In the past , portable power stations with a decent battery capacity were quite expensive and too large to be suitable for caravanning , but the last few years have seen incredible development in the technology . Today , you can get a portable power station with a decent battery capacity , very fast recharging options , high-wattage inverters all within a portable , lightweight system .
As an example , we have been testing out an EchoFlow Delta 2 power station as an alternative recharging solution . It has a 1000Wh LiFePO battery and an 1800W inverter . That easily handles our van ’ s 40A battery charger and has enough capacity to power the appliances in our van for between four and six hours , depending on how economical we are with power usage . If we have good sun the next day , it can be recharged with up to 400W of solar using its internal MPPT controller , or we can recharge it from the van ’ s inverter using excess solar .
You don ’ t even need to carry a power board anymore , thanks to the Delta 2 ’ s four 240V power outlets .
If the weather is still ordinary the next day , it can be plugged into a direct 12V feed from the alternator of our Land Cruiser and recharged at around 190W while we go for a day ’ s drive .
The most amazing feature is the size of the Delta 2 . It ’ s smaller than my Yamaha 1000W petrol generator , and at just 9.5kg , it ’ s lighter .
There are other models in the EchoFlow range and , if none of these suit your needs , there are many other brands of portable power stations , so it pays to shop around .
Advantages : Fully self-contained systems . No smelly petrol to carry around and no maintenance required . Multiple recharge options , many very fast and efficient and you can use your existing portable solar panels . Use it at home in the event of a power outage . Virtually silent operation .
Disadvantages : High-capacity models can be expensive and you do need at least a 1000Wh unit to be useful for modern caravans . Even with the fastest charging options , you still have to wait for the unit to recharge once its battery is depleted .
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