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Simon Christie has spent more than two decades producing and presenting Australian 4WD and outdoor adventure television. Image courtesy Jackery Australia.
Portable power on your terms
A Q&A with Simon Christie, Jackery Australia Ambassador
Briefly …
Choosing portable power for independent travel means balancing what you need, what you can carry and how reliably you can recharge.
Simon Christie has spent more than two decades producing and presenting Australian 4WD and outdoor adventure television, travelling and filming in some of the country's most remote locations. His experience has given him a practical understanding of what it takes to remain self-sufficient away from established facilities.
Remote 4WD travel demands considerable preparation, experience and an understanding of the risks, particularly when travelling alone. But the principles behind choosing and managing portable power are equally relevant to less demanding independent journeys.
Simon, who is a brand ambassador for portable power company Jackery Australia, shares his advice on choosing equipment, understanding its limitations and making the most of the independence it provides.
For someone travelling alone, particularly on an extended road trip or camping journey, what practical differences can access to independent portable power make?
Two of the greatest attractions of travelling and camping are the freedom and the experience, but with a busy schedule and other challenges facing most individuals these days, both are facilitated by convenience. Whether it is staying charged for work, content creation or simply communication, having the ability to light your nights and stay warm or cool or to simply cook with ease, having a reliable independent power supply is a big part of making that convenience possible.
Over the years, travelling and filming in some pretty remote parts of Australia, I’ve seen how much of a difference a well-planned power system can make. It’s not necessarily about having all the comforts of home but rather having the essentials available when you need them. Keeping your fridge running, charging cameras and phones, providing lighting and powering communication equipment are all obvious benefits. But for someone travelling alone, there’s also a level of confidence that comes from knowing you’re reasonably self-sufficient.
You’re no longer planning your trip around powered campsites or worrying about finding somewhere to recharge every couple of days. You can stay longer in places you enjoy and explore destinations that might otherwise be impractical or just too challenging. That said, I think it’s important to distinguish between the convenience of genuine self-sufficiency and the threat of being over equipped or over confident. Having loads of adventure gear doesn’t automatically make you prepared for remote area survival. The real benefit of independent power is freedom, but that freedom comes from understanding your equipment and its limitations.
Portable power banks, power stations and solar generators are often discussed interchangeably. What are the important differences, and how should a traveller decide which, if any, they actually need?
One thing I’ve learnt over the years is that people often buy equipment based on what it can supposedly do, rather than what they actually need it to do. There are some fairly important differences between the various portable power options. A power bank is generally a small rechargeable battery designed for charging phones, tablets and other USB devices. They’re lightweight, convenient and something I’d recommend almost every traveller carries.
A portable power station is a much larger and more versatile battery system. Depending on the model, it can provide USB, 12-volt and 240-volt power, allowing you to run everything from camping lights and laptops through to portable fridges, induction cooktops and even some household appliances. A solar generator is typically an advanced all in one portable power station that is supplied with, or is designed to connect to, solar panels. It is primarily a storage device with features that allow you to conveniently use its stored power as required. The solar panels generate electricity, which is then stored in the power station’s battery. My advice is always to work backwards from what you need. What equipment are you taking? How much power does it consume? How long will you be away from charging facilities? And how are you planning to recharge the battery?
For someone travelling between towns and staying in established accommodation, a decent power bank might be more than enough. For someone spending a week camped beside a remote beach, running a fridge, lighting and other equipment, the requirements are very different. And if you’re regularly touring in a 4WD, a dedicated power station charging setup will ensure you maximise the charge and minimise the time it takes to fully replenish your power station, giving you the best of both worlds: a system that integrates with your vehicle and still allows you the freedom, adaptability and convenience of a modern mobile power station.
Also understanding how your portable power units are replenished will make a big difference. A good solar generator can be recharged from solar panels, via your vehicle (when it is running) or via mains power (either at home or at established accommodation). Long days at sunny campsites are great for solar charging, frequent and longer vehicle transits are ideal for car charging and regular or irregular stays at powered locations are perfect for fast full top ups!
Don’t start with the battery. Start with your power requirements and travel habits and build the system around them.
Left: Jackery Australia’s Explorer 100 Plus – compact rechargeable devices can provide USB power without the weight and capacity of larger portable power stations. Image courtesy Jackery Australia. Right: Jackery Australia’s Explorer 1000 V2 with SolarSaga – portable power stations can store electricity generated by solar panels, extending charging options away from mains power. Images courtesy Jackery Australia.
Weight, storage space and portability matter considerably when travelling alone. How should someone assess the trade-off between battery capacity, power output and the practicalities of carrying and operating the equipment independently?
This is where I think a bit of common sense can save people a lot of money, weight and frustration. When you’re travelling alone, every piece of equipment needs to justify the space it occupies and the effort involved in using it.
I’ve seen plenty of camping setups where people carry far more equipment than they actually need. Bigger isn’t always better! Carrying excess sleeping gear, food and tools is poor planning and proper planning should highlight what gear you actually need. If you’re travelling by car but still want to do overnight remote hikes for example, then it is not excessive to carry two power stations based on your specific needs. A smaller, lightweight one for your backpack will provide the right amount of energy for a shorter trip while a larger unit is more ideal for longer stays that utilise vehicular transport and charging opportunities.
