Powering A Camper w/ Jackery? // Initial Impressions Of The Jackery Explorer 1000 & SolarSaga Panels

⚡️Jackery Explorer 1000⚡️
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~Jackery's Website: shrsl.com/2j310
☀️ Jackery SolarSaga 100W Solar Panel ☀️
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~Jackery's Website: shrsl.com/2j316
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[@FirnMamaMakes]

Totally stoked they worked with you and sent you products to try! Hope you find more companies to do that since your testing & reviews are so in depth and trusted. Love watching the camper come together and excited for your adventures!

[@BackcountryBanter]

Thanks for the kind words!

[@patriciaribaric3409]

I have two 500's & one 1000. I like having more than one because they recharge rather slow. With an extra - one can be recharging while the other is in use. I love the convenience and quality.

[@BackcountryBanter]

Sounds like a great setup. Plenty of power.

[@Goodness125]

We think alike. I just ordered a 1000 and thinking about a 500 also for that reason.

[@patriciaribaric3409]

@@Goodness125 Not long ago we had a three day power outage. One 500 kept my cable router on. Another kept my 8 year old grandson hooked up with entertainment, and the 1000 kept my side by side fridge running. Hardly felt like a power outage.

[@spicyfrijoles2790]

@@patriciaribaric3409 how long did your frig stay on with it?

[@patriciaribaric3409]

@@spicyfrijoles2790 Our fridge has no ice maker, so it is a bit more economical to run. Everybody had strict orders to keep the doors closed except when we had to get something out. Refrigerators do not run constantly, so the Jackery kept it running for the full three days. I can't remember how much power was left on the Jackery, but I think it was down to 20% when the electric came back on.

[@redstone5149]

Appreciate the honesty up front that you got the items for free. Saved me time as I don’t watch videos people make about items they were given.

[@waynelonsdale6985]

The wire that goes from the jackery to the fuse box what is the fixture on the end to the fuse box

[@Smilin_Don]

Outstanding video. I bought a Jackery Fit 10200mAh Dual USB portable power bank in 2015, for use in long distance backpacking. Used it for multiple trips on the AT, the OT, and in other locations, and the thing still performs like new. Great product. I'm looking forward to your in depth review of this system. Happy trails.

[@pleasantfiction]

Cool! We got an Instant Pot for home use recently and we're loving it! I hadn't thought about having one for the camper.

[@BackcountryBanter]

We have become huge fans of it over the last few years lol. It feels weird to say that about a pressure cooker but it really does create some great meals with minimal effort. We're hoping to make our meals in bulk and only have to run it every couple of days.

[@woodchip2782]

Nice! Lithium Ion is great. I built my setup eight years ago to power up a portable icebox type fridge with two lead/acid deep cycle batteries in a metal toolbox and two crystalline 150w solar panels. It weighs a ton! You have to remind yourself that solar panels have a usable life of ten to fifteen years only and that their power generation degrade throughout that period exponentially until they’re not practical enough to carry around anymore. One thing more, try to set up a system to gather a little more power in the Jackery from your vehicle on long drives and from camping sites or folks you might visit. Every little bit of power matters. I wish you two as long and safe journey...

[@BackcountryBanter]

Eight years ago and it is still going strong, that's great! We have a 12v port wired off of the truck's electric system wired into the camper so when we are driving we can charge the Jackery via that port.

[@JiTiKeRo]

Seems like a nice addition to your set up Joe. That battery is no joke $1000😯. About a year ago my husband replaced out his Honda lawn mower with an EGO mower. before our last camping trip to the Adirondacks he bought an adapter for the battery. It was nice to have in a non-electric campsite so we could power our phones and a fan. Obviously not a replacement for your setup but nice for a week of tent camping. Nice presentation!

