Dual Battery vs Power Station - which options is best for your overlanding/car camping needs?

[@Spessforce]

For the majority of people with vehicles, the challenges of integrating a DIY dual battery setup makes a portable power station far more appealing, even with its downsides.

[@stanb990]

Hooking up a second battery is stump dumb easy.

[@Lordoftheflatbush]

Switched to a power station several years ago and never regretted this step.

[@mariodasilva8729]

Thanks so much for this comparison, which fit my thoughts exactly! I'm not a camper but I have had many power outages before the power company laid thicker cables in my housing estate. To avoid requiring certification by the electrical company, my solution was to have two car 12v 65A batteries in parallel with a battery isolator as offline, same as dual batteries in cars. They are constantly being charged by 2 100A solar panels in parallel at the window glass. As I'm on the top floor of my block it gets all the morning sun. This 12v 1000W inverter gave me 2xAC and 2xUSB for just under 3 hours for my fridge or six hours of fan at low speed. This is all off grid and AC cable runs are used when needed. Now because this all worked nicely and cheaply, I'm thinking of 2 more batterIes to a quad system in the same setup with an isolator and batteryclamps on wheels and I would have two similar sets that could be joined up in parallel as needs arise, OR moved into another part of the house to power something else with another inverter! I like your Bluetooth link to the batteries! Desktop Computers? I have two 24v UPS 1500w for those blackouts, or laptops if longer use is required. Thanks for thinking out of the box. I decided to not go for all in ones.

[@pamthompson7059]

I love my Ecoflow Delta, it can recharge with 110 w from 0 to 80% in 1 hour, full charge in 2 hours. Usually can keep charged off my 400 w solar panel on my roof, 4-6 hours while driving charges it is totally. Has kept me covered for 5 months camping cross country. Haven't tried the 12v charge off the car.

[@koltrasten]

I had to return my EcoFlow River Max twice, once it just died on me while charging, no reason and EcoFlow couldn't say why it died and the second time it died due to overheating. I was charging in my livingroom 23 degrees celsius and I was using the slow charge setting. Hopefully I just got 2 sketchy units and had bad luck, nevertheless I cant really trust the brand anymore, which is sad because I really loved the app and the display.

[@zmann324]

I'm looking at the delta max and delta generator for my upcoming smittybilt scout build

[@dc4ou]

I have the EcoFlow River Pro with extra battery. I love it. 80% charge in 1 hour. It will even run my Kuereg. Best portable battery.

[@theMekanik]

I like EcoFlow too but I wish they would change the battery kemistry to LFP….. I like the Delta Max 2000 watt. It’s the sweet spot for portability.

[@CraigG21]

I just bought the EcoFlow Delta Max and Wave A/C combo. Looking to get a DC to AC inverter so I can plug in the Delta Max to charge at a much higher rate (800W) while driving.

[@tomfrengillo]

My two cents: I went with a portable system for our teardrop camper, and opted out of the battery approach. My reasoning was: Simple. Flexible. Portable. It’s a self contained system, and doesn’t need an inverter, Solar controller, etc. If there are issues, it’s not behind a wall or a hood. Also, if my rig changes, I can bring my solution along for whatever we get next. It’s also portable. We have used our Jackery and Bluetti in our rooftop tent, our ground tent, and now our teardrop. We’ve brought them with us when renting a Class B Van. AND if we use them in our house to backup our fridge, or when working remote bring it along. Some considerations after a year: make sure you can charge while driving. Either through cigarette lighter or your rigs inverter if you have one. Our Tacoma has an inverter. However our best decision was to prewire our teardrop so we could charge the power station through the 7pin connection while driving. Allows us to leave the station in the teardrop. Another thing is considering buying one or two smaller units if charge time is a concern; simply the 300W units can charge in 2-3 hours and a solar panel is all you need. We do this with our fridge. We don’t bring home appliances with us so the inverter needs have less importance. We use a Jackery 1000 and Bluetti A50S. Been looking for a 300W station to round it out, but that’s probably overkill to be honest. Our solutions works well for 2-5 day trips (most of the time). If during sunny spring - fall weather, have had no issues keeping units topped up with solar panels, even when using with our diesel heater and fridge. I feel like this system is cost effective and maybe even cheaper when looking at the complexity of install, additional hardware and battery costs and all the flexibility with multi-use.

[@tomfrengillo]

I will add a bias that I don’t like wiring anything. And I don’t have a heavy load of vehicle auxiliary electric requirements, where a dual battery system may make a ton of sense.

[@GetOutSmore]

@@tomfrengillo I just got a teardrop and it came with an AGM battery and a basic 1500 watt inverter. I have a 600 Watt portable battery station. I’m trying to figure a way to cool the teardrop without shore power. What do you do when you need to cool it down with your setup?

[@tomfrengillo]

@@GetOutSmore we have a Maxx Fan that runs off 12V, so the portable station is fine with it. “Cooling down” for us consists of using an awning for shade, trying to stay by a river and taking advantage of normally cool nights at higher altitudes in Colorado. I’ve seen some bring a pop up canopy that they park under if they can’t find shade. I’ve also seen a few videos of portable 12V AC units as well. Plenty of KZbin videos with ideas on the topic.

[@Ooleteq]

Agreed. I'm in the middle of setting up a Vtoman 1000 jump into our camper. My 2 main reasons were... 1) I don't want to leave that much money in equipment and that much of a summer heat related fire risk in the camper 24/7 since it's permanently mounted on the truck. Lithium batteries can and do swell in heat and the fire isn't easy to extinguish 2) I like the idea of it living in the house 90%+ of it's life since the power at home does goes out sometimes and spoiled food sounds expensive, especially these's days I should also add that the model I bought can be used to jump the truck in a pinch

[@robsouthoz]

Great to see someone cover this so well. Something that isn't taken into account often is the effort and cost of all the parts required for an installed setup - really if you take into account everything (decent gauge wires, inverter, dc-dc charger, battery box(es), terminals, fuses etc etc) I think you'll find installed cost is a lot higher than you think - even before labour. Given the space and weight it takes, you really need a huge power draw to justify it over the larger portable options in my view.

