Considering A Mobile Solar Power Supply?

mobile solar power supply

A mobile solar power supply is worthy of consideration because we use electricity for almost everything in our daily lives. It may be surprising just how much we rely on it every day. It is more important than ever to become as self-reliant as possible. The three key areas of self-reliance include shelter, food, and water. While none of these inherently need a mobile power supply (generator), they can certainly benefit from it.

Food is easier to keep fresh if your mobile power solar supply is powering your fridge freezer, and any shelter is far more hospitable if you have lighting. Part of having shelter is to have a warm or cool enough dwelling for protection. The right mobile power supply can do that. It can charge phones and tablets which keep you connected, and it is surprising just how much of our safety and happiness rely on being connected. Shelter, food, and water may be the three key foundations of surviving, but accessible power makes things easier and more comfortable. 

Having a mobile power supply is all about ensuring that you can keep going with some level of normalcy. In addition to self-reliance, generators are great for prepping for an emergency disaster, camping, tail-gating, building remotely, and giving you the freedom to do things off-grid. It expands your resources when considering shelter, food, and water. This is where generators become invaluable.

But how do you know which mobile power supply is right for you? Well, starting here is a good idea. We’ve compiled a guide to point you in the right direction, starting with the different kinds of generators available on the market and what you should look for before making a purchase. We’re discussing it all! So without further ado, let’s jump in. 

Different Types of a Power Supply

Not all generators are built equal. There are numerous sizes and kinds available. To give you an introduction to this variety, we’ve listed some of the most common below. 

Portable

Arguably one of the most popular varieties, portable generators are perfect for people on the move. Ordinarily, this relates to campers or those that go on frequent road trips, but it can definitely apply to preppers too. During a crisis, you can’t be sure where you’re going to be or how safe your home will remain. Having a portable generator on hand enables you to go wherever you need to without having to sacrifice the use of your devices. This could make all the difference.

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Stationary

mobile solar power supply

Stationary generators have the capacity to power your entire home which means they can keep the electricity working in every room during a power outage. This type of generator is great in case of a crisis because of its 20,000 watts or more. A popular kind of stationary generator is a standby generator, which is designed to power your home at the moment of power loss. They cost thousands of dollars and require a licensed electrician skilled in generators to add as an additional power supply. 

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Solar

and can only be operated outdoors

One of the most convenient types of a generator is the solar variety. With a solar-powered generator, you can source your energy directly from the sun, keeping you going for longer no matter where you are. There is significant variation between solar generators. Some are exclusively powered by solar energy, whereas others simply use solar panels as a backup option when you’re away from an outlet. A mobile solar power generator is typically the quietest and smallest, making it highly versatile.  

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Dual-Fuel

mobile solar power station 5

This is an especially relevant kind of generator for anyone interested in prepping, as it’s made with emergencies in mind. As their name suggests, dual-fuel generators can run on more than one form of fuel. During a crisis, you can’t be sure which fuels are and are not going to be available. This generator provides options when resources are scarce. More often than not, the two kinds of fuel a dual-fuel generator will accept are gasoline and propane, though there are other variations on the market. These types of generators are loud, very heavy, and can only be operated outdoors.  

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Inverter

mobile solar power station

Last on our list is the classic inverter generator. Highly popular among the camping and the RV community, they make up some of the most fuel-efficient generators currently on the market. They can only be run outdoors. Inverter generators run predominantly on gasoline, though you can sometimes find dual-fuel inverters that will accept propane too. They are generally designed to power more ‘sensitive’ electronics that could become damaged from voltage surges, such as televisions and computers. 

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Questions You Should Ask Yourself Before Purchasing

So, now you’re up to speed on the different kinds of generators it’s time to talk about purchasing criteria. There are a few things you should ask yourself before committing to any product. We’ve listed some that we think are the most important 

What Size Do You Need?

Generally speaking, the larger the generator, the greater the power capacity it possesses. New preppers might fall into the trap of thinking the bigger, the better, especially when it comes to emergency situations, but this isn’t always the case. If you need a generator that you can move easily, you need to be conscious of how large it is and how much it weighs. Even self-described portable generators can get pretty heavy, so make sure to read the specifications before purchasing. 

