Battery powered generator — can you actually travel with it? Battery-powered gens are supposed to be portable and can normally easily travel, even for on-the-way road trips, camping or outdoor events. Most compacts range from 10 to 30 pounds with handles or wheels for easy transport. Take the common battery powered generator, Dabbsson DBS2300, for example, which is only around 20 lbs with a robust handle — while it can bear some weight and still not give in to adversity, this item can be transported effortlessly for outdoor activities and small stuff such as space within most car trunk.
Silent and emission-free operation is just one of the many benefits battery-powered generators have to offer. However, if properly vented and used outside only, these old-style gas generators can produce carbon monoxide harmful to the health of a camper or homeowner, not to mention noisy as heck (upwards of 90 decibels!). Meanwhile, this type of generators operate at 30-40 decibels and they do not produce any emissions as well, that is why it is called also zero emission power supply. This makes them a suitable and convenient option for interior spaces like tents or RVs, as such they are great from campers who are after eco-friendly options.
But as for travelling by air with a battery-powered generator, there are the following restrictions. Airlines usually restrict lithium-ion batteries over 100 watt-hours in carry-on and checked baggage because they can pose fire risks. There are a few compact models that fit this bill — and which may very well be allowed, though most large capacity generators exceed this limit. This might mean if air travel is an essential part of your trip, you may need to check with airlines on their battery policies or even consider renting a battery-powered generator at the destination.
Battery generators are great for their versatility in the ways they can charge, and because of that may be a consideration for longer trips as well. Another advantage is that lots of these units support multiple methods of recharging including from solar panels, wall outlets, and car adapters; Because it can be powered by so many other devices you will not need to worry about how far your destination is because these types of solar chargers are so useful in the way they get their energy. With solar charging, for example, a 100W solar panel can recharge the 500 Wh generator in roughly 6 hours of good sun but this will be less direct than wall power which has no loss between generation and effective transmission to the whole system — or in other words — cable distribution.
The longevity of these generators contributes to travel safety, too. These could last you a number of years, thanks to lithium-ion and lithium-iron-phosphate (LiFePO4) batteries offering between 500 to 2,000 charging cycles. Lasting approximately 3 to 5 years, these batteries are perfect for those that travel often.
In recent months we have seen battery powered generator taking on a greater market share not just for recreational trailering but with high end professional applications as well such as photographic and filming, mobile workstations etc. All of these generators also come equipped with either AC outlets, USB ports, or even 12V DC car outlets for support of everything from cameras and laptops to mini-fridges and lights. With no noise, no emissions and multiple power sources they are a practical way to keep powered up on any journey.