Looking for Reliable Outdoor Power Setup

[kevin09]

I’m looking to put together a small but reliable power setup for my outdoor trips. Most of the time I’m out in the snow or backcountry, so I need something dependable for running small gear, charging devices, and maybe even a heater or light system. I’ve been reading up on both wind and solar options, but I’m curious what others here are actually using in real conditions. If anyone has suggestions or even a setup they’re thinking of selling, I’d love to hear about it. Practical advice from people who’ve been out there makes all the difference.

 

[Melensdad]

From my old sailboat days, a combo system was always a favorite. 400 watt wind generator + a solar panel + inverter + battery.

Are you going to have a vehicle with you? Or backpacking? If you have a vehicle it's actually pretty easy to mount panels to the roof/roof rack, mount a wind generator in the same way. Batteries are heavy but the vehicle can carry a spare battery so you don't have to drain vehicle battery. My snowcat had a 2 battery system with a marine switch to choose one, the other, or both.

Best Wind Generators For Sailboats

Wind generators (also known as wind turbines) are a popular way for sailboat owners to keep batteries charged while off the grid. The best wind generators for sailboats come in various types to suit different needs – from affordable units for casual cruisers to high-performance turbines for...

www.lifeofsailing.com

 

[Cidertom]

Since you mention heater, I assume you are using a vehicle for transportation. While solar and wind are nice the energy density (watts per pound ) really isn't there to support mobile operations. With the advent of low cost inverter based generators they are probably the most bang for your buck. Since they throttle to the load, instead of throttle to maintain frequency they are much more efficient than older generators. And also usually much more quiet. A 100-200 AH lithium battery, charger and if needed, an inverter and you could charge during the day and run battery most of the night for devices, lights, etc. heater, maybe not so much, depends on how big.