To determine what size powerstation or 2nd battery system you need for your camping or overlanding, the first thing required is to do an "energy audit" to figure out daily use, for both peak dc watts, 120Vac watts, and total Watt-hrs used for battery sizing.
How you will recharge will determine final battery size, how much extra battery Watt-hrs you will need:
--No recharge, battery must cover
all days of trip.
--Alternator recharge, ~500W times hours of driving, so 1500Wh in 3hrs
--Solar, you need 2-3days power to account for poor solar days, more if in cloudy areas. Expect 5hrs max per day, 10-30% rated Watts if flat, 40-80% rated if angled. Depending on season.
Energy Audit
Tier 1 Minimal power:
small battery powered headlights
1. LED lights , sparse and dim
20W, 6 hr, 120Wh
2.Fan, none or Maxxair setting 2 low
10W, 10 hr, 100Wh
3. Phones, small recharge stuff
25W, 4 hr, 100Wh
No dc refrigerator, heater, dc blanket, camp lights, water pump, or 120Vac
Totals:
12Vdc: 55W = 5A
120Vac: 0W
Battery 320 Watt-hrs or 25Ah@ 12.8V
Tier 2 Basic, dc only
small battery powered headlights
1. LED lights , well lit camper
75W, 5 hr, 375Wh
2.Fan, Maxxair setting 6 med
20W, 10 hr, 200Wh
3. Phones, small recharge stuff
25W, 4 hr, 100Wh
4. dc refrigerator 30L-75L
35W to 55W, 24hr, 400-800Wh
5. heater, diesel
120W startup, 20-40W run, 10hr, 210-410Wh
6. 12 dc blanket
30-65W, 9hr, 270-585Wh
7. Extra camp lights, led string etc
20W, 13hr, 260Wh
8. water pump?
Totals:
12.8Vdc 380W max = 29.7A
120Vac: 0W
Battery 1815 to 2715 Watt-hrs or 142 to 212 Ah@ 12.8V
Tier 3 dc and 120Vac cooking
All tier 2 totals PLUS this 120Vac:
1. Electric kettle, coffee/tea
1500W, 50Wh per 500ml i.e. travel mug, 4x mugs a day is 200Wh
2. Induction burner, reheat 500ml stew or meal
1800W max, 66Wh, 3x meals is 200Wh
Totals:
12.8Vdc 380W max = 29.7A
120Vac: 1800W max
Battery dc 1815 to 2715 Watt-hrs or 142 to 212 Ah@ 12.8V
Battery ac 400-600 Wh plus 100 for inverter, is 500-700Wh
Grand total battery 2300-3400 Wh
Or 180-265 Ah @ 12.8V
-------------
Analysis:
These are ONE DAY POWER! Multiply by days needed for total battery depending on your charging method!
Tier 1, any small 500Wh powerstation
Tier 2, 30A 12V dc outlet, 2000-3000Wh battery (can be station plus expansion battery or LFP)
Tier 3, 30A 12V dc outlet, 1800W min inverter,
2300-3400Wh battery (can be station plus expansion battery or LFP. For example, I use 1536Wh powerstation plus either a 3072Wh expansion battery or a 1280Wh LFP)
Power testing videos:
These all work, just disabled embedded here, click "watch on youtube" and also lots of written info on video descriptions!
Electric kettle vs induction, coffee
Reheat 1 meal stew, induction:
Cook Elec breakfast for 2 (coffee, oatmeal, bacon, eggs, 350Wh
How you will recharge will determine final battery size, how much extra battery Watt-hrs you will need:
--No recharge, battery must cover
all days of trip.
--Alternator recharge, ~500W times hours of driving, so 1500Wh in 3hrs
--Solar, you need 2-3days power to account for poor solar days, more if in cloudy areas. Expect 5hrs max per day, 10-30% rated Watts if flat, 40-80% rated if angled. Depending on season.
Energy Audit
Tier 1 Minimal power:
small battery powered headlights
1. LED lights , sparse and dim
20W, 6 hr, 120Wh
2.Fan, none or Maxxair setting 2 low
10W, 10 hr, 100Wh
3. Phones, small recharge stuff
25W, 4 hr, 100Wh
No dc refrigerator, heater, dc blanket, camp lights, water pump, or 120Vac
Totals:
12Vdc: 55W = 5A
120Vac: 0W
Battery 320 Watt-hrs or 25Ah@ 12.8V
Tier 2 Basic, dc only
small battery powered headlights
1. LED lights , well lit camper
75W, 5 hr, 375Wh
2.Fan, Maxxair setting 6 med
20W, 10 hr, 200Wh
3. Phones, small recharge stuff
25W, 4 hr, 100Wh
4. dc refrigerator 30L-75L
35W to 55W, 24hr, 400-800Wh
5. heater, diesel
120W startup, 20-40W run, 10hr, 210-410Wh
6. 12 dc blanket
30-65W, 9hr, 270-585Wh
7. Extra camp lights, led string etc
20W, 13hr, 260Wh
8. water pump?
Totals:
12.8Vdc 380W max = 29.7A
120Vac: 0W
Battery 1815 to 2715 Watt-hrs or 142 to 212 Ah@ 12.8V
Tier 3 dc and 120Vac cooking
All tier 2 totals PLUS this 120Vac:
1. Electric kettle, coffee/tea
1500W, 50Wh per 500ml i.e. travel mug, 4x mugs a day is 200Wh
2. Induction burner, reheat 500ml stew or meal
1800W max, 66Wh, 3x meals is 200Wh
Totals:
12.8Vdc 380W max = 29.7A
120Vac: 1800W max
Battery dc 1815 to 2715 Watt-hrs or 142 to 212 Ah@ 12.8V
Battery ac 400-600 Wh plus 100 for inverter, is 500-700Wh
Grand total battery 2300-3400 Wh
Or 180-265 Ah @ 12.8V
-------------
Analysis:
These are ONE DAY POWER! Multiply by days needed for total battery depending on your charging method!
Tier 1, any small 500Wh powerstation
Tier 2, 30A 12V dc outlet, 2000-3000Wh battery (can be station plus expansion battery or LFP)
Tier 3, 30A 12V dc outlet, 1800W min inverter,
2300-3400Wh battery (can be station plus expansion battery or LFP. For example, I use 1536Wh powerstation plus either a 3072Wh expansion battery or a 1280Wh LFP)
Power testing videos:
These all work, just disabled embedded here, click "watch on youtube" and also lots of written info on video descriptions!
Electric kettle vs induction, coffee
Reheat 1 meal stew, induction:
Cook Elec breakfast for 2 (coffee, oatmeal, bacon, eggs, 350Wh
