Rando & bivouac voiture : 12 V & solaire – LymobileShop

Car hiking & bivouac: 12 V & solar – LymobileShop

Power stations for hiking & car bivouacs : 12V coolers , LED , 100W USB-C , 120W panels (MPPT) & 12V charging - 2025 guide

Whether you're going light on a hike with a minimalist bivouac or traveling in a car bivouac (wild camping, mountain spot, beach), energy must be simple , reliable and silent . In this guide, we size energy stations ( power station/solar generator ) 300–512 Wh with regulated 12 V , 100 W USB-C , pure sine AC and MPPT for 120 W foldable panels , we optimize 12 V coolers (compressor), we light with safe LEDs , we recharge in 12 V cars and we stay safe (non-electric stove, ventilation, heat management).

See 300–512 Wh stations | 100–120 W foldable panels (MPPT) | 100/240 W USB-C cables (5A e-marker) | 65–100 W GaN chargers |10k/20k/30k power banks

1) Profiles: light hiking vs. car bivouac

  • Lightweight hiking : 1–3 days, tent/tarp, 10k/20k power banks , small LED lamp , smartphone/GPS charger, no cooler . Compact station option to leave at camp/car.
  • Car bivouac : 1–7 days, 12V compressor cooler , LEDs, USB fans , recharges (smartphones, cameras, drone), sometimes USB-C laptop , 100–120W solar top-up.
  • Outdoor photo/video : numerous batteries to recharge (USB-C/DC chargers), priority autonomy + silence.
  • Family : several phones/tablets, LED garlands, cooler , children's night light, low-power music.

Objectives: minimum 24-hour battery life , easy recharging (USB-C & 12 V), safety at camp, silence at night.

2) Choose the station: 300–512 Wh , power & chemistry

  • Capacity (Wh) :
    • ~300 Wh : minimal bivouac (LED + recharges + small cooler very economical in mild weather).
    • ~512 Wh : sweet spot car bivouac (compressor cooler + LED + recharges + occasional laptop).
  • Inverter power : AC 500–700 W (pure sine) is sufficient (specific chargers, occasional inflator). Keep AC for the exception → prefer 12 V/USB-C .
  • Chemistry : LiFePO4 = longevity & thermal stability (excellent in summer heat if ventilated/shaded).
  • Inputs : Fast mains, built-in MPPT (100–120 W solar), 12 V car input.
  • Display : % battery + W in/out = end day/night control.

See our 300/512 Wh stations

3) Useful ports: 12V regulated , USB-C 100W , AC sine

  • 12 V regulated (cigarette lighter socket + DC outputs): cooler , fans, shower pump, 12 V LED strips.
  • USB-C Power Delivery 100W : laptop , portable display, hubs, fast charging power banks. Uses a 5A e-marker cable .
  • USB-A : 12–18 W for lamps, headlamps, phones.
  • AC 230 V (sine) : for specific chargers (drone/camera) occasionally .

4) 12 V cooler (compressor): consumption, settings & wiring

  • Compressor : 35–60 W running; ~200–450 Wh/d depending on volume, insulation, weather, setpoint.
  • Settings : pre-cooled at home; puts food already fresh; setpoint 4°C day / 6–7°C night; shade and ventilation.
  • Connection : regulated 12V output from the station. Short & thick cable (2.5–4 mm²) to avoid voltage drops (unexpected power cuts).
  • Thermoelectric : simple but power-hungry in high heat (300–600 Wh/day) → more for cool weekends.

5) Cooking in bivouac: non-electric stove , safety, heat management

  • Non-electric stove (gas, alcohol, solid fuel): use outdoors or in a highly ventilated shelter. Follow the manufacturer's instructions, keep fabrics and the station away.
  • Never have a flame near the station or cables. The station remains in the shade , on a hard, uncovered surface.
  • Heat management : cook outside the tent/trunk; cool dishes before putting them in the fridge; open the cooler quickly and infrequently .

6) LED lighting: flow, consumption & atmosphere

  • 12V garlands/ribbons : 2–6W/m dimmable → soft light under awning/trunk.
  • Camp spotlight : 5–15 W for cooking/walking. Temperature 3000–4000 K = visual comfort.
  • USB headlamps : USB-A/C charging from the station or power bank .

7) Autonomy: methods & examples (day/week)

 Autonomie (h) ≈ Capacité(Wh) × Rendement / Charge(W)
 USB-C/12 V ≈ 0,90 | AC ≈ 0,85

“Summer car bivouac” profile : cooler ~300 Wh/d, LED 40 Wh, USB fan 30 Wh, recharges 40 Wh → ~410 Wh/d .

  • 512 Wh → 1 day without recharging; aim for a 120 W panel to last the week.

“Photo/video” profile : 120 Wh camera/drone recharges + 55 W USB-C laptop × 2 h (110 Wh) + 30 Wh LED → ~260 Wh/d .

  • 300 Wh → 1 day; 512 Wh → 2 days without solar.

“Family” profile : 350 Wh cooler + 50 Wh garlands + 4 60 Wh phones + 20 Wh tablet → ~480 Wh/day .

Tip : favor USB-C & 12 V (efficiency ↑), keep AC for the exception → +5–10% autonomy.

8) Solar 100–120 W (MPPT): daily top-up

  • Realistic output : 100 W → 60–85 W usable; 120 W → 70–95 W usable (corrected angle, short/thickened cables).
  • Gain : 2–3 h → +120 to +285 Wh , ideal for compensating for the cooler.
  • Placement : Kickstands facing the sun, corrects the angle 2–3×/day; avoids shadows (tree, open trunk).
  • Connection : MC4 → station DC adapter; integrated MPPT = better efficiency.

