Choosing the Best Camping Generator for Your Camping Trip

Gone are the days you would head into the forests, woods, or mountains with just backpacking tents. Things are a little different nowadays because of the increase in glamping and overlanding. People are interested in outdoor camping with various home comforts, including beds, portable fridges, cameras, portable washing machines, laptops, and lights, include a camping generator. Also, individuals enjoy vehicle-dependent travel, with the enjoyment of the journey being the primary goal.

Are you planning a camping trip and want to maximize your experience? Why not add a portable power station as your camping generator?

No doubt that with a solar generator, you will power your devices to make life easier and usual as you go camping. How amazing! You not only enjoy your camping experience but also connect to the world.

Why Do You Need a Camping Generator for Your Camping Trip?

A camping generator stores and provides access to usable power during your adventuring off-grid, overlanding, or camping.

A solar generator is important for your camping trip because of the following:

1. Enjoy a lit campsite

The sun might shine bright during the day to allow you to move around with ease and enjoy the beautiful scenery of the place you visit. Natural light makes things beautiful and bright.

You might also enjoy the beautiful view of the stars and the moon during the night. Nonetheless, moving around, cooking, cleaning up, and doing other things can be pretty challenging at night.

Therefore, a camping generator is necessary to power lamps or light bulbs, providing artificial lighting. Besides, you’ll also feel safe at night when there is light.

2. Power gadgets

Would you not want to take wonderful shots of the beautiful scenery during a camping trip? Also, do you need to keep communication with family, colleagues, or friends?

A portable generator for camping can help power your devices, including cameras and smartphones. Thus, you’ll take as many photos as you need and call or send messages.

3. Experience an outdoor theatre

Are you going on a camping trip with your family, partner, or friend? Irrespective of that, setting up an outdoor theatre to watch family-friendly movies, romantic movies, or some random films is an excellent idea.

And it is only possible with the help of a generator for camping. You can power a projector using the generator to enjoy a movie date or night while snacking under trees.

4. Prepare delicious food

Although you can roast meat or cook fresh meals on an open fire, there may be weather changes like rain that make it impossible. Therefore, a camping generator can power your portable electric stove to prepare food for your kids or other people during a camping trip.

5. Power your air conditioning or portable rechargeable fan

Some campsites might be uncomfortable to stay in or fall asleep because of the hot temperatures. Thus, a portable generator for camping comes in handy as it can power your AC or fan to say goodbye to sweating.

Besides, you might find yourself in a cold campsite and you need a heater to keep warm.

6. Enjoy good music

While many people get out of the noisy cities or towns to enjoy the tranquil places for camping, playing cool music to your liking is a plus to your experience. You can power your speakers with a solar generator. However, be mindful of your neighbors.

7. Enjoy glamping

With a generator for camping, glamping is possible. It allows you to enjoy home comforts, including an air bed, warm bath, washing machine, and others.

How Big a Generator Do You Need for Camping?

The size of a camping generator you require depends on different things. These are:

1. Different devices you have

You need to consider the electric power needed by the appliances.

Let’s use the following list as an example:

Device	watts needed
Laptop	150
Gaming console	180
Cooling fan	50
Speaker charge	10
Refrigerator	1000
Toaster	900
Blender	450
Phone charger	10

You need to add the watts to arrive at the total (running wattage) to determine your power needs. Therefore, the devices you intend to use will determine your power needs.

2. Starting watts

Also known as surge watts, this determines the extra power a device needs to get up and keep running. A fan is an example of a motor-power appliance that needs surge watts. Typically, a fan will need additional power to start rotating its blades responsible for cooling down your tent or room.

Therefore, add the running watts and starting watts to know the actual power requirements for your devices. This, in turn, determines the size of the solar generator that can run your devices.

How Much Time Does a Camping Generator Last?

Camping generators are long-lasting. Depending on the brand, quality, and size, they can last over 10 years. Besides, how you care for your portable generator for camping can determine its lifespan.

Service your generator regularly and keep it secure from moisture or water damage. Taking care of the generator can prevent engine parts' from corroding, rusting out, and degrading. All these may help you use the generator for more years.

Things to Consider When Choosing the Best Camping Generator for Campers and RV

There are various considerations before choosing a solar generator for your camping trip. These are:

• Generator power

Ensure to calculate the power you will need during camping. For instance, you will need more power if you need more appliances than an individual going with a camera and cell phone only.

A generator with an output of 2,000 – 3,000 watts can be sufficient for simple devices, including a laptop, smartphone, and camera. Thus, you will need a more powerful solar panel to use computers, microwaves, hot water, TV, and air conditioning.

• Portability

Even though they are portable power stations, they can be heavy, and you and your friend might not be able to lift them. Therefore, it is crucial to consider the size and weight of the generator. Also, consider the storage space in your recreational vehicle (RV).