[@OzarkOverlandAdventures]

My numbers were full installed costs based on what I spent to install mine.

[@ErvigHenry]

Thank you for sharing your insights! You bring up valid points about the additional parts and costs involved in an installed setup. And you're right, sometimes a portable power option like the Segway Portable PowerStation Cube Series can be a great alternative. It's compact, powerful, and has a fast recharge time. Plus, it offers multiple output ports and comprehensive protection features. Definitely worth considering for efficient and hassle-free power on your outdoor adventures!

[@Johnno1979]

I have a new ranger coming and will be going a power station instead of a dual battery this time. having having the charger, inverter, inputs, outputs, meters etc all in a single compact and removable box makes a lot more sense for my use. Being able to remove it and use when camping, carvaning, use it as a backup at home is incredibly flexible. Power stations have come down a lot and it is actually cheaper than a dual battery system. If you were non stop touring for months a dual battery is the way to go, otherwise i think most people would be better served by a power station if you are starting from scratch.

[@ayechapin1]

Everybody's needs are different and everyone's set ups are unique... thanks for the info

[@murda2999]

A pretty fair and balanced review of these different systems. Well done!

[@Bolthole_Studios]

Good video, thanks for covering this. I now disagree that a power station can’t run a whole rig set up. My Bluetti powers both my AC and DC distribution panels and I still have the option to easily unplug and take it to my other rig or for emergency power for my house. A lot has changed and come down in cost from a year ago when you shot this. Still great info, but an update video would be very useful for people just starting out. Drive fast and take chances!

[@willdrivesu7914]

I have to say, I love your setup there...and the fact that it's so simple to wire up....everyone else I see with these systems look like they're opening a hatch on the space shuttle when you look at them.

[@DualsPortvet]

No kidding! I'm trying to figure out how to do my setup and it seems everyone has his or her opinion, but non are the same. You can definitely tell some are over kill, but I can't tell which ones are crap. I'm really suprised that there's not more video's from the manufactures like Redarc on how to and what's needed. I'm not wanting "overkill", but redundancy. It's a fine line.

[@stinkykd1]

Very informative! Love to see the pros/cons. Im pretty bought into Goal Zero. They are the OG but have been resting on laurels. Pulling trigger on 1500x and two 300 watt Ranger panels. I like the idea of adding a "link" to expand to more batteries for the house while tied into my grid with the integration kit. Your set up looks great!

[@aprilwine132]

I enjoy your videos very much. . I have a small home built 5x8’ over-landing trailer i pull behind my 2.3 turbo two door JL. . I put in the trailer two 200ah Li Time LIFEPO4 batteries with a 3000watt pure sine inverter with two 250watt solar panels on top with a MPPT 60amp charge controller at $155. Total cost was $1800 for the entire system . Batteries $500 each. Budget inverter that has worked VERY well for $400. Used panels for $60 each I have charged my friends’ power stations with it while on the trails. People get a kick out of that. I have gone all electric unless I will be gone for several days then i bring a propane on demand gas shower/ water heater. We use electric blankets, microwave, induction hot plate even an electric space heater that is used for 5-10 min at a time while getting dressed in the morning. When in camp we can plug an extension cord into one of exterior pugs and run the camp. I have pulled it more than a 2000 miles off road throughout Idaho Washington and Oregon. Never failed me. Planning a trip to the arctic circle , Canadian Northern Territory next July. Want to go???! The electric installation was easy. EVERYTHING is on KZbin. While portable power stations certainly have their place i haven’t found it in my situation.

[@IdontspeakBro.]

I have 400ah of lithium. 3000w inverter and 500 watt of solar. The idea of building that into a portable concept like this makes me moist.

[@williamroy1772]

@@IdontspeakBro. That sounds like a sweet and pricey set-up.

[@ricklavis5292]

I have had a dual battery setup in my truck camper for 26 years with upgrades along the way. But in my new van I went with a Bluetti 200 max power station. Gives a cleaner look inside the van than all the separate pieces and is 2048WH and 2200 watt inverter. I run my fridge from the 12 volt cigarette plug and my lights from one of the 5521 outlets. On a really rough road I run the fridge from one of the ac outlets. It has a 30 amp 12 volt outlet that I can wire to a fuse block if I want to hard wire various devices. It has 4 ac outlets and multiple usb and barrel connector outlets plus two wireless phone charging pads on top. You can add an additional battery from Bluetti but at a prohibitive cost. Both systems work great and the cost was about the same. So it probably comes down to personal preference and ease of setup.

[@herblapp6134]

I designed and built an 800 watt solar panel system that feeds 4 - 6V deep cycle flooded batteries in my enclosed cargo trailer converted to a one-man rv. I did it because l wanted to and started 2-1/2 yrs ago. The portable bricks were barely available probably because Li cells were so expensive. With the price drop and large competition brick prices have dropped to $1.00/watt. If this were the situation the same today and knowing my experience, I'd opt for portable. Too convenient and flexible. I had to go with deep cycle batteries because l couldn't afford Lithium's first cost.

[@kurtburkhardt5862]

They each have specific advantages. We have both and they do complement each other. Redarc 1225, 200 watts solar, Optima blue top AGM. EcoFlow 1300 Delta. Particularly, on cloudy days or when we are at camp more than 2 days.

