Portable power generators – how to choose?
Are you looking to purchase a portable battery power station, or “battery-powered generator” for camping or use when stopping at a rest area or overnight when mains electricity is not available? Here are a few recommendations based on experiences with portable battery generators.
Your choice of product depends on what you are using it for and how often you plan to use it. There are lots of options out there, but split between battery chemistry options – Lithium-Ion which is 15% lighter, but usually have only a 500 cycle lifespan, and LiFePo (LFP) which although heavier, have up to 6000 cycle lifespan (>10 years). LFP also typically has a wider operating temperature range, and charges faster. If you want to charge using solar and run your AC and DC gear, K2 Battery’s LFP Zion1500 is ideal.
Consideration should also be weight. The Zion1500 comes in at 15kg which is a relatively easy lift and carry. This LFP-battery unit also has a long 6000 cycle life. You can power almost all kitchen and medical appliances with it, and you can use it at home in a power outage, where it will definitely come in handy.
A factor for many is that they must sleep with a CPAP machine (Sleep apnoea pump), so for overnight stops, or even extended stays at a camping area, a CPAP must work and you must still be able to run a water pump, heater, etc. The Zion 1500 makes this possible.
Instead of upgrading your caravan to LFP batteries with a new inverter, new charger, etc., you should consider using an all-in-one approach like the Zion power station. It may be the best “bang for the buck” trade-off, all things considered, especially when coupled with solar capability, giving even more off-grid day capability. It is a different path to upgrading using the existing RV infrastructure. You could upgrade in stages, starting with one Power Station and add a battery later. There is a lot of flexibility in how you can approach your next RV upgrade.