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Power while Camping?

I seem to recall when my dad took us caravaning when we were kids that he had a car battery charger for the boot. So maybe look into this; power everything from a car battery and charge it when you're driving around.

Or maybe portable solar panels although I doubt that would produce enough power.
 
Solar power, yes.

You need to cover the field with many of the below:

57GJuhW.jpg.webp
 
A massive rack of solar panels would be required. The cost ridiculous. Most of the "briefcase" type solar panel chargers touted about are pretty much only useful for maintaining the battery rather than actually charging it.

£150 quid and a morning to install the split charger in one of the vehicles and he's good to go, as long as he can get hold of a couple of caravan batteries.

I wouldn't get too hung up on battery size and amp draw of all your devices.
If it's a caravan leisure battery then it will be of "reasonable size" to start with.
At the worst you flatten them quicker and you have to start the car to charge them up, you may well have to go for a drive during the week for supplies anyway, so the split charger will automatically top the leisure batteries back up..

If there is more than one car going then put some of the 12v devices to charge on one of the other cars instead of trying to load everything up on the 240v inverter.
 
Fuzz said:
A massive rack of solar panels would be required. The cost ridiculous. Most of the "briefcase" type solar panel chargers touted about are pretty much only useful for maintaining the battery rather than actually charging it.

£150 quid and a morning to install the split charger in one of the vehicles and he's good to go, as long as he can get hold of a couple of caravan batteries.

I wouldn't get too hung up on battery size and amp draw of all your devices.
If it's a caravan leisure battery then it will be of "reasonable size" to start with.
At the worst you flatten them quicker and you have to start the car to charge them up, you may well have to go for a drive during the week for supplies anyway, so the split charger will automatically top the leisure batteries back up..

If there is more than one car going then put some of the 12v devices to charge on one of the other cars instead of trying to load everything up on the 240v inverter.
Click to expand...

I've got a pair of 7watt panels connected together (5v/1500mah rated each but get about 400mah during days like we've had lately - about 900mah combined) + anker astro3 12000mah battery for keeping phones/tablets charged up while away from home - works pretty well and aslong as its not like 100% overcast charges the battery pack reasonably quickly. Trying to run a reasonable spec laptop let alone projector, etc. off solar would be a whole different story.

EDIT: That said pico projector, some game pads and a semi decent tablet would be feasible - my xperia tablet z has the whole playstation thing though I've never bothered with it.
 
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Why not just stay at home instead? That way you can play your videogames, watch the 'racing' on TV and not annoy everyone else with your stupid generator. To add a sense of authenticity you could drive a plough over your back garden and then leave the sprinkler on for 3 days, creating that mud effect you really need.
 
Leave all that rubbish at home. All you need is a BBQ and a camp fire. Enjoy the experience, your company, the event and the night sky.
 
You'll need a high end generator to power all that gear without overload/ spikes in power ruining the gear.

It'll be loud too.

Why are you even bothering to go camping? Just bring a ****load of beer, find some wood and then hunt for your dinner - even if it is at the kebab van.
 
Surely staying in a hotel or renting a caravan would be cheaper than buying all of this crap?

We have stayed in some of the big chain hotels for as little as £25 a night before for work. Also, many of them do 30% off if you are with the RAC/AA.
 
I think the whole point of camping is to Escape from all of the technology etc. If you are seriously going to bring a games console, projector and all of that rubbish then what is the point?

Its all about making a fire, going exploring around the area, not staying inside a tent the whole time gaming.......jeeeze
 
Antony101 said:
We have stayed in some of the big chain hotels for as little as £25 a night before for work. Also, many of them do 30% off if you are with the RAC/AA.
Click to expand...

You're right, a large chain hotel is likely to be selling rooms for £25 near Silverstone during the British GP!
 
isn't the point of camping to get away from it for a while. Might as well just get an extension lead and sit in your back garden :p

Edit: oh you want to be near Silverstone... Good luck to you and your mission...
 
Bah, you don't need any of that stuff. I've been on a few trips to Silverstone with members of this forum, and all you need is:
- Beer
- Beer
- Beer
- Meat and a BBQ
- Somewhere for Janesy B to throw up everywhere after losing a drinking competition to a girl (no, we haven't forgotten yet)

Oh, a tent or two may be useful.
 
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