We designed TAXA habitats to take you further down the dirt road. And the end of the dirt road doesn’t usually have a power outlet, which is why we’ve equipped TAXA habitats with power systems that let you explore off-grid. Read on for a run down of those power systems, and how they work.
Batteries
The 12V system in TAXA habitats fully supports all electrical components in the habitat including your LED lighting, 12 volt and USB powered appliances, water pump, the controller for the furnace and hot water heater, and an optional electric fridge/cooler.
TAXA Mantis, Cricket, and TigerMoth power systems allow you to run two group 27 sized deep cycle marine batteries parallel to power the 12V systems. Watch this video with information on running two batteries parallel in a TAXA habitat.
Mantis: Space for two Group 27 Size Deep Cycle Marine Batteries
Cricket: Space for two Group 27 Size Deep Cycle Marine Batteries
TigerMoth: Space for two Group 27 Size Deep Cycle Marine Batteries
Woolly Bear: Space for one Group 24 Size Deep Cycle Marine Battery
Batteries for TAXA Habitats are supplied by dealer partners. With the exception of Woolly Bear (and the optional battery add-on), TAXA does not include batteries with habitats.
How to Charge the Batteries
Tow Vehicle
The 7-pin plug that connects your habitat to your tow vehicle will charge the batteries. When your tow vehicle is turned on and connected, and the battery cut-off switch inside the habitat is in the ON position, your battery will pull a charge from the tow vehicle.
Shore Power
Shore power refers to plugging into a power source from land (like a campsite, or your house). While connected to shore power, the electrical system will supply power to the habitat in lieu of batteries while still maintaining and charging your batteries. Mantis, Cricket, and TigerMoth include a 30AMP to 15AMP pigtail to make connecting to power in your home easier.
Solar Power
All TAXA habitats come pre-wired for solar. Utilizing an SAE solar input – a standard input universal to most brands on the market – will help extend the life of your batteries while off-grid.
Solar brands we’ve used and recommend: Renogy, Goal Zero, Zamp, Dokio.
To regulate the power from the solar panels to the battery, we suggest a charge controller*. Most of the solar brands on the market sell bundles that include a charge controller mounted to the panel*. If you use GoalZero you will also need this adapter to plug into the SAE port. They utilize an 8mm proprietary cord with all their products.
Mounting the solar panels to your habitat permanently is possible, however, it limits the locations where you can set up camp while still maximizing the capabilities of your solar setup. Foldable/portable solar panels are easier to manage and more versatile than attaching panels to the habitat permanently because they allow you to set up the solar panel facing the sun at any point during the day without moving your habitat. A longer extension cord allows for flexibility with placement to catch that sunlight!
*Mantis, Cricket & TigerMoth models produced starting in late 2021 include the Victron 75/15 SmartSolar Bluetooth Charge Controller which makes solar panels plug-and-play, and Bluetooth allows the user to monitor solar production wirelessly.
Suggested solar wattages for each habitat:
Mantis: 100-150 watts
Cricket: 100-150 watts
TigerMoth: 100-150 watts
Woolly Bear: 50 watts
These wattages are all dependent on what accessories and systems inside the habitat you’re using. For example, an electric cooler will pull more power than a 12V fan. To learn more about solar systems (watt hours, energy consumption, amps, etc), check out this guide from Renogy.
Generator Power
When shore power is not an option, generators can often be a good fit for extending your off grid camping where your battery may not be enough, or your power needs are greater (ie. running your AC unit). Your wattage draw must be equal or less than the maximum wattage/amperage a generator can produce. To check wattage needs use this wattage calculator for an estimation. We recommend a 2,000 watt inverter generator to power any of the electronics included in our habitats. If you’re powering additional systems, it’s always good to check that your generator has the wattage to cover it.
You can typically perform all these functions for 4-5 days on the two batteries alone, but if you need to charge up you can add a small portable solar panel to the mix to keep your batteries running as long as you’d like. Keep in mind that shore power or generator power (2000 watt minimum) will be required to use AC.
Types of power systems
- 12VDC – Batteries/Solar – can run everything except the Air Conditioner and the 120VAC Plugs
- 120VAC – Shore Power
- 120VAC – Generator Power
- Inverter Generator
- Cleans power going to source so that sensitive electronics (phones/laptops/etc) are not harmed
- Conventional Generator
- Tends to be louder and not recommended for sensitive electronics as it does not clean the energy produced
- Inverter Generator
