It's 11pm outside Moab.
Your fridge has been warm for two hours.
Whether you live in a van, run a boat, or overland in the backcountry — tell us how you move. We'll build your complete power system.
🎯 Find your system in one question:
Select your options above and click "Build my system".
What "complete system" actually means
Station + solar panels + alternator or shore power charging + cold-weather or marine protection. Every link includes everything. New to portable power? Start here →
Not sure how many Wh you actually need? The capacity guide breaks it down by appliance.
Read the capacity guide →Weekend Warrior
Occasional van trips. Small fridge, phone charging, lights.
Full-Timer
Remote work, induction cooking, fridge 24/7, Starlink.
Cold-Weather Overlander
Starlink, medical gear, winter trips, mountain camps.
Boater / Marine
Chart plotter, VHF, bilge pump, cockpit power, coastal use.
Liveaboard / Off-Grid
Full electrification, generator replacement, permanent install.
Want to see all four brands head-to-head?
Big 4 brand comparison →Still not sure? The calculator nails it in 30 seconds.
⚡ Build my system now →🥩 The 3AM freezer thaw
📡 Going dark
💊 Medical device failure
🚐 Stranded at the trailhead
⛵ Boat systems offline
🌊 Bilge pump failure
ZiaVolt's promise
Every system we recommend includes LFP chemistry, an alternator or shore power charging path, and cold-weather or marine protection. Learn why LiFePO₄ matters →
Pros
- Auto battery heating — charges at -20°C
- Runs fridge + laptop + Starlink indefinitely
- Medical-grade 10ms UPS
- Expandable as your needs grow
Cons
- Premium price
- Heavy — plan your van layout carefully
Pros
- Self-heating cells — works frozen solid
- 240V + NEMA 14-50 EV charging port
- Expandable to 15kWh
Cons
- Heavy at 132 lbs
- Overkill for warm-climate weekend use
Pros
- 4,000 cycle battery — best longevity in class
- Simple, no-fuss operation
- Expandable to 12kWh
Cons
- No built-in battery heating — avoid below 14°F
- Slower solar input than EcoFlow
Stuck between two specific stations? The battle pages go head-to-head in real conditions.
See all battle pages →The gear is largely the same as van life. The key differences are IP rating (water and salt spray resistance), weight distribution on deck, and shore power charging vs solar. Here's what matters on a boat.
⛵ The one spec that changes everything: IP rating
On a boat, your station will encounter salt spray, humidity, and condensation. Minimum IP65 for covered cockpit use. IP67 for open-deck use. Standard stations without an IP rating should stay below deck in a protected cabin only.
📡 Chart plotter + VHF + AIS
🔌 Shore power away from the dock
❄️ Refrigeration underway
🌊 Bilge pump backup
Only 768Wh station with IP67 dust and water resistance. Handles direct spray, cockpit humidity, and salt air. Sub-10ms UPS keeps navigation electronics running through any power interruption. At 22 lbs, easy to move between cabin and cockpit.
Pros
- IP67 — only waterproof station at this size
- Sub-10ms UPS for nav electronics
- 22 lbs — easily repositioned
- 55-minute charging
Cons
- 768Wh — not enough for large refrigerators
- Not expandable
For liveaboards replacing shore power or generators. True online 0ms UPS means no interruption to any system. 6,144Wh base handles 24-hour refrigeration, navigation systems, and general cabin power. Store in a dry, ventilated bilge or cabin space.
Solar on a boat: Bifacial panels are particularly effective on water — the reflective surface below boosts rear-panel output by 10–25%. The solar charging guide covers panel placement and sizing for marine use.
Need medical-grade power on your boat? CPAP and O2 concentrators need UPS-grade switchover.
Medical backup guide →| EcoFlow Delta Pro 3 | Anker F3800 | Jackery 2000 Plus | Anker C800 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ✅ Buy this if… | Full-time van life | Winter overlanding | Weekend trips | Marine / boat use |
| 🚫 Skip if… | Weekend only | Warm climates | Below 14°F regularly | Need 1kWh+ |
| IP Rating | None — cabin only | None — cabin only | None — cabin only | IP67 ✅ deck use |
| Cold weather | ✅ Built-in heating | ✅ Built-in heating | ⚠️ No heating | ✅ Sub-10ms UPS |
Want full head-to-head test results?
See all battle pages →What you're leaving on the table
A cigarette lighter gives 100–200W of free charging per hour. A DC-DC charger bumps to 480W. A dedicated alternator charger hits 800W+. On a boat, shore power tops up your station at the dock for free.
🚗 The cigarette lighter method
⚡ The DC-DC charger upgrade
🔒 The $40 thing you must not skip
⛵ Shore power on a boat
Solar + alternator (or shore power) = indefinite power. You stop checking the battery percentage. Solar panel guide →
☀️ Don't leave it in direct van sun
Fix: Store under a seat or in a cabinet — anywhere shaded and ventilated.
❄️ Can't charge below freezing without heating
Fix: EcoFlow Delta Pro 3 and Anker F3800 have built-in heating. Jackery does not. Full cold-weather guide →
🌊 Salt air corrodes connectors
Fix: Use dielectric grease on all connectors. Store IP-unrated stations below deck in a dry space. Only use IP67-rated stations on deck.
💧 Condensation in the bilge
Fix: Elevate the station off the bilge floor. Use the Anker C800 (IP67) if the location gets wet.
Bottom line on temperature and water
If you're going somewhere cold, built-in heating is a requirement not a feature. On a boat, IP67 rating is a requirement for any station that might see spray. LiFePO₄ chemistry guide →
400W solar is the real minimum for van life
For daily van life — fridge, laptop, phone — 400W is your floor. Solar sizing guide →
The $40 isolator is non-negotiable
A smart battery isolator saves you from the most common van life disaster.
Track your actual Wh for 30 days
Bifacial panels are made for boats
The water surface reflects light onto the rear of bifacial panels. One of the best upgrades for any boater. Solar guide →
DC charging saves you on the boat
12V DC output bypasses the inverter. For nav electronics and USB devices on a boat, always use DC when possible.
Size for your worst day, not your average
Design for 3 days of no solar input. That number tells you your real minimum capacity. Capacity guide →
Running a CPAP or medical device in your van or boat? Different rules apply.
Read the medical device guide →Want to see cold-weather comparisons for all four brands?
Cold weather guide →