[@chrismak4859]

Running a 60W rigid panel on the roof of my Tundra shell directly to a Jackery 240 to my Dometic CFX. Works great, no controller needed, and as long as it’s sunny I can run 24/7 with zero issues. May go with a bigger Jackery eventually, but for now It’s been perfect.

[@baneverything5580]

Consider a unit with LiFePo4 batteries with 2000-3500 charge cycles vs the 500-900 with Jackery. Although Jackery is very well made with great customer service. They need to get with the times and upgrade their units.

[@chrismak4859]

@@baneverything5580 overkill for me for one fridge, but maybe if I need more power for added equipment. Thanks for the suggestion. Cheers!

[@baneverything5580]

@@chrismak4859 I got two Bluetti EB70 700 watt LiFePo4 battery units as emergency backup power for my two 5 cubic ft AC freezers. I used the stimulus checks. I`m on SSI in hurricane country and can`t afford to use a car and wanted to esure I have electricity far into the future in case something happens. There`s no guarantee I`ll always get the small check I receive now. Plus we got hit back to back by hurricanes Laura and Delta in 2020 and several near misses since. I bought a Golabs 300 watt too with LiFePo4 battery. It`s rated at 2000 charges to 80% remaining capacity and the EB70s are rated at 2500 charges to 80%. Hopefully they hold up. I shopped for great deals and got 8 more lithium ion power stations for other things and storage. Two are 500 watts and cost 250 each and can run my dorm fridge and the others are 300 watt deals I found for 100 each back when the market was compeditive and companies were letting them go cheap to build good reviews. But I`ll have guaranteed electricity now. Thank God! I have to take prepping very seriously because my life deends on it.

[@lightforyoureyes]

Hey man, just starting on my electric journey and learning how to be self sufficient in supplying power for all my needs. I live out of my santa fe and every litte bit helps! I appreciate you sharing the knowledge keep it up I'm sure a lot of others do too!

[@kirkwagner461]

Good coverage. I think a lot of people approach a topic like this with assumptions they think are true for all people. But one solution doesn't fit all. The rig you have there in your Gladiator is fantastic. However, it's overkill for many people, and the complexity of assembling all of its components isn't something that a lot of people want to deal with. For them, the simplicity of an all-in-one solution like a Jackery (or its MANY competitors) can be a godsend. One thing you didn't mention was battery chemistry. If people are looking for portable power banks, I highly recommend they seek out ones that use LiFePO4 batteries. Those might be a little bit more expensive, and be a little heavier and bigger, but the lifespan of those compared with older lithium ion batteries is incredible.

[@able880]

The LFP is good for up to 10 yrs of daily cycles then drops to 80% -. were as the Ion is good for up to 10 months of 100% discharges daily then drops to 50% capacity -

[@mikeswildoutdoors7279]

Thanks great video! I built a Solar/AC rechargeable Generator, using 4 Battleborn 100 AH Batteries, 3,000 watt pure sine wave industrial inverter 2 victron charge controllers that communicate with each other for optimum charging by Solar, I wired them in parallel for a 400 AH battery bank 4800 WH , I run a 8,000 BTU Midea U AC unit in the tent with it, works fantastic with good sunlight.

[@Utah_Mike]

I run dual 6 volt lead batteries & a 1000 watt power station. Solar for both and they seem to be fully charged most of the time. About $600 invested + solar panel cost. Frig, personal electronics, microwave & fans.

[@danhoffman9392]

Thanks for the comparison. It proved my need is for a power station...use on the road but available for the house.

[@jimrobinson8212]

I enjoy your work. Thanks!

[@OzarkOverlandAdventures]

Thanks so much!!

[@DaphneLowe]

This is the most thorough comparison of power systems on KZbin. Great job!

[@mikaelangeloh2316]

Outdated though. I have a feeling it was already outdated when filmed, but now, one year later, it most definitely is. Most of the things he says you can’t do with portable power stations you most certainly can. Hard to stay updated since the advancements in portable battery packs happen so quickly but he could have mentioned that fact to inform viewers. Now, only one year later, this video is pretty misleading.

[@ghmichel72]

@16:44 FANTASTIC ✊🏾 Gotta do what you gotta to do to keep things moving.

[@jacquelineho8623]

This video was extremely helpful 🙌 Thank you! I have a battery/inverter/solar panel setup in my van. It took 2 months to get the parts and figure out the setup but it was so cost effective for the amount of power. Tomorrow is Prime Day in Canada and I was considering a portable station but given that it doesn't give more amp hours than a dual battery setup, Im going to pass. Thanks for saving me money. 🤑

[@Zkpe02]

I had thought the same as you but went ahead with the portable power supply and 200watt portable solar panel, just because I can use my system anywhere I need it without my truck and it’s working just fine for me and my needs. It’s good that we have choice👍

[@8AlisaInez9]

💚Thank you for your review! The dual battery is ideal for me but as you stated, the wrangler is limited to its available space. Part of the reason why I chose the Duracell portable power station at first. Because it Allows a similar setup with the ability to add batteries to the rear of the power station. Still one of my favorites but the OneUp/Eco has the ability to fully charge within an hour or two by Solar. Pleasantly surprised by both Power Stations.

[@australoffroad]

Great video!! I was looking for something like this. Very precise and with a lot of common sense mixed with real experience. I am turning my Wrangler into an overland vehicle, and thanks to your video, I feel I could make the right decisions now. I am very handy for making/installing things, so that is no problem for me, but the common sense and experience you shared is AWESOME!!!! Thanks man!

