alternative power supplies? - R-pod Owners Forum

I just purchased a 2024 rpod 194C. I didn't realize, until after the purchase, that the refrigerator did not run on propane. I will be camping for a week this summer without electric hook up. What are my options? A heavy 100+ lb generator isn't an option as I can't move that by myself. I would like to run the frig, charge my phone, and run a fan. Any ideas?

Thank you

no solar panels, no inverter, standard lithium ion battery.

A lot depends on where you are camping. If it is in the desert southwest, you would have plenty of sunshine, but temperatures are such that you might want that generator so you could also run the air conditioning. That won't happen on just solar unless you have a very large array of panels and a lot of battery capacity, much more than you would carry in an RPod.

If you are not concerned with the AC, but just the refrigerator, then a much lighter 2000 watt generator will suffice. That is well under 100 lbs. It will run the refrigerator and charge the battery. If you are in an area where generator use is limited, it will charge the battery enough during the day to carry you through overnight.

I have such a refrigerator in our current trailer. The down side is the need to have reliable electricity from shore power, solar, or generator to make sure the battery is charged. The plus side is that it cools much better than the propane ones that can't really handle summer heat very well. On top of that, I use a CPAP machine and my wife uses an oxygen concentrator. I have had to make choices on what to carry to make boondocking possible.

StephenH
Happy is the man that findeth wisdom,...

ouR escaPOD mods
Former RPod 179
Current Cherokee Grey Wolf 24 JS

Make sure it is an inverter generator and not an open frame cheap one. The inverter ones run much quieter as they can throttle the engine down if the power isn't needed, unlike traditional generators which need to run at full-speed to maintain the 60 Hz frequency.

The quietest ones are, of course, the most expensive (read: Honda). There are other good options though.

StephenH
Happy is the man that findeth wisdom,...

ouR escaPOD mods
Former RPod 179
Current Cherokee Grey Wolf 24 JS

It would be best to stick with the enclosed ones as they will in general be quieter than an open-frame generator. Check the specifications for decibel level when deciding which to purchase.

Edited by StephenH - 19 Feb 2025 at 9:58am

StephenH
Happy is the man that findeth wisdom,...

ouR escaPOD mods
Former RPod 179
Current Cherokee Grey Wolf 24 JS

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karencrist Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Newbie Joined: 17 Feb 2025 Location: Macedonia Online Status: Offline Posts: 3	Post Options Post Reply Quote karencrist Report Post Quote Reply Topic: alternative power supplies? Posted: 17 Feb 2025 at 2:22pm
	I just purchased a 2024 rpod 194C. I didn't realize, until after the purchase, that the refrigerator did not run on propane. I will be camping for a week this summer without electric hook up. What are my options? A heavy 100+ lb generator isn't an option as I can't move that by myself. I would like to run the frig, charge my phone, and run a fan. Any ideas? Thank you

gpokluda Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 11 Nov 2018 Location: NM Online Status: Offline Posts: 399	Post Options Post Reply Quote gpokluda Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 17 Feb 2025 at 3:06pm
	Tell us more about your 194C. What type of battery(s) did it come with? Did it come with an inverter? Does it have solar panels?
	Gpokluda 2017 Rpod 179(sold 2023) 2022 Escape 5.0TA 2022 Ford F150 4X4 3.5EB Kawasaki KLR650

karencrist Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Newbie Joined: 17 Feb 2025 Location: Macedonia Online Status: Offline Posts: 3	Post Options Post Reply Quote karencrist Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 17 Feb 2025 at 7:37pm
	no solar panels, no inverter, standard lithium ion battery.

gpokluda Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 11 Nov 2018 Location: NM Online Status: Offline Posts: 399	Post Options Post Reply Quote gpokluda Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 17 Feb 2025 at 8:05pm
	The easiest thing you can do is add battery capacity by adding another battery of the same size and type in parallel. I would also get a portable solar panel, around 200watt, with a built in controller to charge the batteries during the day. This of course assumes your fridge runs on 12volt and 110volt.
	Gpokluda 2017 Rpod 179(sold 2023) 2022 Escape 5.0TA 2022 Ford F150 4X4 3.5EB Kawasaki KLR650

