I’m considering getting a power station for use with my rooftop tent on my Forester. I need it for charging a tablet, small accessories, a fan or heater, two phones, and possibly a CPAP machine. What do you recommend and do you think it’s worth investing in?
Many people are using EcoFlow these days. I’ve had a Jackery for several years and it’s been fantastic.
Fin said:
Many people are using EcoFlow these days. I’ve had a Jackery for several years and it’s been fantastic.
I was considering a Jackery, and I noticed Costco has a great deal on one right now.
@Paz
You might not need a large one if you’re not powering many devices or staying for an extended period. I use my Jackery for regular trips and even powered my fridge during a blackout without draining the battery.
@Paz
I regret buying the Jackery 1000 due to its slow recharge rate and the batteries aren’t the safest type, but otherwise, it’s been reliable.
@Paz
If you need to use a CPAP machine, you’ll need more capacity. My machine uses about 350 watts continuously, so for an 8-hour night, you’d need at least 2800 watt-hours. This unit only offers 2000 watt-hours.
Fin said:
Many people are using EcoFlow these days. I’ve had a Jackery for several years and it’s been fantastic.
Has anyone tried using non-Jackery brand solar panels with it? I tried a different brand once and it caused the charge level to drop to 0%, which was concerning.
@Hart
I tried my Renogy and Bluetti panels with a new Jackery unit and neither worked. Ended up buying Jackery’s own panels which worked well, but it was disappointing.
Fin said:
Many people are using EcoFlow these days. I’ve had a Jackery for several years and it’s been fantastic.
I have the Jackery 300, and it’s more than enough for all my needs during a weekend trip.
I use a Bluetti for major needs and built a DIY system for regular needs like the fridge and lights. The Bluetti is paired with deployable solar panels for extra power.
Blake said:
I use a Bluetti for major needs and built a DIY system for regular needs like the fridge and lights. The Bluetti is paired with deployable solar panels for extra power.
The Bluetti AC180 is excellent. It’s versatile enough to power house essentials during emergencies like a sump pump during a hurricane.
When investing in a power station, go for the latest technology like LiFePo batteries. They’re more efficient and have a longer lifespan.
I don’t use any power station when camping.
Thorne said:
I don’t use any power station when camping.
I fully charge my phone and then turn it off to conserve power while camping.
Thorne said:
I don’t use any power station when camping.
I fully charge my phone and then turn it off to conserve power while camping.
And how would you run a CPAP machine with just that? Please read the entire post before commenting.
@Wren
You’re right, I missed that part. Thanks for pointing it out.
@Wren
No one is criticizing anyone for needing a CPAP. We’re just sharing our personal experiences with power usage while camping.
Thorne said:
I don’t use any power station when camping.
I would love to camp without needing a power station.
Thorne said:
I don’t use any power station when camping.
I would love to camp without needing a power station.
It might be worth trying. Not having to rely on electronic devices could simplify things quite a bit.
@Thorne
Unfortunately, I need one for my CPAP machine.