Portable Battery Pack

Portable battery packs can refer to a variety of batteries. They're usually the portable power banks we bring in our bags every day for instant gadget charging but they can also be about the standard AA or AAA batteries we have for our home devices. Camping batteries are another definition of the term "portable battery pack." A battery pack for camping should have these basic attributes: long-lasting, efficient, and safe. It should be able to run your appliances smoothly and for an extended time. This is also affected by the size of battery you choose however, a battery's period of run time is part of its overall quality as well. 

Next, a portable battery pack's efficiency is seen through its discharge rate. Anything that drains in just a short time or has issues during use won't give you maximum results. As much as possible, it's best to opt for something that has automatic protection against common battery problems to help prolong its service life. The best example of this would be LiFePO4 batteries. These are known for having a built-in BMS or battery management system that protects your battery from overcharging, undercharging, overheating, and short circuits. Lastly, safety is a must. One of the usual hazards of using a battery is the risk of explosion. Using a LiFePO4 battery can save you from this too, as it is built to be incombustible, even when punctured. 

How Long Does a Portable Battery Pack Last?

The life cycle of a portable battery pack is dependent on what type of battery it is. It could be a traditional lead-acid battery, a gel battery, or a lithium battery. Let's look at each one of these in terms of years of use.

Flooded Lead-acid Battery: These types of batteries are probably the oldest in the camping scene. While it has established its name due to years of use, flooded lead-acid batteries have a limited service life of 4 to 8 years. It also requires a lot of maintenance and has a low weight to energy ratio. There are tons of lighter battery options with more power output that you can go for especially if you plan to use it in a camping battery setup. 

AGM Battery: AGM batteries are the most popular in Australia. They have a lifespan of 4 to 7 years and although widely used, they can be sensitive to overcharging and high voltages. These batteries have built a fairly good reputation though, plus, they retail for an affordable price as well. 

Gel Battery: These batteries have the shortest lifespan of only 2 to 5 years. On top of this, they are not recommended for use in high temperatures as they may cause the gel battery composition to shrink away from the plate.

Lithium Battery: Lithium batteries have been gradually gaining attention over the years. These batteries are also known for their long life of 5,000 cycles or 7 to 10 years. Aside from these, lithium batteries generally have better composition and performance especially the lithium iron phosphate batteries or LiFePO4. 

What Is the Best Portable Battery For Camping?

A lot of campers usually go for a 12V battery as it's the ideal size and power output for most camping trips. In terms of type, deep-cycle batteries are often the most recommended because of their increased capacity. What is a deep cycle battery? This battery is characterised mostly by its ability to be discharged down to 80% without incurring any damage. Compared to most batteries with only 50% of DoD, this is perfect as an off-grid battery since it can power most of your camping appliances for longer without requiring a recharge. Deep cycle batteries can also be either lead-acid or lithium. AGM deep cycle batteries win in terms of popularity but if you want to invest in an excellent portable battery pack, go for lithium deep cycle batteries such as a LiFePO4 battery. Portable lithium battery packs deliver superior performance alone, but couple it with the benefits of a deep cycle battery and you've got the most reliable battery power for all your outdoor adventures. These batteries can be pricey though, but if you want something with great quality at a budget-friendly price, you can check out the portable lithium battery packs for sale at Outbax. 

Can I Put a Portable Battery Pack In My Caravan?

A portable lithium battery pack 12V is perhaps one of the best things you can add to your caravan or any RV. This works great as a secondary battery in a 4x4 dual battery setup as well. Both 4WD vehicles and RVs require two portable battery packs-a starter battery and an auxiliary battery for powering whatever electronic equipment they have inside. This ensures that you have enough power to kickstart your vehicle and keep your essentials running at the same time. In some cases, RV owners even pair their batteries with solar panels. It allows them to go off-grid without worrying about recharging their camping power packs and helps them reduce costs as well. Installing a solar panel setup for your RV can take a lot of work and needs extra accessories like a solar charge controller. If you’re planning to opt for this, it’s better to ask for help from a professional if you have no prior experience in solar panel installation. 

More from Outbax

Ready to buy your new portable battery pack for camping? Visit Outbax now! We have tons of quality LiFePO4 batteries for sale here that retail for a wallet-friendly price, perfect for campers who want to save up. For instance, you can try our famous slimline lithium battery. It's one of the lightest batteries you can avail of here-and it's space-saving too! Outbax caters to every camper's power needs in the easiest and fastest online way, so whether you're after batteries in Mandurah or batteries in Capalaba, we'll make sure you get your power pack just in time for that outdoor trip. Aside from cheap batteries, we also offer different kinds of solar panels such as flexible solar panels and even solar mats. Want to skip the installation part? Try our inverter generators and power stations instead! They're handy but pack a lot of power, perfect for adventurers on the go. Shop now!