[@BackcountryBanter]

That's a great concept! I love the idea of having a set of batteries at home that can power your house, your tools, or anything you'd need with. Now that sounds like a futuristic concept 😁

[@TheEdelKampers]

Thank you for a sharing the Jackery explorer 1000 and solar panels. Our son, a trucker, has one and he really likes it. Mary💕Fred

[@jpriddle]

Great overview of the Jackery system. Lots of features for that price. If you ever look for a similar system that charges more quickly, has waterproof panels or is a bit more robust, check out EcoFlow. I just got turned on to them the other day. It looks like they have a function to run in series, but requires all of the units to be fully charged and not plugged into external power.

[@BackcountryBanter]

I hadn't heard of them, I'll check them out. Thanks!

[@hike2bhuman110]

Awesome choice Tara n' Joe! looking forward to more videos about the Jackery. I might have missed it but I don't remember you mention that the Jackery can also be charge from the Cig lighter port inside the Truck while driving. really want to see the InstaPot tests, something I am looking to do.

[@BackcountryBanter]

We'll definitely throw some Instant Pot testing in there, I'm excited to cook on the road with it. I wired a 12v port to the trucks 12v constant line coming into the camper so when we're driving we can leave the Jackery back inside the camper and have it charging off of the trucks power.

[@taraohais.973]

Thank you! Get ready for some un-staged recipe/cooking videos with our instantpot 😂😍

[@hike2bhuman110]

@@taraohais.973 🤣

[@seansteede]

Great video. This is exactly how I plan to power my enclosed cargo trailer when the build gets going. Simple is best! Thanks.

[@randomthoughtsfromacrazedm3372]

Good move to get The Jackery for a review. Saw Hobo Ahle get one of those for free and it seemed to work pretty well.

[@monarue1987]

I bought this system because of the review you gave it after using it for a time. We will have the same needs. I've given it various tests and it seems to be exactly as you've described. I'm extremely satisfied with my purchase!!

[@jhonyermo]

Man! Another informative AND interesting absorbing video. I am surprising myself home much I an getting out of all he techie stuff that I used to be put off by. Thanks much.

[@BackcountryBanter]

I can relate to being put off by tech. I often dream of living without tech but at the same time my entire life is built around it and many things I do (including youtube) wouldn't be possible without it. I guess everything is a balance.

[@PeteGeniella]

Thanks for the video; great info as always! I have a similar system coming. I am wondering how the Instant Pot will work out. It seems like it would drain the battery in less than an hour. Please consider showing Instant Pot set up in a future video! This is a great series, I am always stoked to see the next episode!

[@BackcountryBanter]

I'll be sure to include some Instant Pot footage in the future. Though the instant pot does have a high draw the nice thing is that it is for a very short time (as the pot heats up the liquid inside to steam levels) after that the wattage draw drops significantly and it is actually incredibly efficient. It still uses a large chunk of the battery though. I need to test more but I'm guessing close to 10 percent.

[@keithlaurenz3774]

Awesome video! Been loving following along on your camper build. I feel like you need to find some way to get those panels on top of the truck or camper while you’re driving. Just seems like the best time to charge the battery.

[@BackcountryBanter]

With that 12v outlet running off of the truck's power system we should be able to charge the Jackery via the alternator as we are driving. That said I think it'd actually be faster to charge from the solar panels and they do have grommets so maybe we could rig up some way to mount them on the roof. Thanks!

[@FiveStoryTreeHouse5]

I had never thought about using portable in the sun and parking in the shade ...great point

[@denimlabels7315]

Pretty cool. Maybe you can cover them in clear plastic if it looks like rain on the way. I really want one now.

[@BackcountryBanter]

That's a good idea!

[@codyfielder9909]

Love these videos, and your hiking stuff as well. I lived for years until just recently on a solar system I built off grid here in New Mexico. We had 760 watts pv and 4x Trojan L16's (370 AH) wired in series for 24v. The jackery unit looks cool, but I'd be concerned about your battery handling a fridge. Even with the danfoss (spell?) compressors and in a chest configuration etc. you may be pushing its limits. Consider multiple alternative ways of charging it up during a spell of cloudy days. But I hope it can manage it, and I look forward to more of your stuff!

[@BackcountryBanter]

That sounds like a lot of power! Nice.

