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The compact portable power systems we create are essential to outdoor staff in the forestry, parks, & research communities. The goal in designing such systems is to balance reasonable equipment performance with lightweight, compact components that are easy to pack into remote areas on foot. If you need more power for more equipment, but still want to remain portable, read our note on larger portable systems.
A compact 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. Accessories are available to connect to virtually any battery system. Other compact panels to consider include the SunLinq 6.5 Watt folding panel, SolarFlat 1.8 Watt, SolarPort 4.4 Watt.
Power Storage - Compact Battery Options
Batteries are often a big problem in portable power systems due to their size and weight. Why do you need a battery storage? Two reasons: first, if your equipment needs to operate from AC power, the inverter we supply will need to be able to draw more power than your solar panel can provide, not to mention that we have yet to meet an inverter that can draw power directly from a solar panel. Second, due to the ebb & flow of solar irradiation, it is necessary to have the panel charge a battery and draw power from the battery as needed. You can have the panel connected to the battery all day to capture all the sun's power, and then draw what power you need at any time of the day or night (the panel can remain connected at all times).
We provide a number of smaller batteries that provide enough power reserve to run a laptop without the aid of solar power from 20-90 minutes. The Outpost Power 4 battery stick is a compact, lightweight pack featuring a 12VDC plug, socket, and on/off switch - very handy for smaller systems. The Outpost Power 7 provides a maintenance-free battery with triple DC outlets and 75W detachable pocket AC inverter. At only 8lbs, it is one of the most practical portable power packs available. Still more portable than lugging a golf cart battery are the Outpost Power 12, and the Outpost Power 18 power packs. These last three kits include an AC inverter for household power anywhere along with battery status meter & input regulation that allows you to connect as much as 100W of solar power without worry.
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 & digital cameras, 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 120 & larger 400 Watt sizes. 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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