Power station as only battery

[dannost]

Hi All,

I'm new to the forum. Designing my first teardrop. I was wondering if anyone has used a power station as their only power source.
Thinking about just having 12v and 120v plugs from power station to trailer wiring.
Charge the power station before a trip and plug it in inside the trailer when leaving.
Thoughts?

[tony.latham]

This summer will be my twentieth year of teardropping. All my teardrops have had simple 12 volt systems with nothing wired for 120 volts. I keep a small inverter in the tongue box, but it's been a long time since we've used it. Maybe a decade.

All batteries have a lifespan. When a power station fails, you won't be able to replace it. You'll have to buy a new one. And of course they ain't cheap.

A much cheaper alternative is to buy a Weize 50 amp LiPo ($200 or less), a NOCO charger for it, and forgo the 120 volts. Unless there's something you feel you can't camp without that needs AC.

Plan a solar system into your build and forget the charging issue.



Easy-peasy.

Tony

[bdosborn]

I'm new to the forum. Designing my first teardrop. I was wondering if anyone has used a power station as their only power source.
Thinking about just having 12v and 120v plugs from power station to trailer wiring.
Charge the power station before a trip and plug it in inside the trailer when leaving.
Thoughts?

Nothing wrong with this approach at all. It's probably more expensive than building your own system but definitely a lot less headache if you haven't done that kind of thing before.
Bruce

[TimC]

+1 on Tony's thoughts. A simple 12V system with rechargeable battery is just that, simple. It sounds like you are already providing for a 12V wiring system. Just hook up appropriate fuses and a charger and add solar down the road as either a built in or portable unit that can be plugged in when the sun is shining. Power stations, if you are referring to the same units as "solar generators" are low capacity and high cost but very adaptable/convenient. You can do the same thing, less 120V, for a fraction of the cost and replace system parts easily at low cost. If the 12v outlet or USB outlets or 120v outlets on the power station fail I imagine the cost to repair is also costly.

I included 120v shore power on each of my teardrops. I've never used them. But I tend to boondock and stay away from crowds at campgrounds. When I do end up at a campground with 120V power I still don't use it since my solar does everything I need it to.

[dannost]

Thanks for the comments.
The main reason for considering a power station/solar generator is that I have need for one for work, and would also be nice for home
in case of power outages. My thought was saving the cost of another battery, charger, inverter, converter etc.
A 50ah battery and charger doesn't seem too expensive as you said.
I am going to run a 30qt. fridge though, and don't think 50ah would be enough.

[tony.latham]

Thanks for the comments.
The main reason for considering a power station/solar generator is that I have need for one for work, and would also be nice for home
in case of power outages. My thought was saving the cost of another battery, charger, inverter, converter etc.
A 50ah battery and charger doesn't seem too expensive as you said.
I am going to run a 30qt. fridge though, and don't think 50ah would be enough.

How many useable amps does the box have?

Tony

[TimC]

When I measured my 35 liter Alpicool fridge it used 14 aHr per day. This was during a three day period with 60 degrees at night, mid 70s during the day. YMMV