[@talihahortiz6637]

Awesome video! how do you plug the solar panels into the side of the camper?

[@salvadorgutierrez4474]

Awesome video, definitely one of the best value units I've seen thus far.

[@underdog2400]

Hey, I appreciate this. companies like Jackery, EcoFlow and others will eventually be more capable than DIY setups . I appreciate your perspective. Many don't need to spend $5,000 + dollars on a system. Thanks again for a REALIST PERSPECTIVE !

[@AllenSchubert]

Wow...2nd time in a week I've seen a video review about this Jackery thing. And it would probably make sense as backup for a conventional home when power goes out, maybe? (Not the whole house.) ... Good video!

[@BackcountryBanter]

I think it would be a great emergency power solution so long as you don't have to run huge appliances. That's another reason I like the portability aspect. When we're not traveling in the truck camper we can still use the battery inside for situations like that.

[@Goodness125]

Very helpful. Thank you. I want to learn how to add a 12V fuse box like that and wondering how you ran the wire from the panels into the RV to charge while its inside.

[@adamboggs4745]

You can usually find a couple of these in the first hiker box on the AT. 😂 Also as a former lighting tech, I appreciate the red/blue cross lighting.

[@BackcountryBanter]

😂😂😂 I've always wondered if someone could start the trail with nothing and have a full set of gear after supplying off of the first few hiker boxes.

[@davidsixtwo]

The cost versus all the individual components most people use is competitive, but I do wonder about the fact that it's a single point of failure. It depends on how good they are with their warranty also, it's very different from home solar components that may have a 25 year warranty, but I understand they can't do that on the battery with that limited number of charge cycles.

[@tvtoms]

$1600 seems pretty reasonable if you get nice peace of mind. I would keep cig. lighter plug replacement / repair parts handy since it's the critical plug for everything.

[@BackcountryBanter]

That's a good point. It'd be a shame to lose all power because one piece failed.

[@shawnpatrick1817]

@@BackcountryBanter Speaking of 12v sockets . . . Does the Jackery have a locking 12v socket? On our summer vacation, I found out a non-locking socket / plug can vibrate loose in the back of a truck camper. I had my frig plugged into a Dometic PLB40 battery using the screw in plug, so the fridge stayed cold, but the plug from the camper to the PLB40 came loose and I lost a few hours worth of charging. I love the PLB40, but wish it did more . . . hence why I'm checking out your video.

[@BackcountryBanter]

@@shawnpatrick1817 It doesn't, but now that you mention it that would be a nice feature. It does feel like a very firm connection, but we haven't road tested yet. We may have to come up with a way to secure the connections.

[@ev6377]

I appreciate this. The way you talk seems like you're a really nice person, and... I can't help but notice the resemblance between you and Jesus haha. Great content, you got a new subscriber :)

[@BackcountryBanter]

Thanks and welcome aboard!

[@themartymart8864]

Hi There, great video. What is the solar extension cable between the panels and Jackery that you are using?

[@samuelsmith9999]

I’d really like to know more about your fused / distribution block. For ease of use, maintenance and management, I’ve bought a Jackery 240 to power internal and external lights on a truck cap camper (and charge a few things right off the Jackery). Any diagrams, or links to how you’ve got that panel distributed?

[@BackcountryBanter]

I'll do my best to answer any questions you have. I have some more detail on it at the end of this video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/hoLSo5h6ftyhftk

[@greenwald007]

I'm thinking of getting this for a pop up camper, only power lights, fans and a few other small items. Did the 10amp limitation on the 12v damper anything?

[@mackeating]

I was thinking about using a jackery to power my 1998 sunlite skyhawk truck camper but instead of wiring in a fuse block just plug it into the 3 pin plug that plugs the truck in. Plugged into the truck while driving then unplug and plug it into the jackery when parked. Would power my lights, water pump and furnace. All electronics can be charged off the other available 12v/110 ports on the jackery

[@BackcountryBanter]

That sounds like a great idea! Simple solutions are the best in my opinion.

