This is The Digital Story Podcast #940, March 26, 2024. Today's theme is "Getting Serious About Portable Power." I'm Derrick Story. Opening Monologue Cameras, laptops, drones, lighting - they all require power, and sometimes all at once. When we're at home, it's just a matter of finding enough outlets. But on the road, that can be more challenging in motel rooms. And if you're sharing space with someone, they're probably saying, "Hey, where do I plug my phone in?" And then, how about out in the field? Yes, we all need power, regardless of where we are. And this week, I'm going to tell you how to get it. I hope you enjoy the show. Digital Photography Podcast 940 Tune-In Via Your Favorite Podcast App! Apple Podcasts -- Spotify Podcasts -- Stitcher Podbean Podcasts -- Podbay FM -- Tune In Getting Serious About Portable Power I started on this project years ago. As soon as I realized that I would need watts and watts of power on the road, I began looking for solutions. At first, there were small, pocket-sized power banks with USB-A outlets. They were fine for topping off my iPhone, but they weren't powerful enough for multiple iPad recharges or even camera batteries. But I packed one or two anyway, just in case I found myself in a pinch. Then, in the summer of 2021, I bought a Jackery Explorer 300 Portable Power Station and a companion SolarSaga 100W solar panel. My road trips were suddenly improved. The Explorer 300 could power up to 6 devices at once via USB-A, USB-C, 12V carport, and two 110V AC outlets. I was able to power my laptop, recharge camera batteries, and keep all of my mobile devices topped off. If I was camping, I could use the solar panel to refuel the Explorer 300, feeling like I had endless energy regardless of my location. Everything changes with power. Now I had plenty of campsite lighting at night. I could ditch the ice chest and replace it with a portable refrigerator, and I could work and play the way I wanted, not worrying about draining little batteries that I couldn't refuel. For workshops, I could ditch the cumbersome extension cords and let participants plug their laptops into the Explorer 300. This worked so well, that I bought a second unit for more flexibility. And if motel rooms hid their only available outlet behind a 200 pound dresser, I didn't care. I would grab the Explorer 300 from the car and keep on chargin'. Like I said earlier, everything changed. Not Just for the Road When I returned to the studio, I would put everything away until my next road trip. That was fine, but it seemed like a missed opportunity. I had a south-facing sliding door that opened to my patio there, and it received hours of potent sunlight most of the year. Why not put that solar panel and power station to work? After all, I'm using solar panels on the roof at home, and my electricity bill is practically non-existent. I expanded my system a little bit, and power generation evolved from a convenience on the road to a hobby. With just a few adjustments at the studio, I was able to reduce my energy consumption by 30 percent from the grid. I'd set the solar panel out in the morning and connect it to a Jackery power station (1 minute), then charge all of my devices, laptop, lamps, and even TV from my mini power station. To give you an idea of the draw I needed, here's a list of my common devices now running off solar. Nikon Zf - 9 watts to charge.OM System OM-1 - 9 watts to charge.iPad mini - 11 watts to charge.MacBook Pro 14.2" M1 - 85 watts to power.Desk Lamp with LED bulb - 15 watts to power.LCD TV - 90 watts to power.Stereo System - 35 watts to power.Occilating Fan - 25 watts to power.BODEGAcooler Mini 12V Portable Freezer P8 - 35 watts to run. With just a couple power stations and 100 watt panel, I could maintain all of these devices without ever having to plug them into the wall. And if there was a power outage, I have my entire backup system designed and ready to go. Better Technology, More Power Recently, Jackery introduced the Explorer 300 Plus with an array of improvements including lithium iron phosphate batteries (LFP), faster charging times, improved LCD display, WiFi, Bluetooth, a companion mobile app, and more control over the settings of the unit - all for about the same price as the original Explorer 300. The new LFP battery has a longer lifespan, safe nature, and high efficiency. The battery is comprised of four main components: a positive electrode, a negative electrode, an electrolyte, and lithium iron phosphate (LFP). They can charge and discharge between 2000 to 4000 times before losing 30 percent of their original capacity. And they have a low self-discharge rate, meaning they do not lose the stored charge when kept in ideal conditions. The two current Jackery Power Stations that I recommend for photographers are the Explorer 300 Plus ($299 before discount) - 288 Wh, 3,000 charge cycles, 300 W maximum output - and the Explorer ...
