RAT Ram Air Turbine for camping with the CT

[rhinone]

I am getting a cyber truck and I camp in remote areas. I'm worried about my portable refrigerator and other devices running the batteries down on the CT. Currently I am using a Jackery 1000 watt battery in my Subaru that powers everything and can be recharged from a 12 amp socket (cigarette plug) in the rear of my vehicle. I was wondering if anyone at had considered using a deployable RAT (Ram Air Turbine) on the CT to generate electrical power while on highways. The RAT is used on all fighter and transport aircraft to generate power for hydraulic, and electrical systems on the aircraft including the flight computer. A scaled down version could supply enough power to regen my Jackery 1000 while on the highway. I was wondering if anyone here had thought about this as an add on accessory for those of us who like to camp?

Sponsored

 

[Newton]

something something efficiencies, bigger battery, something about drag, and than something about solar at the site

 

[ldjessee]

No free lunches…

The added drag to produce that power will use more out of the battery than will be returned by a RAM.

How long does your 1 kWh battery last running the frig?

Remember, there are no premium kWhs, only efficiency differences in how those kWhs are used.

 

[ldjessee]

something something efficiencies, bigger battery, something about drag, and than something about solar at the site

Was a bit slower on the reply…

And I forgot to mention a pop up solar panel once you get to your campsite.

 

[Newton]

Was a bit slower on the reply…

And I forgot to mention a pop up solar panel once you get to your campsite.

but your post had more info!

 

[ldjessee]

but your post had more info!

I mean, did it? For those that regularly read the forum, I probably said nothing new. ?

 

[CyberGus]

Aircraft use a RAT as an alternator, basically. It’s tough to get a belt on a 10k RPM turbine lol.

 

[rhinone]

No free lunches…

The added drag to produce that power will use more out of the battery than will be returned by a RAM.

How long does your 1 kWh battery last running the frig?

Remember, there are no premium kWhs, only efficiency differences in how those kWhs are used.

My camping fridge will run for 4 days without charging from the car's motor. It can change when temperatures reach into the 90's. You also have to keep it out of direct sunlight and the car has to be parked in a shaded area. If I want to plugin my computer are use any usb lights and don't recharge my camera batteries. So if everything goes right and it never does 4 days.

 

[rhinone]

Was a bit slower on the reply…

And I forgot to mention a pop up solar panel once you get to your campsite.

Well I haven't tried solar because then you need 2 cars so that you can leave the camp site while it charges. The panels have to be pointed toward the sun (that's assuming its not cloudy) and you have to move them every 30 minutes to max. their output. They take up a lot of room in limited space and they don't actually charge that well because they tend to blow over in a light breeze.

 

[John K]

https://www.amazon.com/K-Tor-power-...t=&hvlocphy=9031043&hvtargid=pla-828346879337

This guy has @Ogre ‘s name all over it. Daily fun for the kids.

 

[Newton]

Well I haven't tried solar because then you need 2 cars so that you can leave the camp site while it charges. The panels have to be pointed toward the sun (that's assuming its not cloudy) and you have to move them every 30 minutes to max. their output. They take up a lot of room in limited space and they don't actually charge that well because they tend to blow over in a light breeze.

sounds like u have a lot of bad bias towards solar panels.
they arent expensive, or that large, and your dont "have to" move them, they make fine power even when not in ideal orientation. Also im pretty sure the jackery has a hookup for them.

 

[Ogre]

https://www.amazon.com/K-Tor-power-...t=&hvlocphy=9031043&hvtargid=pla-828346879337

This guy has @Ogre ‘s name all over it. Daily fun for the kids.

Nice. Just need to outfit the truck with 4 of them. Infinite range.

 

[rhinone]

sounds like u have a lot of bad bias towards solar panels.
they arent expensive, or that large, and your dont "have to" move them, they make fine power even when not in ideal orientation. Also im pretty sure the jackery has a hookup for them.

I have no "Bad Bias" I have looked into the subject thoroughly in the field. I also know that a Subaru Outback only has so much usable room even with a Thule carrier on top of the car. I have met people who make solar panels work for them but as I said earlier they have (1) a camper and (2) a second car they tow. I prefer the mobility of that a car gives me. With a 1000 watt battery and couple of smaller batteries I get by good to great. Essentially because in a pinch I can use an ICE vehicle to recharge. I am in this forum looking for an alternative so when I switch to a CT/EV I can function the same as when I owned an ICE vehicle. Even with an ICE vehicle many of the areas I go to are remote and have no filling stations near-bye for fuel. Several times in Utah/New Mexico I have talked to people who have run into problems and had to pay $1700 USD out of pocket because AAA doesn't service some areas (mostly where I go). I suspect that deploying a RAT while it would cause some drag that it would still be less drag than pulling a trailer and or carrying a smaller vehicle in the bed of the CT. And if the vehicle in the bed of the CT is electric compounds the energy issue because it also will need charging. A deployable RAT for a CT would not have to be as large are heavy as those used on Fighter aircraft and Transport aircraft. At a minimum 200 watts would be more than enough to add extra alternative charging to a Jackery 1000 watt battery while moving above say 35 mph. Smaller one of these

 

[John K]

I suspect that deploying a RAT while it would cause some drag that it would still be less drag than pulling a trailer and or carrying a smaller vehicle in the bed of the CT. And if the vehicle in the bed of the CT is electric compounds the energy issue because it also will need charging.

Using this method loses more e very than gained by the RAT. You would have less energy loss plugging and charging directly from the bed outlets.

For your use case and comfort level, get an ICE generator.

The above suggestion is based on solar, wind and human power generation is not applicable to your situation.

 

[FutureBoy]

Not sure how you intend to use the RAT.

If you mean to have it generating electricity from the airflow around the vehicle while driving then you are just losing energy which will result in range loss. Plus an ugly appendage on your beautiful CT.

If you are trying to use it as a wind turbine while stationary, then it would need to be elevated quite high (above the local tree height at least) in order to generate any appreciable energy. This would result in a lot of load to carry around for the few times it might be useful.

Sponsored