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Power bank to run small electric heater/fan and 60w fridge?

Discussion in 'Recovery & Gear' started by Wahayes, Mar 3, 2021.

  1. Mar 3, 2021 at 11:35 PM
    #1
    Wahayes

    Wahayes [OP] Older I get the wiser I realize my dad was

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    What size power bank do I need to run two items? The heater is like a small desk space heater and the fridge is a car fridge that is 60w. Trying to determine if it makes more sense to do a dual battery setup , or just a portable powerbank that can recharge off the car 12v when it's running. The power bank would need enough juice to run both items around 8 hours while sleeping and camping
     
  2. Mar 3, 2021 at 11:46 PM
    #2
    Doxiedad

    Doxiedad New Member

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    I don't think it will work. A 12V 100Watt heater consumes 8.33 Amps of electricity. So a 30,000 mah powerbank would deplete in 3.5 hours, but most power banks can't put out 100 Watts. This may be a dual battery or small inverter generator kinda setup needed.
     
  3. Mar 4, 2021 at 12:04 AM
    #3
    Wahayes

    Wahayes [OP] Older I get the wiser I realize my dad was

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    I was looking at a ecoflow 600. So that would not work correct? I hate to sound dumb, but you seem like you what you're talking about and all of what you said may as well be Greek to me. Lol:anonymous:
     
  4. Mar 4, 2021 at 12:58 AM
    #4
    Kayaking Tundra

    Kayaking Tundra New Member

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    Look into the goal zero battery generators. I have one that I hook up a 500w heater to.
    I also run it with another battery hooked up for more juice
     
  5. Mar 4, 2021 at 12:58 AM
    #5
    Doxiedad

    Doxiedad New Member

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    Sorry, It's late and I was using small packs as an example. Let me look at this ecoflow 600
     
  6. Mar 4, 2021 at 1:06 AM
    #6
    Doxiedad

    Doxiedad New Member

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    Ok so I was about right. The heater will be what kills it. at lowest setting they still take up 100 Watts. So according to their website a 1000W appliance will drain it in .4 hours. so 100W should last about 4 hours before it's dead. The Fridge will probably be better but not by much.

    upload_2021-3-4_4-6-14.jpg

    upload_2021-3-4_4-4-13.jpg
     
  7. Mar 4, 2021 at 4:42 AM
    #7
    ezdog

    ezdog New Member

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    Most campers use Propane for heat as the heater just needs more power than portable options can easily provide.

    There are 12vdc Fridges though that are designed for low current draw use that will be able to be battery powered if you look around.
     
    Wahayes[OP] likes this.
  8. Mar 4, 2021 at 5:14 AM
    #8
    smslavin

    smslavin Behind a lens...

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    Some stuff
    jackery is another option. renogy also offers power stations.
     
  9. Mar 4, 2021 at 5:38 AM
    #9
    Wahayes

    Wahayes [OP] Older I get the wiser I realize my dad was

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    The fridge I'm looking at is a 12v car charger type .
     
  10. Mar 4, 2021 at 5:45 AM
    #10
    ezdog

    ezdog New Member

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    OK but this is not Rocket Surgery.

    You need to know the current draw at 12vdc of the things you want to run and then just see if your hoped battery pack will sustain that current for the time you need.

    I am saying that I dont think it will,these things just require more power than most portable packs can supply.

    Try looking at an Tiny RV Forum anywhere where this gets talked about all the time and you will see a lot more info for sure.

    Everyone wants to be able to run what they want the cheapest and most convenient way possible but making usable heat simply takes a lot of power.
    Likewise making Cold and keeping it cold takes some decent power too.

    This is why Propane and Ice are so popular for the smaller or more easily self contained jobs for doing these things.
     
  11. Mar 4, 2021 at 5:51 AM
    #11
    Wahayes

    Wahayes [OP] Older I get the wiser I realize my dad was

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    Yea the more I read about it the more I'm thinking dual battery would be the way to go. The heater is not a huge issue as I have a buddy heater I can use, but I don't like using it due to the carbon monoxide potential and the fire hazard potential its knocked over etc. May not seem like rocket surgery to you but it is to me. I have never understood electricity to any kind of intelligent degree.
     
  12. Mar 4, 2021 at 5:55 AM
    #12
    ezdog

    ezdog New Member

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    I get it believe me but really just getting the info and adding up the loads is pretty simple in the end.
    The current requirements is always on a label on the device.

    I also understand that you want what you want and like we all do some things are just not practical without spending a lot of money which also is often not practical!

    I usually prefer the giant sleeping bag method and a Yeti style cooler and these have worked overnight for me in a lot of harsh cold weather for a long time.
     
    Wahayes[QUOTED][OP] likes this.
  13. Mar 4, 2021 at 5:58 AM
    #13
    Wahayes

    Wahayes [OP] Older I get the wiser I realize my dad was

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    Yea that may be the way I need to go.
     
  14. Mar 4, 2021 at 6:17 AM
    #14
    ShreveportTSS

    ShreveportTSS Huh?

