Power stations are failing in Cuba: Here are five mistakes that could be costly for you

The Cuban content creator Stefan Castro Landa, known on social media as @_stefan_castro, raised concerns about the increase in failures among portable power stations —such as the popular EcoFlow and other backup batteries— that many Cubans use to cope with prolonged power outages.

In a recent video, he explained that "power stations are breaking down, regardless of the brand or model, and it is almost always due to the same five causes." He added that the goal of his post is to help users protect an investment that, in the Cuban context, is particularly expensive.

The young man emphasized that these devices “are not designed for the usage we are giving them in Cuba” and that the workload they are subjected to—enduring constant cycles of charging and discharging due to power outages—exceeds the conditions for which they were created.

The five most common causes of breakdowns

1. Power surges after blackouts. As explained, when the electricity service is restored after a prolonged outage, the voltage tends to be unstable. Although the stations include protection systems, repeated exposure to these variations ultimately damages them.
2. Inadequate environment. Placing the battery at floor level facilitates the accumulation of dust, moisture, and pet hair inside the equipment, which leads to corrosion and internal failures.
3. Overloading from a single port. Many users concentrate all electrical demand on a single outlet. These stations are not designed to supply maximum constant load through a single port, which leads to overheating.
4. Download up to 0%. Running the battery to its absolute limit can affect the internal management system (BMS), which requires power to operate. This shortens the lifespan of the equipment and may even prevent it from turning back on.
5. Purchase of reused equipment sold as new. Castro warned that there are cases of used batteries that are refurbished, repackaged, and sold as if they were new, without the buyer noticing at first glance.

Recommendations to protect the investment

• Install a quality voltage protector, similar to those used for refrigerators, or disconnect the station for a while after the electricity returns until the voltage stabilizes.
• Place the battery in a well-ventilated area elevated off the ground, away from moisture and dust.
• Check the outlet status. These batteries charge at high power and generate heat; if the plug is damaged, it can melt and cause outages.
• Distribute the load among multiple ports to prevent overheating of a single output line.
• Keep the charge between 20% and 80%. Some brands allow you to set these limits from their app, which helps extend battery life.
• Buy from reliable suppliers with verified guarantees, especially when payment is made from abroad.

In a country where blackouts are part of daily life, these stations have become a key resource for supporting appliances, medical equipment, and essential devices.

However, as the creator warns, they are not industrial equipment nor are they designed to withstand the constant level of demand that they are subjected to in Cuba today.

His message aims to prevent economic losses for families who, in many cases, invest hundreds of dollars in these devices as an alternative to the instability of the national electric system.