• Charging outlets

Consider the number of devices you’ll carry with you to know the number of outlets needed for them. You might need a handful of ports when using a mobile phone, camera, and laptop. However, you may need a solar generator with even more than 10 outlets if you need to carry many devices or if it is a family trip.

• Easy to use

Portable power stations are easy to use since after setting them up, the only thing left is to charge them and connect the devices. Thus, you can use a solar generator even if you have not used it.

• Noise

Although solar generators are quiet, some brands are quieter than others. And since noise levels are paramount in various national parks, state parks, or campsites you might visit, choose a generator with less than 65 dB. A noise output. You can ask about this specification before buying or check their manual/brochure.

Growatt Portable Camping Generators

Growatt INFINITY 1500 Portable Camping Generator

The solar generators are fast-charging. For instance, INFINITY 1500 can charge via AC from 0-80% in an hour. Also, this solar generator takes 2.5 hours to charge via solar panels.

Growatt VITA 550 Portable Camping Generator

• 538Wh Capacity & 600W Output 
• LiFePO4 Battery with 3,000+ Life Cycles to 80%
• Wall Charge in 1.6 Hours, 240W Solar Charge in 2.5 Hours
• Watt+ Up To 1050W - Drive a wider range of devices beyond 600W with the Watt+ feature
• Up to 11 outlets to power most of your devices
• Easy & Remote Control via App

On the other hand, VITA 550 can charge from 0-100% via AC in 1.6 hours. Besides, it will take 2.5 hours to charge via solar charging.

Growatt INFINITY 1300 Portable Camping Generator

• 1382Wh Capacity & 1800W Output
• LiFePO4 Battery with 3,000+ Life Cycles to 80%
• Fully charged in 1.8 hours
• Up to 14 Versatile Outlets
• Reliable 24/7 UPS
• Easy & Remote Control via App
• 5-Year Warranty

With a 1382Wh capacity and 1800W output, it is capable of powering even your heavy-duty devices. It’s perfect for off-grid living, camping, tailgate parties, emergency preparedness, and more.

Growatt INFINITY 1500, Growatt INFINITY 1300 and VITA 550 are the best camping generators we recommend for you. These solar generators work well for your camping trips because:

• They have versatile outlets. Solar generators have many outputs and can run various devices concurrently. Be sure to use your drone, refrigerator, laptop, and more during camping trips.
• They're easy to carry, making them perfect for outdoor camping.
• These solar generators are also safe and stable as they offer power even when cold or hot.

No doubt that the above features make our solar generators the best choice for those who want to go on a camping trip.

Series	Capacity	Ports	Recharge Time	Outdoor Appliances
Growatt Solar Generator VITA 550	538Wh	5V/9V/12V/20V, 5A, 100W Max USB-C	Solar 200W: 2.5H	Light(6W): 76H
		5V /2.4A, 12W Max USB-A		Radio(100W): 4.5H
		5V /2.4A, 9V /2A, 12V /1.5A, 18W Max USB A-FAST Charge		Laptop(50W): 9H
		13.2V /10A, 132W Max Car Outlet	Wall Charging: 1.6H	Drone(60Wh): 7Cycles
		13.2V /3A, 36W Max DC5521 Output	Car Charging(100W): 5.4H	Headphone(6Wh): 76Cycles
Growatt Solar Generator INFINITY 1300	1382Wh	2 x 5V/9V/12V/15V/20V, 5A, 100W Max USB-C	Solar 800W: 2.5H	Light(10W): 117H
		2 x 5V/2.4A, 12W Max.USB-A		CPAP(65W): 18H
		2 X 5V/2.4A, 9V/2A,12V/1.5A, 18W Max.USB A-FAST Charge		Camera(10Wh): 117Cycles
		1 x 13.2V/10A, 132W Max.Car Outlet	Wall Charging: 1.8H	Drone(60Wh): 20Cycles
		2 x 13.2V/3A, 36W Max.DC5521 Output	Car Charging: Support 12V/24V Standards	Headphone(13Wh): 90Cycles
Growatt Solar Generator INFINITY 1500	1512Wh	2 x 60W Max (5V/9V/15V/20V, 3A)  USB-C	Solar 800W: 2.5H	Light(10W): 128H
		2 x 12W Max (5V, 2.4 A) USB-A		CPAP(60W): 21H
		2 x 18W Max (5V/9V/12V, 2.4A) Quick Charge 3.0		Laptop(65Wh): 19Cycles
		12-24V, 8A Max Car Outlet	Wall Charging: 2H	Drone(60Wh): 21Cycles
			Car Charging: Support 12V/24V Standards	Headphone(13Wh): 99Cycles

Conclusion

A camping generator offers various benefits for your camping trip. They do not pollute the environment and are quieter, safer, and easy to use than gas generators.

They can give you a home experience while away since you can power a TV, air conditioning, washing machine, hair dryer, laptop, mobile phone, and cameras. Even so, factors like price, portability, noise levels, power needs, and capacity play a role when choosing the best camping generator.