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    I recently added a Fridge to the GX build and decided to go with a 500w solar generator setup. I chose the Bluetti AC50S with a 100w solar panel for my first attempt over a dual battery setup. A dual battery setup done properly can run upwards of $1k once you add the solar panels into the mix and offer no portability.
    Trying to power an electric heating element long term is going to be tough.
    Cycling a battery below 50% greatly affects it's lifespan.
    With a solar generator you can charge the unit while driving (power fridge and charge or maintain battery), plug in the solar panels while stationary (also powers fridge and maintains battery), and only draw the unit down at night therefore not depleting the battery below that 50% mark. Without recharge, the Bluetti will run the fridge 40-48 hours until it shuts down but that will kill the battery life. It is rated at 1000 cycles before loosing 20% capacity.
     
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  15. Mar 4, 2021 at 7:04 AM
    #15
    smslavin

    smslavin Behind a lens...

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    the simplest most cost effective setup is a generator (goal zero/jackery/renogy) with a suitcase solar panel. options...

    https://www.goalzero.com/shop/kits/goal-zero-yeti-500x-portable-power-station-boulder-50-solar-kit/

    https://www.jackery.com/pages/solar-generator

    https://www.renogy.com/the-lycan-powerbox-with-suitcases-solar-power-generator/

    prices vary based on how much power you need and how many panels you add. the yeti 500 will power a small fridge for days. overnight will not be an issue. as others have mentioned, the heater will be your biggest power suck.

    the next step in complexity will be a dual battery system in your truck. running the fridge overnight shouldn't be a problem. however, you will need to run the truck to charge the secondary battery.

    moving up, a dual battery system with solar panels and a mppt controller. the panels charge your secondary battery while the truck is off. no issues running your fridge but i wouldn't run the heater all night long.

    up one more, a dual battery system with solar panels and mppt along with a lithium ion phosphate 'house' battery. this is what i have in my truck. secondary battery under the hood runs secondary electronics such as the HAM radio. house battery (170Ah) runs fridge, camp lights and inverter. the mppt controller is a dc-dc version that allows for the truck to charge the house battery while running as well as solar charging the secondary battery under the hood.

    for your needs, i'd take a serious look at one of the jackery options. they are a honda spin off and the gear is solid.
     
    des2mtn and Wahayes[OP] like this.
  16. Mar 5, 2021 at 7:30 AM
    #16
    des2mtn

    des2mtn Third Member

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    Does it also have an adapter for 110v? I will plug my fridge to 110v a day or two before leaving to get everything cold then switch over to 12v truck power when I leave.
     
  17. Mar 5, 2021 at 7:41 AM
    #17
    Wahayes

    Wahayes [OP] Older I get the wiser I realize my dad was

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    Yes it has both
     
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  18. Mar 5, 2021 at 7:49 AM
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    abomb60

    abomb60 Maker of things

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    Before I built my current aux battery & solar system I ran a Goal Zero Yeti 400 lithium to power the fridge and other DC stuff and it worked great. Got a rubbermaid container and used it as a battery box. Had it rigged up to DC to charge when the truck was on as well as solar and AC when I was home.

    Did some testing and I was able to run my Dometic CFX28 for 3-4 days during the summer ... this was all under a hard tonneau cover so it got hot back there. The DC heater is what is going to suck power. Have you looked at other options like diesel heaters? I have one of the fully contained ones (like this ... https://www.amazon.com/IMAYCC-Diese...&keywords=diesel+heater&qid=1614959233&sr=8-3) and my plan is to leave it outside the truck with the heater hose and controls pulled into the bed area. Nice part is I can also use it in a tent the same way. It does drain a bit of power at the beginning when the glow plug runs but after that it is only running the fan and fuel pump.
     
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  19. Mar 5, 2021 at 7:52 AM
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    Wahayes

    Wahayes [OP] Older I get the wiser I realize my dad was

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    Yea i ditched the heater idea. I have a buddy heater I can use. That would be the perfect setup for me as you described. My fridge will be in the pass back seat area so it will have the cab insulation. That will likely be what I go with
     
  20. Mar 5, 2021 at 7:55 AM
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    des2mtn

    des2mtn Third Member

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    Nice. Down the line I would like to do a dual-battery but I am currently doing what @smslavin described, using a 500w Jackery with a 100w foldable solar panel. I get amazing results dry camping with this setup. If I need ambient heat I will use myheater buddy as that's more efficient than an electric ceramic heater.

    I also like the goal zero yeti brand or whatever it's called.
     
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  21. Mar 5, 2021 at 7:59 AM
    #21
    abomb60

    abomb60 Maker of things

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    Yeah that is a decent setup and if you do go dual battery later you still have the Jackery to use around camp or wherever. When I had a similar setup I wired an always on dc socket in the bed so it could charge my Yeti 400. The Yeti 400 DC charger was smart enough to only pull power when it saw over 13v so it wouldn't kill the starting battery while the truck was off.
     
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  22. Mar 5, 2021 at 8:11 AM
    #22
    Maxtor

    Maxtor New Member

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    Battery power stations are becoming much more popular but are still expensive. Lots of optoins available now and many of them are capable of being added on to. I went with the Jackery 1000w after a lot of research. Comes with cables to charge it via the solar panels, your car, or plug in. Also can be used while its charging which some don't offer and its very portable at around 20lbs. The solar panels (2x 100w) are also a nice option and fully recharge the unit in about 8 hours of good sun. It actually delivers to 1000w pure sine wave output... some advertise what the inverter is capable of instead of what the the system actually delivers.
     
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