StephenH Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List podders Helping podders - pHp Joined: 29 Nov 2015 Location: Wake Forest, NC Online Status: Offline Posts: 6429	Post Options Post Reply Quote StephenH Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 17 Feb 2025 at 9:49pm
	A lot depends on where you are camping. If it is in the desert southwest, you would have plenty of sunshine, but temperatures are such that you might want that generator so you could also run the air conditioning. That won't happen on just solar unless you have a very large array of panels and a lot of battery capacity, much more than you would carry in an RPod. If you are not concerned with the AC, but just the refrigerator, then a much lighter 2000 watt generator will suffice. That is well under 100 lbs. It will run the refrigerator and charge the battery. If you are in an area where generator use is limited, it will charge the battery enough during the day to carry you through overnight. I have such a refrigerator in our current trailer. The down side is the need to have reliable electricity from shore power, solar, or generator to make sure the battery is charged. The plus side is that it cools much better than the propane ones that can't really handle summer heat very well. On top of that, I use a CPAP machine and my wife uses an oxygen concentrator. I have had to make choices on what to carry to make boondocking possible.
	StephenH Happy is the man that findeth wisdom,... ouR escaPOD mods Former RPod 179 Current Cherokee Grey Wolf 24 JS

gpokluda Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 11 Nov 2018 Location: NM Online Status: Offline Posts: 399	Post Options Post Reply Quote gpokluda Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 18 Feb 2025 at 2:36pm
	A generator would be the simplest solution. These are popular on another RV forum I belong to https://a.co/d/dlmBxN4. The problem is many campgrounds are beginning to limit generator use. We were at a campground that did not all generators at all.
	Gpokluda 2017 Rpod 179(sold 2023) 2022 Escape 5.0TA 2022 Ford F150 4X4 3.5EB Kawasaki KLR650

StephenH Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List podders Helping podders - pHp Joined: 29 Nov 2015 Location: Wake Forest, NC Online Status: Offline Posts: 6429	Post Options Post Reply Quote StephenH Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 18 Feb 2025 at 8:09pm
	Make sure it is an inverter generator and not an open frame cheap one. The inverter ones run much quieter as they can throttle the engine down if the power isn't needed, unlike traditional generators which need to run at full-speed to maintain the 60 Hz frequency. The quietest ones are, of course, the most expensive (read: Honda). There are other good options though.
	StephenH Happy is the man that findeth wisdom,... ouR escaPOD mods Former RPod 179 Current Cherokee Grey Wolf 24 JS

gpokluda Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 11 Nov 2018 Location: NM Online Status: Offline Posts: 399	Post Options Post Reply Quote gpokluda Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 19 Feb 2025 at 9:46am
	FYI, companies are beginning to make open frame inverter generators now. I saw a Champion open frame inverter genny at a local feed store the other day.
	Gpokluda 2017 Rpod 179(sold 2023) 2022 Escape 5.0TA 2022 Ford F150 4X4 3.5EB Kawasaki KLR650

StephenH Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List podders Helping podders - pHp Joined: 29 Nov 2015 Location: Wake Forest, NC Online Status: Offline Posts: 6429	Post Options Post Reply Quote StephenH Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 19 Feb 2025 at 9:57am
	It would be best to stick with the enclosed ones as they will in general be quieter than an open-frame generator. Check the specifications for decibel level when deciding which to purchase. Edited by StephenH - 19 Feb 2025 at 9:58am
	StephenH Happy is the man that findeth wisdom,... ouR escaPOD mods Former RPod 179 Current Cherokee Grey Wolf 24 JS

karencrist Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Newbie Joined: 17 Feb 2025 Location: Macedonia Online Status: Offline Posts: 3	Post Options Post Reply Quote karencrist Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 19 Feb 2025 at 2:57pm
	I will be on a bicycle trip camping in parking lots where they do not permit generators. With this in mind I am guessing an extra battery inline hookup with possible solar panel to help would be my best bet. The event is in NW Ohio. It will either be very sunny and hot or rainy with storms. I am hoping a battery powered fan will be enough to keep me comfortable at night with the windows open. I have medication that I need to keep cold and was trying to avoid going out and purchasing ice every day. I will be using the events shower truck and port-a-potties so not using the black tank. Probably will use water but not shower.