inverter for Basecamp 20x

[Lordrex]

I have ordered Basecamp 20x (2024) to be delivered mid April.
My question is:
Should I have a inverter installed by the company, or do I need a inverter?
I had a Class A for five years and now downsize to Basecamp so I go to places a Class A cannot. I want to a lot of Boondocking this time around.

[DarthBrader]

My Bambi does not have an inverter. As a longtime tent camper, I never miss it. It depends what you want to run, but for us, it is not necessary. I do carry an Ecoflow power station just in case, but it doesn’t see much use.

[BikeCamper]

What are you planning to run off the inverter?

If you are planning to primarily boondock, your battery bank will be your limiting factor. Regularly running an inverter from the battery bank will reduce your time between charges.

Instead of installing an inverter, you might consider augmenting your battery reserves by purchasing a portable power station (eg, Jackery) with AC and DC power outlets. This way you can extend your battery reserves for boondocking.

[Airiana]

For AS electrical experts, would this be ok to use as a temporary workaround?

I was trying out my laptop for the first time as a test for remote work when it shut down. 0% charge. At first I thought, “haha! No worries - I’ve got three solar panels!” I turned on the main battery switch and plugged in my dead laptop, expecting the awesome rejuvenating current to come flowing through… any minute now. Bummer. None of the AC outlets worked. That’s what I get for ignoring my new Basecamp’s instructions.

A few years back, I stopped at Love’s in a torrential downpour, because my laptop battery ran out on the way back from the beach and I wanted to plug it into my car cigarette lighter. WWATD (What would a trucker do?) I picked up a yellow inverter power strip with several AC outlets and it saved my bacon.

It looks kind of like this: https://www.crutchfield.com/S-nQG7A9...hoCsW8QAvD_BwE

Dug it out, plugged it into the 12-volt outlet on the Basecamp wall near the front table, and voila! My laptop juiced up to 90% in two hours.

I have no idea how much of the Basecamp battery charge was depleted by that activity, or if the solar panels were constantly replenishing them.

Nothing went haywire, so it seemed like a decent experiment outcome. I just got the Basecamp 20X too, so am definitely a newbie!

One day I’d like a dual fuel inverter generator or big power block to run everything conceivable boondocking, but this inverter power strip didn’t seem to cause any immediate problems. If anyone sees a reason I shouldn’t use it as a substitute inverter, please let me know. Maybe it might also help OP, if it’s not a terrible idea.

[Wazbro]

Originally Posted by Airiana

For AS electrical experts, would this be ok to use as a temporary workaround?

I was trying out my laptop for the first time as a test for remote work when it shut down. 0% charge. At first I thought, “haha! No worries - I’ve got three solar panels!” I turned on the main battery switch and plugged in my dead laptop, expecting the awesome rejuvenating current to come flowing through… any minute now. Bummer. None of the AC outlets worked. That’s what I get for ignoring my new Basecamp’s instructions.

A few years back, I stopped at Love’s in a torrential downpour, because my laptop battery ran out on the way back from the beach and I wanted to plug it into my car cigarette lighter. WWATD (What would a trucker do?) I picked up a yellow inverter power strip with several AC outlets and it saved my bacon.

It looks kind of like this: https://www.crutchfield.com/S-nQG7A9...hoCsW8QAvD_BwE

Dug it out, plugged it into the 12-volt outlet on the Basecamp wall near the front table, and voila! My laptop juiced up to 90% in two hours.

I have no idea how much of the Basecamp battery charge was depleted by that activity, or if the solar panels were constantly replenishing them.

Nothing went haywire, so it seemed like a decent experiment outcome. I just got the Basecamp 20X too, so am definitely a newbie!

One day I’d like a dual fuel inverter generator or big power block to run everything conceivable boondocking, but this inverter power strip didn’t seem to cause any immediate problems. If anyone sees a reason I shouldn’t use it as a substitute inverter, please let me know. Maybe it might also help OP, if it’s not a terrible idea.

That's actually a good idea, as long as it can supply enough power for what your using.(fine for your laptop) My guess is it has less overhead power draw then a 1000 watt or larger inverter and you know it wont keep drawing power after you unplug it.