[@dwightnelson1358]

I've not read through all the comments or watched the whole video but wanted to point out that the batteries you have cannot be charged below freezing. Here are the specs on the batteries: Safe Operating Temperatures: Charging: 32°F ~ 122°F (0 ~ 50°C) . I built a similar system to yours and added temp sensing such that if the battery temp is below freezing a heater turns on to heat the battery and cuts off the charging system.

[@lifenow2082]

I've got a van plus a camper-trailer. !00 Amp in each (so 2 x 100amp batteries) connected with an Anderson plug. Best of both worlds!

[@akamithewicked1340]

I could fix my own battery setup in case I need to, replace whatever parts . I cant fix a power station in case whatever inside that box gets fried .. I rather build my own thing.

[@NoonMight]

I’m starting to see that this is true 👌🏻

[@velocity800]

makes sense

[@jonafe9321]

I like this comment 👍

[@alexblaze8878]

⁠@TheMoral Code you’ll need a deep cycle battery. Car batteries are designed to deliver max amps on startup and then relying on the alternator to replenish the battery as you drive. Hence the reason you can kill a battery quickly by repeatedly trying to start a car that won’t start. A deep cycle battery only delivers about half the cold cranking amps (CCA) of a regular car battery but has 2-3 times the reserve power to deliver lower but consistent output over a longer period of time. A car battery just exists to start the car, in fact you can disconnect the battery after starting the car and the alternator will continue to produce AC power to the vehicle as you’re driving.

[@elsol1176]

You won't make it as small and it won't be as portable and you'll spend ages making it. Time is money. Not worth the hassle

[@ima4tubing]

Negative on power station reported as charging times; however, that would also be a negative on your pair of batteries in your truck as your batteries are still Li in both setups. The real challenge is finding high amp source of energy to supply chargers and regulators in any situation whether trying to get amps from truck alternator or solar panels or a gas generator. I discovered earlier this year that my truck will only provide 3 amps at 14.4v max and my 100w solar panel going thru mppt charge controller only ave 80w to battery and that when i connect my camping trailer to shore power recently i discovered that i could only expect 13.6v/4.33a so no matter what i do it takes all day to recharge my 12v 75ah AGM. Your video certainly points out that i need a better option and that better options are certaily available. Thanks for the info. Best wishes on your journey.

[@ArmTheCreative]

A lot of overthinking goes on between this debate. I ended up purchasing a 1000W Jackery and after a year it’s perfect for me still. I have a minimal set up because I don’t want my vehicle turning into my home. I charge laptops, cameras, and drones. And I use a coffee grinder, water boiler, air fryer, and crockpot. The more power people get, the more STUFF they want to add to their vehicle.

[@Thumper7818]

Great video. I drive a tractor trailer and use a jackery 1000 To power my portable coffee pot ,electric skillet and hot pot And it works out fantastic. It needs charging in the middle of the week and I just plug it in the cigarette lighter for the day while I'm going down the road doing my thing . I heard that if you charge it slower and don't go completely to a 100% percent, I go to 95%-97% when I can catch it, that it has a longer life.

[@baneverything5580]

Keep the cycles between 20% and 80% for a much longer life. Or if possible try to go between 30% and 70% to get over 3000 cycles from it. But every three or four months fully charge/discharge it to keep the cells balanced.

[@twcamping]

we use a Bluetti AC50S for our fridge going for 1 deg it stays 50 hrs without charge only 27-30W.. 35lts with LG compressor. We have a 100W portable Solar and works good. We do not use any charging or cooking just for gadgets. It all boils down to your power needs....we just keep it simple.

[@baneverything5580]

Portable folding solar panels are great for USB fans, little power bricks and NiMH and 18650 battery chargers. Miracle devices for areas with tropical weather like hurricanes/typhoons. I love them!

[@dirtnap3073]

Wish you had a video on the install and wiring. I'm setting up something similar in my H3 for camping this summer but there are a few aspects of the set up that I'm still figuring out. Thanks for the videos.

[@dirtnap3073]

Nm I'm an idiot I just found the install video... 😁😆😂

[@sharon7382]

Check out Will Prowse’s channel 👍🏼

[@eastongreen7164]

Seems like a good idea for a business. Nothing but a battery, solar, generator, power supply shop. Set up/construct tailored to customers needs.

[@ryancronin1488]

I am a Boy Scout and I just got a jackery explorer 160 watt power station and I really want to use it while camping

[@petersantulli2337]

Another great video! I got a small Jackery for Christmas to handle the small items. I’m gonna be building an off-road camper and the biggest power concern I have is setting it up so the wife can run her 3 quart Instapot. She loves cooking out of it so it’s a must. I know our regular camper is fine as it’s all shore power. But getting this off-road camper sounds like a permanent set up maybe best. From what found say 700 watts for power usage.

[@giulioderrico1973]

Thanks for a really informative review, I didn’t go through all the comments to see if someone mentioned it, but as a pro for the dual or single battery system is that you can jumpstart your starter battery in case it’s dead through a battery isolator, thanks again for a wonderful video, cheers.

[@OzarkOverlandAdventures]

That's only if you use a dual lead acid battery setup which I do not recommend.

[@peternorthrup6274]

I kept it simple and cheap. 2,12 volt marine grade batterys. 1, 1500 watt power inverter. 1, solar panel from harbor freight. Mounts directly on top of my expedition. You don't even know it's there. I never run out of juice. Some of those portable power stations are very expensive. Great job explaining everything. When I first started out I got 2 large used batteries from the from the auto repair shop in my neighborhood. Free. Lots of life still left in them. I ran them for 2 years. I put them in battery boxes. Strapped down.

[@dinaandriusis6808]

Your reply is what I was looking for. Thanks!

