[drcoastline]

I am researching portable/back up power stations, unfortunately electricity, solar, batteries, electrical systems are a weak point for me. I am trying to learn.

Having grown up at the New Jersey shore I spent a lot of my life on the water often thirty, forty miles off shore. You learn very quickly if something goes wrong help isn't just around the corner so you need to rely on yourself and be prepared. Also growing up at the New Jersey shore I have lived through many Nor Easters, hurricanes and the ice storm of 1993 where we would lose power sometimes for a week or more. During the ice storm I lived on the bay in our town where I was stuck in the house for ten days due to flood waters. At the time probably the second or third worst flood in our area. At low tide the water was four feet deep and well below freezing there were ice flows around the house. I was half a mile form dry land. We lost power so I had no electricity or running water. Fortunately I had a fire place for heat, I could cook and melt ice for water and I could put the food from the fridge outside to keep from spoiling. Because of these experiences I am a mild prepper. Be prepared and it is better to have it and not need it, than need it and not have it.

With modern technology and advancements in battery storage I have begun researching portable power options. Something that could be easily transported in a vehicle or boat, recharged by the engine, battery or solar. Could jump start an engine or used in a dwelling to keep small items powered for emergency contact such as power bricks, phones, laptops, radios, walkie talkies, power a small coffee maker or power batteries for tools. I am not trying to power a home or a mega yacht, just the basics to get through a few days at a time but can be recharged for extended power if needed.

There was a 20/20 or 60 minutes episode I watched a few years back of a couple in Yosemite as I recall trying to take a pass through the park and was trapped in a blizzard. Long story short the vehicle battery died as did their cell phones. The couple froze to death and were recovered in the spring in their vehicle. They were only about four miles from a small town. I think often of that scenario and would a small power station have helped? Not for heat but would they have been able to get the vehicle running charge their phones to call for help or use the phones to triangulate their position? I don't ever expect to be in that position but I try to use that as well as my own experience for other scenarios such as if on a boat during a storm and the boat is truck by lightning and you lose the electrical system. It happens often.

This is where I get a bit confused with the power supplies. It doesn't seem there is a single answer to my question? A Jackery seems to be a decent unit and will do most things but not jump a battery? Most jumper boxes have some USB ports and an air compressor (which I don't care about as I have other means such as aerosol slime) but can't be repowered by solar and do not have a 110v out put?

Here is one of many video's I have been watching on this subject.



The Ego looks cool but I don't have any of their equipment so the battery charging is useless to me, the inergy (he shows a Kodiak and an Apex not sure the difference?) may be the answer but the Jackery has another unit the 1000 that over comes his concern?

Lets hear it form the brain trust. Collectively you guys can fix everything and solve every problem. So what do you all have to say?