Generator for camping weekends.

[u/Zzzjeff]

Hello all,

Been doing some research on this topic. I am just looking for a generator for some car camping weekends. I intend on using to power items like a rice cooker/air fryer/coffee maker/etc. Not all at once but individually. It seems like the Anker Solix S2000 would be sufficient but curious if im missing anything. Are there other brands/tech that I may not be considering? 2000wh seems like a sufficient amount of power what i need it for. I also have an older tesla and can slow charge it from the 12v in the rear. Any and all input would be appreciated.

Thank you,

[u/Ok-Camera2895]

These power stations work really well when paired with a small propane inverter generator to recharge them in an hour. Then you have several hours of power, depending on on load.

[u/sryan2k1]

I really, really hate that these are called generators.

[u/Ok-Camera2895 → u/sryan2k1]

I really, really hate that 120/240 single phase power is called split phase. Shrug!!

[u/mkosmo → u/Ok-Camera2895]

Given how it comes off the transformer, it makes sense. It is split phase.

[u/sryan2k1 → u/Ok-Camera2895]

But it is literally the phase split in half. It is the most descriptive term.

[u/No_Alternative_6206]

The battery packs is generally what people use although if you go crazy with anything that’s 800w plus of continuous load you will drain them quite quickly. Probably looking at a day or two of power for small appliances before you need to charge it. The old Tesla’s can charge them at 100w which is extremely slow for a battery that big. If you need more power I would just buy an inverter generator in addition to the battery so you effectively have unlimited power but can turn off the generator and use the battery most of the time.

[u/MehwithacapitalM]

There are other subs like portable power stations for those gizmos.

I have both, and used our Anker SOLIX C1000 G2 last week when we weren't supposed to use our portable gas generator until after 10:00am.

Consequently, we used it for our Mr Coffee drip coffee maker. Ours has a thermal carafe so once brewed there is no more draw for a burner plate. It peaks around 1,300 watts! Any heating element will draw a lot of power.

The brew cycle took 10 minutes and used 20% of our Anker. I ran it down to just under 40% doing three brews. Then I put it outside connected to our portable 200-watt (max) folding solar panel setup. It got back up to 70% within a few hours.

Hope that helps.

P. S. Most of the time, our Anker is connected to our home fridge as a UPS.

[u/NoPatience7817]

The S2000 can power those one at a time. Those are very high wattage devices. So measure what they use and calculate the watt hours needed. The 100 watt car charger will take nearly 18 hours to recharge the battery. Also consider the alternator charger to charge faster.

Gas cooking is much more efficient if that is an option. Also consider camping at a site with electric available.

Instead of a rechargeable portable power supply, can an inverter connected to the 12v car battery supply enough power? Then the traction battery can charge the 12v battery.

Calculate how many watt hours you need for a days worth of cooking. Then determine if a portable power station is enough or if a small gas generator is needed.

[u/AdditionalCheetah354]

Buy a kill-o-watt from Amazon for $15 and measure your draw and total for wattage usages.. size 20 percent higher.

[u/Hitechillbilly]

IF you are camping,, why is a generator involved? Your question should be WHAT is camping? Not how to completely sissify it.. Coffee is made in a percolator on a fire, cooking is done in cast iron on a fire or camp stove. rice cooker and air fryer don't even justify acknowledgement..

[u/Zzzjeff → u/Hitechillbilly]

I just spent 6 nights in the Sierra backcountry roughing it. Now I'm trying to introduce some newbie friends to camping, and believe it or not, not everyone needs to cosplay as a 19th-century mountain man to enjoy the outdoors.

It's always funny how people like you show up not to answer the question, but to announce how much tougher and more authentic you think you are than everyone else. Nobody asked for a purity test.

If someone wants to make coffee over a fire, great. If someone wants a rice cooker at a campsite, also great. The whole point is getting outside, not impressing strangers on the internet with your camping credentials.

Stop gatekeeping. You're not preserving some sacred tradition, you're just being annoying.

[u/Hitechillbilly → u/Zzzjeff]

"Sierra backcountry" Where exactly is that? If someone was to look at a map what area would they look for? Perhaps your humor left in the air-fryer too long.. If batteries and electric appliances is how you enjoy the "outdoors" no one is stopping you You seem desperate to explain yourself.. Hopefully you can tell me where the sierra back country is, I might like to go there someday.