Are you wondering how to power a projector outdoors? If yes, you’ve landed on the right page.
Using a projector indoors is easy. But things get complicated if you use a projector outdoors.
Depending on your usage, we’ve listed several solutions to solve this problem.
Are you ready?
Let’s get started!
How to Power a Projector Outdoors?
You can use a car battery, portable generator, portable power station, and Power banks to power a projector outdoors.
Currently, we’ve listed 5 solutions that help power a projector outdoors or while camping.
Solution 1: Outdoor Wall Outlet
Suppose you want to use a projector in your backyard or close to your house. In that case, you can power your projector using an outdoor wall outlet.
Most households have an outdoor wall outlet to power numerous electrical devices. Thus, finding one won’t be an issue. If not, you can always use a wall outlet within the house.
To do this, you’ll need a long extension cord. The extension cord must be long enough to run from an indoor wall outlet to the spot where you’ll place your projector.
You can find a 25-50 feet long extension cord on Amazon or in a nearby electrical store. Some of these cords come with multiple outlets, including USB ports. Moreover, they also have a surge protector built-in.
Most camping grounds also have power outlets for charging RVs and powering refrigerators, coolers, microwaves, etc. You can use these outlets to power your projector too.
Solution 2: Portable Power Station
Do you plan to use your projector outdoors frequently? If yes, a portable power station will be an excellent fit for you.
What’s a portable power station? You might ask. In layman’s terms, it’s a massive power bank with higher power output, including AC outlets to connect laptops, microwaves, compact refrigerators, etc.
Portable power stations come in different sizes and power outputs. Some of these can fit in a backpack, whereas the others need ample room.
For example, Jackery Explorer 300, a popular portable power station, can power an LED projector for a few hours. It’s a 300W portable power station with 2x AC ports, 2x USB-A ports, and 1x USB-C port.
More importantly, a solar panel can charge the Jackery Explorer 300. It also has a tiny screen to display battery percentage.
On the other hand, its bigger brother, the Jackery Explorer 2000 Pro, can power a projector for half a day thanks to the larger 2160Wh battery.
Solution 3: Power Inverter
Power Inverters are an excellent way to run power to your laptop, tiny refrigerator, and handheld vacuum cleaner within a car.
A power inverter uses your car’s 12V DC power outlet and provides 110V AC power. Thus, you can charge your devices that require AC power within your car.
Moreover, you can also use the power inverter to power your compact projector without any issues.
A 300W power inverter from Bestek costs under $30 and comes with 2x AC outlets. Plus, it’s small enough to store in your car’s glove box.
However, I recommend only using a compact LED projector that consumes less power. I wouldn’t recommend it if you plan to use a lamp-based and power-hungry projector like the BenQ TH671ST.
In addition, if you’re aren’t careful, you risk completely draining your car’s battery while using the projector.
Hence, ensure to keep the car battery charged by turning on the ignition after a couple of hours.
Solution 4: Portable Generators
The problem with portable power stations is that once the battery drains out, charging them takes a lot of time.
On the other hand, portable generators use gas or propane to power electronic devices. A portable generator has a small engine that uses gasoline to generate power. You can use this power to run a refrigerator, microwave, air conditioner, etc.
There are few dual-fuel portable generators that use gasoline and propane. The Westinghouse 4650 is a popular and budget-friendly portable generator. You can either pour gasoline into its 4-gallon fuel tank. Else, you can connect this generator to a propane tank.
Portable generators are usually costlier and heavier than portable power stations. Moreover, I wouldn’t recommend one exclusively to use a projector outside.
In addition, portable generators are loud since they have an internal combustion engine. Hence, to enjoy your outdoor movie experience, you’ll have to keep the portable generator far away.
Moreover, you’re dealing with flammable materials. Hence, only get a portable generator if it has multiple uses other than powering a projector.
Solution 5: Battery-powered Projectors
Suppose you don’t want additional solutions to power a projector. In that case, you can simply buy a battery-powered projector.
Battery-powered projectors come in a variety of sizes. Some can easily fit in your pocket, while the rest you can store in your backpack.
Since projectors are power-hungry devices, most last anywhere from 1.5 to 4 hours, depending on the brightness and your usage.
Depending on the features and brightness output, a battery-powered projector costs anywhere from $150-$1000.
Wemax Dice is my favorite battery-powered projector. It lasts up to 3 hours, offers 700 ANSI lumens brightness, built-in Android TV, and supports up to 4K content.
If you’re looking for something cheaper, you shouldn’t look past the Xgimi MoGo Pro.
A battery-powered projector also makes sense because it has built-in Android OS, speaker, screen mirroring, auto keystone adjustment, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, etc.
The only downside here is the brightness. Due to the small size, battery-powered projectors aren’t capable of crazy brightness like 4000 lumens seen in lamp-based projectors.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a projector run on battery?
Yes, a projector can run on a battery. There are numerous battery-powered projectors available in the market. These projectors with batteries last anywhere from 1.5 to 4 hours on a full charge.
Can you use a power bank to power a projector?
You can use a power bank to power certain types of projectors that support charging through a power bank. For example, projectors like Yaber Pico T1 and Viewsonic M1 Mini support power bank charging.
Is there a portable projector that runs on batteries?
Numerous projectors run on batteries. Some popular battery-powered projectors are Kodak Luma 150, Miroir M220, Wemax Dice, Anker Nebula Capsule, etc.
Can a Jackery power a projector?
Yes! A Jackery portable power station can power a projector. You can charge it by using the AC or USB ports.
How do you power a projector in the woods?
A portable power station is the best option to power a projector in the woods. If not, you can use a power inverter and power the projector using your car’s battery.
Conclusion
I hope this article helped you learn about how to power a projector outdoors.
There are numerous other ways, like solar power or a power bank. However, I’ve listed the most viable and time-effective solutions.
If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to leave them in the comment section below.
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