[@Krakzzz]

I have a small camper, but bigger than the one in the video. Lots of 12 volts and only one 230 volt AC socket (Germany). The Powerbox only has advantages. It is more compact and mobile. I can use it outside the camper. I actually take two boxes with me. Then I can put one with the panels in the sun. The only disadvantage is the low power consumption from the car's alternator. In addition, the boxes have become much cheaper

[@texasgrillchef8581]

For me my choices between the two had to do with more about space and cost was secondary. As a power station has the ac/dc charger, solar charger, battery and inverter all in one, and saves having to buy multiple units, multiple wiring configurations. And thus more space.

[@OzarkOverlandAdventures]

That makes sense. For me the batteries are taking up space that otherwise wouldn’t be used so the power station actually takes up more usable space for me.

[@cemmas]

For a space issues its good to take a look under the car, sometimes all you need a bit welding job to creat new space under the car.

[@rjdurham3197]

Great video! I'm new to overlanding. I drive a gen 2 Tacoma. Just put the globalraod side kick 2. Your videos are really helpful to picking out what kind of set up I'm going with over time.

[@sweet65mustang]

I'm so mesmerized by the hair that I lose track of the conversation. I did notice that the first accessory he mentioned was a hair dryer. Lol

[@gerald4nomads]

I’m currently a weekend warrior and dive a Ford Transit AWD. And I still Prefer my Arkpak with a chins 100 amp lifepo4 battery that I recharge with my Honda EU 2200i generator Because I hate solar panels. Total Cost for all three was about $1200.

[@wanglee21]

I was going to run a power cable off my starter battery to wire up to my portable battery. The charge time straight from the starter battery instead of the 12V charger will charge the portable in a few hours also. I am planning on running the portable battery just like an auxiliary battery until I need to move it for mobility.

[@LeneMulan-jt2dc]

I like your set up better then the portable wish could build one for my van

[@quovadisoverland9579]

This was very informative, and will do well to help people who are trying to sort out all the power options available. I have a 2021 JLU Rubicon, and I put two 100ah heated Battle Born LiFePO4, and the Redarc Manager 30 & Redvision system under my Goose Gear full rear-seat delete. Along with 400 watts of solar panels, I can go for days powering our fridge, LED lights, and charging all of our gadgets. It was possible to fit it all, nicely, in the JLU.

[@archangel7673]

I am thinking about a dual battery set up in my suburban. If you can give me any tips on how and where would be appreciated

[@member369240sx]

Great info...Helped me make a pre decision....Could you do a series on calculating Fridge power use compared with these 2.

[@anturadventure3642]

Great video. I am torn between dual batteries or portable power station. Thanks for sharing.

[@conkiendien]

The Jackery's battery is rated for 500 cycles. While that should last you on the road, it's also far less than standalone batteries (although it is exactly on par with many competitors, including Goal Zero). A typical AGM battery can last 1000 cycles.Feb 8, 2021

[@BlueWonderLady]

Yes, this crucial fact is not talked about enough. The fact that any battery eventually has to be replaced.

[@Spelunkernaut]

I went with the Bluetti AC200P (2000 watt hr, LifePo4 ) with a 350 watt solar panel(can add another 350 for 700 watts total). I looked at all the options with secondary batteries. Seemed like unless you go LifePo4 (lithium iron phosphate) batteries, your just not going to have the same capacity or life cycles using anything else. Your charge rates seem off on the portable power stations, the new BMS systems charge a lot quicker, I charge mine in 3 hrs from 20% to full off the 400 watt inverter built into my FJ cruiser, 6hrs on solar on a good sunny day, its also bluetooth with more options, has built in pure sine inverter capable of running 6 1800 watt appliances at once, 4800 watt peak start up, it's not permanetly installed in place (can change storage configuration), has all the features with a good warranty over diy setup. Runs my Dometic 75 qt dual zone fridge for 3-4 days until it needs a charge, and costs $1500 compared to $2500 or more for your setup. Dont get me wrong I really like your setup, I was really close to building a very similar system, but the portability is just a game changer. Being able to change vehicles and keep everything together with minimal issues made my decision.

[@OzarkOverlandAdventures]

That is one advantage of a power station that I mention in the video. I also have the AC200 and it's a great one. But for my Gladiator I like having the aux battery setup much better than a power station. It just depends on your rig and how you're going to use it.

[@Spelunkernaut]

@@OzarkOverlandAdventures Yes, for sure. Im just seeing the portable units really catching up on built in systems. Especially when the next round of units I'm seeing coming out from manufactures will be expandable. I was giving a hard look at the AC200 max for the expandability.

[@MrErik038]

Informative video, thank you for your time. A 2000/3000w inverter is a litlle entousiastic.. maybe for short periods time at most! It takes a big batterysetupp!! A 1000wats inverter is realistic. Watever your electric needs/setupp, just remember it is free power if you carefully set it up. It needs to last becose its expecive. That being said, i know/talk to a lot of consumers and most replace batterys in a few years€€ it comes to a well tougth setupp that serves you well for many years..

[@Alex_556]

Thanks for an observation! Pricewise, the power solution should not exceed the level of $0.5 per 1 watt-hour to be considered as "normally" priced this days. You can get it even cheaper from Ali. So $1500 level for Jackery-1500 is overpriced roughly twice.

[@koltrasten]

I have taken apart a few ali express units and they are fire hazards waiting to happened. Worst unit I reviewed came with a refurbished cell that was swollen and it was branded as new. They use undergauged wires and some dont even use proper fuses or enough of them. And some other notes: 1. They usually come with weak and unreliable inverters that dont even provide pure sine wave, meaning they arent suitable for laptops or sensitive electronics. 2. The built in solar charger in them are usually the lowest quality PWM chargers rated at 10A at best. I would stay clear of any no-name "solar generator" and pay a few extra bucks to get one from a trusted brand.

