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When planning a camping trip, one of the details you don’t want to overlook is your lighting setup. But how do you ensure you’ve got the right gear? Understanding the watts your lights need is an excellent place to start.
Every set-up has a different wattage, requiring a varied supply of power. Here, we’ll break down the technicalities of figuring this out in a way that anyone can understand.
Estimating Your Camping Light Energy Consumption
Most modern camping lights use LED technology, which offers a good balance between brightness and energy efficiency. LED lights consume significantly less power than traditional incandescent bulbs, allowing you to get more light out of your battery and charge it easily with lower-powered energy sources.
To estimate your power needs, start by checking the wattage of your camping light. This is typically found on the packaging or the light fixture itself. If not, you can calculate it by multiplying two other electricity units: the amps by volts.
Since solar-powered camping lights use a small amount of power, the amps may be as small as 1. Multiplied by the standard 12-volt battery, the watts would be 12.
1 amp x 12 volts = 12 watts
Then, use the following formula to calculate the watt-hours:
Watts x time used (in hours) = Wh of usage
12W x .2 = 2.4 Wh
You can also manipulate these formulas to find whatever electricity unit you need, whether looking for amps from the watts or any variation of these units.
Can I Run Camping Lights With Solar Power?
If you aim to use solar power for your camp lighting needs, the first step is to select a solar power station and the right solar panel to charge your battery efficiently. Look for portable options that can be easily packed and transported but ensure sufficient wattage output.
The size of the solar setup you need will depend on how many lights you intend to charge, the wattage requirements of those lights, the duration of your trip, and how long you plan to use the lights. Because camping lights are typically relatively low wattage, portable power stations or solar generators from EcoFlow RIVER 2 Series, such as the EcoFlow RIVER 2 Pro with up to 800W output, are great options to run camping lights.
Final Thoughts
The right light can mean the difference between an enjoyable camping evening and a struggle in the dark. By understanding the wattage requirements of your camping lights, you can harness the power of solar energy to charge your lights, reduce your environmental impact, and enjoy the serenity of nature.
To explore more about sustainable outdoor power solutions to keep your camping lights on, check out EcoFlow’s portable power stations.