Is it worth buying a Jackery - ChatGPT advice

[Blackbrogue1962]

I have been wondering if it was worth buying a power station and was considering the Jackery Explorer 1000v2 on a Black Friday deal of £399. Given our use of our 24 Ocean, the only use of power other than the fridge and the lights are iPhone and iPad charging. I thought I’d ask ChatGPT for advice. Based on this my conclusion is that a power bank wouldn’t really be of much benefit, but I’d be interested in other peoples views on the AI advice copied below:

Good — clear question. Short answer first: the Jackery will give you a lot of extra phone/tablet charges (many days’ worth) but it will only modestly extend how long the leisure batteries can run the fridge and lights — because phones/tablets use very little energy compared with a fridge.

Assumptions I used

• Your van leisure bank: 2 × 75 Ah at 12 V = 1,800 Wh total.
  Typical safe usable (to protect lead-acid/AGM) ≈ 50% → ~900 Wh usable.
• Jackery Explorer 1000 v2: 1,070 Wh rated capacity. For USB/DC device charging you can effectively use most of that, so I’ll round to ≈1,000–1,070 Wh usable for simplicity.
• Device battery sizes (typical examples):
  
  • Smartphone ≈ 12 Wh (typical modern phone ~10–15 Wh).
  • Tablet (iPad) ≈ 32 Wh.
• USB/DC charging losses are small — I’ll assume ~95% efficiency for Jackery → device charging (so Jackery usable available for small-device charging ≈ 1,000 Wh).

How many phone/tablet charges from the Jackery

(Using 1,000 Wh usable from Jackery)

• Full phone charge ≈ 12 Wh → ~83 full phone charges (1000 / 12 ≈ 83).
• Full iPad charge ≈ 32 Wh → ~31 full iPad charges (1000 / 32 ≈ 31).
• Example mix: 2 phones + 1 iPad per day = 2×12 + 32 = 56 Wh/day → Jackery would cover that for ~18 days (1000 / 56 ≈ 17.8 days).

So for everyday small-device charging the Jackery is more than enough and will remove that load entirely from your leisure bank for many days.

Effect on fridge & lights runtime (what really matters)

Small electronics don’t use much energy compared with a fridge. To show the effect, here are illustrative examples.

• If the phones/tablet would otherwise draw ~56 Wh/day (example above), then moving that load to the Jackery saves the leisure bank 56 Wh per day.
• Your leisure bank usable capacity ≈ 900 Wh. If the fridge+lights draw, say, 900 Wh per day (typical small compressor fridge average — actual depends on model, ambient temp, duty cycle), then:
  
  • Without Jackery: leisure bank gives you ~1 day (900 Wh / 900 Wh/day).
  • With Jackery taking phones/tablet load: leisure bank provides 900 Wh for fridge/lights but you’ve removed 56 Wh/day from it, so the leisure bank lasts ~1.06 days — about ~1.5 hours extra of fridge runtime.
• If your fridge is more efficient (for example 450 Wh/day average), the same saved 56 Wh/day gives an extra ~0.12 day ≈ 3 hours.

So: phones/tablets are small — even many charges only free a small fraction of the leisure bank’s capacity. The Jackery will dramatically reduce the need to top up leisure batteries for device charging, but will only increase fridge/lights runtime by a few hours (unless your fridge is extremely low-draw).

 

[Mehdime]

In your case, I can’t see any benefit of the expense and hassle of carrying this.

Either you’re staying put on a campsite for more than a couple of days, in which case you should just get plugged to the mains. Or you’re doing day trips or wild camping and moving daily. The daily drive, even just 20 minutes, will be far more than enough top-up charge to power the fridge, lights, iPhones and iPad for another day. You can always get into the habit of tapping “max charge” whenever you start the engine to maximise charging while you’re driving if you’re really concerned. But you don’t even need to.

 

[Wannabecamperman]

We use a 2kWh Bluetti, but only because we prefer gas free and cook with induction and occasionally, air fryer! Not to mention someone's hair straighteners...

It charges at around 100w from the 12v socket while driving, but can use solar and a 560w alternator charger if so inclined.

Personally, I recommend any LiFePO4 power bank, and having an electric kettle is much less fuss IMO.

