I'm transitioning to living full-time on a narrowboat in a few months, and I'm curious about my power options for playing my PlayStation. I'm not a hardcore gamer, but I could spend around 5 hours gaming on a Saturday. I've done some research and it seems that a PS5 and monitor together use about 300 watts. The boat is equipped with a Victron 1200W inverter as well as two domestic batteries and one starter battery. Since I'm not familiar with electrical systems or solar energy, I'm wondering if this setup will be enough to power my PS5 while I'm on the boat.
2 Answers
A first gen PS5 can pull around 500W max, so you'd want to double-check its specs. If you’re gaming for 5 hours, you’re looking at needing a solid setup. You’ll need enough storage in your batteries to cover the 300W draw for 5 hours, ideally more, so you’re not draining them empty. Plan for peak solar times too, usually around 5 hours a day, to generate enough power.
Definitely a good idea to research this! You’ll have enough power for your PS5 sessions but think about how you’ll recharge your batteries. If you’re planning to go solar, keep in mind you might need quite a few solar panels depending on your available space. Relying on shore power isn't really practical for full-time living. If you have a stationary boat, creative panel mounting could be an option, but be careful when you're moving around!