Camping or backpacking is a great way for many people to get away from the modern world for a few days and truly “live off the land,” so to speak. If you are one of those people, you may wonder about the value of camping electricity. Is that correct? Do you only need a few propane tanks and a few battery-powered lamps? There should be electricity at the campground’s main office, right? Rather than messing around with portable camping electricity, you can always go over there and do what you need to do if you really need a little extra power help.
Many modern gadgets, like digital cameras and laptop computers, use rechargeable batteries that can be used again and again. Some people may also need to bring some lights with them if they want to stay up late each night and read or play games with other campers.
Let’s take a look at some of the portable camping electricity options that you can use. Many of these options can be found on Amazon. We’ll briefly discuss a few of them before going into more detail later in this article.
Camping electricity source
Gas Generators
A gas-powered generator is great for camping because it can make electricity when you’re not connected to the electricity grid. This is a simple way to make electricity, but it is also very noisy. Many gas generators make a lot of fumes when they’re running, which can get into the fresh air outside. This can make the air less clean. Unless you’re camping in a place where there are no other campers nearby, we don’t recommend getting your camping electricity from another source. In addition, gasoline generators can be very expensive.
Thermoelectric Generators
When it comes to efficiency and cost, TEGs, like camping stoves, are not as good as gasoline-powered generators. However, they are better than them in every other way. Using a TEG, temperature changes can be turned into electricity. When you start a fire, you can heat the coals with the heat from the fire. This makes it possible to use these generators even when there is no electricity. Keep in mind, though, that thermoelectric generators are usually a little more expensive than gasoline generators, so keep that in mind.
Pedal Generators
People can also use pedal generators to make electricity, which is another way to get it. A simple one will use bicycle pedals and be small and light enough to take on a camping trip. Besides charging electronics and small appliances, it also has enough power to recharge flashlights or 12-volt car batteries, which can be used to charge them.
It’s because a pedal generator doesn’t store the energy that you pedal to get electricity while camping, you have to pedal to get electricity every time. In addition, portable pedal generators must be attached to a base so that people can pedal for a long time in a comfortable way. Some pedal generators can charge two things at the same time, like a laptop and a tablet computer. They may also be less expensive than other generators, too. Amazon has a lot of pedal generators that cost less than $200.
Small Portable Battery Packs
This is a modern way to power your campsite. These battery packs are small enough to slip into your laptop bag, so you don’t have to carry around a bulky backup battery or rely on your car. If you only need camping electricity to charge a few small gadgets, look no further than these packs of power.
This type of charger has lithium-ion batteries that last a long time. They can power phones, cameras, and tablets for days. It’s important that both entry-level and high-capacity compact portable batteries have USB ports and standard 120-volt electrical outlets so they can be charged. Power is measured in amp-hours (Ah), and 27 Ah is enough to charge some small electronics for several days.
Solar Power
Solar energy is a good thing when it comes to how to get electricity while camping. It’s free, clean, and quiet after you get a solar system. Portable solar panels can be strategically placed around your camp to get the most out of the sun. Batteries are an important part of your solar electricity camping kit because they can store the electricity you make when the sun is out.
Most solar camping setups come with a battery pack that can be taken with you. If you want to go outside, you’ll need a kit that is durable, waterproof, and light. You should have an attachment for your battery pack that lets you recharge it when the sun isn’t shining. This way, you can use the charging system in your car to do it. It may be necessary to use an inverter to charge the power pack safely without causing damage to your car’s battery.
One of the benefits of solar kits is that they are easy to set up and don’t need a lot of maintenance. In addition, they don’t need a lot of attention. If you only need to charge your iPhone or tablet, a low-wattage solar charger like the Anker 21W Dual USB Solar Charger should be enough.
Wind or Water Turbine
They don’t work at night or when the sun isn’t shining. In a dense forest, or on a cloudy day, you might have trouble. Wind turbines and hydroelectric dams make electricity right from the wind or water. These devices usually have a maximum output power of 15W and two 5V USB ports that can be used to charge your phone or other devices. This, like solar power, is also free! If you don’t have water, you can hang the device from a tree and let the wind do the work.
Final thoughts
No matter which camping electricity solution you choose, it’s important that you have a plan. Things to consider include the amount of power you need and whether your chosen device will work in the conditions where you are camping. With a little preparation, getting camping electricity can be easy and worry-free.