 

[dspuk]

No, to the need for an extra power source and to asking ChatGPT for advice.

 

[Corradobrit]

Personally, I recommend any LiFePO4 power bank, and having an electric kettle is much less fuss IMO.

Especially with the alternator charges that are now on the market. I couldn't be without my EF Delta 2 as I like to be off grid at least 75% of the time.

 

[Ch1pbutty]

Roof mounted solar panels might be a better option. Just fit & forget.

No need to cart another battery around- Cali already has 3 fitted.

 

[Corradobrit]

Don't the roof panels take the height above 2m?

 

[mr pg]

Ours measured 2.03m with solar.

 

[dspuk]

Don't the roof panels take the height above 2m?

Our solar, Rogers, is lower than the awning.

 

[Wannabecamperman]

Roof mounted solar panels might be a better option. Just fit & forget.

No need to cart another battery around- Cali already has 3 fitted.

But the inverter caps out at 300w, so OK for 12v and laptop etc, but useless for kettle, toaster, hair straighteners, e-bikes, etc etc

 

[dspuk]

But the inverter caps out at 300w, so OK for 12v and laptop etc, but useless for kettle, toaster, hair straighteners, e-bikes, etc etc

I hate to be brutal but if anyone has a Cali and their priority is an air fryer and a toaster while straightening their hair, off grid, then they need to re-evaluate what they are trying to get out of a camper van.

 

[GrannyJen]

I have a 300A lithium battery, a 280w solar panel, and a 2kwh Ecoflow.

The result is I have power to spare and no gas, no gas hob, and no gas lines, in my camper. It was my choice, my camper is not a cali, and I had a choice of making it that way.

Having no gas gives me a completely clear worktop, an empty cupboard to use and just less hassle. I also know just how much energy is available rather than guess how much gas I have left. A lot of very minor advantages there but a collection of minor advantages can sometimes add up to a large benefit and for me it does.

The instant availability of power, as someone else said, just no hassle to boil a kettle. My induction hob, or air fryer, to cook with are packed out of the way when not in use. I did see a comment suggesting that to worry about those things suggests not really grabbing the essence of campervanning. For me it is the very essence. Campervanning means being self-sufficient, I don't need an EHU, I don't need to find somewhere to eat, I can just stop, park up for the night, cook whatever is available from my larder, have a cup of tea when I want and need help from no one.

I don't need hair straighteners but don't dismiss the importance of such things when away on long trips relying on self resources. During the 4 years of the centenary of WW1 I was travelling to Belgium to assist in events for the Imperial war museum. Often I would refuse an hotel room provided and just say "give me a quiet corner of your car park". I would then get into my posh frock, put my lippy on, tart up my hair, deliver a talk to an audience and then be back on my travels the next morning. That independence and flexibility is to me the essence of living in a camper.

 

[GrannyJen]

I hate to be brutal but if anyone has a Cali and their priority is an air fryer and a toaster while straightening their hair, off grid, then they need to re-evaluate what they are trying to get out of a camper van.

Why?

 

[colintfcolintf]

We have Bluetti AC70P that fits under the sink. Powers a 240 volts camping Kettle and Toaster. We prefer that way to using the gas for the kettle and we like our toast at the weekends

 

[dirtyboy]

I've been toying with the power bank idea with the Black Friday deals. I quite like the idea that I can plug the EHU into a Jackery and kind of discharge a Li battery fully before the van switches to the leisures, so takes some load off them. Plus I can take with me to another van rather than full solar install. Tempted.

 

[willwander]

I hate to be brutal but if anyone has a Cali and their priority is an air fryer and a toaster while straightening their hair, off grid, then they need to re-evaluate what they are trying to get out of a camper van.

We’re off to a black tie in London this weekend, I’m taking my Tux and Mrs will be in her poshest dress (Taking hair straighteners). Staying in the van.
Each to their own.

 

[Ch1pbutty]

But the inverter caps out at 300w, so OK for 12v and laptop etc, but useless for kettle, toaster, hair straighteners, e-bikes, etc etc

We heat our kettle with gas, toast with a ridgemonkey & use leg power for bikes!

(…I would only consider a power pack if it would also run the washing machine, dishwasher, tumble dryer & corby trouser press..)