There are two important specifications to understand. Battery capacity, measured in watt-hours, tells you roughly how much energy the battery can store. Power output, measured in watts, tells you how much electrical power it can deliver at once. They’re not the same thing. You might have a battery with plenty of storage capacity, but an inverter that can’t operate a particular appliance. Equally, you might have a powerful inverter that can run a high-demand appliance, but only for a relatively short period. As a simple example, something consuming 50 watts continuously for 10 hours will use around 500 watt-hours of energy. Allow a little extra for system losses and a sensible reserve.
From there look at the physical realities. Do you really need a higher output power station with a full-blown coffee maker? Possibly a more compact unit and a basic kettle with instant coffee could do the trick. Luxuries are great but camping and solo travel especially are more about efficiency and practicality. Matching the system, size and weight wise, to how you will be travelling is important. But also consider where you carry the unit, ensure it is accessible and that you have the required room and convenience to plug and unplug devices and chargers as required. Any gear you take requires space, but the convenience and freedom afforded by a quality power station and solar panels will actually save you carrying other gear while still allowing you to enjoy the type of adventure you have planned.
Finally consider how you are travelling. Long endurance hikes through remote areas with just a backpack will demand far lighter and smaller power choices than travelling and camping out of a vehicle that can easily carry a larger power station and the required solar panels to replenish it. For solo travellers, especially those hiking, a smaller, well-matched system that’s easy to manage will often be far more practical than a large system that’s difficult to handle.
Travelling beyond established facilities demands careful preparation, including a realistic understanding of equipment and its limitations. Image courtesy Jackery Australia.
How reliable is solar charging in practice, particularly during extended periods of cloudy weather, in shaded campsites or when travelling through remote parts of Australia? What limitations should travellers understand before relying on it?
Solar is a fantastic technology and something I’ve relied on many times when camping and travelling. But it’s also one of the areas where people’s expectations can be very different from reality. A solar panel’s advertised output is based on standard test conditions. Out in the bush, conditions are rarely perfect. A 200-watt panel doesn’t mean you’re going to get 200 watts of charging power all day. The angle of the sun, cloud cover, temperature, shading and even dirt on the panel can all affect its performance.
I’ve always said that one of the biggest mistakes people make is calculating their power requirements around the best possible conditions rather than the worst conditions they’re reasonably likely to encounter. You might have several days of beautiful sunshine and more than enough power, followed by three days of heavy cloud or rain where you’re barely replacing what you’re using. You may be driving your vehicle during the day and pulling up to camp late in the afternoon or even in the dark where solar may offer minimal to no charging ability. Shaded campsites present another challenge. We often choose a campsite because it’s sheltered and comfortable, but the very trees providing that shade can make solar charging difficult.
The key is understanding your daily energy balance. If you’re using more electricity than you’re generating, your battery will eventually run flat. It’s that simple. For extended trips, I prefer having more than one way of charging. Solar is excellent when you’re stationary, while a properly installed vehicle charging system can be particularly useful when you’re travelling between destinations. It’s also worth remembering that Australia is a huge country with very different conditions. What works beautifully in the middle of summer in central Australia may be far less effective during a wet week in Tasmania.
My advice is to allow for several days of poor solar production and make sure you have a realistic alternative. Solar is an excellent way to extend your independence, but you should never confuse having solar panels with having an unlimited power supply.
Simon Christie draws on extensive remote-area travel experience to emphasise the importance of knowledge, preparation and practical decision-making. Image courtesy Jackery Australia.
Portable power can provide reassurance when travelling independently, but it can also create a false sense of security. What precautions, maintenance requirements and backup arrangements would you recommend for someone relying on a portable power station away from established facilities?
I think this is probably the most important question of the lot. Over the years, one of the things I’ve consistently encouraged people to understand is that being self-sufficient isn’t about how much equipment you carry. It’s about knowing how to use that equipment, recognising its limitations and having a plan when something goes wrong. A quality portable power station can be a fantastic piece of equipment, and it is far from being just a battery. In essence it is a modern high-tech battery supported by features and capabilities that make it practical, convenient and at times a necessity.
Before heading away on an extended trip, I’d strongly recommend testing your entire setup under realistic conditions. Run your fridge, charge your devices and see how much electricity you’re actually using over a couple of days. Learn how your system charges, what its operating limits are and how to interpret the battery’s state of charge. Don’t wait until you’re hundreds of kilometres from the nearest town to discover that your setup isn’t performing as expected. Look after the equipment too. Protect it from excessive heat, dust and moisture, make sure connections are secure and use the correct charging equipment. Lithium batteries are generally very capable, but they still need appropriate management and protection. I’d also recommend keeping a reasonable battery reserve rather than running everything down to the last few per cent.
For solo travellers, communications are especially important. If you’re travelling beyond mobile coverage, consider carrying a registered personal locator beacon or a suitable satellite communication device. Satellite internet services such as Starlink can provide additional connectivity, but they aren’t substitutes for dedicated emergency communication equipment. A mobile phone with a fully charged battery is of limited use if there’s no network coverage. Ideally, your emergency communication equipment should have its own independent power source or backup. Having another way to recharge your main battery is also sensible, whether that’s suitable vehicle charging, solar or access to an external power supply.
And don’t overlook the basics of remote travel preparation. Let someone know where you’re going, when you expect to return and what to do if you don’t check in. Carry adequate water and essential supplies and have a realistic understanding of the environment you’re entering. I often remind people that technology should support good decision-making, not replace it. Ultimately, the most important piece of equipment you take camping isn’t your battery, your solar panel or even your vehicle. It’s your knowledge, preparation and ability to make sensible decisions when things don’t go to plan.
For more information about Jackery and its portable power products, visit Jackery Australia or Jackery Global.
31 October 2026 at 3:20:09 pm