[@CannabisUseOnly]

@@koltrasten where are these reviews? what brands would you recommend?

[@baneverything5580]

@@koltrasten I`ve bought several "no name" style power stations as backup units. I bought five 250 and 300 watt ones for 100 each. They appear to be high quality and reviews are positive. I also bought two 500 watt units for 250 each for powering a dorm fridge. I also have two Bluetti EB70s for freezers, and 300 watt ones by Golabsa and Rockpals. All get cycled and tested regularly to spot issues.

[@RobertWittman-uu8zf]

Great review. We also carry a jump box for truck which is also a power station

[@takuacheperformance4740]

I’m doing your setup in my JKU. Thanks a ton Matt!

[@AmericanMuscleTruck]

Another great video, thank you. My rig is meant for Baja racing and designed for overlanding too. A jackery 500 works great to run the jp40 fridge and charge my devices and GoPros. But a lot of unknowns considering my 2nd ever camping trip is next 😊

[@wildcoastkayaks75]

Very helpful. Thanks very much for the video. Really helped me with my decision and setup.

[@jukeofearl]

Thanks for the video. Would have liked to do a duel battery setup but I don’t have the space without engine bay modifications. I drive a 2007 Honda Element and do mostly camping and light trails so I went with the EcoFlow River Pro 2 with a 220 watt solar panel at this point cause of ease of use and space. I am also not out for more than a few days at a time so I don’t need a crazy amount of power. Also Nashville has had lots of grid issues lately so having this as a backup to bring into the house for the fridge in case of an emergency is also another reason for the power station. Really liked the video. Thanks.

[@Chubbydippin]

Interesting segment. Thanks for covering this. I prefer the all in one solar generator vs sourcing, purchasing and mounting all the components separately. Maybe it's my age, but I don't get this movement's name. Most cars and trucks don't fly or float. They all mostly travel on land. Offroad makes sense because your not driving on roads. Over land sounds more like a reference to a plane's flight path when not flying over water. Here's another oddity, when I was young, 100 yrs ago, the "goat" was who got blamed when everything went wrong or fell apart. Quite the opposite of, Greatest of All Time. Back then, me and Abe Simpson preferred the kiwi lime flavored asbestos shoe polish toothpaste too.

[@NoonMight]

If it makes your decision change, it is cheaper to build your own. Jackery 300w = $300, or Buy a 100ah 12v battery ($180) and your choice of an inverter (300w-1000w) can be up to $90, so that’s $270 at the most, for way more power than a $300 generator.

[@JOl-i2b]

I’m interested in a list of that set up that you have for the two batteries how would it do with a fridge plugged in constantly on the little fridges?

[@vonscharf]

Good to have both !

[@imaginitivity7853]

I am not an expert, but my understanding is the different battery technology between the large ones in your truck and the Lithium ones (in the powerbank) is that you only really have half the 100Ah available per battery as discharging below that significantly reduces the lifetime of them. Whereas lithium batteries can be much more depleted without damage

[@jimirving7990]

The 100 ah batteries in the back of his truck are also lithium batteries.

[@davidhawkins847]

As you mentioned, the reason for having dual batteries (at a minimum) is to run your accessories on instead of compromising your starter battery. While I don't run anywhere near the electrical accessories you are, I prefer to keep my starter battery isolated. That way if someone forgets to turn something off, etc., I can still start the vehicle. While best practice is to always travel in pairs, that isn't always the case. Also, so many vehicles give no warning of the battery going bad now days. I've had several instances on my vehicles where it starts fine in the morning and won't start the vehicle when I'm ready to leave and won't take a jump either. I end up swapping out the battery there in whatever parking lot I happen to be sitting in.

[@journeybeforedestinationov3553]

another great advantage to the installed system is you can now buy server rack batteries that take up about the same amount of space as your batteries and they have an incredible 2500 to 4800 watt hours. these things are crazy how much you get for the price now.

[@alexkleine9737]

The down side to Server Rack is most require indoor/climate control storage, and they weigh a lot. This is my plan one day when I do a Cargo Trailer conversion but I have already resigned myself to the fact that the smallest decent rack battery is at least 4X what I would need. But $/Watt you can't beat them.

[@journeybeforedestinationov3553]

@@alexkleine9737 I agree but I want the extra power. I intend to run a small AC unit with them. Also induction stove top. Want to be 100% capable of completely off grid living. I also plan to have motorhome with the same basic idea.

[@spoteat71]

Hey Matt, I see that you have a bed rack instead of a cap. How do you protect the DIY setup from the weather elements?

[@ToddSwagerty]

Thank you for cramming into the small space

[@shivin1962]

I know this video is a couple years old, but here's the winning recipe: Jackery 3000 with Renogy solar panels plugged directly into it That's all you need. Hair deyer, lights, heated blankets, blenders, can all run off the jackery. Heavy duty power strip if you need more outlets. There are ac/dc converters as well as 110v-to-12v hubs. Jackery also comes with a warranty

[@OzarkOverlandAdventures]

Jackery 3000 is horrible idea. It's very large and heavy, used old Lithium Ion batteries that are a hazard, and charges stupid slow while driving. Relying on solar is a bad idea because you're out of luck on cloudy days. All batteries come with warranties.

[@cradb1248]

I like this setup but I’m strongly considering the Dual Battery Genisus setup in my new Jeep gladiator

[@OzarkOverlandAdventures]

Watch my AGM vs Lithium battery comparison video and you might change your mind. AGM batteries are horrible for energy storage.

