Charging & Generation

Overview

Charge smart, safely, and with an eye on carbon monoxide risks. Use vehicles, solar, and generators effectively without damaging equipment or endangering people.

Vehicle Alternator Use

Useful backup if used cautiously.

Idling charges slowly; better to drive if safe; watch fuel.
Use proper inverters/USB adapters; avoid overloading the cigarette/accessory socket.
CO risk: Never idle in enclosed spaces; ensure tailpipe is clear of snow/debris.

Sizing & etiquette

Alternators can supply tens of amps, but accessory sockets are usually limited to ~10–15 A; inverters can trip fuses. Prefer direct 12 V USB‑C PD adapters when possible.
Keep loads modest while idling; a running vehicle is not a generator substitute.

Solar Panel Regulators

Solar for steady daytime charging.

Regulators: PWM (simple/cheap) vs MPPT (more efficient, esp. in cold/low light).
Sizing: Panel watts ≥ device draws with buffer; angle to sun; avoid shading.
Cabling: Use proper gauge; minimize voltage drop; weatherproof connections.

Power bank strategy

Charge banks first, then devices from banks; avoids tying devices to panels that fluctuate under clouds.
Track bank capacity in watt‑hours; plan for at least one full device cycle per critical device.

Generator Safety (CO)

Place outdoors, downwind, far from openings; use CO detectors indoors. Store fuel safely (approved cans), stabilize gas, and cool before refueling.

⛑️ First Aid: Suspected CO exposure — headache, dizziness, nausea, confusion, or unusual sleepiness. Move victims to fresh air immediately, call emergency services, place in recovery position if needed, and monitor breathing. Do not re‑enter enclosed spaces.

Load management

Prioritize cold chain (fridge/freezer) and critical medical devices; cycle loads to keep average power low.
Extension cords: Heavy‑gauge outdoor cords; fully uncoil to avoid heat; keep connections off wet ground.

Appliance inrush and duty cycle

Many compressors (fridges/freezers) draw 5–10× their running current for a fraction of a second at startup. Size generators/inverters with headroom or stagger starts to avoid trips.
A fridge often runs only 20–40% of the time. Short generator runs (e.g., 1–2 h every 4–6 h with doors closed) can maintain safe temps with less fuel—confirm with a thermometer.

Backfeed warning

Do not backfeed a home via dryer outlets or improvised cords; it endangers line workers and can start fires. Use a transfer switch installed by a professional.

Electronics and generator quality

Sensitive electronics prefer clean power. Inverter‑type generators typically have low total harmonic distortion (THD) and are gentler on chargers. Add surge protection and avoid cheap, unregulated inverters for laptops/medical gear.

Measure, don’t guess

A plug‑in power meter helps you learn real running watts and inrush behavior of devices. Measure before an outage and keep a card with typical draws for prioritization.

☑️ Checklist — Charging Plan

Prioritize critical devices; schedule charge windows
Vehicle: clear tailpipe; outside only; correct adapters
Solar: panel + regulator matched; avoid shade; track sun
Generator: outdoors; CO detector; safe fueling
Banks: charge banks first; know Wh; assign device priority

Examples

Post‑storm: Vehicle charges phones with engine running outside; solar panel tops power bank by day; generator runs fridge 1–2 h per 4–6 h with CO alarms active.
Trail basecamp: 60–100 W folding panel to MPPT controller; charges power banks/radios noon to afternoon.

Narrative — A Quiet Power Day Morning sun warmed the folding panel on the picnic table. You clipped the MPPT controller to a 20,000 mAh bank and watched the watts settle as a cloud passed. By noon the bank was full; phones topped off from it while the panel stayed busy. The generator didn’t fire all day—no fumes, no noise—because the fridge stayed cold enough with the prior night’s cycle.

Common Mistakes

Running generators in garages, near doors, or under windows; lethal CO accumulates.
Backfeeding homes without transfer switches; endangers line workers and can start fires.
Idling vehicles in snow with buried tailpipes; CO intrusion into cabins.
Overloading cigarette/accessory sockets with large inverters; blown fuses/melted plugs.
Coiling extension cords under load; heat build‑up and fire risk.
Plugging sensitive electronics directly into “dirty” generator power without surge/voltage protection.

Key Takeaways

Never run engines or generators in enclosed/attached structures—CO kills quietly.
Solar is quiet and safe; MPPT improves harvest in variable light.
Prioritize charges; avoid draining critical devices to zero.

Scenario

🧭 Scenario (Post‑storm mix): Fridge warming, phones low, generator in garage…
🔍 Decisions: Where to run generator; vehicle charging; solar angle.
✅ Outcome: You wheel the generator outdoors downwind, run it in intervals with CO alarms inside, vehicle‑charge phones, and top power banks on solar midday.
🧠 Lessons: CO kills—outside only; staggered charging works
🏋️ Drill: Place your generator’s “safe spot” now and mark it.