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The portable power systems we help create are essential to outdoor staff in the forestry, parks, & research communities. The goal in designing these systems versus the small, compact systems, is to provide longer equipment run times, and additional capacity to run more devices at any one time. If you need a system you can leave at a remote site for weeks or possibly months at a time, read through our note on remote power systems.
A portable system is comprised of three components: Power source (ie. solar panel), power storage device (ie. battery), and power distribution (ie. AC inverter or DC outlets). We will consider each of these components in turn...
Power Source - Solar Panel Options
When it comes to lightweight, versatile panels, it doesn't get any better than the PowerFilm modules. These 5, 10 & 20W panels roll up into storage tubes for easy transport, and can be tied down to packs, tents, decks, or roofs. These panels can also be daisy chained to provide additional power and build your system as your needs change. Accessories are available to connect to virtually any battery system. Other compact panels to consider include the SunLinq 25 Watt folding panel which can also be expanded for additional power.
Power Storage - Compact Battery Options
Batteries are often a big problem in portable power systems due to their size and weight. At the lightweight end of the luggable battery scale is the Outpost Power 7 providing a 7.5AHr maintenance-free battery with triple DC outlets, status meter, and 75W AC inverter. At only 8lbs, it is one of the most practical battery packs available. Still more portable than lugging a golf cart battery are the Outpost Power 12, and the Outpost Power 18 power packs with 12 & 18AHr capacities respectively. These last three kits include an AC inverter for household power anywhere. Need even more battery capacity? We have also been known to create 26AHr kits. Beyond 26AHr kits, you will be looking at a bare golfcart sealed lead-acid battery and will likely require you to connect a larger solar array via a charge controller to ensure proper charging. Connections are less convenient, and they become much more difficult to carry around.
Power Distribution - DC or AC Appliances?
Finally there is the issue of the gear you plan to provide power for. In many cases, manufacturers provide car adaptors as options for their equipment. Cell phones are a good example of this. These adaptors allow you to plug into any 12VDC power system that offers DC sockets like the one in your car, or into any of the battery systems mentioned above. Be sure to use these adaptors when you can - not only do they provide the correct power for the device, but they also eliminate the power losses associated with using AC inverters to obtain household power. Need more sockets? Add our 3-Way DC socket accessory to your system.
When car DC adaptors are not available, as is the case with many laptop computers, your only option is to use a small AC inverter to create household power from your 12VDC solar power system. These inverters are very simple to use - most smaller models up to 1000 watts come with a car adaptor as an option which allows you to plug directly into your system. We offer several models from the compact Smart AC 75Watt to the versatile 150 & 400 Watt sizes, and finally the powerful, yet still portable 700 & 1000 Watt models which come with hardwire options. Choose an inverter that provides at least 20% more power than you plan to consume (ie. a 75W inverter works well with a 50Watt laptop computer).
A few words about inverter technologies...
There are two types of inverter: modified sine wave and pure sine wave. Which type is for you depends on your budget and the type of equipment you plan to operate with it. The terms "modified sine" and "pure sine" refer to the smoothness of the AC waveform. A pure sine inverter most closely resembles normal household grid power, while a modified sine inverter simulates the waveform in a series of steps.
Should you care? Well, if you plan on running audio/video equipment, sensitive research equipment, or any other electronics which would be susceptible to "noise" from its power supply, then you need to consider a pure sine option such as our compact 150 Watt or 300 Watt models. If you plan to run equipment which has its own AC adaptor (like a notebook computer), or motors such as power tools or pumps, or lights, then the modified sine inverters will perform well for you and save you some money.
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