[@cradb1248]

@@OzarkOverlandAdventures I will, thanks for all your post ! I hope to be a patron member soon and visiting ozarks once I get my gladiator buildout in Louisiana

[@cradb1248]

Ok I watched it … yes I was aware of the issues discussed in this video (btw nice comparison) but I’m thinking the Genisus system plus one lithium in the truck bed (I really don’t want a battery in my truck bed and looking for an option that doesn’t take space from the small gladiator bed floor space. It seems to me that batteries under the engine compartment and the New Genesis Gen 3 seems right to me as a starter?¿ I just wish a lithium battery was compatible with the primary Jeep Starter battery and that would solve a lot. Wiring of all the auxiliary stuff is so confusing to me! Thanks

[@able880]

For most your better off with a power station with a LiF PO4 battery and a 800 or 1000 watt inverter generator to charge the battery once a day - Solar panels don't work well at all in many parts of the country due to humidity or weather - it's the same with wind turbines along with the continued noise were there is good wind as on beaches and on boats - the turbines have a high failure rate - There are small inverter generators from 850 to 1000 watts that will work well for most power stations - most generators deliver 20% less than there rating - The LIFAN 860i states it's 800 watts or so but can only put out 600 watts continues - the. Sportsman 1000 inverter gen states it is 1000 watts but can only deliver 800 watts continues - The LIFAN 860i will run 5 hrs at full load on 3 pints of gas - the sportsman will run 5 hrs at full load on 2 quart's of gas -- when you get a power station look at how long it takes to charge it to 85% - You prefer a 6 hrs charge rate to 85% charged - also that the battery will accept a charge at least 2500 times - If you live in the deep South US - you would need 50 one hundred watt solar panels to meet his power needs from what I can tell - to charge his battery's - when the sun does shine or one sportsman 1000 watt inverter generator will do the job - for a half gallon of gas a day - Regular none inverter generators will charge most power station very very slow - so the inverter generators are preferred - If the noise of an inverter gen bothers you - you can put the generator up to 350 ft from your camp sight and run a light gauge extension cord to it - It's better to use air cooled engine gas that you buy at lawn centers and chain saw shops - in camping generators - I have a Honda 650 camping generator I have used for 30 yrs to charge a battery when camping - some times I have camped on free beaches on the gulf coast for 6 months straight with my son's when they were young - I had a fridge, fans, lights, bag phone, radio ECT that ran off a power station with a gel cell in it - I was a systems tech in the offshore oil field for yrs every thing was off grid - I've worked on many generators - so I understand power -

[@garygooch8638]

I agree I have a 2000w pure sine wave generator that runs super quiet and the newer power stations will recharge in about an hr. They also come with the Lif Po4 batteries that can be recharged daily for approx 10 yrs. While this set-up is nice. It's also expensive.

[@able880]

@@garygooch8638 were I live in the rural deep south many didn't receive power from REA till the 1960s - For those who had power they had large 6 volt flooded lead acid battery for house battery's - Those who had the money had a. Large bank of cells that made up 32 volts and all the lights and appliances ran on 32 volts DC - .... They had motor generators that generated 115 volts AC off the 32 volts to run florescent lights in Borns - Any appliances sold as 110 AC was sold in small towns in the 32 volts DC version also - Down here house battery's used a acid strength of 1.210 instead of the1.275 strength today - Also farm house battery's were sized to run a house a week and charging once a week in winter and twice a week in summer - Generally because of the generator noise every one charged there house battery's all day Friday during winter and during summer they charge Friday and Monday - The fans and fridges use more power In summer - With the weaker acid the battery's lasted 50 to 60 yrs - Down here the battery bank was sized at 21 kw available power - hybrid was in use in rural America from the 1890s my grand father was an early electrician - it's not new -

[@malofquist]

Awesome video thanks for sharing. I love using my Jackery to power tools around my yard, it’s easier than unspooling an extension cord. (E.g., sawzall to prune branches, jigsaw in kids’ tree house)

[@wt9653]

I only watched 1/2 way through your video. I have a jackery 1500. I called Jackery to send me one more charging brick for free. You have 2 charging ports. I can charge jackery 1500 in under 4 hours. Same with solar charging. They'll send you another adapter for 8mm port. You can charge in 4 hours with 4 100w panels. Permanent dual battery setup only charges if you are driving for 4 hours. If you are camping. You need to run gas generator or solar panels and not run your truck gas engine.

[@4wheelinarkansas]

Big help, my wrangler wlll be getting a power station. Thanks

[@OzarkOverlandAdventures]

Glad I could help

[@grahamjgreen]

Ecoflow River Pro portable powerstation, can charge from an outlet in 2 hours, it is also expandable.

[@jhartmac100]

THIS is what Ive been debating thanks for the vid

[@johnburnett1974]

I will be getting a bronco Everglades in the fall I hope. Like you were saying space is a virtue with vehicles like that. So I am looking at a vorsheer xer. So instead of loading up my bronco with stuff , I can have the majority of it stowed in the trailer.

[@daviddyogi8279]

awesome video,..i appreciate it. now i know which way i would set up and utilize my power needs,..

[@karldawnlang8936]

Totally agree with your setup.

[@perrymahnke886]

Great video & thank you for sharing your experience & thoughts. Hopefully someday I will be purchasing a Redarc system for my rig & portable power station.