[@erikfarney1922]

I’m thinking about doing a similar setup in my camper but to keep costs down a bit using the 500w since my fridge will be running on propane and I don’t have a lot of gear to charge. Question: the existing system had a positive and negative that attached to the old deep cycle battery, could I just wire a 12v cigarette plug to those leads and plug that 12v socket into the Jackery?

[@denisecatlett7203]

Hello, I have a Jackery 1000 as well but I'm having trouble running my Iceco fridge, Max air fan and led lights off the 12 volt at the same time. The fridge will get a E1 error. I believe it is because the Amps exceeds the 10 Allowance. Do you have any recommendations?

[@zoegapayao42]

Would you be able to put the link of the fuse box that you got for your set up? :) I'd love to replicate this for my build with my jackery

[@BackcountryBanter]

Absolutely, it is this one: amzn.to/3uHWeyW For the record it has been great.

[@geppygee]

I've heard that hardwiring to a fuse box makes you lose power faster...have you had any issues with it? I'm looking to use the jackery 1000 for a small electric cooler, lights fan and some charging stations.

[@waldogreenhouse8549]

Do you think a 300 would work just to run the air conditioner? And how is it connected to the fuse box? Thank you

[@veterandog]

What extension cables are you using from the panels to the jackery to be able to put the panels at an extended distance to charge the jackery?

[@nicktombs1876]

What I want to know is where are the films about the cabinet build? I have watched all your films about this RV and I can't find any about building those cabinets.

[@BackcountryBanter]

The cabinet video will be coming soon. I was waiting until we actually finish them to edit and release it. I may put some of the cabinet footage into the next video though.

[@nicktombs1876]

@@BackcountryBanter oh okay, it was just that you said near the start that there were other videos for the cabinetry build, as though they were already released so I thought I had missed them.

[@Twobarpsi]

Are you connecting it to the truck's alternator?

[@BackcountryBanter]

We have a 12v outlet wired into the 12v constant power coming in from the trucks 7-way plug. When we're driving we'll plug the Jackery into that to charge.

[@Twobarpsi]

@@BackcountryBanter that unit is amazing! Also the 125W solar charging.

[@AndrewWisler]

I am curious to see how this works from a capacity standpoint. I still wonder how this will work on a day to day basis, cloudy days, etc, especially if you’re relying on it to keep your fridge running. Everything else you could do without for a day or two. The only downside I see with an all in one system is if one component craps out you’ll have to replace the whole system, though I haven’t priced that stuff out. Maybe it would be a wash?

[@BackcountryBanter]

I think that is a fair point, if you can't see the components or take apart the Jackery it could be impossible to replace or troubleshoot them. There is a 2 year warranty on the Jackery, but I haven't heard from anyone that has had to use it yet. As far as capacity goes, we shall see!

[@AndrewWisler]

That’s cool, it looks like a nice unit. Almost everything in life is a trade off! Thanks for bringing us along.

[@indycheez7214]

Do you have a furnace in your TC? I do and it's 12v. Think I could run it off of the Jackery? Would you wire it to the 12v fuse box?

[@BackcountryBanter]

We have a diesel heater that runs off the Jackery. It is wired into the fuse box. Though it uses around 100watts for the first minute or so as it starts up to get the glow plug warm, after that it is incredibly efficient on energy using around 12-30 watts depending on how high it is set. I’m not sure how that compares to a traditional propane furnace but it runs incredibly well off the Jackery.

[@NO-WAR-WINGS]

Is it possible to mount the solar panels on top of vehicle for a constant charge? when sun is shining of course..

[@RogerBJones-fy2de]

How much time can you run your six quart instant pot? I heard you say it used 25% of your power each time, but I missed where you said how long that was.

[@Jacketz123]

Hey, I know the included solar panels aren’t supposed to be mounted, but do you think it’s possible to mount them to the top of a van anyway so they’re continuously topping up the battery when you’re on the go? Great vid by the way 😄👍🏻

[@corybrown8196]

I was wondering the same thing. I'm sure you could just get separate, more permanent panels to place on your van roof, then hook them into the Jackery. I see no reason why that would be an issue

[@JarrettOriginal]

I imagine that it wouldn't be too difficult to hack the jackery for a battery expansion. You'd be literally hacking it though, if it has a warranty that would be out the door, but may be worth it in the future?

