Worked example · Two days

Portable fridge for a weekend: battery and solar budget

A two-day 12V compressor-fridge setup with lighting and two phones, using an explicit 50% compressor duty-cycle assumption.

3 device types20% extra energy marginWithout recharging

Quick answer

Battery target for 2 days

2,100Wh

Stated battery capacity, including a 20% extra energy margin on demand and 80% usable energy.

Adjust this example

The bundle uses about 700Wh per day and needs roughly 2,100Wh rated capacity for two battery-only days. Daily solar changes the required stored-energy horizon but not the need for poor-weather reserve.

Energy per day: 700 Wh
Power check: 73 / 170 W
Solar target: 250 W

Solar is a separate estimate. The battery target is calculated without intermediate recharging.

Shortlist first

Stations to compare first

We check both battery size and whether the station can handle the load. Solar compatibility is still a separate check.

4 of 19 meet the target

First models that meet both the battery and power target, then the longest calculated coverage. No ranking on price or portability.

Photo: EU versionEcoFlow ↗

EcoFlow

DELTA Pro 3

4,096 Wh · 4,000 W continu

Meets the target

View this model

Why this outcome?

Usable battery · 80%: 3,277 Wh
Coverage without extra margin: 4.7 days
Battery target with extra margin: Met
Power target: Met
Solar input · watt limit: 2,600 W · sufficient

Calculated solar lower bound: 207.4 W. The overview rounds this up to 50 W.

A watt limit does not prove a panel fits. Also check voltage, current, connectors and the regional version.

Check solar panel

Anker SOLIX

F3800

3,840 Wh · 6,000 W continu

Meets the target

View this model

Why this outcome?

Usable battery · 80%: 3,072 Wh
Coverage without extra margin: 4.4 days
Battery target with extra margin: Met
Power target: Met
Solar input · watt limit: 2,400 W · sufficient

Calculated solar lower bound: 207.4 W. The overview rounds this up to 50 W.

A watt limit does not prove a panel fits. Also check voltage, current, connectors and the regional version.

Check solar panel

Anker SOLIX

F3000

3,072 Wh · 3,600 W continu

Meets the target

View this model

Why this outcome?

Usable battery · 80%: 2,458 Wh
Coverage without extra margin: 3.5 days
Battery target with extra margin: Met
Power target: Met
Solar input · watt limit: 2,400 W · sufficient

Calculated solar lower bound: 207.4 W. The overview rounds this up to 50 W.

A watt limit does not prove a panel fits. Also check voltage, current, connectors and the regional version.

Check solar panel

View all 19 models

Photo: EU versionJackery ↗

Jackery

Explorer 3000 v2

3,072 Wh · 3,600 W continu

Meets the target

View this model

Why this outcome?

Usable battery · 80%: 2,458 Wh
Coverage without extra margin: 3.5 days
Battery target with extra margin: Met
Power target: Met
Solar input · watt limit: 1,000 W · sufficient

Calculated solar lower bound: 207.4 W. The overview rounds this up to 50 W.

A watt limit does not prove a panel fits. Also check voltage, current, connectors and the regional version.

Check solar panel

Photo: EU versionEcoFlow ↗

EcoFlow

DELTA 2 Max

2,048 Wh · 2,400 W continu

Recharge sooner needed

View this model

Why this outcome?

Usable battery · 80%: 1,638 Wh
Coverage without extra margin: 2.3 days
Battery target with extra margin: Not met
Power target: Met
Solar input · watt limit: 1,000 W · sufficient

Calculated solar lower bound: 207.4 W. The overview rounds this up to 50 W.

A watt limit does not prove a panel fits. Also check voltage, current, connectors and the regional version.

Check solar panel

Photo: EU versionBLUETTI ↗

BLUETTI

AC200L

2,048 Wh · 2,400 W continu

Recharge sooner needed

View this model

Why this outcome?

Usable battery · 80%: 1,638 Wh
Coverage without extra margin: 2.3 days
Battery target with extra margin: Not met
Power target: Met
Solar input · watt limit: 1,200 W · sufficient

Calculated solar lower bound: 207.4 W. The overview rounds this up to 50 W.

A watt limit does not prove a panel fits. Also check voltage, current, connectors and the regional version.

Check solar panel

Photo: EU versionJackery ↗

Jackery

Explorer 2000 Plus

2,043 Wh · 3,000 W continu

Recharge sooner needed

View this model

Why this outcome?