[@dadventuretv2538]

Great vid. Batteries and electricity and charging times and kwh and amp hours and … well all of it is new to me. So this was super helpful in my current debate between going dual battery vs powerstation (not the 80s supergroup) for my Gladiator setup. You pretty much said what my research to date seemed to be saying about pros and cons and solidified my decision to go powerstation as all my set up is away from the truck. My plan tho is to charge via 115 watt plug in backseat of Gladiator so thanks for the comment re your friend- I checked mine and it is a 400 watt inverter so I should be good to charge most powerstations while driving, but it is something I’ll check before buying. A future vid idea that would be helpful to electricity and battery idiots like me would be to explain kwh vs amps vs watts and how charging time works re output rates of charger and input rates of battery, how to calculate the draw of an appliance on a battery etc. you know, the maths stuff and how to convert the different ways these things are measured.

[@PatrickKQ4HBD]

Will Prowse has a great video explaining the basics of electrical math. You only need to be able to do the very simplest forms of algebra. Volts=Amps*Ohms. Watts=Volts*Amps. Buy the Ugly's 2020 Electrical Handbook app for $20. Really helpful.

[@theMekanik]

#willprowse on KZbin explains it all very easily & #lithiumsolar

[@gregreinert642]

Thanks for the great info. I have a 21 f150 with the 2k pro power onboard generstor which includes two rear outlets in the bed. Since the 2k power inverter only works when engine is running, I'd like to take advantage of drive time to charge either a battery bank or Jachery type system. I expect to run a refrigerator that will run off onboard generator while running, some lighting, fans, device charging and some type of coffeemaker. I think you would recommend the battery bank, but wanted to hear your thoughts on best set up to use with the ProPower generator. Thank- Greg

[@Taco_d_pastor]

Do you have a video of your batteries set up? Would love to have some like that on my truck

[@OzarkOverlandAdventures]

Yes. I did a full breakdown on it a couple months ago.

[@MauroMarzorati]

How does the release of the Anker that you reviewed recently alter the calculus you ran through in this video, if at all?

[@OzarkOverlandAdventures]

It doesn't. Everything still applies.

[@FelizOutdoors]

Looking into options for my truck camping. Will a 1500w Jackery paired with a solar panel to charge the jackery power a vehicle refrigerator for say 2 weeks or so?

[@OzarkOverlandAdventures]

depends on the weather and if you get enough sun.

[@csjtbanks]

Thx, learned a lot from your review. I wonder why the power stations don't come equipped with a 50 amp anderson plug so you can connect a dc to dc charger if you want the faster car charging option.

[@winstonsmiths2449]

Jackery units are very bad on charge times. I have an EcoFlow River pro 700wh battery and can charge it in as little as 4 hours on a sunny day, less than 2 hours from the wall. EF units are only slightly above 80% efficiency, but the charge times make up for that.

[@OzarkOverlandAdventures]

All true. I didn't have an ecoflow unit at the time of the video. The downside to the fast charging power stations is you can't charge them fast while driving.

[@winstonsmiths2449]

@@OzarkOverlandAdventures Yeah, I would get see about getting an inverter connected to vehicle power that could be used for fast charging. I have no clue if that is feasible or not!

[@sharingtheadventure]

Very nicely put together and great info. Thanks for sharing your experience.

[@goldenglowladore3842]

Excellent info for this auxiliary -power newbie!

[@PHOENIXOVERLAND]

was doing a quad battery setup necessary even though your gladiator came with 2 batteries already? could you convert the dual batteries in the engine compartment into a dual battery set up for overlanding and still have the peace of mind of being able to start your vehicle no matter what? my ford f250 tremor has 2 batteries already and I am trying to figure out my best option for power while overlanding

[@THANKS4LIFE]

Great video, Thanks for information . My problem has been my 1500 watt invester to me dual batteries has blown twice and I'm not sure why. I've only used inverter for a tv and when I've plugged in my computer charger in to second outlet on inverter, it has blown twice, fuses are not replaceable unless taking inverter apart. Ground wire has been connected both times. any idea why inverter keeps blowing..? Thank you...

[@leagreenall5972]

should update as the newer power stations can do fast charge of 75%+ in well under 30mins. I run a motorcycle with a trailer. I have the dual battery setup in the trailer and as you say it takes care of fridge, main lights, etc... but I also have a 1300w portable power station. So in a way, its not one or the other if people are serious... have both :)

[@OzarkOverlandAdventures]

Not in a vehicle.

[@leagreenall5972]

@@OzarkOverlandAdventures Im assuming you are talking about recharge - sorry I editted the post and maybe you missed the rest :) I charge my EcoFlow Pro 1300W on the road via the Dual Battery Setup trickle and also solar panels... never takes that long.

[@brianwadsworth5752]

I love your battery setup! Question- what d you do with your batteries during the winter? Do you use a battery tender to keep them from discharging and freezing?

[@OzarkOverlandAdventures]

I just drive my jeep like normal.

[@AlecBig]

Always great information thank you

[@joemartin124]

great vid that set up is what i was looking for do you have a video on how wired it

[@OzarkOverlandAdventures]

I do. It’s called Major Power Upgrade.

[@aimelise]

Can you share more detail about what redarc components you’re using? Beside Bluetooth battery monitoring, what are some of the other features these batteries have over the $300 100Ah lithium phosphate batteries on Amazon? New to DIY, so trying to understand.

[@OzarkOverlandAdventures]

the only redarc component is the BCDC1250 charger. For the batteries you basically get better quality in the BMS, local US based customer service and the bluetooth monitoring is a HUGE deal but other companies are coming out with that for less.

[@georger987]

Very helpful video. Thanks for sharing. Can you please let me know the storage boxes YOU used to place those batteries? Size? Model? Brand? Thanks again. JAR

[@johnr5608]

How does the redarc bcdc handle being exposed to the elements? Particularly rain and snow. Thanks

[@OzarkOverlandAdventures]

It's fully weather proof. I've never had an issue with it.

[@JeremySlat]

Great job on explaining these systems.