 

[willwander]

We heat our kettle with gas, toast with a ridgemonkey & use leg power for bikes!

(…I would only consider a power pack if it would also run the washing machine, dishwasher, tumble dryer & corby trouser press..)

Goblin Teasmaid?

 

[GrannyJen]

I've been toying with the power bank idea with the Black Friday deals. I quite like the idea that I can plug the EHU into a Jackery and kind of discharge a Li battery fully before the van switches to the leisures, so takes some load off them. Plus I can take with me to another van rather than full solar install. Tempted.

I used to have (and still have) a 1kw Anker power bank. My advice would be to look for something with a bigger inverter. Mine is 1800 kw boosting to 2200 so whilst my air fryer is only 900w and my induction hob 800w I can use the two together or boil a kettle (1kw) and use one or the other. My eco flow also has modular battery extensions so I can take extra capacity if I needed it, which so far has not been the case.

 

[ssteel]

Especially with the alternator charges that are now on the market. I couldn't be without my EF Delta 2 as I like to be off grid at least 75% of the time.

After some research I got the delta 2 also.

 

[Wannabecamperman]

I hate to be brutal but if anyone has a Cali and their priority is an air fryer and a toaster while straightening their hair, off grid, then they need to re-evaluate what they are trying to get out of a camper van.

I do believe that you're judging people by your own standards, @dspuk

To each their own, friend.

 

[Wannabecamperman]

I have a 300A lithium battery, a 280w solar panel, and a 2kwh Ecoflow.

The result is I have power to spare and no gas, no gas hob, and no gas lines, in my camper. It was my choice, my camper is not a cali, and I had a choice of making it that way.

Having no gas gives me a completely clear worktop, an empty cupboard to use and just less hassle. I also know just how much energy is available rather than guess how much gas I have left. A lot of very minor advantages there but a collection of minor advantages can sometimes add up to a large benefit and for me it does.

The instant availability of power, as someone else said, just no hassle to boil a kettle. My induction hob, or air fryer, to cook with are packed out of the way when not in use. I did see a comment suggesting that to worry about those things suggests not really grabbing the essence of campervanning. For me it is the very essence. Campervanning means being self-sufficient, I don't need an EHU, I don't need to find somewhere to eat, I can just stop, park up for the night, cook whatever is available from my larder, have a cup of tea when I want and need help from no one.

I don't need hair straighteners but don't dismiss the importance of such things when away on long trips relying on self resources. During the 4 years of the centenary of WW1 I was travelling to Belgium to assist in events for the Imperial war museum. Often I would refuse an hotel room provided and just say "give me a quiet corner of your car park". I would then get into my posh frock, put my lippy on, tart up my hair, deliver a talk to an audience and then be back on my travels the next morning. That independence and flexibility is to me the essence of living in a camper.

Absoflippinlutely!

Once tried, it becomes addictive. As a result of camping with lithium power banks, and adopting the technology, I now have solar at home and drive an EV. I'm not saying it's for everyone, but to each their own.

Very well said, Jen.

 

[Kev56]

I hate to be brutal but if anyone has a Cali and their priority is an air fryer and a toaster while straightening their hair, off grid, then they need to re-evaluate what they are trying to get out of a camper van.

What is wrong with using a toaster?

 

[JuanVecino2023]

Our solar, Rogers, is lower than the awning.

Rogers solar is based on generic panels with a well documented fitting methodology.

I’m not here to decry his business. However, there is a premium for this solution.

 

[GrannyJen]

Absoflippinlutely!

Once tried, it becomes addictive. As a result of camping with lithium power banks, and adopting the technology, I now have solar at home and drive an EV. I'm not saying it's for everyone, but to each their own.

Very well said, Jen.

It depends on who your electricity supplier is but I'm with Octopus, green. At times of high demand I get paid to switch off, at times of high production I get free "all you can eat" electricity.

A small thing but.... run everything off the power banks whilst being paid not to use, charge the things up when being given it for nowt. Takes two minutes to pop my ecoflow and two spare batteries on charge or into the kitchen to cook at home with. The fact that the power banks are mobile, not dedicated only to the camper, is brilliant. Being able to bring the power to the device has saved extension leads being draped all over the place many times.