Before going into any purchase, you should have a clear understanding of why you need it. This will help narrow the market down enormously. As a prepper, you likely need a generator for one of two reasons. The first is to keep your home going during a blackout, or to power your fridge freezer. The second is to keep your devices alive while you’re on the move or if you have to leave your premises suddenly. Knowing which category you fall into before shopping around will greatly assist your purchasing decisions.

I bought a 2000-watt mobile solar power supply to back up an energy-efficient kitchen fridge when the power grid is offline. It provides me with 12-16 hours of power, but if my 500w solar panels are connected and the sun is up, then it can power the fridge for as long as I need. 

However, if I’m camping, a small generator is more than enough. The electrical items I use are: 

  • Electric air mattress: 50 watts
  • Mobile Phone: 5 watts (x 2)
  • Smart Watch: 5 watts (x 2)
  • Wireless Earbuds: 10 watts
  • Tablet: 12 watts
  • Camping Fridge: 38 watts (when using a fridge, it is recommended to use a generator that has a built-in inverter.)

So, a 500 – 720 watt mobile solar power supply would be a good fit to camp for several days. If the power runs low, I just connect the solar panels to the generator and recharge it.mobile solar power supply

What Wattage Do You Require?

The true way to measure the power of a generator is via its wattage. A small, portable generator is generally capable of hitting anywhere between 150 and 750 watts. A mid-sized portable or small stationary generator can produce between 1000 and 2400 watts. A large portable can hit 3,000+ watts, and a large stationary power station starts at 10,000 watts. To give you some idea of what different wattages can power, here are some examples:

  • Refrigerator: 600 watts
  • Slow Cooker: 250 watts
  • Computer: 250 watts
  • Television: 200 watts
  • Clothes washer: 1200 watts
  • Electric dryer: 5000 watts

This can vary greatly based on the specific device or appliance you’re trying to power, so always double-check before plugging it into a mobile solar power supply. This information can usually be found in the manual the product came with. 

Why Get a Mobile Solar Power Supply?

  • It’s significantly quieter than gas or propane generators! You don’t want to announce to your neighborhood that you have power when others don’t. 
  • Far less maintenance! You don’t need to change the oil, oil filter, spark plugs, fuel filter, or add a fuel stabilizer like with gas generators. And don’t forget to flush out the oil if the gas generator won’t be used for a long period of time.  
  • Easy to use! You don’t have a pull string to start the engine. Solar generators start up with the push of a button.
  •  Renewable Solar Power! You don’t have to deal with costly fuels to power a solar generator. 

Conclusion 

So there you have it! The basics you need to know about a mobile solar power supply. The perfect mobile generator will differ from person to person. There’s no singular set of criteria that will designate your purchase as good or bad. It all depends on your individual needs, so don’t be afraid to try out different brands and varieties. There’s an entire market out there waiting for you! 

 

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About PreppersSurvive 234 Articles
Welcome to my site! My name is Nettie and I started this blog to provide simple tools to help Preppers.  I am a Girl Scout Prepper. “Be prepared! A Girl Scout is ready to help out wherever she is needed. Willingness to serve is not enough; you must know how to do the job well, even in an emergency" (the motto, in the 1947 Girl Scout Handbook). Being a Prepper has been a blessing to me, my family, and friends on more then one occasion. You'll find these stories throughout this blog.  You will also find prepper supplies checklists, prepper events, cheap food storage ideas, emergency heat sources, survival books recommendations, reviews on power outage lights, printable prepper pdfs, and articles on emergency disaster preparedness.  

1 Comment

  1. GREAT article on sizing and choosing a generator for your different needs. Your needs WILL vary with the type and length of emergency. In our case, MOST power emergency needs are of short (minutes and hours) duration. If we know that power will be restored soon, we don’t even get a small gasoline/propane generator out of storage. If the outage is expected to be longer and heat, cooling, security, and food spoilage are in question, then we bring a larger portable gasoline generator on line. Required maintenance and care of a generator is about the same weather the run time is short or long. Fuel storage is always an issue; not a concern with natural gas or propane. Safety is a very high priority and all generator operators MUST be trained in safe generator operation. If your neighbors, friends, or relatives know you have a generator, they will want to borrow it. Just my $.02 worth

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