Jackery instead of generator

[wldlfnutz]

I was wondering if anyone is using a system like the jackery instead of a generator. If so, how is it in national park campgrounds that don’t have electricity?

[mnsl0818]

We have an Anker F2000 solution (no expansion packs) that works well. We put in a softstart for our A/C & it can run that all night on a charge. To parrot what others have said though figure out what you want to run with it & your overall power needs. Having that will help determine what type of connection you will need (do you need a 15a, 30a or 50a output option), then determine how long you want to run the item(s) so you get something with enough output capacity to drive it (the A/C for us) & have a recharge plan or buy enough expansion packs to cover your needs & recharge plan. It is nice to be able to use the 120v outlets without having to run the inverter which is typically a big drain on the battery bank plus we get to run our A/C when others would have to shut their gas generators off for quiet hours. Lots of vehicles are coming with 120v outlets these days so you have the option to charge it up while driving around or using a solar recharge option. There are pros & cons for whichever "generator" route you go though so as with anything with camping/RVing, find what works/fits best for you & your needs & then just get out there & enjoy!

[qtla9111]

What size is your air conditioner?  Is it a roof air, mini-split or window type unit?

[mnsl0818]

Coleman Mach 8 roof top 13.5k unit. The softstart was needed to keep that initial amp hit low enough to be able to run the A/C with the Anker unit.

[valhalla360]

Per the manufacturer: 2kwh of storage and max output of 1440w (12amp @ 120v) with a price of around $1600 ($2400MSRP).

Must be a small air/con as a basic rooftop unit will draw around 12-15amps @120v when running and need around 3 times that to start.

Also, with only 2kwh of storage, at 12amps, you've only got around 1hr 20min of run time. If it's actually hot, that's your max run time if you run nothing else. If there is only a marginal need for cooling, you might get almost 3hr at a 50% duty cycle.

A much cheaper option is to buy 3 - 100amp-hr 12v lithium batteries. Assuming you limit use to 90% (pulling them below 10% regularly can damage them), you have 3kwh of usable storage. These batteries are running under $200 each. Then get 3000w pure sine wave inverter (probably enough to kick over a full size air/con) for around $200-300...cheaper and 50% more storage...plus you can expand by adding more batteries if you want more than a couple hours of air/con.

If you are worried about the inverter draw when not under load, simply turn it off. Flipping the switch is less effort than dragging out a separate battery box and hooking it up.

So while it can work, it's an expensive option that might work, there are better and cheaper options.

[mnsl0818]

The Anker output is 2400W for 120v with a max of 3600W for 120v surge. The 1440W is the max input wattage for charging not the max output wattage. We ran the A/C all night & the unit lasted 8hrs through the night because the max draw for the A/C was when the compressor was running which cycled based on the temperature in the camper so it wasn't a constant high draw. 

We looked into upgrading the battery bank & inverter as you mention but that requires a bit of wiring changes to support the higher inverter from the factory 1000W inverter as well as connecting it up to run the A/C off the batteries so while it can be cheaper there are these aspects we took into account. The other aspect is that we can use the Anker to power other things not just the RV so that versatility also played a factor in our decision.

[JBarca]

Hi wildfntz,

Your question sounds simple, but it needs to be put into context of what you are trying to do with a Jackery unit.   The Jackery in it's basic form is a portable battery bank.  It is sized to deliver a pre-determined amount of  electricity before it runs out of electricity and then has to be recharged. 

Now enter, how much electricity do you want to deliver over what time period. And how will you recharge back into the Jackery (battery bank) all the power you used and how long does that take with what you have to recharge it with?  In order to sustain the same power use need over time, you have to have equal to, and ideally, greater than, the ability to recharge the Jackery fast enough to not run out of power before the recharge is complete. 

You mentioned camping without electric hook up's.  Some of us call this boondocking, others call it camping off grid, they all mean the same thing, you are getting the electric power you need to camp with from somewhere other then the electric hookup.   Now enter how many hours, days, weeks etc. you want to be off grid.  Here is the issue with a Jackery, or even a battery bank on the camper, how long/how big will the one you buy last?  And how long will it take to recharge it? 

In order to sustain days and days (weeks or months) of being off grid, you have to create a power use plan and recharge plan to be sustainable in all weather conditions you will be camping at.   If you are using a camper, such as a travel trailer, fifth wheel, etc. the Jackery by itself and even some with a small solar panel to recharge is going to have a hard time being sustainable.   The recharge fast enough is the issues and in all weather conditions in which you camp.

If you are tent camping and only need power to recharge cells phones  or other small devices, a Jackery may get you through enough days to meet your needs and then recharge it when you get back home.  This is a very different situation then off gird camping in a camper with lights, water pump, fridge, LP furnace etc. 

I hope this helps explain a little of what you will need to determine if a Jackery will work for you. 

John 

[GarryHarrison4]

many campers use systems like Jackery instead of generators in national park campgrounds without electricity, appreciating their quiet operation, portability, and eco-friendliness.

[valhalla360]

Unless you are buying it for some other non-RV purpose, what advantage is this over just increasing the size of the RV battery bank by an equivalent amount. 

They both still need to be charged by an external source. They still take up space. 

[JDsdogs]

I agree

There really is no production of energy, only the conversion from one form to another and storage. Some forms of conversion have advantages over others. Some are quiet, some are more dependable and some are more consistent.  Each have their advantage and disadvantage.  Choose your poison.  

Safe travels Y'all.  

[valhalla360]

It's just a stand alone battery bank. Not enough to run an aircon, so for an RV,  there is no advantage over simply increasing the size of the onboard battery bank. You still need a power source to fill the battery bank. For light loads, solar I a good option if you have a clear view of the sun.  For heavy loads generator makes sense and for light loads a couple gallons of fuel can last a week or more, charging it couple hours a day. 

Just no scenario where a jackary makes sense just for an rv.

[jimh406]

I've used similar products camping to charge/run small appliances/tvs, and devices.  They are good for running small electronics etc.  Of course, if you got a giant one, it could power everything.

Most can be charged while driving, so you could take it with you to charge it during the day if you will be driving.  If not, you could always have more than one.

[valhalla360]

What are you trying to run? It's just an expensive battery bank. It doesn't generate electricity.