Terrain Current

Scenario planner

Weekend car-camping power, modeled from the trip

Start with how the fridge, vehicle and campsite are actually used. Then size stored energy and output power as two separate requirements.

Engineering worksheetUpdated Sep 22, 2026No affiliate links active

Baseline

What this plan assumes

Change the worksheet when your trip works differently.

01

Leave with storage full

The power station starts charged. Outbound vehicle power keeps the fridge load off the station.

02

Cool while driving

The fridge begins cooling from the vehicle 12V supply. Arrival temperature depends on drive time, food load and ambient heat.

03

Transfer at camp

After parking, the fridge moves to the power station unless the vehicle has a protected auxiliary supply.

04

Use fuel for heat

Cooking and water heating use a permitted shutoff-valve fuel appliance. Sustained electric heating is outside the baseline.

Energy path

Preserve first, replenish later

Before departureStation charged from ACStored energy begins near full.
Outbound driveVehicle powers the fridgeCooling demand stays off the station.
At campStation carries camp loadsFridge, lighting, devices and short-use equipment.
Later drivingOptional vehicle rechargeUseful only after stored energy has been consumed.
Do not assume one 12V socket can run both loads. The socket must cover fridge running power plus the station's car-charge input and margin. A splitter does not increase the circuit or fuse rating.

Trip power planner

Build the load first. Size the station second.

Small devices use practical estimates. Fridges, heating, cooling and medical loads keep their own controls because they can change the system class.

01

Trip profile

Choose a common trip or adjust the hours directly.

02

Essential campsite loads

Four common loads start selected. Uncheck anything you will not carry.

16Wh per night
8Wh · 80W running
03

Add devices

Open only the groups that match this trip. Unselected devices add no energy.

Personal electronicsTablet, laptop, camera, drone and small USB devices0 selected
Coffee and electric cookingShort high-power events; fuel cooking remains the baseline0 selected
Comfort, climate and medicalFan, heated gear, CPAP and portable air conditioning0 selected

Medical-device caution: these values are editable planning placeholders, not backup assurance. Verify the exact device, accessories, battery condition, redundancy and emergency plan with the manufacturer and qualified medical professionals.

Water, pumps and camp utilitiesShower pump, water transfer, SUP pump, bug control and ice0 selected
Connectivity and entertainmentStarlink, projector, speaker and campsite media0 selected
04

Custom and simultaneous loads

Add equipment we did not list, then describe what may run alongside the largest appliance.

05Replenishment and advanced assumptionsDefault: no recharge credited

Only credit vehicle or solar energy that is reasonably dependable. V2L energy must already exclude the battery level needed to leave camp safely.

Planning estimate, not a field measurement. Device condition, temperature, inverter behavior and actual use can change the result. A consumer power station and this estimate are not assurance for life-support or medically critical backup. Confirm compatibility, runtime, redundancy and emergency procedures with the medical-device manufacturer and qualified medical professionals.

Variable load

A fridge is a sequence, not one wattage

The quick estimate uses 350Wh per day for normal camping. Change the profile when heat, access or freezer use makes that unrealistic.

Travel

Vehicle-powered pull-down

Initial food temperature, load mass, drive duration and ambient heat determine whether the fridge reaches setpoint before arrival.

Busy camp

Frequent access

Meal preparation, drinks and newly added warm items increase compressor on-time. Model this as a higher duty-cycle period.

Quiet camp

Overnight maintenance

Long closed-lid periods and cooler nights usually reduce duty cycle, but the load does not disappear.

Placement

Heat changes the result

A hot closed vehicle can raise demand. Shade and ventilation help, while weather protection and product instructions still apply.

Quick estimate: selected daily fridge energy × campsite hours ÷ 24

System boundary

Heat changes the class of the system

This baseline assumes cooking and water heating use a destination-permitted fuel appliance with a shutoff valve. Electric kettles, induction cookers, griddles and space heaters are excluded because sustained resistive heating can dominate both stored energy and inverter size.

Electric coffee equipment remains optional because short runtime can be modeled directly. Always check current land-manager and campground fire rules before departure; charcoal, wood and fuel appliances may be treated differently.

Before selecting a station

  1. Confirm rated Wh covers the no-recharge or reliable-recharge result.
  2. Check continuous output and the largest startup event separately.
  3. Verify the vehicle circuit before combining fridge and charging loads.
  4. Use DC for compatible loads when it avoids unnecessary conversion.
  5. Verify ports, voltage windows, protection behavior and thermal limits.

Evidence boundary

Know what kind of number you are reading

Official specificationManufacturer-published capacity, output, input limits, dimensions and warranty.

Engineering calculationA result produced from visible inputs and stated assumptions.

Hands-on observationUsed only when the product or setup has actually been evaluated.

Planning estimateA replaceable input, not a promise of field performance.