The experience of TITOU & DYDY x POWER QUEEN
We are Titou and Dydy!
We love adventures, travel, and discovery.
More than a year ago, we decided to completely renovate an old 1982 Renault R4 to use as our own small camper van. to set up. Together we disassembled the van from top to bottom and learned about welding, chassis repairs, mechanics and even body painting.
Once our new travel companion was back on the road, we had to consider a minimum level of comfort. The old, holey seats were replaced with new, comfortable ones that will last us thousands of miles. In the back, we installed a large bed and some storage space so we can take everything we need for our travels and sleep warm and protected! We used recycled cotton to insulate the interior of our 4L van as much as possible.
But to convert a 4L into a camper van, we had to accept some limitations. The goal was to optimize weight distribution while also reducing the overall weight of the conversion as much as possible. Recycled cotton has the advantage of being very lightweight while also providing excellent thermal and acoustic insulation. The wood was also carefully selected and prepared to meet these requirements.
And after the insulation, the fittings, the bed, the mattress... all that was missing was the electricity!
We couldn't install an additional lead-acid battery to run an American-style refrigerator, a shower, and a full-size stove. We had to lower our comfort standards, but ultimately not that much...
We wanted to be completely energy self-sufficient, without having to recharge at an electrical outlet during our trip, so we looked at various solutions. The idea was also to use modern charging technologies and protect the environment.
The answer was obvious: We needed a portable power plant that was as light and compact as possible. We opted for the Power Queen 300Wh A power station that took the time to advise us and truly address our needs. By combining this system with a portable 100W power bank... By combining the solar panels, we had a completely autonomous system that provided us with all the energy we needed for our adventure, and the journey could begin...
POWER QUEEN POWER STATION AND ITS SOLAR PANEL
But before we embark on our journey, we would like to tell you a little more about the powerqueen energy station...
The Power Queen portable Energy station of Power Queen It combines 300Wh in a compact design measuring 23*16.1*19.5 cm and weighing just 3.6kg. That's an incredible power-to-weight ratio of 12g/Wh! Suffice it to say, this was THE solution we needed, because in addition to this crucial feature, the station also has the advantage of:
- A 12V cigarette lighter output
- Integrated inverter for 230V, 300W power
- Two 12V jack outputs
- Two USB 3.0 outputs
- Two USB Type C outputs
- A large LED panel (obviously for nighttime mechanic sessions)
The power Queen Power station However, it can also be charged via a single input:
- Charging via a wall socket with a 230V adapter
- Charging via a cigarette lighter socket in your vehicle
- Direct charging via the portable 100W solar panels
We were able to test the three charging modes:
Very fast and efficient on a 230V power supply A power outlet, so you can quickly recharge your energy when needed.
In our case, this was very practical, thanks to the cigarette lighter socket in the 4L, especially if you travel a lot like we do. This was one of our main charging methods (besides solar charging), but also the most efficient, with a virtually constant 3A charge!
And last but not least, the pleasure of using free and environmentally friendly energy thanks to some truly powerful solar cells. We were able to achieve a charge of over 60 W for an hour in the morning twilight, before the sun reached its zenith.
So every morning we had breakfast after taking out the solar panel and starting to charge our Power Queen station.
But the question that really interests us is: Did the station's 300Wh autonomy truly meet our needs? And if I only answer "yes" Tell me, will you tell me that I only used it to charge my phone... well, not even then!
Ultimately, it is not possible to continuously supply the equivalent of a caravan, a kitchen, a heating system, or an electric water heater with electricity...
But you might be surprised to learn that during our more than 15-day journey, we never needed to use any other energy source. That's right, we didn't use a single household outlet or any other power source besides the sun and our vehicle's alternator... and here's the proof:
IN PRACTICE
This is where the journey begins...
We traveled completely autonomously for 16 days.
We have travelled over 4500 km and crossed 4 countries.
From southwestern France to the breathtaking green landscapes of Slovenia. Passing the beautiful city of Pula in Croatia and along the entire west coast. On the way there through Italy, via Pisa and Venice, and on the way back through Milan and Turin.
We slept exclusively in our 4L, under the starry sky, surrounded by nature, mountains, vineyards and animals.
What about our energy consumption?
Our needs:
- 2 mobile phones that we charge every day
- Electronic devices such as cameras, an e-cigarette, a walkie-talkie... in total we probably consume 100Wh in 2-3 days.
- A picture-clothing
- One drill battery, whose charger is connected to the station's mains socket.
- and a 48-watt cooler, which was almost constantly powered during the day, and only ran out of battery once during our trip. It was a very hot day and our cooler had to run continuously for more than 5 hours, which completely discharged the station.But after a one-hour charge thanks to the 60 watt After installing solar panels the next morning and a 4-hour drive during which we were able to charge 40 watts per hour via the alternator, we were ready to go again!
- We showered at campsites or in private homes and heated our food with gas cylinders. The station's capacity was therefore truly sufficient for a A two-person trip into the wilderness, considering our actual needs and electricity consumption.
Conclusion
In conclusion to our experience with the Power Queen portable power station, all that remains is to say THANK YOU. Many thanks to Power Queen for collaborating with us on this project and for meeting all our needs.
While this station doesn't have a huge energy capacity, its weight, dimensions, and options make it the most powerful and interesting device on the market in terms of price-performance ratio.
After testing it intensively under test conditions, in the middle of the heat and for 15 days continuously, we are truly amazed by the robustness of this product and would highly recommend it to everyone.
If you are looking for something that is easy to transport, meets all your needs, and is easy to use, then this is the right product for you!
And one small bonus that changes everything: The customer service is truly responsive and professional!
They are ready to answer any questions you might have, and they are more interested in your project and your needs than you will find anywhere else, so for that reason alone you should buy it!
from TITOU && DYDY
