Everything that brings fun has some implications, too, and the same is the case with camping. It is undoubtedly an amazing experience, yet it poses some challenges at times, particularly when you want to keep your tent cool during those stifling summer days. A tent air conditioner can be your ultimate savior, but the question is, “How will you keep it powered off-grid?”
Conventional fuel and thermal generators can live up to the purpose, but their noise is definitely not something one wishes for. Additionally, they need a constant supply of fuel that could be a burden on your pocket, and their environmental impact is also a case in view.
Conversely, solar-powered generators can be a more feasible choice. Although their upfront cost may be relatively high, they can save you fuel costs in the long run. In addition, they work silently and have little environmental impact.
However, a critical question in this regard is whether solar-powered generators are capable of running the tent air conditioners and for how long. This article will comprehensively answer the lying question while discussing everything about tent air conditioners, including their types, wattage consumption, and whether you can use solar generator to power tent air conditioner.
Understanding Tent Air Conditioning
Climate controllers are quite good choices to balance your tent’s temperature, but, unfortunately, they cannot block all the heat during those scorching days – this is exactly where tent air conditioning appears on the scene.
Tent air conditioning, as the name suggests, is a special type of conditioning that can optimize the temperature of your tent on intense hot days. Unlike conventional AC systems, tent air conditioners are relatively affordable and portable as well. They operate on batteries and eliminate the need for an electrical connection or outlet.
However, how much they cost can vary based on the features, capacity, and output power. Their typical starting price is about a few hundred dollars, but it can go up to a few thousand dollars based on their BTU rating, efficiency, warranty coverage, and more.
Types of Tent Air Conditioners
If you are looking for a unit particularly designed to be used as a tent air conditioner, your search will end in vain. There are no specific units as such. Yet certainly, there are products made for other purposes, but which are adaptable to be used in camping scenarios as well.
Let’s have a closer look at them.
Evaporative Coolers
Evaporative coolers are just fans and produce cooling using evaporation. Many of you will already be aware of what evaporation is – it can draw an incredible amount of heat and is perhaps the most energy-efficient way to keep things cool.
Evaporative coolers are low-powered, and you can have a good one within the range of $50~$100. But let’s make things clear – don’t expect them to work miracles, and remember, the water vapors need a way to escape, or else your tent will convert to a greenhouse.
Window Air Conditioners
Window air conditioners are very similar to the units that are used to keep small apartments cool. They are ideal tent air conditioning systems, operating on about 5,000 BTUs.
However, window air conditioners must have a ventilation spot that can fit the entire unit. That means if your tent lacks a pre-manufactured ventilation spot, you may have to make some extra effort to build the one.
Portable Air Conditioners
Portale ACs, as their name suggests, are easily transferable. Generally more powerful than window air conditioners, portable air conditioners run on 8,000 BTUs and can keep a space of up to 200 sq. feet cool.
Portable air conditioners also need ventilation. But instead of an entire ventilation spot like the window AC, they use a small hose point.
How Many Watts Does A Tent Air Conditioner Use?
The wattage requirement of tent air conditioners can fluctuate based on the AC's BTU rating, its size, and energy efficiency. The more powerful the air conditioner is, the higher the wattage requirement will be.
The cooling power of an air conditioner is typically measured in BTUs (British Thermal Units). In technical terms, the BTU rating and watts are related in the following way:
1 BTU = 0.293 W.
While low-powered evaporative coolers only use 200W to 400W, a window air conditioner needs a supply of 1,400W. Portable AC systems require even more power; a medium-size portable air conditioner uses around 2900W per hour.
Can Use Solar Powered Generator to Power Tent Air Conditioner?
Solar-powered generators are portable and the most affordable solutions for both outdoor and indoor purposes. Not only can they power your tent's air conditioner but other appliances, too. Unlike conventional fuel generators, it does not emit harmful fumes or carbon monoxide. The solar panels collect and transform the sun's energy into usable electricity, which is then safely stored in the battery backup for later use.
