{"id":8627,"date":"2022-07-19T09:22:15","date_gmt":"2022-07-19T14:22:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/decideoutside.com\/?p=8627"},"modified":"2022-07-19T09:22:37","modified_gmt":"2022-07-19T14:22:37","slug":"how-to-get-power-while-camping","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/decideoutside.com\/how-to-get-power-while-camping\/","title":{"rendered":"How To Get Power While Camping (And How Much You Need)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

What options are there if you’re camping without access to electricity? How do you keep your campsite running? Check out these options!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While camping, you can get power through gas generators, solar generators, or by paying a little more for a campsite with electricity. Those who want to get even more experimental can try out options like wind generators, pedal generators, or even your car battery. In any situation, it’s a good idea to at least bring a backup method for charging your cell phone.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Most campgrounds can offer you access to electricity, but what if you want to try your hand at wilderness camping? Camping without easy access to power can seem like an intimidating prospect.<\/strong> After all, no one wants to be stuck in the woods with a dead cell phone and no way to reach out for help. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If we take it one step at a time, this concept doesn’t have to be a scary one. There are several other ways to get the power you need for an enjoyable camping trip. Whether you just want to keep your phone charged or plan on bringing your favorite gadgets that use electricity<\/strong>, it’s completely possible to find a solution. Read on, and I’ll provide several options to keep the devices in your campsite running smoothly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You might want to calculate how much power you need before you figure out how to get your electricity–see this <\/a>table for details <\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n

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How To Get Power While Camping<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Camping is a fantastic way to get away from being constantly connected to the rest of the world. When we head out into the wilderness, we often choose to leave behind things like television, the internet, video games, and sometimes even our phones<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While it’s important to get away from those connections to enjoy the peace of nature, that doesn’t mean we walk away from electricity altogether. In most cases, we might still use a radio, camping fridge, or coffee maker<\/strong>. Our phones might even need a charge from time to time, just to make sure they are available in an emergency.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One item we may not always think about in terms of needing power is an air mattress. It’s easy to forget that air mattresses can be a hassle to blow up without electricity<\/strong>. Luckily, I talk about how you inflate an air mattress without electricity in my article on the subject here<\/a><\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The question is, how do you get this power? Campers who spend a lot of time at campgrounds will find that there is often an option to pay more for a campsite that comes with electrical hookups<\/strong>. Although that is a simple solution, it may not be ideal for those who don’t want to spend extra money, or who typically prefer wilderness camping.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For those situations, I’ve compiled a list of several ways to get electricity while camping. Each comes with its benefits and downfalls, but there’s sure to be at least one that will work for every camping situation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Find A Campsite With Electric Hookups<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

While opting for a campsite with an electrical hookup can be the easiest way to ensure you have enough power for your trip, it may not be the least expensive way. Camping sites that contain these hookups can often increase the cost of the trip by $10 – $20 per night.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

For some, this may be a worthwhile investment. It means you’ll have a place to charge and power your devices without needing a generator or other alternative<\/strong>. Peace of mind is important for those who have enough to worry about, and sometimes trying to pedal your way to a full phone battery just isn’t viable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That said, keep in mind that there won’t be many places to plug in <\/strong>unless you’re using the electricity at the site to power an RV. Often, the electrical hookups offered within campsites include just a couple <\/strong>of standard outlets, a 30A outlet, and a 50A outlet for your larger appliances. Because of that, you may want to bring a durable extension cord or an outlet extender<\/strong> to get more for your money.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bring A Battery Bank (Solar Generator)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Although these battery banks are often referred to as solar generators, they don’t generate power like the other types of generators I’ve mentioned. Instead, these devices work as batteries <\/strong>to hold power that can be used to charge your devices. They’re called solar <\/strong>generators because you can hook up a solar panel to charge the battery.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Because they are batteries, solar generators can be plugged into your standard outlets at home for charging<\/strong>. Once they are fully charged, they will then be able to use solar power to keep the battery from running out as quickly as a standard battery might.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Popular Solar Generator Models<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

In recent years, the technology used for gathering solar energy has only been improving. As a result, solar panels and their corresponding solar generators (or battery banks) have only been getting better. Below are a few of the more popular solar generator models available today<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Not sure how much power you need in a generator? Make sure to continue reading below!<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

For convenience, these are all Amazon links, but occasionally you can find better deals elsewhere or direct from the company.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Model Name<\/strong><\/td>Price Range<\/strong><\/td>Wattage (Peak\/Running)<\/strong><\/td>Watt-Hours<\/strong><\/td><\/tr>
EcoFlow Delta Pro<\/a><\/td>Above $3,000<\/td>7,200\/3,600W<\/td>3,600Wh<\/td><\/tr>
Yeti3000x<\/a><\/td>Above $3,000<\/td>3,500\/2,000W<\/td>3,032Wh<\/td><\/tr>
Lion Safari ME<\/a><\/td>Under $3,000<\/td>4,000\/2,000W<\/td>922Wh<\/td><\/tr>
Yeti1500x<\/a><\/td>Under $2,500<\/td>3,500\/2,000W<\/td>1,516Wh<\/td><\/tr>
EcoFlow River 600<\/a><\/td>Under $500<\/td>1200\/600W<\/td>288Wh<\/td><\/tr>
Jackery Explorer 300<\/a><\/td>Under $500<\/td>400\/200W<\/td>290Wh<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table>
Solar Generator Price Range Comparison<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Recharging Battery Banks<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

As I mentioned previously, solar generators function as battery banks. The main difference is that most battery banks only receive power from an outlet or through a car battery inverter. Meanwhile, solar battery banks can also connect to solar panels to charge<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It is worth keeping in mind that although these devices can use the sun to fill their power stores, doing so can often take longer than using a standard outlet<\/strong>. As an example, the Jackery Explorer power station I listed previously requires only 2.5 hours to fully charge while plugged into a wall outlet, but about 4 hours to charge in full sun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Under ideal conditions, that really isn’t much longer of a wait. However, it’s worth keeping in mind that the conditions may not always be ideal for charging. Clouds, shady areas, and other variables can increase the time it takes for the battery to fully charge.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

How To Recharge Your Battery Bank Using Solar Panels<\/h5>\n\n\n\n

To begin with, make sure you’re familiar with the input limitations on the battery bank you use<\/strong> or plan to use. Not all banks will be able to handle the same number of watts, and trying to connect the device to too many solar panels can become problematic. Having this information on hand can also help you to avoid purchasing more solar panels than you’ll need.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To summarize the below info, you’ll need:<\/p>\n\n\n\n