How to Build a Power Supply System for Outdoor Camping? A Complete Guide from Portable Power Stations to Solar Panels

During outdoor camping, issues such as extinguished lamps, non-functional rice cookers, and drone power failures are mostly caused by improper configuration of the power supply system. Below is a camping-adapted power supply solution covering power demand calculation, equipment matching, safety standards, and lightweight recommendations.

1. Calculate Total Power Demand Based on Camping Equipment

Camping power supply requires “configuration based on demand”. Calculate the total demand using the formula “Energy consumption = Power × Usage time” (Power: W, Time: h, Energy consumption: Wh):

• Basic Lighting Equipment:

◦ LED Camping Lamps: 3W-5W per day, used for 5 hours, energy consumption per lamp is 15Wh-25Wh; 2 lamps for 2 people, daily consumption is 30Wh-50Wh.

◦ Headlamps: 1W-2W per day, used for 3 hours, energy consumption is 3Wh-6Wh, accounting for a low proportion of total energy use.

• Cooking Equipment:

◦ Mini Rice Cookers: 300W-500W per day, used for 0.5 hours, energy consumption is 150Wh-250Wh, serving as the main energy consumer for camping.

◦ Electric Kettles: 600W-800W per day, used for 0.25 hours, energy consumption is 150Wh-200Wh; it is necessary to confirm the high-power compatibility of the portable power station.

• Digital Devices:

◦ Drones: Single battery is 25Wh-50Wh, 3 batteries charged per day, consuming 75Wh-150Wh; remote control charging (5W×2h) adds an additional 10Wh.

◦ Mobile Phones/Tablets: A single mobile phone (10W-20W×2h) consumes 20Wh-40Wh, 2 mobile phones consume 40Wh-80Wh per day; a single tablet (20W-30W×3h) consumes 60Wh-90Wh.

• Example of Total Demand Calculation: For a 2-person, 3-day camping trip (2 LED lights + 1 rice cooker + 3 drone batteries + 2 mobile phones), the daily consumption is 295Wh, and the total consumption over 3 days is 885Wh. A portable power station with a capacity of over 1000Wh is required (with 10%-20% redundancy reserved).

2. Matching Strategy for Portable Power Stations and Solar Panels

It is necessary to calculate charging efficiency and battery life to avoid power supply interruptions:

• Charging Efficiency Calculation:

◦ Actual Conversion Efficiency of Solar Panels: The nominal conversion efficiency is 18%-24% (monocrystalline silicon > polycrystalline silicon), which is affected by sunlight (cloudy days have 30%-50% of the efficiency of sunny days) and angle (optimal angle is 30°-45°), so the actual efficiency is 60%-70% of the nominal value. For example, a 100W monocrystalline silicon panel (nominal 22% efficiency) has an actual output of 60W-70W on sunny days, with 4 hours of effective daily sunlight, providing 240Wh-280Wh of charging per day.

◦ Charging Loss: When a solar panel charges a portable power station, there is an 8%-12% voltage conversion loss. For example, with a daily output of 240Wh, the actual charge input is 211Wh-221Wh.

• Methods to Extend Battery Life:

◦ Basic Battery Life: Portable power station capacity ÷ Daily consumption = Number of battery life days. For example, a 1000Wh power station ÷ 295Wh ≈ 3.4 days.

◦ Matching with Solar Panels: With a daily supplement of 211Wh, the net consumption is 84Wh, extending the battery life to 11.9 days, suitable for long-term camping.

• Competitive Product Comparison and Selection:

◦ Solar Panels: Monocrystalline silicon panels (actual conversion efficiency 13%-17%) are 20%-30% more efficient than polycrystalline silicon panels (11%-14%), providing an additional 50Wh-80Wh of charging per day, and are suitable for environments with unstable sunlight.

◦ Portable Power Stations: The output power must be ≥ 1.2 times the maximum power of the device. For example, a 600W inverter model can power a 500W rice cooker, while a 300W model cannot start it (starting power exceeds 300W).

3. Safe Electricity Practices in Humid and High-Temperature Outdoor Environments

Avoid risks of short circuits and bulging through standardized operations:

• Humid Environment Protection:

◦ Waterproof Rating: Portable power stations should have a rating of IPX5 or higher (protection against low-pressure water jets for 3 minutes), and solar panels should have a rating of IPX4 (protection against splashing water); devices with IPX3 or lower ratings need to be covered with waterproof bags to prevent short circuits.

◦ Interface Protection: After use in humid weather, wipe clean the interfaces (USB-C/DC ports), and cover them with dust-proof and waterproof plugs when not in use to prevent poor contact.

• Usage Standards in High-Temperature Environments:

◦ Operating Temperature: The optimal operating temperature for portable power stations is 0℃-40℃. When the temperature exceeds 45℃ (e.g., exposure to direct sunlight at noon), place the device in the shade to avoid battery bulging (after 1 hour of exposure, the internal temperature rises to 55℃, and the capacity decreases by 10%-15%).

◦ Charging Heat Dissipation: Place portable power stations with a 10cm gap between them during charging, away from flammable materials; the surface temperature of solar panels exposed to direct sunlight reaches 60℃-70℃, so do not touch or cover them (covering reduces efficiency by 40%-50%).

• Inspection of Wires and Interfaces:

◦ Insulation Layer: Check the connecting wires before each use and replace them if damaged; prepare 1-2 spare wires made of TPE material (withstand more than 10,000 bends, 3 times more durable than PVC).

4. Lightweight Power Supply Equipment Recommendations for Backpackers

Single equipment should weigh ≤1.5kg, balancing weight and power supply capacity:

• Lightweight Foldable Solar Panels:

◦ Specifications: 100W monocrystalline silicon model, weighing 1.2kg-1.5kg, unfolding to 1.2㎡-1.5㎡, folding to 30cm×20cm×5cm (same size as a 13-inch laptop), which can be stored in the side pocket of a backpack.

◦ Material: Tempered glass panel (scratch-resistant, withstanding 5kg of pressure), aviation-grade aluminum frame (lightweight and impact-resistant), and silicone hinges (not easily broken at -30℃-60℃).

• Portable Energy Storage Devices:

◦ Capacity and Weight: 500Wh-600Wh models, weighing 0.8kg-1.1kg (lighter than 1L of water); prioritize Type-C bidirectional fast charging (65W input), which can be fully charged by a solar panel in 4-5 hours, twice as fast as ordinary DC models (8-10 hours).

◦ Details: Equipped with an LED power display (accurate to 1%), 2 USB-A ports + 1 Type-C port, supporting simultaneous charging of multiple devices.

To build a camping power supply system, first calculate the total energy consumption, then match the system according to the principle of “portable power station for basic needs + solar panel for extended battery life”, and pay attention to protection against humidity and high temperatures. Backpackers should prioritize lightweight equipment. When purchasing, focus on the actual conversion efficiency of solar panels, the output power of portable power stations, and their waterproof ratings to ensure adaptation to outdoor scenarios, eliminating anxiety about power use while reducing load.