However, the size of a solar generator matters a lot. While a small solar generator can effortlessly power your tent air conditioner for a few hours, you cannot run multiple appliances with it simultaneously. If you plug in additional appliances, it may lead to overloading and even damage your generator and appliances.
As a general thumb rule, a tent air conditioner with 8,000 BTUs needs less than a 1,500W generator. Likewise, a 14,000-BTU AC system requires a larger solar generator. Below is a table of minimum solar generator sizes for different tent air conditioner BTUs.
|
Tent Air Conditioner BTU |
Minimum Solar Generator Size |
|
3,000 BTU |
879 W |
|
4,000 BTU |
1,172 W |
|
5,000 BTU |
1,465 W |
|
8,000 BTU |
2,344 W |
|
10,000 BTU |
2,930 W |
|
12,000 BTU |
3,516 W |
|
14,000 BTU |
4,102 W |
How to Choose the Right Solar-Powered Generator?
Not all solar-powered generators are created equal. They often vary in terms of capacity, power output, wattage, and other factors. These factors have been discussed below:
So, it is recommended to look for a solar generator that can accommodate both the surge and normal wattage requirement of your tent AC.
3 Solar Powered Generators for Tent Air Conditioning
BLUETTI is a leading global trademark when it comes to solar applications. Below are three of their best products that we found the most suitable for tent air conditioning.
BLUETTI EB70S Solar Powered Generator
Are you in search of a small solar-powered generator for your tent evaporative cooler? The BLUETTI EB70S marks the end of your quest; it is an ultra-stable power source.
The EB70S offers a modest capacity of 716Wh and is rated at 800 watts power – that means it can effortlessly power your evaporative/spot cooler. You can even use it to power low-BTU tent air conditioning systems.
The EB70S is highly efficient when it comes to charging. It won’t take longer than three to four hours when getting charged through solar panels or an AC wall plug. While traveling, it can be charged through your 12V carport, but the charging will be slower than usual.
In addition, the EB70S offers a variety of output choices, such as four AC outlets, two USB-A ports, one carport, and a wireless charging pad as well.
BLUETTI EP500 Solar Powered Generator
The EP500 is another high-tech solar-powered generator designed by BLUETTI. It is a perfect energy storage solution for RV and camping adventures, thanks to its 5,100Wh capacity and powerful 2,000W pure sine wave inverter.
The EP500 will make outdoor living more comfortable for you. With the EP500, there is no need to worry about your energy needs while enjoying the nomadic life. It can effortlessly run your tent AC for hours and power other essential camping devices as well.
What about durability? The EP500 can withstand over 3,500 rounds and still maintain 80% of its original capacity. It has four wheels so it can be moved around easily.
Like the EB70S, it also incorporates various outlet sources and is compatible with both 150V and 240 electronic devices. These features further add to its utility for outdoor and RV adventures.
BLUETTI AC200MAX Solar Powered Generator
Our third recommendation is BLUETTI AC200MAX. It boasts an excellent capacity of 2,048Wh and can power your tent air conditioner, e-bikes, and micro coolers without breaking a sweat.
The thing we most appreciate about the AC200MAX is its expandable nature. Add up to two B230 expansion units or B300 to reach a capacity of 6,144Wh or 8,192Wh, respectively.
Furthermore, the AC200MAX can accept up to 900W of solar power and 500W of AC input. In case you want a more expeditious recharge, connect it to both solar input and a wall plug simultaneously – it will be recharged up to 99% in less than two hours.
Related articles: How a Solar Generator Power Your RV Air Conditioner?
Guide for Buying Camping Air Conditioner
Final Thoughts
A tent air conditioner can cool your tent whenever you need it – this is something uncontradictory. But obviously, a tent AC has some energy needs that cannot be fulfilled all the time unless you have a solar-powered generator.
