Basic electric system for charging phone?

[OlgaAK]

Hello,

I am trying to keep my bus minimal at this point, as I have a very limited time before it needs to be livable.

I have a 900watt generator that has a wall outlet type plug, but it is a bit much to run a generator just to charge my phone. I'd to be able to use the generator to charge up some batteries that can quietly charge the phone at night.

I am very new to this and do not have time to learn enough for a fancy system. In the future, I'd like to install solar and be able to power a laptop and some lights, but it's not urgent.

Is anyone able to recommend specific products for this very basic purpose, please?

[john61ct]

Lithium jumpstarter power pack.

Big battery - best units are Wh rather than Ah/mAh.

19V output a plus.

charge while driving or from mains

[HazMatt]

Get a battery booster pack.
They have the clamps to attach to an automotive battery, plus have a 12V (DC, obviously!) cigarette lighter port that you can plug the USB adapter into.
For fon charging alone, it'll last for weeks!
Can recharge the pack at need either with the supplied 110V converter, or hook it up to the bus while it's warming up at idle...
I've been using this one, that way, for more'n 10 years:
https://www.amazon.com/Booster-ES500.../dp/B000JFHNQA

[david.dgeorge07]

https://www.goalzero.com/shop/power-...power-station/

Ma be more than you need, but these are nice and you can take them with you.

[OlgaAK]

Originally Posted by david.dgeorge07

https://www.goalzero.com/shop/power-...power-station/

Ma be more than you need, but these are nice and you can take them with you.

Thank you! What is the difference between this one and the $450 one that's available on Amazon?

[david.dgeorge07]

The Amazon one is designed to jump start a vehicle with a dead battery. The goal zero has a built in inverter with ac plugs and usb plugs. It is purpose built to run/charge small electronics, where the other is purpose built for jump starts.

The Yeti May be more than you need, but it is a nice unit.

[OlgaAK]

Sorry, I mean this one: Goal Zero Yeti 400 Portable Power Station, 400Wh Battery Powered Generator Alternative with 12V, AC and USB Outputs https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00D5RVMAM..._-.8-CbJQQA8KS

[TheHubbardBus]

If all you need is to keep a cell phone alive (or a couple, or a tablet, etc), something like this would by far be the most affordable option (note I just linked to the first product I saw. Not a recommendation. We have one like this but this is not it. Lots to choose from):

https://www.amazon.com/25000mAh-Hilu...e%2C271&sr=1-3

Charges via solar or USB.


Good thing to have even if you do graduate up to more capable power sources.

[HazMatt]

Besides $150..?

Originally Posted by OlgaAK

Thank you! What is the difference between this one and the $450 one that's available on Amazon?

The solar panels are an extra $300...
DC adapter, tag on another $30...
Bunch of bad reviews...
If your bus batts go flat in the boonies, you are SOL.
I got no axe to grind, so it's nothing to me what you wind up getting. If you want to ignore older tech that will serve multiple purposes, & still works like a champ after a decade, please do enjoy!

[o1marc]

Get a portable charge bank for your cell, once it's charge you can recharge your phone 4-5 times.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Portable-30...0AAOSwt0pc3nR2

[peteg59]

Originally Posted by haz.matt.1960

Get a battery booster pack.
They have the clamps to attach to an automotive battery, plus have a 12V (DC, obviously!) cigarette lighter port that you can plug the USB adapter into.
For fon charging alone, it'll last for weeks!
Can recharge the pack at need either with the supplied 110V converter, or hook it up to the bus while it's warming up at idle...
I've been using this one, that way, for more'n 10 years:
https://www.amazon.com/Booster-ES500.../dp/B000JFHNQA

I bought one similar, but not exactly the same, about 15~20 years ago. It was expensive at the time I thought. Unfortunately it only lasted about 5 years and the battery(ies) inside wouldn't take a recharge. Maybe it's relatively short life was due in part to being stored in an unheated garage?
I never needed to replace it after it died, but for travel & such it might be handy to have onboard?

Are you saying this model has lasted you 10+ years?

[HazMatt]

Yessir!