Usable battery · 80%: 1,634 Wh
Coverage without extra margin: 2.3 days
Battery target with extra margin: Not met
Power target: Met
Solar input · watt limit: 1,400 W · sufficient

Calculated solar lower bound: 207.4 W. The overview rounds this up to 50 W.

A watt limit does not prove a panel fits. Also check voltage, current, connectors and the regional version.

Check solar panel

Photo: EU versionJackery ↗

Jackery

Explorer 2000 v2

2,042 Wh · 2,200 W continu

Recharge sooner needed

View this model

Why this outcome?

Usable battery · 80%: 1,634 Wh
Coverage without extra margin: 2.3 days
Battery target with extra margin: Not met
Power target: Met
Solar input · watt limit: 400 W · sufficient

Calculated solar lower bound: 207.4 W. The overview rounds this up to 50 W.

A watt limit does not prove a panel fits. Also check voltage, current, connectors and the regional version.

Check solar panel

Photo: EU versionBLUETTI ↗

BLUETTI

AC180

1,152 Wh · 1,800 W continu

Recharge sooner needed

View this model

Why this outcome?

Usable battery · 80%: 922 Wh
Coverage without extra margin: 1.3 days
Battery target with extra margin: Not met
Power target: Met
Solar input · watt limit: 500 W · sufficient

Calculated solar lower bound: 207.4 W. The overview rounds this up to 50 W.

A watt limit does not prove a panel fits. Also check voltage, current, connectors and the regional version.

Check solar panel

Photo: EU versionJackery ↗

Jackery

Explorer 1000 v2

1,070 Wh · 1,500 W continu

Recharge sooner needed

View this model

Why this outcome?

Usable battery · 80%: 856 Wh
Coverage without extra margin: 1.2 days
Battery target with extra margin: Not met
Power target: Met
Solar input · watt limit: 400 W · sufficient

Calculated solar lower bound: 207.4 W. The overview rounds this up to 50 W.

A watt limit does not prove a panel fits. Also check voltage, current, connectors and the regional version.

Check solar panel

Anker SOLIX

C1000

1,056 Wh · 1,800 W continu

Recharge sooner needed

View this model

Why this outcome?

Usable battery · 80%: 845 Wh
Coverage without extra margin: 1.2 days
Battery target with extra margin: Not met
Power target: Met
Solar input · watt limit: 600 W · sufficient

Calculated solar lower bound: 207.4 W. The overview rounds this up to 50 W.

A watt limit does not prove a panel fits. Also check voltage, current, connectors and the regional version.

Check solar panel

Photo: EU versionEcoFlow ↗

EcoFlow

DELTA 2

1,024 Wh · 1,800 W continu

Recharge sooner needed

View this model

Why this outcome?

Usable battery · 80%: 819 Wh
Coverage without extra margin: 1.2 days
Battery target with extra margin: Not met
Power target: Met
Solar input · watt limit: 500 W · sufficient

Calculated solar lower bound: 207.4 W. The overview rounds this up to 50 W.

A watt limit does not prove a panel fits. Also check voltage, current, connectors and the regional version.

Check solar panel

Photo: EU versionEcoFlow ↗

EcoFlow

DELTA 3 Plus

1,024 Wh · 1,800 W continu

Recharge sooner needed

View this model

Why this outcome?

Usable battery · 80%: 819 Wh
Coverage without extra margin: 1.2 days
Battery target with extra margin: Not met
Power target: Met
Solar input · watt limit: 1,000 W · sufficient

Calculated solar lower bound: 207.4 W. The overview rounds this up to 50 W.

A watt limit does not prove a panel fits. Also check voltage, current, connectors and the regional version.

Check solar panel

Photo: EU versionDJI ↗

DJI

Power 1000

1,024 Wh · 2,200 W continu

Recharge sooner needed

View this model

Why this outcome?

Usable battery · 80%: 819 Wh
Coverage without extra margin: 1.2 days
Battery target with extra margin: Not met
Power target: Met
Solar input · watt limit: 800 W · sufficient

Calculated solar lower bound: 207.4 W. The overview rounds this up to 50 W.

A watt limit does not prove a panel fits. Also check voltage, current, connectors and the regional version.

Check solar panel

Anker SOLIX

C1000 Gen 2

1,024 Wh · 2,000 W continu

Recharge sooner needed

View this model

Why this outcome?

Usable battery · 80%: 819 Wh
Coverage without extra margin: 1.2 days
Battery target with extra margin: Not met
Power target: Met
Solar input · watt limit: 600 W · sufficient

Calculated solar lower bound: 207.4 W. The overview rounds this up to 50 W.

