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.
3 Answers
Honestly, a PS5 sounds ambitious! It could use up about 2-3kWh over your gaming session, which might deplete a typical battery setup pretty quickly. You might find a portable gaming solution like a Nintendo Switch or a Steam Deck to be more feasible for narrowboat life!
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!
Totally agree! Going solar will take some initial investment and planning, but it pays off in the long run. Also, check if there are any local solar enthusiasts who can give you tips based on your location.
Exactly! It's all about balancing your power consumption with what you can store and generate. It might sound tough, but just crunch the numbers on your battery capacity and solar panel output.