Originally Posted by peteg59

I bought one similar, but not exactly the same, about 15~20 years ago. It was expensive at the time I thought. Unfortunately it only lasted about 5 years and the battery(ies) inside wouldn't take a recharge. Maybe it's relatively short life was due in part to being stored in an unheated garage?
I never needed to replace it after it died, but for travel & such it might be handy to have onboard?

Are you saying this model has lasted you 10+ years?

Acquired it to power a peristaltic pump in the field, back in the Spring of ought-nine.
Since then, I've used it to boost numerous cars & P/U trux. And, since the DC ports in my VW have never worked right, I use it to keep my fon charged while Wazing & Gas Buddying about...
Like us all, it ain't what it once was: the charge ain't as large & doesn't last quite as long, but can still boost a car's low batt enough to start, so I can't complain!

[CMORGANSKOOL]

SOLAR CHARGE CONTROLLER AND A 25 OR 50 WATT PANEL WOULD DO THE TRICK CHEAP. THIS HAS 2 USB PORTS.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

https://www.amazon.com/Monocrystalli...n%2C121&sr=1-2

[david.dgeorge07]

The absolute cheapest way would be to simply connect a lighter style 12v port that bypasses the ignition. Plug in a car/phone charger to that and call it good.

I leave one on in my Jeep 24/7 and have never seen it impact the starter battery. The always on LEDs in my busses fuse panels probably use more that charging a phone would.

[OlgaAK]

Originally Posted by haz.matt.1960

Besides $150..?The solar panels are an extra $300...
DC adapter, tag on another $30...
Bunch of bad reviews...
If your bus batts go flat in the boonies, you are SOL.
I got no axe to grind, so it's nothing to me what you wind up getting. If you want to ignore older tech that will serve multiple purposes, & still works like a champ after a decade, please do enjoy!

Does the $600 one come with solar panels? When I went through that website, it was offering panels for sale, but they seemed to be separate. I eventually would like to add solar, but right now I am focusing on safety, which means having a charged phone.

How can the $600 one be used to jump start the bus that the $450 cannot?

I will gladly pay extra for something that will be more useful, but based on my (uneducated) comparison, it seemed the only difference was 400 Watt-hours vs 428 Watt-hours and a different color to the usage meter display.

I will greatly appreciate if you will tell me what I am missing here so that I can make a more informed decision.

[john61ct]

My God this has blown so far out of proportion it's crazy!

Are you planning on sitting out in the desert for weeks without starting the bus?

Just get a lithium pocket jumpstarter, with a decent mAh capacity you'll already have 3-5 days there. And you already have a big strong Starter batt in the bus right?

Attach the former to refill from the latter at least a dozen times, maybe 20+, before your ability to crank is affected.

That's it, done and dusted!

________
For belt & suspenders, get a second jumpstarter keep rotating so one is always full, but that's only if you're boondocking where there's no one to get a jump from.

Or you'll need a separate House batt one day anyway, for that kind of money get that now for $200 and a $50 solenoid will let you never touch your Starter batt.

Add a $200 solar kit and you can sit out there with a fully charged phone until your beard grows down to your toes, without ever cranking your engine.

[rffffffff]

This is simple and $10:
GEREE Waterproof DC Converter 8-22V To 5V 3A/15W Dual Power Adapter DC To DC Buck Converter Step Down Power Supply Module Car Power Converter Double USB Cable Connector Car Charger 12V To 5V https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00OXZ06I4..._V1PcDbDAYAQ7D

[o1marc]

Can't get more basic than one of these. Charges and store battery power so you can charge your phone even if the sun is not out.

[john61ct]

No, the solar input is just a gimmick on those, won't keep up with a phone's discharge rate sitting doing nothing in airplane mode

[ladybird_bus]

Originally Posted by david.dgeorge07

The absolute cheapest way would be to simply connect a lighter style 12v port that bypasses the ignition. Plug in a car/phone charger to that and call it good.

I leave one on in my Jeep 24/7 and have never seen it impact the starter battery. The always on LEDs in my busses fuse panels probably use more that charging a phone would.

Exactly what I was thinking. My bus has a cigarette style charging port on the dash. It charges without the engine running. Adaptor, USB cable, job done, as we say in Britain