A watt limit does not prove a panel fits. Also check voltage, current, connectors and the regional version.

Check solar panel

Photo: EU versionBLUETTI ↗

BLUETTI

Elite 100 V2

1,024 Wh · 1,800 W continu

Recharge sooner needed

View this model

Why this outcome?

Usable battery · 80%: 819 Wh
Coverage without extra margin: 1.2 days
Battery target with extra margin: Not met
Power target: Met
Solar input · watt limit: 1,000 W · sufficient

Calculated solar lower bound: 207.4 W. The overview rounds this up to 50 W.

A watt limit does not prove a panel fits. Also check voltage, current, connectors and the regional version.

Check solar panel

Photo: EU versionEcoFlow ↗

EcoFlow

RIVER 3 Max Plus

858 Wh · 600 W continu

Recharge sooner needed

View this model

Why this outcome?

Usable battery · 80%: 686 Wh
Coverage without extra margin: 1 days
Battery target with extra margin: Not met
Power target: Met
Solar input · watt limit: 220 W · sufficient

Calculated solar lower bound: 207.4 W. The overview rounds this up to 50 W.

A watt limit does not prove a panel fits. Also check voltage, current, connectors and the regional version.

Check solar panel

Photo: EU versionBLUETTI ↗

BLUETTI

AC70

768 Wh · 1,000 W continu

Recharge sooner needed

View this model

Why this outcome?

Usable battery · 80%: 614 Wh
Coverage without extra margin: 0.9 days
Battery target with extra margin: Not met
Power target: Met
Solar input · watt limit: 500 W · sufficient

Calculated solar lower bound: 207.4 W. The overview rounds this up to 50 W.

A watt limit does not prove a panel fits. Also check voltage, current, connectors and the regional version.

Check solar panel

Anker SOLIX

C800

768 Wh · 1,200 W continu

Recharge sooner needed

View this model

Why this outcome?

Usable battery · 80%: 614 Wh
Coverage without extra margin: 0.9 days
Battery target with extra margin: Not met
Power target: Met
Solar input · watt limit: 300 W · sufficient

Calculated solar lower bound: 207.4 W. The overview rounds this up to 50 W.

A watt limit does not prove a panel fits. Also check voltage, current, connectors and the regional version.

Check solar panel

What is included

The devices in this example

These are sensible starting values. Change the hours and exact devices in the planner to make the answer yours.

Adjust devices

12V fridge — daily average
540 Wh per day
Average consumption
22.5 W
Entered peak
120 W
Hours per day
24 hours
Quantity
1
LED camp lights
100 Wh per day
Average consumption
20 W
Entered peak
20 W
Hours per day
5 hours
Quantity
1
Phone charging
60 Wh per day
Average consumption
15 W
Entered peak
20 W
Hours per day
2 hours
Quantity
2

Total for one day700 Wh

Useful tip 1

Duty cycle is the largest unknown

At 25% duty the fridge energy halves; at 75% it triples relative to that low case. Hot-weather testing is more useful than a brochure number.

Useful tip 2

Solar must cover energy, not only watts

A 200W panel can momentarily exceed the fridge draw and still fail to replace a full day’s consumption in weak sun.

Calculation detailsSee the assumptions behind this answer

A 45W compressor runs 50% of the day
LED lighting uses 100Wh per day
Two phones each receive 30Wh per day
The fridge uses its native DC path where supported

How the battery target is formed

700 Wh per day × 2 days × 1.2 ÷ 0.8 ≈ 2,100 Wh

The daily consumption above is rounded for display. The calculation uses unrounded values. The factor is 1 + the extra energy margin, added to demand rather than kept as battery charge; the 80% usable-energy allowance is a separate factor.

SourcesSee manuals and supporting guides

Dometic cooler power-source guide↗Your Power Setup portable-fridge guide→

Battery target for 2 days

Stations to compare first

DELTA Pro 3

F3800

F3000

Explorer 3000 v2

DELTA 2 Max

AC200L

Explorer 2000 Plus

Explorer 2000 v2

AC180

Explorer 1000 v2

C1000

DELTA 2

DELTA 3 Plus

Power 1000

C1000 Gen 2

Elite 100 V2

RIVER 3 Max Plus

AC70

C800

The devices in this example

12V fridge — daily average

LED camp lights

Phone charging

Duty cycle is the largest unknown

Solar must cover energy, not only watts

How the battery target is formed

Continue with another setup