[@BackcountryBanter]

I'd love to see what they look like on the inside... 😁

[@iebobo]

What wire gauge is the 12v DC output adapter to the fuse panel? I assume it is 12 awg or 10 awg? Cheers!

[@bbollig9288]

Very nicely done. Thanks for all the info.

[@atartt123]

So did you ditch the idea of having AC? Don't know if I could stand it down south come summer time...

[@BackcountryBanter]

We did. We actually ended up selling it for $300. Our deciding factor was that we don't intend on staying in established campgrounds with power hookups and will rarely have access to shore power. Without shore power we have no chance of running that AC unit. We did install a Maxxair fan and it has been surprisingly effective at cooling the camper through the heat of the NC summer. After taking the AC unit off I now also know that it was very heavy so we have the added bonus of saving weight.

[@420BLUNTLEY]

I’m using mine to charge my phone now. It’s an explorer 160. But can you charge while driving?

[@davidcleveland4575]

Will you be bringing your sewing machine: )

[@BackcountryBanter]

I think I just might 😁

[@hectorjauregui3404]

do you have video how you wire you camper with the jackery

[@treytamari]

Nice overview of the Jackery. I'm new to this stuff, and am trying to decide between a dual battery type set up on a Tundra with no solar, or a Jackery 500. It's for a part time living situation where I'll be driving often, but it would be great to have solar later on. With the Jackery, I'm a little put off that the solar panels aren't waterproof and/or mountable, because it'd be great to let them do their thing while I'm out hiking and what now without worrying about someone taking them or them getting rained on. It is so convenient and space efficient otherwise though!

[@johndharris73]

Easy. Just buy a flat panel that roof mounts like a Renogy or cheaper like a Bouge RV and plug it into the Jackery. Make sure the panel doesn’t have a built in charge controller though or it won’t work. The Jackery has its own built in. You can get one rigid 180 watt waterproof panel cheaper than one 100 watt Jackery panel. Check out a channel called HOBOTECH for tips on different solar panels and connecting to Jackery. A Jackery 1000 and a 180 watt panel should be cheaper and far easier than any dual battery setup and easier to remove when you eventually sell your truck.

[@treytamari]

@@johndharris73 Thanks, John. I actually have done something similar. Didn't have a lot of need for the 1000W inverter, so I opted for the 500 model, and after watching plenty of Hobotech, decided I'd eventually mount a Renogy up top and run it to the Jackery with the adapter.

[@satsitter]

Excellent review. Thanks.

[@terryweaver9770]

Just a stupid question, pardon my ignorance too, but while it’s raining & U’r parked somewhere, & until U learn it’s true waterproof capabilities; & U need to collect power, could U place @ least 1 of those panels in the front windshield, inside the vehicle? Sorry for the dumb question.

[@BackcountryBanter]

Not a stupid question at all and a smart idea! You can definitely do this, the only downside is that because the sunlight has to travel through the windshield (and some is reflected or refracted away) it greatly reduces the amount of energy you collect. On a rainy day I'm not sure if you'd collect any energy or not. Some people do this when they leave the camper to prevent someone from stealing their panels. Good idea!

[@womenswellness1577]

where did you get your truck bed camper?

[@BackcountryBanter]

We bought it used off of craigslist. It is a 2003 Sunlite Skyhawk SB camper. We have a whole series on it on my channel if you'd like to watch us renovate it.

[@womenswellness1577]

nice work!!

[@BackcountryBanter]

Thanks!

[@pauladavis4310]

Great video. Very informative,

[@ammo4uragingjudge559]

Sooo solar panels which are only effective when out in the weather, are waterproof? That’s just crazy

[@paulmurgatroyd6372]

There are 2 dislikes so far... seriously what can that be for? There should be a way to track these people down.

