Portable battery recommendations

[VicMackey]

With the every changing technology in batteries, I am having a hard time deciding what to go with. I am looking to spend about a hundred bucks. I keep flip flopping between one of those portable car battery jumpers and a large portable USB battery.

I am leaning toward the car jumper because in an emergency I could actually use it as a jumper and as a USB power source. I am also slightly interested in the Yeti Goal Zero 150, but I think I would rather save a hundred and go with the car jumper.

Any advice here would be appreciated.

Thanks in advance.

 

[john61ct]

What is it you're looking to power? For how long?

The bigger jumper paks will run phones, tablet for a while, not enough for a laptop more than an hour or two.

Most of the units with a built-in charger, inverter, multiple different-voltage outlets are usually grossly overpriced for the actual AH they store.

I'd get the size battery I need (plus plus, be conservative) then the gadgets to suit, then finally a secondhand Hardigg or Pelican case and DIY.

For the high amp, less portable scenario, the ArkPak fits G31.

 

[Kmrtnsn]

I just grabbed a couple of these for the trunk of the car and back of the Jeep. Used one to do five consecutive jumps of a Tahoe battery at work. Got it done every time and still had juice left over. I got both for $69 each.

https://www.harborfreight.com/lithium-ion-jump-starter-and-power-pack-62749.html

 

[VicMackey]

What is it you're looking to power? For how long?

The bigger jumper paks will run phones, tablet for a while, not enough for a laptop more than an hour or two.

Most of the units with a built-in charger, inverter, multiple different-voltage outlets are usually grossly overpriced for the actual AH they store.

I'd get the size battery I need (plus plus, be conservative) then the gadgets to suit, then finally a secondhand Hardigg or Pelican case and DIY.

For the high amp, less portable scenario, the ArkPak fits G31.

Looking to run some LED lights at camp, and the usual recharging of tablets, phones, and rechargeable flashlights. I would like a battery I can recharge from the vehicle while driving. Size is not really a concern since I typically "car camp".

 

[VicMackey]

I just grabbed a couple of these for the trunk of the car and back of the Jeep. Used one to do five consecutive jumps of a Tahoe battery at work. Got it done every time and still had juice left over. I got both for $69 each.

https://www.harborfreight.com/lithium-ion-jump-starter-and-power-pack-62749.html

OK, so it is clearly good at short time/high draw bursts. Is it good at charging tablets and the like?

 

[john61ct]

Very likely the jumper packs you can put in even a big pocket are too small in AH, convenient but expensive to buy multiples.

One advantage of the LiFePO4 paks is they don't need to get charged to full most cycles for longevity like lead.

Just install a "House" bank in the vehicle, skip the fancy box, get a 12V USB brick with lots of ports.

You could also just use your Starter until it dies, then replace with a proper deep cycling one. Use an adjustable LVD cutoff so you don't draw it down too far to crank. Use a jumper pack as a backup for that function, not powering gadgets.

If Lead chemistry, driving won't be enough to fully recharge the bank except when driving all day, so you'll need to plug into grid power to recharge overnight regularly, how many days away at a time?

or get a little jenny and/or solar.

Of course $100 is not enough to do hardly any of this properly, but info to get your education started.

 

[Happy Joe]

As has been said before; determine your power needs first;
For a couple of 450 lumen tent lights and a stereo a 35 Amp-hour, 12 volt, sealed AGM, lead acid battery works pretty well (weekend use) for me, but it is somewhat low capacity/small (not a good/actually a poor, choice for a fridge, IMO)... its biggest advantage is that it is easy to carry from the vehicle to the tent and from the tent to setup for solar recharge (PITA since I like shady camp spots)...
for trips longer than 2-3 days power consumption management becomes increasingly critical due to the small solar panels, unless I elect to fire up the vehicle to recharge (wasteful).
Success/satisfaction when using small batteries & solar comes from regulating consumption, its a limited resource; frustration/dissatisfaction will result from treating/using/wasting it, like power at home.
I actually used a USB power pack to recharge a phone last trip (the music file for the stereo is on the phone) purchased the power pack years ago and found that, for me, it had little (no) utility, until last trip..
When not camping the 35 AH battery powers my computer ups...




There is an modified H/F 80 watt inverter on top and a remote switch, in the white box, controls 2 extra outlets (easier to control the 110 volt LED, same bulbs I use at home, tent lights).

Enjoy!

 

[VicMackey]

As has been said before; determine your power needs first;
For a couple of 450 lumen tent lights and a stereo a 35 Amp-hour, 12 volt, sealed AGM, lead acid battery works pretty well (weekend use) for me, but it is somewhat low capacity/small (not a good/actually a poor, choice for a fridge, IMO)... its biggest advantage is that it is easy to carry from the vehicle to the tent and from the tent to setup for solar recharge (PITA since I like shady camp spots)...
for trips longer than 2-3 days power consumption management becomes increasingly critical due to the small solar panels, unless I elect to fire up the vehicle to recharge (wasteful).
Success/satisfaction when using small batteries & solar comes from regulating consumption, its a limited resource; frustration/dissatisfaction will result from treating/using/wasting it, like power at home.
I actually used a USB power pack to recharge a phone last trip (the music file for the stereo is on the phone) purchased the power pack years ago and found that, for me, it had little (no) utility, until last trip..
When not camping the 35 AH battery powers my computer ups...

View attachment 407720
View attachment 407719

There is an modified H/F 80 watt inverter on top and a remote switch, in the white box, controls 2 extra outlets (easier to control the 110 volt LED, same bulbs I use at home, tent lights).

Enjoy!

Nice set up Joe.

 

[Happy Joe]

Thanx!
...It has evolved over the last several decades (starting with a UPS inverter and 4 8 AH AGM batteries in an ammo can; powering a fluorescent light; the most efficient light before LEDs).


Enjoy!

 

[VicMackey]

******** Joe, I am loving the floor lamp and the overhead swag fixture!

Bringing the comforts of home with you.

 

[Happy Joe]

******** Joe, I am loving the floor lamp and the overhead swag fixture!
Bringing the comforts of home with you.

You should see the solar garden-porch/entry lights...
The floor lamp is collapsible (easier to pack)... all the comforts of home (or as many as I can manage to fit in the Explorer)...

Enjoy!