. Enough for an evening of TV through a typical outage on our estimate, and most of a day for the Wi-Fi alone.
Price: R10,399 at EcoFlow ZA (compare-at price R11,199; checked 2 Nov 2026).
EcoFlow DELTA 2 – best for long outages
1024 Wh LFP battery (3000 cycles to 80%+), six AC outlets with 1800 W total (2700 W surge), EPS auto-switch, 12 kg, and support for an extra battery, according to EcoFlow ZA. At today's price it costs R2,600 more than the RIVER 2 Pro for a third more capacity and enough outlets for the whole TV cabinet.
Price: R12,999 at EcoFlow ZA (compare-at price R17,999; checked 2 Nov 2026).
EcoFlow RIVER 2 Max – budget pick
512 Wh LFP battery (80%+ capacity after 3000 cycles), 500 W pure sine wave AC (1000 W surge), a 30 ms switch-over mode and about 6 kg, according to EcoFlow ZA. About 2.3 hours with the TV on at maximum draw on our estimate, so it suits shorter outages or a smaller TV.
Price: R6,599 at EcoFlow ZA (compare-at price R7,999; checked 2 Nov 2026).
EcoFlow RIVER 3 (10 ms UPS) – Wi-Fi and decoder only
245 Wh LiFePO4 (3000 cycles to 80%), one AC outlet with 300 W total (600 W surge and X-Boost), a <10/20 ms UPS, under 30 dB stated noise and 3.55 kg, per EcoFlow ZA. EcoFlow ZA's spec table does not state the AC waveform. The plain RIVER 3 is R4,399; the 10 ms UPS version is R200 more.
Price: R4,599 for the 10 ms UPS version at EcoFlow ZA (compare-at price R5,599; checked 2 Nov 2026).
Also considered
- Jackery Explorer 1000 Pro (R17,999): 1002 Wh, two 230 V pure sine wave AC outlets (1000 W continuous, 2000 W surge) and UPS functionality, per Jackery SA. Similar runtime to the DELTA 2 but R5,000 more at today's prices, with fewer AC outlets.
- Jackery Explorer 500 (R6,999): 518 Wh and 500 W pure sine wave AC with a South African 2-prong outlet, per Jackery SA. Same runtime as the RIVER 2 Max for R400 more, and Jackery SA says not to use it as a UPS.
- Just the Wi-Fi? A small DC router UPS is far cheaper; see our router and ONT UPS guide.
- We could not load Takealot's pages to check prices, so we are not quoting them.
Verdict
For a TV, a DStv decoder and Wi-Fi through a typical outage, the EcoFlow RIVER 2 Pro (R10,399) is the sensible choice: enough capacity on a cautious estimate, plenty of AC headroom and a stated sub-30 ms switch-over. At its current price the EcoFlow DELTA 2 (R12,999) is worth the extra R2,600 if your outages run longer or you want six outlets. On a tighter budget the RIVER 2 Max (R6,599) does a two-hour outage with the TV on, and the RIVER 3 UPS (R4,599) keeps the internet and decoder going if the TV can wait.
Sources (checked 2 November 2026)
- Samsung Africa – 55" Crystal UHD 4K CU7000 (power consumption)
- DStv – Explora Ultra hardware FAQs
- Space Technology – Power supply for DStv Explora 3A, 3B, Ultra (12 V, 2.5 A)
- Gizzu – 30W Mini DC UPS (10 W router and 3 W ONT runtime basis)
- EcoFlow ZA – RIVER 2 Pro
- EcoFlow ZA – DELTA 2
- EcoFlow ZA – RIVER 2 Max
- EcoFlow ZA – RIVER 3
- Jackery South Africa – Explorer 1000 Pro
- Jackery South Africa – Explorer 500