[@brynwhyte7318]

Very good presentation.

[@brynwhyte7318]

Very good presentation

[@briancswartz6411]

Um, I'm really disappointed you didn't show the solar panels input charge during nighttime hours... Just kidding. Nice informative video, man.

[@BackcountryBanter]

For nighttime situations we pull out our moonerpanels which collect the photons bouncing off the lunar surface. During a full moon we can collect nearly an entire watt of power overnight! ;-)

[@karihenderson-reed2599]

What model refrigerator do you use?

[@BackcountryBanter]

We use a Dometic CFX3 45 and have found it to be incredibly efficient and simple to use. I'm doing an official review video on it very soon.

[@pamelafarris4101]

So awesome!

[@Arfshesaid457]

If you were to daisy-chain another battery... isn't that the same as buying another battery?

[@BackcountryBanter]

In a way it is but there is no way to connect the Jackery to the additional battery. Buying another Jackery doesn't make sense because I'd be paying for all the other components that I already have when really I just need more battery. It'd be cool if the Jackery could tap into a second battery, charge it via its solar charger, and use its power in its inverter.

[@Arfshesaid457]

Backcountry Banter That makes sense.

[@robbielaw11]

Great information. Thank you!

[@austintate8418]

Do you have a link for that fuse box?

[@truesight91]

I think the bluetti and the ecoflow are much better batteries, appreciate the video though.

[@spearfish]

Can you hook it up to your alternator?

[@BackcountryBanter]

In a roundabout way yes. I have my trucks 12v constant wire coming into my camper via a 6-way plug. I wired a 12v cigarette lighter into that so while we are on the road driving we can charge the Jackery via its 12v cigarette lighter power adapter.

[@gregmueller24]

Can I plug my teardrop camper into this as if I were plugging into a regular generator and use my 5000btu ac unit off of it?

[@jmorgan5870]

Did you ever try it?

[@millenium2003]

Love the intro. Subbed

[@soflanut]

Add a battery to the camper and plug in a trickle charger to the jackery.

[@BackcountryBanter]

I suppose that could work!

[@ImTheDudeMan471]

Joe, do you know any food science grad school majors? Was hoping to get a scientific researchers view for a video on how to get optimal nutrition. Not a, "what everybody eats on trail". I know University/football teams have food science programs to handle all kinds of sports and stress. Are you aware of any science based research trail nutrition videos?

[@BackcountryBanter]

Unfortunately I don't know of many people in that field. The best person I know that may be able to help is Katie Gerber: katiegerber.com

[@JosiahCilladi]

Sip Sip

[@BackcountryBanter]

Peck peck!

[@sideshowdrummer]

This is my DJ voice the jackery 1000 the latest addition to the lithium power it's better than a Cherry Coke get yours now

[@ihikefar]

This will be an interesting impression journey to follow as you put the system to real world test conditions. Most of the comments I see on the RV and outlander forums say the portable solar panels can be a pain in the arse constantly setting up and taking down. Especially if you’re moving from location to location everyday. Anyway, loving the new video series of your camper build. Cheers!

[@BackcountryBanter]

Yeah, time will tell on how this system works out for us. I have talked to a few full-time campers (both van and truck campers) and many have recommended having the option to park in the shade and charge solar panels in the sun. With no AC unit every bit of cooling helps in the summer. But moving them all of the time will certainly be extra work.

[@jonny_mazerati9410]

Why is the room so dark

[@you43584036]

When I got into solar got too into monitoring the input and usage. Then there was the unpleasant discussion of when not to use a hair dryer. Consider yourself warned.

[@BackcountryBanter]

Haha, I'll keep this in mind. I have been looking much more closely at just how many watts each of my devices is using.

[@mtg_hermit]

i want the panels but they are too rich for me lol

[@cwclifford]

"don't actually store this in the camper just for safety reasons" - really, you're that uncertain about its safety? Sounds like either you're just overcautious types or you see a major flaw in its design.

[@rhyskempy6538]

This is off topic but you look like a Jesus you found off wish