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Looking for good solar powered generator

Discussion in 'General 4Runner Talk' started by T4R_Jes, Sep 18, 2024.

  1. Sep 18, 2024 at 1:19 PM
    #1
    T4R_Jes

    T4R_Jes [OP] New Member

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    Hello!

    We are going camping this weekend and it is going to be pretty cold at night. My bff has a 6 month old baby and is concerned about keeping her warm enough at night.

    Looking for a reliable, but halfway inexpensive solar generator or power bank that could support a small space heater at night. She is concerned about using a heater that uses propane, so this would be our only other option.

    Thanks in advance for the suggestions!
     
  2. Sep 18, 2024 at 1:26 PM
    #2
    Spare Parts

    Spare Parts New Member

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    With only a few days till you go, your best bet is to start hitting local stores and see what options you have. Honestly, I wouldn’t take a baby if I was concerned about cold, that being said my kids camped when they were very little, but it was summer months.
     
    T4R_Jes[OP] likes this.
  3. Sep 18, 2024 at 1:27 PM
    #3
    Grandpawmoses

    Grandpawmoses Dirty Old Man

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    Electric heaters require a lot of amps, keep that in mind while you look.
     
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  4. Sep 18, 2024 at 1:48 PM
    #4
    Pavo

    Pavo New Member

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    Jackery 1,000 with 200 watt solar panel at minimum for a 2 or 3 day trip but will power your 12 volt fridge
     
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  5. Sep 18, 2024 at 2:01 PM
    #5
    Acesandeights

    Acesandeights #34

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    I have a Dometic, but any of the brands do the same thing.
     
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  6. Sep 18, 2024 at 2:13 PM
    #6
    Spare Parts

    Spare Parts New Member

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    I am very happy with my eco flow, had it for over 3 years now. Their solar panel works, but I added a harbor freight one and now I can charge my battery pack easily most days with moderate sun up here in New England.
     
    T4R_Jes[OP] likes this.
  7. Sep 18, 2024 at 5:22 PM
    #7
    T4R_Jes

    T4R_Jes [OP] New Member

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    Thank you all for the recommendations! Weather won’t be super cold but she’s a new mom and this is their first camping trip so she’s a little anxious about it. Just want everyone to be comfortable so figured I’d see what options are out there and knew this forum wouldn’t disappoint
     
  8. Sep 18, 2024 at 6:49 PM
    #8
    Acesandeights

    Acesandeights #34

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    Children can't regulate body temp as adults do, so it's a valid concern.
     
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  9. Sep 18, 2024 at 7:51 PM
    #9
    icebear

    icebear Recovered Kia Owner

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    My idea is an electric blanket rather than a heater - area electric heat (even something more efficient like a heat pump) is very power intensive.

    Not that it's very different than propane but I hear diesel heaters are popular but the concerns are probably the same there.

    You could try to look for a small space heater but most off-the-shelf will probably try to use the full 1500W available to them from a typical outlet which rules out most man-portable batteries.

    Then it's a matter of figuring out how many watts it uses and comparing that to a given battery pack and how long you want to be able to run it.

    If car camping, I'd consider running the engine and have a CO alarm but that has it's own obvious cost. (would be much better in a hybrid)
     
    Captain Spalding and T4R_Jes[OP] like this.
  10. Oct 1, 2024 at 8:01 AM
    #10
    cuse93

    cuse93 New Member

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    Any electric space heater is going to draw at least a few hundred watts to run.... probably 500w. Most are 1000-1500w. Make sure you do the math of consumption vs. battery capacity. It's highly unlikely that there is any realistic workable scenario.
     
  11. Oct 1, 2024 at 9:02 AM
    #11
    Imdav2u

    Imdav2u New Member

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    I live in the most hated state in America
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    I used a Wen 2500 watt generator, super quiet and only weighs 52 lbs with a full tank.
     
  12. Oct 1, 2024 at 10:17 AM
    #12
    Ironguy

    Ironguy New Member

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  13. Oct 1, 2024 at 10:22 AM
    #13
    Spare Parts

    Spare Parts New Member

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    How did the camp trip go? What did you end up doing?
     

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