I'm working parking lot security and my vehicle is pretty much parked for 90% of my shift. I'm considering using a power bank to run a light bar, a fan (since it's super hot out), and my laptop for at least 8 hours to save on gas since idling all day is costly. How powerful does the power bank need to be to keep all these devices running for that amount of time?
3 Answers
If you want to power a laptop—assuming it’s not a super efficient one like a MacBook—you’ll need a pretty hefty power bank. Without knowing the specific power needs for your laptop, fan, and light bar, I'd just suggest going for the biggest power bank you can afford. Bigger capacity means longer usage!
Instead of a regular power bank, you might want to look into battery packs meant for camper vans. They usually have a lot more power and capacity for longer use.
How much are you willing to spend? A Jackery could do the trick, but you might be looking at a $500-$750 range to cover your needs with a bit of extra capacity. Don't forget to consider how much you'd spend on electricity to charge the packs vs. the gas from idling!
Right? If you're idling for a year at $4 per gallon, that could run you around $4000! A battery bank with about 2kWh capacity and an inverter should do the job. If you have some DIY skills or know someone who does, a 5kWh battery setup with a cheap inverter could get you by without breaking the bank. You could also think about adding a solar panel to your car for extra charging, though it might not fully charge on its own.