Quick answer: For most SUV campers running a 12V fridge and lights overnight, the right size portable power station for SUV camping is 1000Wh of LiFePO4 capacity with 1,500W continuous output. Pair it with a 100W solar panel and one unit covers 3-day trips without a recharge. I tested 8 trips across 4 power stations in my 2019 … Read more
TL;DR: For a diesel heater running 8 hours overnight on low heat, you need at least a 50Ah deep cycle battery (lead acid) or a 50Ah LiFePO4 battery (lithium). A 50Ah lead acid battery provides only 25Ah of usable capacity. That runs a diesel heater on low for about 25 hours. A 50Ah LiFePO4 provides 40Ah … Read more
TL;DR: A typical 12v camping fan battery drain draws 0.5 to 2.0 amps depending on the speed setting and fan size. On low speed, a 12V fan running all night uses about 5 to 8 amp-hours. That is well within the capacity of any 50Ah or larger battery. The real concern in summer SUV camping is … Read more
TL;DR: Using a portable power station rain camping suv setup is safe if you take basic precautions. Most power stations are NOT waterproof. They have an IP20 to IPX4 rating at best, meaning they can handle light splashes but not direct rain. To use your power station safely in rain, keep it inside your SUV … Read more
TL;DR: To run a fridge in SUV camping overnight, you need a dedicated auxiliary battery or portable power station. A 12V compressor fridge draws 3 to 5 amps average. Over 10 hours that is 30 to 50Ah. A standard 50Ah starter battery only has 25Ah usable and will be dead by morning. You need a 100Ah … Read more
How many Wh do you need for a CPAP while camping depends mostly on one thing: whether you run the humidifier and heated hose. For many campers, a CPAP without heat uses about 150Wh to 250Wh per night, while a full-size machine with humidifier can use 300Wh to 500Wh or more. That is why some people get through … Read more
The best portable power station for CPAP camping is not always the biggest or most expensive model. For most SUV campers, the right answer is a LiFePO4 power station in the 500Wh to 1000Wh range that can run a CPAP all night, recharge easily, and still leave enough reserve for lights, phones, or a fan. If you use a … Read more
Can a 500Wh power station run a CPAP all night? In many cases, yes — but not always. If you use a travel CPAP or a full-size CPAP without humidifier, a 500Wh LiFePO4 power station is often enough for one overnight session. But if you use a heated humidifier, heated hose, or also power other devices, … Read more
How to wire diesel heater to portable power station is the question I see most in overlanding forums every winter. Guys buy a Chinese diesel heater, plug it into the cigarette lighter port on their Jackery or Bluetti, and the heater shuts down after 30 seconds with an error code. Then they return the heater … Read more
How to charge lifepo4 battery is the question I hear most from overlanders switching to lithium. I had to learn the answer by destroying my first bank. Three years. That is how long my first lithium bank lasted. Grade A EVE cells from a reputable supplier. Proper BMS. Good cabling. None of that mattered because … Read more