Posted 2011-04-03 8:42 AM (#132566) Subject: portable power systems
Regular
Posts: 95
Location: Seattle "pshaw, its not raining hardly at all!" WA
has anyone ever used a N-Power or X-Power portable power system?
does it really have enough juice to power a microwave under normal use? and for how long before it needs to be recharged (ie a whole weekend? only once?)
it says it has a 40Ah SLA battery (or the larger 60Ah battery), with an output of 400 or 1800 watts respectively. there's also an AGM version.
input appreciated! the idea of a rechargable power source that doesnt use propane or pull off the truck is very appealing...
Posted 2011-04-03 8:59 AM (#132569 - in reply to #132566) Subject: RE: portable power systems
Member
Posts: 27
Location: Mi.
The 1800 spec sheet says 8 minutes on a 950 watt microwave, a couple of bags of popcorn! Not going to replace a generator, these units are for emergency backup.
Whinneyman
Posted 2011-04-03 6:17 PM (#132574 - in reply to #132566) Subject: RE: portable power systems
Veteran
Posts: 114
Location: Home of the WNFR at Christmas
The Xantrex Xpowers are pretty slick but fairly useless in reality. If you just want a small power solution look at one of the small inverter generators from Honda or Yamaha and you will be really happy with them.
Posted 2011-04-04 8:46 AM (#132585 - in reply to #132566) Subject: RE: portable power systems
Regular
Posts: 95
Location: Seattle "pshaw, its not raining hardly at all!" WA
thanks all :). I knew it seemed too sexy to be true....a wee blue box with no flammable fuel and no noise to run some appliances in my trailer? how cool would THAT be? :)
Posted 2011-04-04 9:58 AM (#132590 - in reply to #132566) Subject: RE: portable power systems
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Posts: 114
Location: Home of the WNFR at Christmas
Actually I do have that wee little box to run my trailer, it it just not that one. You can do a dual battery system with a couple of modern solar panels and be amazingly happy, with a ton of power. All it is is a matter of budget. I would be glad to help you if you have solar questions.
Posted 2011-04-04 12:00 PM (#132594 - in reply to #132590) Subject: RE: portable power systems
Regular
Posts: 95
Location: Seattle "pshaw, its not raining hardly at all!" WA
I totally agr that solar would be awesome, except for a couple problems.
1. I live (and ride) in the PacNorthWet. sunny days are very few and far between, and campsites are almost always so deep under tree cover we cant even get GPSs to work. on the up side, its always very very green, even in the dead of winter when the moss is all neat and drippy off the trees :)
2. solar panels are usually installed on teh roof. the single most common insurance claim for horse trailers around here? tree limbs falling on and smooshing the roof while you're parked.
kind of shame really, cuz solar energy is pretty awesome on lots of levels :)