Newbie question about dry camping

[cwaweeks]

We have a new pop up camper that we mostly camp in established parks with hookups. We have an upcoming trip next month that will have no hookups at all. My question is: will electrical outlets run on the battery? We will need to run a CPAP machine, cell phone chargers and fans without having it hooked up to an external source.

I will not have the ability to buy a generator or battery charger before this event. Any tips, tricks or ideas are welcome.

[bikendan]

2oldman wrote:

Son of Norway wrote:
. Get a Tailgater from Harbor Freight. On sale now for $89.

So you're *that guy*.

x2!:E

[Grit_dog]

catkins wrote:
Most RV ACs will only cool down 10-15 degrees below the outside temperature. Dry camping in a Pop-up in 110 degrees does not seem safe. Hopefully the originally poster will reconsider their plan..........

To a wet sider it may seem unsafe but it’s all what your body is acclimated to. We used to tent camp in AZ in the summer. 100+ during the day 70s and 80s at night....usually. The desert cools down fast after sundown.
But yes it could be unhealthy if a person is not healthy and acclimated.

[BarabooBob]

Earlier this month (June 2018) we camped along the coast in NC> Daytime temp close to 100. We luckily had electrical hookup and ran our a/c all day. The indoor temp was about 75 degrees. I was a 16' Bh model so not all that big.

Two years ago we also camped in PaPahrump, NV in June. During the day it ws 110 degrees and at night it got down to a chilly 80 degrees. We slept very well with a small fan running because our Toiyota RV did not have a/c.

[catkins]

Most RV ACs will only cool down 10-15 degrees below the outside temperature. Dry camping in a Pop-up in 110 degrees does not seem safe. Hopefully the originally poster will reconsider their plan..........

[zcookiemonstar]

If you have to camp in those conditions without experience go rent a camper with a built in generator and large enough battery bank so you can run a/c all day and your cpap all night or as some one else said get a hotel room.

[doxiemom11]

I wouldn't stay in that kind of heat without air conditioning. Could be downright dangerous for your health.

[2oldman]

catkins wrote:
Wow, good luck but I am skeptical of your comfort, health and happiness in attempting what you have described. Be safe!

x2

I just came from 100+ temps every day in Pahrump NV. Even with air running all day, it was mid-80s to 90 inside. To me that's brutal. Not enjoyable at all. Unhealthy, even deadly sans air conditioning.

[catkins]

NO- you will have no power to your electrical outlets from the battery. I am a CPap user and have a 12v adapter that can connect to a battery or can be plugged into a 12v outlet. You will need some way to recharge your battery if staying for more than one night. You cannot use your humidifier on your Cpap while using 12 V.

We boondock long term but have a solar system and four deep cell AGM batteries. Be aware that you cannot deplete your battery more than 50% without doing long term damage. A small portable solar panel might help you recharge the pop up battery.

110 degree heat would be a NO GO for me. You will have little relief from the heat and even a fan moving hot air does not help much. You could buy a small inverter to charge the phones but again, need a way to recharge your PUP battery.

Wow, good luck but I am skeptical of your comfort, health and happiness in attempting what you have described. Be safe!

[2oldman]

Son of Norway wrote:
. Get a Tailgater from Harbor Freight. On sale now for $89.

So you're *that guy*.

[Ralph_Cramden]

Son of Norway wrote:
You will need some way to recharge. Get a Tailgater from Harbor Freight. On sale now for $89.

That's a great idea........unless you just so happen to be camping within about 5 1/2 miles of the person doing the charging LOL. I have CSX freight trains over the hill from my house that are quieter than one of those $89 Freight Harbor noise and fume generators.

[wa8yxm]

On a PUP (PopUP) the question "Will the electrical outlets run on battery" is NO. they will not. I know of no PUP with an inverter
Converter: converts 120vac to 12vdc battery charge voltage (really 13.6 to 14.6)
INVERTER does the inverse, battery back to 120vac.

Solution is Amazon.com or equivalent.

I picked one I have read a lot about. it connectrs DIRECT to teh battery and is a TRUE sine wave. they had others cheaper but they were plug in.

NOTE: you may need more battery as well. this is a 300 watt unit. I don not knwo the requrirements of yoru C-PAP but when you read the wattage.. That is roughly the number of amp horus needed to power that.

With REAL DEEP CYCLE batteries you need 2x that many amp hors
With MARINE/DeepCycle) 4-6 times the amp horus.

Ie If it takes 100 watts you need 200 amp horus of DEEP CYCLE (A pair of GC-2)
OR 300 (minumum) of MARINE/Deep cycle (3 group 29s would do it)

[Grit_dog]

^ Agreed. If you have air circulation, a wet towel makes a good ad hoc swamp cooler.

[Deb_and_Ed_M]

I agree with the others - 110 degrees in a popup without 110v power would be miserable at best; and potentially unsafe if you're not used to those temps. If there's a function that you wish to attend that weekend - get a hotel

If you MUST do this (I can't address how you can run a CPAP without 110v): eons ago, I did camp in Page AZ in 105 temps in a popup. Before going to bed, I showered, dried off with a large beach towel; then used that dampish towel as my "blanket". As the water evaporates, it cools. I was able to sleep quite comfortably that night (by the time the towel had dried, the night temps had dropped)

[time2roll]

Change your trip to October at least. At 110 I am looking for hookups only. I am not running a generator 24/7 either.

You need a second battery to camp off-grid and a method to recharge. I recommend 200+ watts solar. USB charging from the 12v connector is a slam dunk. A small 300 watt sine wave inverter should power the CPAP. LED lights will go a long way on conservation.