CAMPING THE KIWI WAY

When you want that extra backup power for the low-solar days, or as an alternative to onboard solar and batteries for those who do short journeys, then portable power comes to the fore. These devices are charged by plugging in via a 240V wall socket, before you leave home, or at a campground, or a café or library. Some let you recharge via portable solar panels, or via the cigarette lighter while driving.

At the small end of size, capacity and price are backup batteries for phones and other small devices that plug in via USB. They might recharge your phone a few times, and cost between $60 and $200 —more cost generally means more juice. 

At the larger end of portable power are the “power stations” costing from $400 to $8k. What makes a thing a power station is having a three-pin plug socket so you can plug in 240V appliances such as we use at home, such as computers, tablets, modem, a stick mixer, lights, radio, stereo, speakers, bike battery, printer, or a mattress pump. note: Power stations are rarely big enough for appliances that need heat, such as hairdryers or kettles.

How much power do you need? How many days do you need to go between charges? Add up your devices. Check the fine print on the bottom or back of the appliance for its power need, usually in Watts. Some devices, like a fridge, start with a huge gulp of power (a ‘surge’) which can be 2x the normal draw; your device has to be able to accept that surge. 

Choosing your backup power: 

🔹 Battery size (Watt hours (Wh) or Amp hours (Ah or mAh).

🔹 How much power can it deliver (Watts or Amps)?

🔹 How much can it deliver in an initial surge (Watts)?

🔹 How long does it take to recharge?

🔹 How can it be recharged? 

Here are 3 people’s experience.

Rovin 600W

Robyn Warrendass

I have a Rovin 600W portable power station to run my laptop that has two extra screens (3 screens altogether), so it uses more power than a normal laptop. I work from home and in the camper, so the Rovin goes with us.

Lately I have had to use it at home as we have had several all day power outages and having the power station meant I could plug in my laptop, and the wifi, and keep working. This kept me going all day without any problems and recharging doesn’t take too long.

I guess this can be used for many things, but for me it keeps me being able to do my job on and off the road uninterrupted.

It can be charged at the wall or with solar (240W max). It takes just under 2hrs to charge.

Rovin 500W, 50Ah

Gary Stoneley

After 3 years our Rovin 500W, 50Ah portable power supply (from Jaycar) is still going strong. The battery still holds at 100% after being stored for 2 months. Purchased for providing portable power at club events and markets, the power supply can easily run laptops, modems and eftpos machines and a small printer. With 230V AC, 12 volt and usb outlets it’s been invaluable.

Our needs have changed and we now use it with power cuts at home, and to run a spare fridge or a back up for the computers when on the road whether it’s in the car or the caravan. 50Ah of power isn’t a lot but the power is there when you need it and it’s quieter than a generator for those emergency top-ups. Would I recommend having one? Too right I would! It’s on my essential equipment list.

ChargeTech 350W to EcoFlow River 3, 300W

Miriam Richardson

My original Charge Tech power station (below left) was bought 8 years ago from Canada. It was one of the first portable batteries that had a 3-pin-plug outlet. I got it when I first moved into my motorhome full time, as I needed backup power for my laptop. It was 54Ah, could give up to 350W output. It was a really good small size. Its biggest downside was that it took 8hrs+ to recharge — that is a long time sitting in the library making sure no-one else walks off with it. I just checked their website and their newer models still take 4 hours to charge. At 8yrs old, it isn’t holding its charge very well, so it was time to replace it. Behold the EcoRiver 3 (below, middle).

My new power station is a River 3 from Ecoflow 

It is quite big.

River 3

The River 3 is easy to carry

I can use the pone to monitor the power station.

I have gone from 56Ah to 76Ah; 150W output to 300W; 8hr charge to 1hr charge.

It is heavy, at 3.5kg, but small, about the size of 2 loaves of bread, and has a very elegant design and is whisper-quiet.

300W (600W surge; 600W boost) output, 76.8Ah battery. You can use the 3-pin plug (AC), a cigarette lighter plug, a usb-a (x2) or usb-c output.

It only takes 1hr to charge when it is plugged in to the wall or a generator. You can also charge it via your vehicle cigarette lighter (2.8hr) or with solar panels (2.6hr; 30V max, 110W max). They claim the battery will still hold 80% after 10 years. 🏕️