See 100–120 W folding panels

9) 12V car charging (alternator)

  • Power : 60–120 W typical depending on socket & vehicle.
  • Good reflex : plug in after starting , unplug before switching off (avoids voltage dips).
  • Heat : Do not cover the station, keep it in the shade and ventilated while charging.
  • Fuses : Respect the amperage of the socket (often 10–15 A). Use the manufacturer's cable.

10) Organization: bag & trunk (energy kit)

  • Hiking kit : 10k/20k power bank + USB-C cable + mini USB lamp + phone in eco mode.
  • Car bivouac kit : 512 Wh station + 120 W panel + USB-C 5A e-marker + DC splitter for LEDs/fans + short/thick cables.
  • Storage : ventilated box, tie-down straps , line label (cooler/LED/USB-C), accessory pocket.

11) Ready scenarios

Weekend bivouac (spring)

  • Station : 300–512 Wh.
  • Set : eco cooler, 12V 5–10W garland, USB fan, phone chargers.
  • Top-up : 12V car while traveling; 100–120W solar if sky is clear.

Road trip 5–7 days (summer)

  • Station : 512 Wh + MPPT .
  • Set : compressor cooler, LED, fans, chargers (phones/cameras), laptop 1–2 h/d via USB-C.
  • Charging : 120 W 2–3 h/day + 12 V car → continuous autonomy.

Outdoor photo/video

  • Station : 300–512 Wh.
  • Set : camera/drone chargers (USB-C/AC punctual), LED camp, buffer power banks.
  • Tip : group daytime loads under a 120W panel.

Family & Comfort

  • Station : 512 Wh.
  • Set : cooler, 12V garlands, USB night light, 4 phones, children's tablet.
  • Plus : 120 W panel to end the day peacefully.

12) Practical tables

12.1 Typical consumption

Equipment Power Energy/d (≈) Notes
12V compressor cooler 35–60 W 200–450 Wh Shade, instructions, ventilation
12V LED garland 5–10 W 20–60 Wh Dimmable
USB fan 3–8 W 20–50 Wh Night/Nap
USB-C Laptop 45–60 W 60–180 Wh 5A e-marker cable
Smartphones (×2–4) — 30–80 Wh USB-A/C
Shower pump 12–24 W <20 Wh Intermittent

12.2 Station × recommended sign

Config Ability Sign Charge (sun)
Compact ~300 Wh 100 W ~3–5 h
Balance ~512 Wh 120 W ~4–6 h

12.3 Sections & Fuses (12–20 V DC)

Line Fluent Cable (≈) Fuse
60W Cooler 5 A 2.5–4 mm² 10 A
LED/fan distributor 5–10 A 2.5–4 mm² 10 A
12V car input 5–10 A Manufacturer's cable Depending on vehicle

13) Express bivouac checklist

  1. Capacity : 300 Wh (compact) or 512 Wh (car/cooler bivouac).
  2. Ports : 12V regulated , USB-C 100W , AC sine , MPPT .
  3. Cooler : 12V compressor, short & thick cable, shade, suitable deposit.
  4. Lighting : Dimmable 12V LEDs + USB front lights.
  5. Solar : 100–120 W, short & thick MC4/DC, angle corrected.
  6. Car : 12V charging while driving (connect after starting, disconnect before stopping).
  7. Cables : USB-C 5A e-marker , own DC splitter, labeling.
  8. Safety : Stove away from the station, ventilation, station on hard & ventilated surface.

14) LymobileShop Selection

Stations ~300 Wh — compact & lightweight

  • Advantages : LiFePO4, 12 V regulated , USB-C 100 W , AC 500 W, MPPT .
  • Uses : LED + fans + refills, small eco cooler in mild weather.

See ~300–500 Wh

Stations ~512 Wh — car bivouac

  • Advantages : cooler margin + recharges, USB-C 100 W , MPPT , W in/out display.
  • Uses : 12V cooler + LED + recharges + laptop 1–2 h.

See ~500 Wh

100–120 W Foldable Panels

  • Pros : Built-in MPPT , 60–95W usable, kickstands, MC4/DC.

See 100–120 W panels

15) Hiking & bivouacking FAQ

12V cooler: compressor or thermo?

Compressor for autonomy (200–450 Wh/d). Thermo = simple but greedy in summer (300–600 Wh/d).

USB-C 100W or AC for laptop?

Direct USB-C = better battery life & silence. Keep AC for the exception.

Is a 120W panel enough for a week?

Yes to compensate for the majority of the cooler if 2–3 hours of good sun/day, corrected angle and short/thick cables.

Can I cook near the station?

No. Keep distance and ventilation between flame and station/cables. Cook outdoors or under a well-ventilated awning.

Can the station stay in the trunk overnight?

Yes, if dry , ventilated , uncovered and tied down . Avoid full sun exposure during the day.

16) Trust & Services LymobileShop

  • Delivery : free in France, fast shipping.
  • Payment : secure, several methods to choose from.
  • After-sales service : team in France, 12 V/USB-C/MPPT advice adapted to your bivouac.
  • Returns & Warranty : 14 days to change your mind, 2 year warranty .

See all our energy stations | See our folding panels

Remember : when hiking & bivouacking in a car , aim for a 300–512 Wh LiFePO4 station with regulated 12 V , 100 W USB-C , AC sine & MPPT . Connect the cooler to 12 V directly, illuminate with LEDs , top-up via 100–120 W panel and charge in a 12 V car . The entire selection is ready at LymobileShop .

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